Will County, Illinois - The whole text, 1878 (part 16 of 29)

Charles Starr, after whom the little grove on Prairie Creek was naimed, was native of Nova Scotia. He was the father of Judge C. R. Starr, of Kankakee. Mr. Starr came to this country and to this township in 1842. He died a few years ago at a very advanced age - nearly 100 years old. In the same year, William Van der Bogert arrived from New York. He was elected, the same year, a Trustee of schools in this township, being one of the first three.

Isaac Jackson also arrived in 1842. He was a native of Nova Scotia, and came with his family to Starr's Grove, having purchased 100 acres of land at that place. Mr. Jackson was a Quaker preacher, though in some points he differed from the orthodox Quakers. Before removing from Nova Scotia, he had built, at his own expense, a church, in which he preached his peculiar doctrines to all who desired to hear him, free of expense to his auditors. On leaving that country, he donated the house of worship to the congregation. After coming to this country, he frequently held religious services at schoolhouses throughout the county. Mr. Jackson was a most profound mechanical genius; and whether the circumstances called for the shoeing of a horse, the framing of a house, the building of a carriage in all of its parts, or the transforming of a piece of iron into the delicate hairspring of a chronometer, he was always found equal to the occasion. At his son Delancy's may be seen some of the instruments manufactured by him for his own use, which are pronounced by experts to be of the very finest character. He died here in 1875, at the advanced age of 90 years, his wife having preceded him in 1856. Enoch Jackson, a son of the above, served for eighteen consecutive years as Justice of the Peace in this township, during which time not a single one of his decisions was ever reversed by the higher courts.

By the year 1848, quite a number more permanent settlements had been made, so that the population had become nearly one hundred. Among the principal ones who arrived during the years 1842-48, are remembered John Jordan, Rufus Corbett, George A. Gray, Adam White, Edward Gurney, the Baskerville family, Selah and Leonard Morey, "William Barret, Dr. B. H. Strong, Adam White and sons John and James, C. G. Jewell, R. H. Nott, Andrew Layton, Henry Hand and Hezekiah Warner.

The first move looking toward the organization of a means of educating the youth of this township originated with Henry Althouse, the next Winter after arriving here. The school consisted of only his own children and a child or .two belonging to one of the neighbors. The school was taught in a room of Althouse's dwelling, by a young lady employed by him, and was more on the nursery style than conforming to the strict rules of the modern public school, the young lady being employed as much for the purpose of taking care of the children as for instructing them. In 1841, the first steps were taken to establish a school for general and public instruction. A petition was prepared, and at the meeting of the Board of Trustees of Wilmington Township, in the Spring of the next year, presented to that body praying to be admitted as a part of the Wilmington District. The petition was considered favorably, and a school was established within the bounds of Florence, during the Winter of 1842-43. The attendance was only six scholars, and the term lasted but thirty-five days. Sarah Fisher is entitled to the credit of being the pioneer educator of the public school system of this township ; and for her services, as Principal of this Florence Academy, or Starr's Grove institute, or whatever it was called, she received $11.50.

In 1845, the number of scholars in the township, living near Starr's Grove, had increased to twenty-four, and Town 33, Range 10, was set ofi' as a separate district. No schoolhouse had yet been erected, but schools were held in such rooms of private houses as could be spared. The first schoolhouse was erected in 1849, and was built by Selah Morey, for $250. The building, though not occupied at present for its original purpose, has been reconstructed, and is now in use as a dwelling. J ames Martin, John Kahler and William Van der Bogert were the first Trustees.

In 1865, the number of schools had increased to six ; and at the present writing there are eight. In 1865, there were 482 persons in the township under 21 years of age, 342 of whom were between 6 and 21, and 284 of whom attended school during that year. The total amount expended that year for the support of schools was |1,174, of which $1,140 were paid as teachers' wages. These items are given for the purpose of comparing with like figures at the present time, which, with additional items showing the condition of schools at present, are given below :

It will be seen by the above, that in 1865, the township had just reached its maximum, as to school population, and that since then, though the number of children has really decreased, additional school facilities have been provided, and although wages, gold, interest, and every commodity has decreased to onehalf, the amount expended for the sustenance of schools has been almost doubled. This would indicate almost 400 per cent increase in expenditures - taking into account the depreciated values of other items- - which, if an indication of an equally increased efficiency in the system, should be a. source of congratulation to all patrons of the system. We are reliably informed that the schools of this township rank among the highest in merit in the county.

The first year after the township organization act was in force, in this county, the township of Florence voted with Wesley and Wilmington, and John Frazier, of Wesley, was first Supervisor of the three. In 1851, however, the inhabitants of Florence determined to "set up a government of their own "; and, a petition to the Board of Supervisors having met with favorable consideration, an election was called to choose township officers, on April 1, 1851. W. W. Monteith was chosen Moderator of the meeting, and John Kahler, Clerk. There were 42 votes cast, of which the following persons received majorities for the respective offices, and were declared elected : W. W. Monteith, Supervisor; William Van der Bogert, Assessor; Leonard Morey, Clerk; C. G. Jewell, R. H. Nott and G. A. Gray, Highway Commissioners; Charles Starr and Hezekiah Warner, Justices of the Peace ; Henry Hand and Andrew Layton, Constables; Rufus Corbett, Overseer of the Poor; and Henry Hand, Collector. The voting population of the township has increased to about two hundred. The present officers of the township are: Royal Corbin, Supervisor; W. P. Strong, Clerk; William Nelson, Assessor; Peter Ohlhues, Collector; Cornelius Murphy and Edward Gurney, Justices of the Peace ; Wesley Cook and William G. Cutshaw, Constables ; Patrick Naughton, David Forsythe and John Hayden, Commissioners of Highways ; John M. White, William Kerr and David Forsythe, School Trustees, and W. P. Strong, School Treasurer.

Florence Township was no idle spectator to the struggle of the country during the years 1861-65, to maintain the Union, but gave many noble sacrifices, that the Government might live. The township was not drafted during the whole war, but furnished its full quota at every call. Among those who not only risked their lives in the service of their country during this momentous period, but of whom even that was demanded and freely given, are remembered : Walter Van der Bogert, killed by a shell ; Charles Morey, died of disease con- tracted in the army ; Henry Ohlhues, killed ; Daniel Linebarger,* killed at ; Norman Kahler, died of wounds ; Thomas Martin, died in the army ; Charles Jackson, died of disease ; Thomas Stewart, died of army disease ; William and John Shoemaker, died of disease ; Albert Wilkins, of disease ; Almon Merrill, killed. A number of these names will be recognized as descendants of the old pioneer stock, named at the beginning of this article. Their fathers had braved dangers and suffered hardships to subdue the country, and make them homes, and now, when every fireside seemed to be in danger, they rose up with one accord to protect them.

The only church-building within the boundaries of the township is the one erected by the German Evangelical Association, in 1874. The house is located on the southwest corner of Section 10, and is a neat frame structure, 32 feet in width and 43 in length. It is completely finished and paid for, having cost the Association $2,965. These people have had preaching in the Ticinity for the last fifteen years, in schoolhouses and at private residences. John Jacob Asher was the first minister of this denomination who held religious services here, l^icholas Witcshie and wife, Henry and John Rockey and J. Taylor were the first members of the organization which was effected twelve years ago. When the house was completed, B. C. Wagner was the first minister employed to fill the pulpit. The present membership is about thirty, with Rev. Riemen Snyder, of Jackson Township, as Pastor. The northwestern and southwestern portions of the township, being adjacent to the towns of Elwood and Wilmington, are well provided with church privileges, though no houses of worship are to be found in those localities.

This township, until 1853, was included with Manhattan in what was known as Carey. Three years before the date named, the township of Trenton had been formed, and prior to that the territory of Greengarden had been in one precinct and another, as suited the convenience of its few inhabitants and the fancy of the courts that were authorized to appoint polling-places. Business now transacted within the limits of the .township was done directly with the county authorities and at the county seat. By and by, the old county system became burdensome, and the business of each locality was delegated to local authorities. The mapmakers have always had a hard time of it. No sooner have they succeeded in getting a creditable article ready for the market, than a new boundary line, a new railroad or a new town would be located, and the sale of their works was thenceforth a drag. It is not only interesting and instructive to look over a map of the olden time, but, in a sense, quite amusing. If we compare a map of the easteri;! coast of the United States, as published by the aathority of the British Government, in the year 1700, with the more modern pub- lications of like character, we shall find features so different in the two as would! not only be surprising to people ignorant of the history of the country subsequent to that date, but which would cause no little astonishment in the minds of the well informed. liook at a map of the Northwest during a period just prior to 1765, and you will find it marked as "French Territory." Then this same territory, from the date named until 1778, is delineated as a "British Province." After this, from 1778 until 1787, what is now the State of Illinois appears as a part of Virginia. After this, for thirteen years, it is called the "Northwest Territory." In 1800, when our grandfathers were going to school, they were taught to call the whole of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan by the name of "Indiana Territory," and by this title it was known until 1809, when the mapmakers again had to change, and Illinois and Wisconsin were called the "Illinois Territory." In 1818, when our fathers began to study geography, the atlases in which grandfather and grandmother studied would no longer answer the purpose, for Illinois had then become a State, with boundaries co-extensive with what we now find them. The changes which have come to the State, in its geographical features, since its admission into the Union, are equally noticeable. The original number of counties was only fifteen. These have been divided and changed so that we now have one hundred and two, each change being a source of grief to the map publishers. Originally, the county was divided into voting precincts, then into townships, and the townships have been changed ' and divided to suit the wishes and convenience of the inhabitants, with not the least regard for the feelings of those whose business it was to furnish the people of the county with maps. The township of Grecngarden, like many others, has worried the mapmakers. But little more than thirty years ago there was nothing here for the artist to sketch but the two little creeks and a boundless sea of grass ; but since then the changes in school districts, roads, farms and buildings have been so frequent and marked, that, almost before a chart of the township was off the press, a new one was required. Probably, however, the description of the township which follows will remain the same for many years to come, as, at present, the whole of it is settled up, and no more changes are likely to be made for many years. Greengarden Township is bounded on the north by Frankfort, on the east by Monee, on the south by Peotone, and on the west by Manhattan. It is described in the Congressional survey as Town 34 north. Range 12 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is a full Congressional town, containing thirtysix full sections, or 23,040 acres.

