Alto Township (part 2 of 3)

In 1872 the town was chartered under the state law of incorporation. The issue at the municipal elections has generally been the license question. Of those who have most strongly opposed the license system may be named Geo. H. Taylor, C. Durkes, Charles Hansen, Ezra Wood, and Thomas Scott. With the railroad came a demand for liquor. E. McGuire, a noted character in the annals of this town, set up a rum-shop in 1854 on State street near the railroad. A year or two later it was torn down by a body of citizens and his liquors emptied in the street. This act led to considerable litigation. The irrepressible McGuire again located near the Hughes hotel and for many ^^ears after waged war with the anti-license element, claiming that if he had been let alone he would have converted the people to the cold-water plan, so much was he given to watering his stock. In 1861 a license w^as granted, and for a few years a bad state of things seemed to have prevailed. To use the language of a prominent citizen acquainted with the facts, " The legality of the town board was soon after questioned ; its ordinances were obeyed or not as suited the individuals ; lawlessness and drunkenness were rampant ; gambling was carried on day and night in low places." Elections for town boards were not regularly held, nor were the proceedings of meetings alwa_ys recorded. " Tlie board ordered walks repaired and road labor performed ; scarcely anyone would obey. The walks became unsafe ; drunken men staggered in the streets until the thing became intolerable." The new charter of 1864 made strict provision for the regulation of the liquor question. In July of that year three roughs with drawn revolvers tried to intimidate the president of the board, C. Durkes, for the purpose of obtaining permission to gamble in one of the saloons. In a melee that ensued Samuel Simmons, an inoffensive citizen, was severely injured. These were the dark days in the history of Franklin Grove. No licenses were issued from 1867 till

1877, when after an exciting canvass the license party prevailed. There are now three saloons in the village, each paying a license of $200.

According to the censns of 1880 the town has a population of 730. It has never contracted a bonded indebtedness. In 1860 H. I. Lincoln built the first substantial store building in the new town. In 1864 Frast and Hanger put up a large elevator, now owned by D. F. Lahman. In 1867 P. C. Rooney built his store. In 1871 Black and Twombl}' put up the block now owned and occupied by Black and Durkes. Canterbury built in 1872. The Band Hall was built in 1874, the wind grist-mill in 1875, and the Franklin Hotel in 1876.

The only paper here that has survived its infancy is the Franklin Grove "Reporter." Its sliort-lived precursor was the Franklin Grove " Gazette," printed in Dixon ; it lived only a few months. The "Reporter " was started by John Blocher, editor and proprietor, and dates from August 1869. At the close of its second year D. H. Spickler bought the paper. He ran it till May 1875, when T. W. Scott became the manager.

Dr. D. H. Spickler was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1830. He came west in 1853, and in 1857 graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago. For several years he was associated with Dr. G. W. Hewitt, of this place. After his connection with the " Reporter" he edited the Mendota " News " two years. He then settled to the practice of his profession at Asliton, where he died October 28, 1879. He was buried in the Franklin Grove cemetery. Scott sold out to D. B. Senger, the present editor and manager, August 5, 1876. The "Enterprise" was edited by P. O. Sproul from June, 1879, till November, 1880, the limits of its existence. The " Electric Light " was commenced in June of 1881, by A. D. Webb and W. G. Blocher.

Secret Societies

Franklin Grove Lodge, No. 264, A.F. and A.M., was chartered October 6, 1858. The charter members were L. M. Blaisdell, Daniel B. McKinney, Nathan .Whitney, A. R. Whitney, William Forbes, Reuel Thorpe, C. Durkes, J. C. Black, George W. Hewitt, A. B. Fitch, P. C. Rooney, M. Decker, Isaac F. Forbes, Thomas L. Wood. The first ofiicers were L. M. Blaisdell, W.M.; D. B. McKinney, S. W.; William Forbes, J.W.; Reuel Thorpe, Treas.; C. Durkes, Sec"; A. B. Fitch, S.D.; P. C. Rooney, J.D., and J. C. Black, Tyler. The present officers are Samuel Dysart, W.M.; B. L. Spence, S.W.; E. E. Faunce, J.W.; A. R. Whitney, Treas.; P. Runyan