The land in Greengarden will not suffer in comparison with any other township in the county. Scarcely an acre, except what is taken up by the beds of Prairie and Forked Creeks, is untillable. The- surface is gently undulating, none being either too rolling or too flat for successful cultivation. The soil is all that the agriculturist or the G-ardener could desire, being deep and rich, and capable of producing enormous crops of corn, oats, hay and vege- tables of every kind. The two creeks named both rise near the center, and alFord stock- water to the adjacent farms, except in the dry est seasons, when they are sometimes dried up. The township is entirely devoid of a natural growth of timber, and this accounts for the tardiness of its settlement. When the township of Crete, in the eastern part of the county, and all of the western portion of the county had been well settled, this vicinity was just beginning to receive a few apparently unwilling squatters. They came from the heavily wooded States of Vermont and New York, or the equally densely timbered countries of the old world, and, finding the land adjacent to the little belts of timber already occupied, were loath to venture out upon the prairie, as the landsman is reluctant to venture upon the untried waves of the great ocean. The absence of timber for fuel, fencing and building purposes was certainly a great drawback. Not until 1865 was it known that within a few miles was a condensed forest of fuel that would supply all this country for ages to come. Then, too, the prairie, as a field for farming operations, was only an experiment. It looked much to them as if an absence of timber might indicate a dearth in those qualities of soil necessary to produce good crops. The subjugating of the prairie, though, in comparison with the clearing of the eastern farms, a trifle, was, in their eyes, no small matter. The little bar-share plow, with the wooden mold-board, in common use in the East, was not to be thought of to turn over the thick prairie sod, matted with grass-roots, as hard almost as hickory withes. But soon the inventive genius of the Yankee supplied an article, though somewhat rude and unwieldy, with which most of these prairies have been brought to cultivation. The original "sod-plow " is now seen no more forever, as it has long since outlived its usefulness. It consisted of a large share, cutting a furrow two feet in width, with iron bars for a mold-board. The beam of the machine was fifteen feet in length. No handles were needed, though sometimes they were attached, but were used only for the purpose of starting or throwiagit out of the ground. To this immense machine were hitched from five to eight yoke of oxen. The breaking was usually done late in the Spring ; and, with the turning-over of the sod was deposited seed, which produced an inferior crop of corn the first year, growing and ripening without further attention. From this crop has come the brand of a favorite drink in the Western country. Hay was cut with scythes and gathered with hand-rakes. Wheat was cut with cradles and threshed by causing horses to tread upon it. These ancient landmarks have all passed away, and but few who wielded them remain to tell us the story of these and the many other peculiar institutions of the olden times. Here and there is seen a whitening head. Here and there we behold a tottering frame. Erelong, they too will have passed from earth, and their places will be filled with the more modern style of humanity. The first to venture out on the almost unknown waste of the prairie of Greengarden Township was M. F. Sanders, from Vermont. The date of his advent was 1847, and he has consequently been a resident thirty-one years. The " 'Squire," as he is familiarly called, is well off in this world's goods, having not only survived the hard times incident to pioneer life, but has something " laid by for a rainy day." He was the first Justice of the Peace, and, in that capacity, performed the first marriage ceremony in the township.

G. M. Grreen, or " the Deacon," as he was generally called, was also a native of Vermont, and came to the place about the same time. He was a man of good qualities and well worthy to bear the cognomen universally bestowed npon him. He removed from this place to Joliet, where he died some years

Following these two families, and mainly through their influence, were a number of families from the same State. Within three or four years, Rev. James Hudson, Daniel Haradon, David McClay and Hiram Twining arrived from Vermont and settled in the same neighborhood - the northwest part of the township. These people, it seems, were mostly of one religious faith - being that denominated Christians - not the branch sometimes called Disciples or Campbellites, but the branch founded by Smith and others some seventy-five years ago, and who would under no circumstances acknowledge any other name but that of Christian. In Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and some of the Eastern States are many of this persuasion ; but in this section a church of this faith is rare. Horace Mann, one of the greatest acknowledged educators of this country, did his last work as President of Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, Ohio, the college then being one of the educational institutions of the denomination. Elder Hudson, soon after his arrival, organized the little community into a Church ; and as such it was very prosperous for a few years, and drew around it a large number of enlightened and substantial people. But the good man's labors were not of long duration. His body was laid away beneath the prairie sod soon after his work in this wild field had been successfully inaugurated.

Hiram Twining still resides on the old place. His house, built before roads or partition lines were definitely known, proclaims itself to be one of the ancient landmarks, by not "being placed due east and west," but varying from that usually accepted rule several degrees. In this house many of the early religious and other meetings were held. The first township and school elections took place here, it being nearer the center of population than others of sufficient size for the purpose.

About the same time, the Baileys and the Bemiss family arrived - the former from New York, and the latter from Michigan. Morrison and Martin Bailey were brothers. They were men of intelligence, and were counted as leaders in society and politics. Morrison Bailey was the first teacher that ever presided over a school in the township. At the first township election, held in 1853, Martin was elected Moderator, one of the four Overseers of Highways, Justice of the Peace and Supervisor. Morrison Bailey was the first Township Clerk. The Baileys removed a few years later.

The Bemiss family consisted of Simeon and three grown sons - Ephraim, James and Edwin. In the first election, this family was also honored with six offices. Simeon was elected Commissioner of Highways ; James, Clerk pro tem, and Justice of the Peace ; and Edwin, Road Overseer, Collector and Constable. This family also removed from the township after a short residence.

Augustine Hauser, John Young, A. A. Angell, D. G. Jaynes and William Hutchinson were also early settlers. Hauser was a native of Switzerland, and came here with a little fortune, which .he proposed to double in a short time in the manufacture of cheese. But it seems he was a little ahead of the time ; for the business, which to those embarking in a few years later was the means of realizing to them fortunes, was the means of his complete failure, and he left the township several thousand dollars poorer than when he came. The article manufactured by him was, it is said, of a superior quality ; but the reputation of Western cheese was not yet made, and, on account of the prejudice of dealers and consumers for the Eastern product, Hauser's scheme proved a failure.

In the mean time, while the settlement in the northwestern part of the township was well under way, another settlement was being formed a little further east and south. The first settlement was, in every respect, a Yankee enterprise, while the other was as positively German ; and, while the former had for its central point its church organization, so also had the latter.

The Dierks family and the Strassens, though not the earliest German settlers, came about 1851, bringing with them a preacher of their own faith, and immediately set about the organization of a society, and subsequently of erecting a house of worship. Probably, the very first German in the township was John T. Luehrs, now of Monee, who had come to this vicinity three years before. Following him, in 1849, was his brother, F. Luehrs. The Dierkses were cousins to Luehrs, and came over at the instance of their relatives who had preceded them. The Dierks family consisted of Simon, Fred and G. A. .Dierks, who have since all removed to Nebraska. On the recommendation of Luehrs, amongst numerous other families scattered all over this part of the State, came to the township in 1850, 0. H. Remmers, B. B. Henry, A. and G. G. Beiken. Peter and William Young, from the same country, but who had been living in Ohio, also came in 1850. The Youngs were not satisfied here, and sold out, William returning to Ohio and Peter moving further south. Fred Hassenjager and Peter Bowlander, the latter now a resident of Monee, were also among the earliest Germans. Hassenjager is an example of what industry and economy may accomplish in the face of deprivations and hardships incident to a pioneer life. When he came here, he was as poor as the poorest, now he is among the wealthiest citizens of this part of the county.

One of the most important public acts of the township occurred about the close of the period of the two settlements named, and was the separation of the two portions of Trenton Township, now designated as Manhattan and Greengarden. It seems to have been the understanding from the first that, when both sections should have attained to a population suflSciently strong for separate organization, such division should take place, though it was hardly expected that it would take place so soon. However, owing to the rapid filling-up of each, it was found not only feasible, in 1853, but there were many reasons adduced for separate organization, and thus a " peaceable secession " was accomplished.

Petitions were, therefore, presented to the proper authorities, and, by them, a division was made, accompanied with an order to hold elections. The election was accordingly held in this township, the first meeting taking place at Hiram Twining's house, on the 5th day of April, 1853. Martin Bailey was chosen Moderator and J. N. Bemiss, Clerk, pro tem. The result of the ballot was the election of Martin Bailey, as Supervisor ; Morrison Bailey, Clerk ; Edwin Bemiss, Collector ; George M. Green, Assessor ; A. A. Angell, Overseer of the Poor ; Martin Bailey and J. N. Bemis, Justices of the Peace ; Edwin P. Bemiss and A. A. Angell, Constables, and John Young, Simeon Bemiss and D. G. Jaynes, Commissioners of Highways. Of these, Martin Bailey had been Justice before, during the union of the two townships, and administered the oath to the judges and clerk on this occasion.

The present officers of the township are : H. H. Strassen, Supervisor ; Andrew Murdie, Clerk ; August Voigt, Assessor ; Peter Kenepper, Collector ; Jacob Froehner, Martin Sippel and Henry Hoppe, Commissioners of Highways ; Henry Strassen and John Bobzine, Justices of the Peace, and George Jacobs, Constable.

At the first election, there were twenty-seven voters present ; at the last, 204. It will be noticed that most of the present officers are German, while the first corps of officers were as decidedly Yankee. During the first few years, the settlement was marked by a preponderance of Americans ; but of later years, the German element has not only increased more rapidiy, but, in reality, most of the Yankee population has disappeared, having sold out their farms to the Germans.

In 1851, a post office was established in the Yankee settlement, with Rev. James Hudson as Postmaster. The office was called Greengarden, and has been in existence ever since, though for the last two or three years its location has been within the bounds of Manhattan Township. These country post offices, like some orphan children, have a kind of vagrant existence, with no certain home, but travel from place to place at the pleasure or forbearance of their keepers. Greengarden Post Office has been no exception, as it has had many homes. Sometimes it has been sought, and at other times it has not had where to take up even a temporary abode.

In the Winter of 1850-51, Morrison Bailey taught the first school, which consisted of fifteen or twenty scholars. Eight years later, from a report made to the State Supei-intendent of Public Instruction, we learn that three schools had been organized, and in two of them schoolhouses were built. In the same year, 102 scholars were attending, out of 262 entitled to school privileges, that is, between 6 and 21 years of age.

The present condition of the public school system in Greengarden Township may be gathered from the following items extracted from the books of Township Treasurer F. Luehrs :

Besides the instruction given in these schools, two private schools within the limits of the township, and another just in the border of an adjoining township, afford school accommodations for quite a number of children.

There are four church- buildings, three of which have organizations. The Christian Church, already alluded to, is the oldest, being organized in 1847, and a building erected in 1861. The original members of the Church were : Rev. James Hudson, Samuel Bowen, Abel Perkins, Sr. and Jr., and Daniel Haradon, with their wives. In 1861, when the building was erected, the membership embraced about forty persons. The house was raised on the 4th day of July of the year named, and dedicated soon after by Rev. Noah Johnson, under whose pastorate it had existed for some time, and who was mainly instrumental in having the building erected. This, it will be remembered, was the beginning of the rebellion, and most of the strong men of this neighborhood fought as they professed, and enlisted in the army. Therefore, during the balance of the struggle, the Church was weak. After the war was over, quite a number who had been spared to return removed further west ; and, one drawback after another following, the organization continued to weaken until it was finally abandoned, and the building has not been occupied for two or three years.

The German Baptist society was organized by Rev. H. Jacobs, who had emigrated from Germany with some of the founders of the Church. The date of the organization, though we are not able to state precisely, was about 1855, and the building was erected about six years later. The cost of the building was $1,400, and of the parsonage, |800. The church was erected during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Janzen. It is a neat little frame, and stands on the southeast corner of Section 14, in an inclosure in which are deposited the remains of many of its early supporters and members. This church has also decreased in numbers, many of them having removed further west. The present Pastor is Rev. S. Kornier.

St. Peter's German Evangelical Lutheran Church, situated two miles further .north, was erected in 1867, at a cost of $2,000. Previous to this, for four years, services and school had been conducted in the parsonage, which had beeiv built in 1863. The Church was organized at the last date named, by Rev. William Schaefer, with about twelve families. Four years ago, a new churchbuilding was determined upon, and a fine edifice was erected at a cost of $3,000, and the old building has since been used as a schoolhouse. Rev. S. Lang is thepresent Pastor and teacher. The congregation numbers about forty-three families. School is sustained six months in each year. In 1871, the German Methodists erected a neat little church and parsonage near the middle of the northern portion of the township, at a cost of $1,200. The first Pastor was Rev. Carl Stelner. The present Pastor is Rev. Oust Peter, and the membership of the Church consists of about twenty-five families. School is kept open about six months each year. German, the common branches of education, and the religion of the denomination are tanght.

Throughout Will County, Greengarden is noted for its societies and mutual organizations, important among which is the Greengarden Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, protecting against losses by fire and lightning. This Company is composed of about one thousand two hundred members. It was organized in 1867, under the then existing township insurance law, and received itscharter in 1869. The officers of the Company are composed of a president and vice president, secretary and treasurer, who are and must be residents of thetownship of Greengarden, and of a director from each township aside from itself where said township shall have acquired a membership of thirty members. Itsfirst local officers were : President, Henry Stassen ; Vice President, Frederick Buchholz; Secretary, Henry Vischoever, and Treasurer, H. H. Stassen. Its first officers outside the township, which then consisted of its directors and solicitors, were: Henry Suhl, H. H. Stassen, Sr., Henry Engleman and Peter Conrad. Its present local officers are : President, Henry Eisenbrandt ; Vice President, Christian Buck; Treasurer, H. H. Stassen, and Secretary, August Voigt. Its present officials in and outside the township, which consist of its directors and solicitors, are : William Beutien, Nikol Eyrich, John Schoops, Andrew Holl, Henry Engleman, Diedrich Thiesfeld, August Stoekig, Hasch Siemsen, Charles E. Holstein, Henry Vischoever and John Stassen. The first application was made April 11, 1867, by Rev. Frederick Boeber, of Greengarden Township, policy $1,000. This is the cheapest insurance company in the State. Its motto is a union of many for the protection of the individual member, minus a profit to a third party. It insures farm property only, and. charges a one-half-per-eent cash premium, besides a premium note of 3 per cent on the one hundred dollars' worth of property insured by its members. Out of the one-half-per-cent cash premium charged, this Company has defrayed all expenditures, such as salary to officers, incidentals, etc., accompanying the organization of a company, and all losses incurred up to the present date, 1878, and has yet a cash balance on hand large enough to warrant the assertion that it will not make an assessment for a number of years to come. This Com-

For a new township, and thinly settled as was this in 1861, Greengarden did a noble part in the late war ; and its record compares well with that of other portions of the county and State. Quite a number lost their lives in the service of their country, amongst whom are called to mind John Depuy, Stephen C. Kenny, George W. Holmes, Matthew Bush, Bllery B. Mitchell, E. J. White, Albert E. Devereaux, J. D. Blanchard, Albert Haradon and Erastus Rudd.. '"'' Requiem eternam dona eis Domine."

Channahon is an Indian word, signifying the "meeting of the waters," and. alludes to the confluence of the Des Planes and Du Page Rivers, which occurs near the center of the township, and was bestowed on the town by Judge Peck, one of the early settlers of the country. It is described as Township 34 north,. Range 9 east, and is one of the best watered and best drained sections of the county. The surface is uneven and rolling, in some portions rising into blufis, but upon the whole containing much fine farming land, though very little open prairie. At the time of the first settlements in Channahon, much of it was timbered, and what is termed in other States, "open barrens." It lies in the western tier of townships, adjoining Grundy County, and is south of Troy and north of Wilmington Township, with a population in 1870, of 1,164 inhabitants. The Illinois & Michigan Canal, and the Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern Railroad pass through the town, and afi"ord excellent shipping facilities for the large amount of grain and stock annually produced by its enterprising citizens. Upon the whole, Channahon may be set down as one of the wealthy and prosperous townships of Will County.

Joseph Shoemaker is supposed to be the first white settler in Channahon Township. He came from Ohio, and made a claim here in 1831, and is still living in the corner of the town, but has traveled around considerably since his first settlement in this section ; has made a trip to California, and to Nebraska^ but finding no place better than Illinois has returned and settled in his old township. The Tryons and Knapps came from Vermont in 1833, and settled on Section 8, between the Des Planes and Du Page Rivers. The colony consisted of George and Russell Tryon, who were both single men at the time, and Dr. Ira 0. Knapp, his wife and Miss Knapp, a single sister, now the wife of Lyman Foster of Plainfield. Dr. Knapp is a nephew of the Tryons, and his wife and sister comprised the only ladies of their party. He built a log house on his claim 18x20 feet in size, in which all lived for two or three years. Dr. Knapp says he at one time had eight boarders in this little house, as other early settlers would come in, and he would entertain them until they found locations and provided other accommodations. His description of this primitive residence shows what the early settlers had to put up with forty years ago, and were contented if even a shelter could be procured. As stated, the house was 18x20 feet, and three sides of it were of logs, while one end was left open for a fire-place, which was the usual mode then of cabins and fire-places, and the only sawed boards were what the door was made of, the floors and roof being of "shakes" or "clapboards," and puncheons or slabs split out of trees. Dr. Knapp.and George Tryon still live upon their original claims ; Russell Tryon died about three years after their settlement liere. The party stopped first in Plainfield, or Walker's Grove, and finding the timbered land all claimed in that region started out on a prospecting tour, and came down through the present township of Troy into Channahon, west of the Du Page River, where they selected locations, and returned to Plainfield for the purpose of removing their eifects to their claims. In coming back to the place selected, they met with a man named McGill, mentioned as an early settler in Troy Township, who volunteered to come with them and show them eligible points for settlement. Instead of allowing them to gO to the west side of the river, where they had selected claims, he conducted them to their present places, and told them the land was far superior to that on the opposite side, a fact that subsequent developments have proved to be true.

New York State furnished Channahon a number of its early settlers, and some of its most enterprising and worthy citizens. Among them we may men tion Michael Morehouse, J. N. Fryer, Isaac Jessup, E. C. Fellows, Dr. Schermerhorn and his brother, Barant; Judge William B. Peck, Peter McCowan, Burke and Isaac Van Alstine, H. D. Risley, Jedediah, Gerry and Walter Eames, and a man named Baurlyte. Dr. Schermerhorn was a practicing physician, and settled in the town in 1834. Jacob B. Schermerhorn, a son of his, also came this year, but before the old gentleman, and made a claim on Section 8, where he died about fifteen years ago. Barant Schermerhorn, a brother to the Doctor, came the following year, and settled in the neighborhood, where he died many years ago. The Doctor, after practicing his profession here several years, removed to Ottawa. He died some years ago, but his widow was still, living there at the last known of her. Morehouse settled on Section 17, in 1834, where he died in 1875 at the age of fourscore. He was a married man when he came to the settlement, but boarded with Dr. Knapp until he made his claim and built a house. J. N. Fryer was a son of Mrs. Morehouse by a former marriage, and came here with them. He is living near the village of Channahon, and is one of the most prosperous farmers and citizens of the township, and withal one of the popular and public-spirited men of the day, as evidenced by the fact that he has held the office of Supervisor of the town since 1866 without interruption. Isaac Jessup and family settled in the town in 1834, in good time to raise a crop of corn that season. The first flour they used in their new home was procured from Thornberg's, who settled here the previous year. John S., a son of Isaac Jessup, and who was rather young when they came to the country, is now a merchant in Wilmington. Another son is an Episcopal clergyman in New Orleans. It is said that Butler, when in command at New Orleans during the war, arrested and imprisoned him at Fort Pickens because he would not pray for the President of the United States according to the Episcopal Creed. The other sons of William Jessup are dead, but several daughters are still living. He died in 1853. Judge William B. Peck settled in the town in 1835, a little north of the present village. He received his title of Judge while living in New York, and was what was termed a " Side Judge," corresponding, we presume, with the Associate Justices of other States in the olden time. E. C. Fellows and George Tryon married daughters of Judge Peck. The wife of the former is still living, and two sons of the Judge are living, one in New York and the other in California ; but the old gentleman died some twenty years or more ago. E. C. Fellows settled in the town in 1836, but soon removed to Joliet, where for some time he was a prominent lawyer, and where he is noticed as one of the first lawyers in that city. Burke and Isaac Van Alstine settled northeast of the village of Channahon in 1835. The former is still a resident of the township, while Isaac lives in the village. Peter McCowan settled in 1835 on Section 5, where he died about fifteen years ago. H. D. Risley settled in the town in 1834, and was a prominent man and served a term as Sherifl" of the county. He died about 1856 or 1857. Jedediah, Gerry and Walter Eames, three brothers, settled in this section in 1834, and are all dead. Baurlyte settled here in 1834, but after a residence of a year or two, became disgusted with the wilderness of the West and returned to New Y^ork.

Robert Thornberg, Seymour Treat and a man named Greggs came from Indiana in 1833, and are numbered among the very first settlers of Channahon Township. Thornberg died several years ago, but his sons are still living in the neighborhood. Greggs moved to Iowa in 1836. Treat and his two sons, Isaiah and Stephen (one of them a doctor), settled in this township as above stated, and built a grist-mill at the foot of the island, which is called by their name. The Lewises came from the chalky cliffs of Old England, and first settled in Grundy County, just over the line. Joseph Lewis has long been one of the prominent business men and merchants of Channahon. He settled in Grundy County in 1834, and, in 1850, removed to the village of Channahon, where he still lives. Henry Lewis and Dr. William Lewis, his brothers, came to the country in 1833, the year before Joseph came. Dr. Lewis was one of the early practitioners of this section of the country, and died in Grundy County, and Henry was drowned some years ago in the Kankakee River. Gibson Willard came here in 1834 and made a claim, but did not bring his family until the next year. Reuben G. Willard, a nephew, came with him, and, several years later, Reuben Willard, a brother to Gibson Willard, settled in the town. They are all gone now, either dead or moved away, except some grandchildren, who still live in the neighborhood. Hosea Buel settled on Section 5 in 1835, and died twenty or twenty-five years ago. Joseph McCune settled in this township, east of the Des Planes Eiver, in 1832 or 1833, where he died a few years ago. John Troutman settled in the same neighborhood about the same time of McCune. John Ward settled in the town in 1834, but of him but little could be learned. In giving the list of settlers in Channahon Township, we should not omit the mention of a small part of the Fifteenth Amendment, whom many of our readers will remember as "Nigger Dick." This comprises the names of the early settlers so far as they can now be obtained. Any omissions of names entitled to mention as early settlers, result from the fact that the few pioneers left have forgotten them. Forty years is a broad expanse, over which thememory may not always travel with clearness, and that many should be forgotten is but characteristic of human nature.

Channahon Township was, previous to its settlement by the whites, a favorite abode and hunting-ground of the Indians of the Pottawatomie tribe, and many of them were to found here after white men began to settle in the town. They had a village here at one time, traces of which long remained, and mounds, where they buried their dead. Judge Woodruif mentions the grave of one, in his "Forty Years Ago," near the residence of Mr. Treat, who was buried in a sitting posture, and supposed to be one of their prominent men, as they always took great pains to visit it in passing up and down the river. They made a visit to Chicago to receive their wampum, before leaving for the "Far West," and returned to Channahon for a farewell look at the homes of their youth. It is said that many shed tears on leaving forever the spot where their lives had been passed, and that all appeared downcast and sad. If this be true, it shows up a new phase of Indian character, and proclaims them, after all, tinged with a light touch of humanity, though there are many who are a littleskeptical as to the feeling said to have been displayed by them on leaving thissection, and say that most of them manifested the most childish enthusiasm at. the " change of base." But on one point they generally agree, and that was, their loneliness after the departure of the Indians ; for quite a sociability had sprung up between the two races, particularly between the female portion, and, the squaws would frequently visit the whites and bring their papooses with them, and seemed to enjoy, with the most unbounded delight, the hospitality extended by their pale-face sisters. The chief, Bourbonnais, or, as called by the French and Indians, Bil-bo-nee, with the accent on the last syllable, had a great many ponies, and seems to have been quite a lover of horse-flesh. The Indians were great gamblers and horse-racers. " Bil-bo-nee " had a race-course near his village, where they used to race a great deal, and would sometimes bet high on the speed of their ponies. Their track was straight and very level, and did not circle, like those of their white and more refined friends. The chief was a great friend to the white people as long as he remained here, and parted.

them with apparent regret. And, as stated above, a kind of lonely feeling settled over the community after the Indians had gone. For, with a feeling somewhat akin to that of the poet, who wrote within a gloomy prison : and for a lack of a suflSciency of copmanionship in this, their wilderness, a warm friendship had originated between the races ; and when the Indians departed, it left quite an opening in the country, and some few there were who mourned their absence.

The first white child born in the township was George Knapp, a son of Dr. Knapp, and was born in July, 1 834. This, at least, is the first that can now be recalled. Jedediah Eames was killed by lightning in April of 1835 or of 1836, which was probably the first death which occurred in the small settlement. Just who were the first parties to commit matrimony, cannot now be ascertained. Judge Peck's daughters were married very early in the history of the settlement ; but whether George Tryon and Miss Peck were the first married in the town is not known, but they were among the first. Dr. Knapp was the first practicing physician, and Dr. Lewis was the next and very soon after Knapp, while Dr. Schermerhorn was also one of the early doctors of the town. Dr. Knapp retired from the practice of medicine more than twenty-five years ago. The fii'st preacher " crying in the wilderness " of Channahon was the Rev. Mr. Perry, who proclaimed the Word here as early as 1836. He was a Congregational or Presbyterian minister, and was said to be the laziest man the township ever knew. Dr. Knapp went fifteen miles for him to come and preach in their neighborhood. Services were held in the house of Russell Tryon, who was unmarried and gave the use of his residence for a chapel and schoolhouse. The following story is told in illustration of Mr. Perry's "native indolence: " He cut his foot one day, very slightly, with an ax, a wound that an ordinary man would have paid no attention to. But he bundled up his foot with several pounds of rags, dismissed his school, and declined to preach the first Sunday after it occurred. The next Sunday, however, he appeared, with foot well bundled up, hobbling along with a cane, and when commencing to preach, put his foot on a chair, while he bore his entire weight on his well foot. During his sermon he became somewhat excited, forgot his wound, set his lame foot on the floor and the well one on the chair, which so amused the audience that the good eflect of his sermon, if there was any, was lost. He also taught the first school in the township, which commenced simultaneously with his preaching, and was taught in Russell Tryon's house, which, as above stated, was used both as a church and as a temple of learning.

The first schoolhouse was built in 1837-38, on Section 8, near Dr. Knapp's, and was a frame building, something uncommon for school edifices at that early day. In 1872, the school record was as follows : Nine school districts ; 415 pupils enrolled; 13 teachers employed; 1 graded school; 5 schoolhouses ;. special tax for support of schools, $12,000 ; amount paid teachers, $3,357 : 'total expenditures for the year, $5,375.95; balance in treasury, $310.80 - which statistics have not materially changed since that report.

The first church edifice, and the only one in the town, was built in the village, where it is again referred to. The first mill was built on the Des Planes River, by Seymour Treat and his son, as already noticed. It was a log structure and ground wheat and corn. It was built in 1837-38, and has long since passed away; "But," says Dr. Knapp, "when we got that mill in operation in our settlement, we thought we had a big thing." The first post office was established in 1836, through the instrumentality of Judge Peck, who was the first Postmaster. The name of the office was Du Page, a name it bore until the layingout of the village of Channahon, when it was removed to the village and the name changed to Channahon. Judge Peck was also the first Justice of the Peace, and was appointed or elected to the office about 1837. At present, J. N. Fryer and Albert Randall are Justices of the Peace ; J. N. Fryer, Supervisor ; Dr. Joseph Fitch, School Treasurer, and Timothy Gorman, Town Clerk.

The first road laid out, passed through the southwest corner of the township to Joliet, and the first bridge was built across the Du Page River, on Section 18 ; and was built by the people, of logs, and a rather rough affair. The town is well supplied with bridges at the present time, over the Du Page, Des Planes and the Canal, though none of them are iron bridges. They are substantially built, however, with stone foundations, and answer all practical purposes. The first store is noticed in the history of the village. The first blacksmith was Julius Sackett, who kept a shop in the town as early as 1838 or 1839, though of him, little could be learned. The first Supervisor of Channahon, after township organization in 1850, was (jreorge Tryon, who served for 1850-51. Since then the following gentlemen have served in that capacity : H. Henderson, 1853; J. B. Schermerhorn, 1854-56; Charles C. Smith,' 1857-61; E. H. Jessup, 1862 ; John T. Randall, 1863-65 ; J. N. Fryer from 1866 to 1878, inclusive, and is the present incumbent. His long service as Supervisor is the most satisfactory evidence as to his efficiency in the office he fills.

The sandstone quarries of Channahon furnish a very superior quality of building-stone, and were opened originally by Joseph Lewis, long one of the prominent business men of the village of Channahon. Another quarry of a similar character was opened and worked for a time by Patrick Conroy. None of these quarries are now in operation, a fact that seems strange, when we consider the excellent and cheap transportation of freights by way of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. With the apparently inexhaustible supply, the ease with which the stone is reached, it would be natural to suppose that this would be the leading business of the town. Quite an item of importance in the history of this township, is the cheese-factory and creamery. It is owned by Charles C. Smith, one of the wealthy and solid men of the place, and George Alexan-

(ier. The factory was built in the Spring of 1877,. and has since done a large and extensive business, which is increasing rapidly in volume. They manufacture both cheese and butter, purchasing a large quantity of the milk used, while some is made up for their patrons. A grain elevator was built some years ago by H. S. Carpenter, on the Canal, a short distance above the village of Channa. hon, which is now owned by a man named Knapp,* but is at present standing idle. The business has, during the past Summer, been transferred to the Rock Island Railroad which passes within a few miles of the place. The building is an excellent one, provided with steam power, and it seems a pity that it should remain closed and tenantless.

The township is pretty evenly divided on political issues, a small majority, however. Democratic. In the old times of Whigs and Democrats, it voted solid, almost, for Andrew Jackson, and many there are who still vote for the old hera of New Orleans, notwithstanding the great revolution of political questions. Its record during the late war was patriotic, as was every portion of Will County. But as their history and patriotism have been ably written, we shall not attempt to repeat it here.

Village Of Channahon

The village of Channahon is situated on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and on the Du Page River, a little above its junction with the Des Planes, and has the double advantage of a most excellent water-power, and a cheap freight transportation. It was laid out by Myrvin Benjamin, in 1845, and was called Du Page, after the first post office established in the township. During the building of the Canal, it is said that the Canal Trustees had something to do with the village, in some way or other, and called it " Swifton," after one of their number ; but this story is disputed by some of the old citizens of the place, who say that its name still stands upon the records as Du Page, although the name of the present post office is Channahon, and the village is usually called by the same name. The first house erected in the village was put up by Benjamin, about the time of the laying of it out, and was used as a hotel by Mrs. Story. It is now occupied as a residence by David Billsland. Chauncey Stickney opened the first store in the village in 1845, which was the first mercantile venture in the township as well as in the village. After the laying-out of the village, Du Page post office was removed into it and the name changed to Channahon, and at present Charles Fowler is Postmaster. The following is the business summary: Four stores, by C. & C. E. Fowler, J. Lewis, Dr. Joseph Fitch, Timothy Gorman ; one grocery store ; two blacksmith-shops ; one wagon-shop and hardware store. For a small place like Channahon, there is quite an extensive business carried on, and a good trade maintained. They have the advantage of a daily mail, which is brought across the country from Minooka, a point on the Rock Island Railroad. The Channahon Mills were built by Joseph Lewis, and after passing through the hands of several parties, are now owned by a man named Sprague, and at present operated by a Mr. Eversoll. They are frame buildings, containing two runs of buhrs, for flour and feed, and run by the water power of the Canal.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, located in the village of Channahon, is the only church edifice in either township or village. It was built in 1852-53, and is a large and handsome frame building. Rev. R. K. Bibbins was the Pastor last year, but the session of Conference just closed sent to the charge Rev. Mr. Gillespie. There is a membership of between eighty and ninety, with a Sunday school equally strong, under the superintendenee of Dr. J. Fitch. Although this is the only church-building in the township, religious services are frequently held in the schoolhouses, as well as Sunday schools. The first schoolhouse built in the village of Channahon was in 1839, before the village was laid out, and is now degraded by being used as a stable ; the next one was "built in 1854, and burned in 1868, when the present handsome edifice was erected and opened in 1869. It is an elegant and substantial two-story frame building, finished ofi' in the most approved modern style. The school is graded, with a high-school department, and is in charge of Prof. Layburn, assisted by Misses Brown and Blount.

The Masonic Order is represented by Channahon Lodge, No. 262. It was chartered in 1857, and the present ofiicers are as follows : Albert Randall, Worshipful Master ; Nelson Bedford, Senior Warden ; R. C. Miller, Junior Warden, and C. Fowler, Secretary, with forty-five names on the roll of membership. -

This comprises the history of the pretty little village, nestled among the bluffs of the Du Page and Des Planes Rivers. It is a beautiful location for a town, but, owing to the railroads which pass within a few miles of it, there is but little probability of its ever growing to the size of Chicago.

Shermanville is a place only in name. A stone quarry was opened here a few years ago, and an effort made for a village ; but for some cause the quarries were discontinued, and the prospects of a town became extinguished. There is not, we are told, a house or even a cabin to designate the spot laid down on. the map as Shermanville. Gravel Bank Station is another place of like proportions, and consists chiefly of a side-track on the Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern Railroad, for shipping grain and stock.

The alarms of cruel butcheries and inhuman massacres by the Indians had hut ceased to echo through the State of Illinois, and the tracks of the red men were still visible in the soil - the Government having but recently removed them to reservations beyond the Mississippi - when emigrants from all portions of the East and South came pouring into the State. Prior to 1832, many settlements tad been made in the southern and northwestern portions of the State ; and, in the part of the State now embraced in Will County, a few white people had settled among the Indians. But in the year named, owing to the troubles alluded to, this county, with others near the scene of hostilities, was entirely depopulated, and immigration was temporarily ehecked. As soon,however, as it was apparent that the danger was past, the tide again set in with redoubled volume.

Before the Black Hawk troubles, probably, no white man had ever considered the part of the county now called Wesley Township his home, no traces of white men's cabins, or other improvements being detected two years later. John Williams, who still resides in the township, says that, when he first visited the place, in the Fall of 1833, there were no indications that it had ever before been inhabited except by Indians, and that his little cabin, erected at that time, "was the first domicile of that nature ever erected here. Williams was from the Old Dominion, formerly, but had come to the vicinity of Danville in 1831, and was living there when the war broke out. He remembers quite .well seeing the troops leave Danville, on their march to Rock River, where Black Hawk was gathering his allies, preparatory to taking possession of that region, and sweeping off the white population who had dared to encroach upon his domain. In 1838, he came to Joliet, and from there out to this place, to select some land, split rails and build a cabin, preparatory to making a permanent settlement the next Spring. In May of the next year, 1834, he moved to the place, occupied his land and began making other improvements. Mr. Williams was then 33 years old, being born in 1801. He still lives at the age of 77, with body and mental faculties unimpaired, and it is to him that we are indebted for most of the early history of the township.

Though Williams was the first to make an improvement in Wesley Township, he was preceded two weeks in its occupation. When Williams came to occupy his new home, he found George M. Beckwith, Andrew Petfcijohn and Absalom Hey worth already here, and learned that they had left Indiana about a month before, and had arrived here after a journey of twelve days. Beckwith's brother, Daniel W., had been employed by the Government to survey this portion of the State, and from him he had learned of the character of the country, and had moved out. George M. Beckwith was a lawyer, or at least practiced a little in the lower courts, and before Justices of the Peace. He was also a good farmer. He died in 1845, of what is sometimes termed " milk-sickness." His widow afterward married John Frazier, who was also one of the early citizens in this neighborhood.

Daniel Beckwith, to whom allusion has just been njade, took a severe cold while engaged in the work spoken of, from which he never recovered, but died in 1834.

Virginia, made their appearance in the community. These were men whosecoming would be a source of congratulation to any neighborhood and at any time ; but at the time of which we write were they especially welcome. John Frazier was a man of education, and proved to be one of the most useful and influential citizens of the township. He was the first Supervisor of Wilmington Township, when Wesley constituted a portion of it ; and, upon the division he was elected to the same office from this precinct. There was hardly a position of responsibility and trust but that he has filled, and that with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He died September 13, 1868, and his brother Alexander about two years later. Arthur Potts and Robert Watkins, from Virginia, and Hamilton Keeney, from the same State, emigrated to this place a little later, arriving in the Fall of 1834. Watkins was a man of good judgment and some education. He was one of the early Justices of the Peace, being elected to the ofiice before the township was organized. Hamilton Keeney was also a leading man.

During the year 1835, quite a number of new settlers made claims and occupied land, among whom are remembered J. T. Db.vis, George Gay, T. McCarty, Wesley Carter and Griffy Davis. J. T. Davis was an old veteran of the Revolutionary war ; was in Washington's army, and in the important capture of the Hessians at Trenton. He used to relate the circumstances attending this movement with great minuteness and much interest. One of his greatest enjoyments was in thus "fighting his battles over again," and many a pleasant hour the younger folks enjoyed in listening to the old soldier's stories. The other Davis, "Grifiy," was not a relative of the veteran. He came from Ohio, with his young wife, who took sick almost as soon as she arrived, lingered for six months, and died. This was the first death that occurred in the neighborhood. Rough but kindly hands laid her away in the soil of the strange land, and Davis returned to his native State. The place of burial was marked with only a slight wooden headboard, and, it having long since decayed, the spot is not now known. David Blackwell, though not a permanent settler, being a Methodist preacher, came in this year, and organized the Church of that denomination.

William Forbes, William Goodwin, John Strunk, Henry Moore, Joseph Hadsel, Daniel McGilvery, John G. Putman and Elias Freer came in during the two years ending 1837. Forbes was a soldier of the war of 1812, and, like Davis, was fond of entertaining his friends with incidents of his soldier life. He was a millwright, and in this trade he is said to have excelled. He was subpoenaed in the great Parker wheel suit, as a witness against the patentees ; and, though they had successfully contested the rights of many millers to use their device on account of its "back-action" feature, Forbes showed so conclusively to the Court the fallacy of their claim that not only did they lose this suit, but never afterward attempted to enforce a claim against an infringer. One of the counsel for the plaintiffs declared that Forbes knew more about hydraulics than any other man in America. John Strunk was a son-in-law of Forbes, and was also a miller. He worked in the mills at Wilmington for a time, and afterward moved to Momence, and bought the mill at that place. He died at Momence, about fifteen years ago. William Goodwin was one of the most substantial farmers of Wesley Township. His farm, near the center of the township, is one of the most valuable in this vicinity. William Goodwin died about* a year ago, at the age of 68 years, leaving a very large estate. Daniel McGilvery was a Scotchman. He died of consumption, in 1856. All of his family have since been taken away by the same disease, Joseph Hadsel was a native of New York, but had lived for a time in Michigan. His family consisted of himself, wife and six children, all of whom, except his wife, now verging on to her fourscore years, and a daughter, wife of the late Duncan Mclntyre, of Florence Township, are now dead. One son, Charles, met a . torturous death at the hands of the Indians, in New Mexico, whither he was traveling in 1862. Two other sons, Thomas and William, both died the same day, in this township, one of consumption and the other of pleurisy. The older Hadsel passed away in 1862. Elias Freer was a native of New York. His son, Dr. Freer, was one of the most prominent physicians of the Northwest, being, at the time of his death, a couple of years ago, President of Rush Medical College, of Chicago. Another son, L. C. P. Freer, is a prominent lawyer of the same city. Elias Freer removed from the township some years ago.

Some of the old settlers will remember Adam Eeinish, of Reinish Creek. Could his history all be known, it would, doubtless, prove an interesting one, as he served in the war between the French and Russians, and was with Napoleon's army in the retreat from Moscow. No one familiar with that wonderful campaign can doubt but that Reinish saw sights that neither pen nor words can faithfully describe. John G. Putnam, mentioned among the early settlers of Wilmington, was also an early settler here, being in this neighborhood as early as 1837.

By the year 1845, many more had joined the settlement, prominent among whom were James Gould, John Kilpatrick, Anson Packard, David Willard, B. F. Morgan, Richard Binney, Robert Kelly and William Killy. Their names are given as nearly in the order of their coming as can now be remembered. James Gould was one of the most solid men of the township. He grew quite wealthy, and when he died, left a large estate, all of which was accumulated here. John Kilpatrick was also a good citizen, and left to the world a legacy of value - a good family. Hon. David Willard is a native of New York. When he first came to the county, he was employed as a laborer by Peter Stewart. He is a man of high standing, politically and socially. He has served the county eight years as County Judge, and in the discharge of his duties gave the most eminent satisfaction. B. F. Morgan is also of New York. He has gained the enviable reputation of being a good citizen. Richard Bin- ney was a native of New York. He was a man of worth and a successful farmer. He died in 1856, leaving a wife, who still survives him. William Killy was from the Isle of Man. All that can be said of a good citizen can be truthfully said of him. He died about eight years ago. His son John occupies the farm. Robert Kelly came from New Orleans. A little incident is related of his coming, which is at the same time interesting and amusing. When Kelly came to the neighborhood, it was with the object of purchasing a piece of land, with a view of making it a home. Having fixed upon a tract belonging to John Kilpatrick, which land was for sale, a bargain was struck, the deed made and the purchase-money paid down - $800, all in Mexican dollars. Kelly, having bought his home, went his way, intending to return the next season to put out a crop and make improvements, and Kilpatrick pocketed his cash, congratulating himself on having made a good sale. By and by Kilpatrick wished to use some of the money, and it was paid out in various ways - some of it paying bills at the store and other amounts being loaned to neighbors, who used it for difi"erent purposes, so that, in a short time, it was all in circulation. All at once it was discovered that the whole lot of coin was bogus. In those times, money did not leave a community and circulate so rapidly as now, so that, although the $800 had all been paid out, it had not left the neighborhood, and small amounts were in the hands of almost everybody. By common consent, and a suspicion that, perhaps, after all, the money was genuine, it continued to circulate and was paid out and taken at par. Gradually the coins became scarcer, indicating that they were finding their way out into the world ; but " Kilpatrick's currency '' was a standing joke for years after the last piece was seen. Kilpatrick and Kelly were both innocent parties, having both received and paid out the" stuff,' Supposing it to be good. Kelly returned in the Spring following and occupied his farm, and was much surprised to learn that it had been bought with counterfeit money, and gratified that it had been placed beyond redemption.

Nearly all of the settlers of this neighborhood were Methodists, and one of the first public acts was to organize a society for the purpose of holding religious services. In the Winter of 1834-35, meetings were held, and Rev. David Blackwell was sent by the M. E. Conference to preach. A Church and Sunday school were organized, and these have both continued in operation ever since. Although this society is the only religious organization in the township, and, although it has been quite strong and wealthy, no exclusive church-building has ever been erected. For a number of years, services were held in the little schoolhouse. After a time, when the congregation had outgrown its narrow quarters, it was proposed to build a new schoolhouse of such dimensions as would answer both- purposes, and this building has ever since been occupied by the society and the school. The first members of the society or class were John Frazier, James W. Kelly, Hamilton Keeney, John Williams and John Kilpatrick, with their wives. Rev. Mr. Meedham is the present Pastor of the Church.

The first school taught in the township was in John Williams' log kitchen . The school was taught by John Frazier, in the Winter of 1836-37. The next Summer it was deemed expedient to build a house for that purpose. This was the first schoolhouse erected on either bank of the Kankakee River, in what is now Will County. The building is still in use, but not as a schoolhouse. It now serves the ignoble purpose of a lumber-room, on the farm of Frank Childs. The earliest record of schools dates back to 1841, and shows three schools in operation at that time. Of these, Timothy McCarty, James Hadsel and Joseph Dunlap were Directors of District No. 1 ; James W. Kelly, Robert Watkins and John Williams, of No. 2 ; and G. M. Beckwith, John Kilpatrick and Nathan Smith, of No. 3.

The school township then, as now, occupied all of Town 32 north. Range 10 east ; and, consequently, all of that portion of Custer Township, then settled, was embraced in District No. 3, Nathan Smith being the Director from the " other side of the river." The arbitrary formation of all Congressional towns into school towns, while townships are bounded in many cases, as in this, by difiierent lines, makes it impossible to give exact statistics. At the date named, there were in the school township, 132 children, 46 of whom were in District No. 1 ; 51 in District No. 2 ; and 36 in District No. 3. The first name appearing on the record as School Treasurer, is that of David Willard, who continued to exercise the functions of that office until 1865. In 1846, a new district, designated as No. 4, was formed of that portion of No. 3 which lay in Custer, or south of the river. The following table will serve to show the condition of schools at this date :

The first year after the township organization act was in force in this county, Wesley Township was a part of Wilmington, as was, likewise, Florence. Of these three, John Frazier was elected Supervisor. The next year the township of Wesley was formed and township officers elected. The first election was held at the schoolhouse, in District No. 2, April 1, 1851. Henry D. Childs was Moderator, and H. B. Putman, Clerk. Fifty-eight votes were cast, of which majorities were declared for John Frazier as Supervisor ; Elias Freer, Clerk ; David Willard, Assessor ; Anson Packard, James Gould and Daniel McGilvery, Commissioners of Highways ; B. F. Morgan, Collector ; David Willard and Alfred Warner, Justices of the Peace ; Daniel Ferris and Palmer Robinson, Constables ; and Samuel Jewet, Overseer of the Poor. The present ofiicers are as follows: Harvey Warner, Supervisor; Levi A. Richardson, Clerk ; D. B. Ritchey, Collector ; H. H. Jones, Assessor ; John Ritchey and Amasa Richardson, Justices of the Peace ; Charles Muncey, Constable ; Joseph John-

The notes of the bugle, summoning the loyal men of the country to come forward and rescue the country from the hands of those who would destroy it, were heard and heeded by the brave boys of Wesley ; and scarcely had the first blast broken the peaceful stillness which usually precedes the storm, when many who loved country more than homes or kindred, were on their way to the front. Some of them never returned, but their bodies lie in the soil beside those with whom they struggled ; others were permitted to return, disabled by wounds or disease, to die at their homes and be laid to rest by friendlier hands, in the little cemetery whither their fathers and kindred had preceded them ; and, with thanks to God, who had preserved them through all of the dangers and hardships of the campaign, others returned at the close of the war and are still spared to their friends and to the country which they served so faithfully.

The township of Wesley consists of about twenty-nine sections, being all of Congressional Towns 32 north, Ranges 9 and 10 east of the Third Prmoipal Meridian, lying east and north of the Kankakee River. The land in the north and east parts of the township is first-class, being of rich, deep soil and very productive of corn, hay, rye and oats, large crops of which are raised. The south and west portions are bi;oken by sand ridges, and these are, in a measure, barren. Wheat is grown here to some extent; and John Kelly says that his farm has produced fair crops every year for thirty-nine years.

Of late years, many of the farmers have been giving attention to dairying and a cheese and butter factory has been recently built in the eastern part, by Elnathan Wright, of Manteno, 'to accommodate that industry. Stone of a good quality, but rather difiicult to quarry is found along the bank of the Kankakee. Forked Creek which enters the township in the northeast corner and leaves at the northwest corner, flows, with long and gradual bend, through the central part, affording fine stock-water to the farms in its vicinity. Nearly one-half was formerly covered with timber. Much of the best timber, however, has been cut down, and the most of that remaining is valuable for posts and fuel. It is hardly necessary to inform our readers that the township was named in honor of the great apostle of Methodism, John Wesley. The pioneers of this vicinity were nearly all of that persuasion ; and when a name was required for it, they bestowed upon it that name which, next to the saints, is dear to every Methodist.

Although this is the newest township in regard to name, it was, nevertheless, one of the first organized. The territory now embraced within its boundaries was, in reality. Reed Township, though the portion containing eighteen sections of the original forty-four sections recently struck off from the west side now bear that name. The earliest settlements were all made along or near the bank of the Kankakee River, and when the organization of Reed was effected, there was scarcely an inhabitant in Reed outside the present boundaries of Custer. However, as the proposition to "secede" came from the eastern portion, the west end retained the name of Reed, and the east end was left to seek a new one. As Custer Township (it having existed as such only two years), its story be soon told ; but its early history not being included in the one headed Reed Township (that being but little else than the history of Braidwood, whose interests and peculiarities are entirely different), we find it necessary to go back many years. The history of this portion of the county, though not so ancient as that of some others, is yet sufficiently so to give it that desirable flavor which makes a narrative of this kind interesting; for to repeat only what everybody already knows is a task quite as irksome to the writer as it would be tedious to the reader. The township, as now laid out, consists of all that portion of Congressional Towns 32 north and 9 and 10 east, lying southwest of the Kankakee River and east of the section line separating Sections 3 and 4, in Range 9 ; and is bounded on the north by Wilmington Township, on the east by the Kankakee River, on the south by Kankakee County, and on the west by Reed Township. But little can be said in favor of the soil, as it is usually of a poor quality. Some good farms are interspersed with the sand ridges, but for the most part the land is adapted only for grazing. Doubtless, a considerable portion of the west side of the township has, underlying its surface, a - deposit of coal of the same character and quality as that found at Braidwood, and only awaits the miner's pick to make it of equal value. The township is watered by the Kankakee, Horse Creek and another small branch of the Kankakee. The Chicago & St. Louis Railroad crosses the northwestern corner, -cutting off an eighth of a section, and furnishing, at Wilmington and Braidwood, commercial facilities for the western part. The Kankakee being navigable for small steamers to the eastern point, an outlet is thus furnished for the upper portion. Though navigation has been improved by the building of the dams at Wilmington, it has in reality been used for that purpose during wet seasons since the earliest settlements of the adjacent country. As early as 1834, the products of the farm were boated down the Kankakee to the Des Planes, and up the latter river to Chicago. It is related that during the year named some parties loaded a boat on Sugar Creek, a tributary to the Iroquois, with 300 bushels of oats, 300 bushels of wheat and some hams, with the design of taking them to Chicago to supply the garrison stations there. The trip down the Kankakee was accomplished without accident or unusual trouble ; after entering the Des Planes, when near Treat's Island, the boat dipped water and so dampened the grain that they were obliged to unload and try to dispose of their produce at that point. At that time, settlers were arriving in that neighborhoo'l quite rapidly, and they had no trouble in disposing of their whole .cargo - the oats at 50 and the wheat at 75 cents per bushel. At present, small steamers owned by Messrs. Small, of Wilmington, and Stephen F. Hanford, of Warner's Landing, ply regularly between these points and Chicago, carrying to that city corn, oats, rye and other products, and bringing back lumber, salt and other heavy articles. The "Landing," which is located near the eastern point of the township, is considered the head of navigation during the dry season, but when the river is ordinarily full, boats can run much higher.

In 1871-72, considerable work was done on the proposed Decatur & State Line Railroad, which was to cross the river at a point a short distance above the landing. Large sums of money were expended and a good portion of the road was ready for the ties. At this time a dozen huge pillars rear themselves from the bed of the Kankakee, over which the trains were to pass, like great monuments, reminding one of both the sincerity of its projectors, and of what, must be the disappointed hopes of them and of the inhabitants of this vicinity. About the time that this work was in progress, the great fire in Chicago occurring, so crippled some of the friends of the enterprise that work had to be suspended. Then it was proposed to interest some Boston capitalists, but before arrangements were complete, a repetition of the Chicago catastrophe alsooccurred in Boston; and, other reverses following, work has never been resumed. Some hopes are still entertained that the line will yet be completed.

The very earliest settlements occurred between the years 1836 and 1840. Andrew Yeates, Thomas Hatton, Samuel Taft and Nathan Smith were the first who could, with propriety, be called permanent settlers. There were a few others during this period, but as they did not remain long, their mention is not a matter of importance.

Andrew Yeates was a native of Ireland. He was a man of means and ability. It is doubtful if he was ever fully appreciated in the community, as it was not generally known that his education and capabilities were of a superior character. Unlike most emigrants from foreign lands, who come to this country on account of poverty and for the purpose of simply gaining a livelihood, Yeates came with plenty of money, and could have lived without work. He removed to Kankakee County some years ago, and has since died. His widow is still an inhabitant of the township.

Thomas Hatton was a brother-in-law of Yeates. Samuel Taft was a native of New York. Like many others, he was attracted to this neighborhood by the abundance of game, and made its capture and destruction a means of livelihood. At that date, this was one of the easiest means of subsistence. Thewoods swarmed with deer, turkeys and other game ; and the hunter could, in one day, bring down enough to last his family for weeks. The skins of the deer and coon, and the scalps of wolves brought a small revenue, that supplied him with such clothing as the pioneer customs of the country demanded. The river teemed with fish, and these could be caught at all seasons of the year.

After Taft's death, which occurred many years ago, his wife married Darwin Dodd, by whom she has had twenty-four children, all of whom are alive- and -well. They live in Minnesota. It will not be surprising to learn that Mr. and Mrs. Dodd are thorough " grangers," and believe in ignoring the small merchants and middle-men. Thev buy directly of manufacturers, hats, shoes, calico and all kinds of eatables not produced on the farm. Nathan Smith, now a citizen of Wilmington and Police Magistrate of that city, is a native of Vermont. He was for a few years a citizen of Wesley Township, and his name appears as one of the first School Directors of District No. 3 in 1841. James Hines came to the township in 1846, by which time had also arrived John S. Hoyte, Joseph Wood, Jeremiah Gray, Elias Winchell, Patrick Judge and R. S. Noble.

Henry Hudson, from Ohio, also came in 1846, and still resides in the township. Hudson carried the mail from Wilmington to Pontiac for nine years, ending in 1854, at which date the Chicago & Mississippi Railroad was completed, and Hudson's services were no longer required.

Stephen F. Hanford is a resident of thirty years. In 1848, he came to this place, and entered, with soldier's land warrant, a large tract of land, of which he still owns over one thousand acres. He is a native of Ohio, and came to the State six years before his advent to this place.

One of the most prominent and able men who ever resided in this part of the county was Richard Warner, a native of Ohio, who came to this township in 1853. Warner had been a member of the State Senate of Ohio, and had filled other positions of honor. He was for several years Supervisor, and it was largely due to his influence during his occupancy of that office, that the magnificent bridge across the Kankakee at Wilmington was erected. His death, which occurred nineteen years ago, was considered a public calamity. At the time of his demise he was possessed of a large estate.

John Kahler, now a resident of Wilmington, but prior to coming to this county a resident of Pennsylvania, was also an early settler. He farmed here for many years, but old age compelled him to give up agricultural pursuits and engage in lighter work.

Religion in this township is not indicated by church spires, but we do not doubt that there is real, genuine piety here. Though there are no church buildings or organizations, the inhabitants are not without church privileges. On every side in the adjoining townships are churches and buildings - especially at Braidwood and Wilmington - where many of the religiously inclined attend. There being no village within the limits, it has not been a natural abiding place for lawyers or doctors, the people supplying themselves with law, physic and theology at the neighboring towns.

Due attention is given to the subject of education, and five schools are in successful operation, the first of which was established in 1846.

Full school statistics in regard to this township are not obtainable from reports, as the territory embraced in Custer lies in two Congressional towns.

In 1876, the citizens of the eastern portion of Reed Township, seeing that their interests were entirely different from those of the western portion, and that the tastes, habits and pursuits were somewhat inharmonious, petitioned to the Board of Supervisors to be set off as a separate precinct. A majority of the Board coinciding with the views of the petitioners, a division was made as -described, and an election of township officers ordered. The tragedy of the brave Gen. Custer and his troops being fresh in mind, the township was named in his honor. The first officers elected were : George Petro, Supervisor ; M. L. Russell, Clerk ; I. T. Palmer, Assessor, and John Evans, Collector - all of whom continue to hold the respective offices. John Meadern and Lewis Monteith are Justices of the Peace ; James Bradford, Constable ; Henry Miller, A. G. Taylor and Ira Smith, Commissioners of Highways. The highest vote jet polled was 103.

Warner's Landing, though not a laid-out village, contains a store, blacksmith-shop and other conveniences common to a small country town. Grain is shipped from here in large quantities, as indeed it is the exclusive market for the products of the farm for this neighborhood.

Jedediah WooUey, Sr., was one of the earliest settlers of Plainfield, but of that township it could hardly be said that he became a permanent resident, as he removed from it before the land came into market. He, however, lived there some time, and there experienced some of the trials and privations of pioneer life incident to this country at a period prior to 1835. In the year named, he removed to Troy Township, made a claim and settled permanently. His son, Jedediah Woolley, Jr., had already made some improvement, having built a saw-mill on the Du Page, which flows through the township. The sawmill was completed and in operation by the Fall of 1834. His was the first mill enterprise in Troy, and one of the very first in the county. It was looked upon as a great addition to the industries of the community, and furnished lumber for most of the early buildings in this vicinity. The canal and railroad, though dreamed of, had not been built, and the only commercial communication with the village of Chicago was by means of wagons, and so most of the houses prior to that date were built entirely of logs. A dwelling of the character in use in those days would be almost a curiosity now ; and, as compared with the fine farmhouses and almost palatial residences of Troy and vicinity, would, at least, be considered a novelty. They generally consisted of a pen, from sixteen to twenty feet square, built up of small logs, notched at each end, to admit of others lying thereon. The pen was built to the height of about ten feet, and divided into a lower and upper room by joists of small logs covered with

T)oards split from the bodies of straight-grained trees. Sometimes the upper joom was dispensed with, and the single room answered the purpose of kitchen, pantry, parlor, dining-room, bed-room and cellar. Floors were not considered indispensable, and Mother Earth herself was the floor and carpet. A bedstead has been described to us as consisting of two poles driven into holes bored into the logs which formed the wall of the building, and supported at the other ends by a stake driven into the ground. A bed-cord was made of bark stripped from the body of a hickory-tree. Windows were glazed with panes made by saturating strong white paper with grease. This made a fine substitute for both glass and curtains, for, while it admitted the light, it also prevented the direct Tays of the sun from entering, being translucent without being transparent. The roof of the dwelling was constructed of split shingles - an article scarcely known at the present - held in their places by poles laid thereon.

Jedediah Woolley, Jr., was County Surveyor when Will was a part of Cook County, and surveyed the county. Both he and his father are dead. A man named Chipman was partner with the younger Woolley in the saw-mill. Chipman was from the State of Ohio. He did not find the country all that he had anticipated, and, after a short residence, he returned to the Buckeye State.

Alford McGrill, a son-in-law of the Elder Woolley, moved to the township at the same time. He is spoken of as kind-hearted, big-souled man, and well liked by all who knew him. It was such men who made the pioneer life toler- - able to those whose former lives had been spent in localities where social advantages had been somewhat superior to what they found in their new homes. It was McGill who guided the Knapps and the Tryons of Channahon, to the place of their location, and recommended it as the finest soil in the country. Like many other great-hearted, social fellows, he had one fault developed by the influence and habits of pioneer life. The cup, to which he was most friendly, Tvas his worst and most relentless enemy, and finally overcame him entirely, dragging him down to an untimely grave. Cary Thornton was a native of Pennsylvania, but had lived in the State of New York prior to coming here, in 1835. At that date, he came West, and attended the land sale and purchased a half-section of land. The next year, 1836, he, with his brother William, moved from New York to the land purchased the year before, each occupying one-half The location of the land was in the southern part of the township, and is now known as the Farnsworth property. Cary Thornton removed to the city of Joliet, in 1866, where he still resides, an active old gentleman of 79 years. William Thornton removed to Lake County, where he died about six years ago.

Josiah Holden, a brother of Phineas Holden, who settled in New Lenox at an early date, was in the township as early as 1836. He moved away and died many years ago. Dr. Alexander McGregor Comstock, whom, from the name we imagine, to have been a Scotchman, came here from New York, about 1837. He moved to the city of Joliet and died of cholera, during the reign of that fatal plague years ago. He was the first resident physician, and a man of much intelligence and of excellent attainments. Horace Haff was from the Black River country, of New York, and settled in this township about 1837. By him the township was named West Troy, probably from the city of the same name, near which he had formerly lived. A portion of the name was afterward dropped, leaving it as we now have it. Andrew and Marshall King came to this place from Indiana, and settled in the north part of the township. Andrew died here, October, 1849. Marshall moved to Texas, where he died several years ago. A son of Andrew King is a resident of Joliet, and is engaged in the lumber trade. The Kings were natives of Kentucky.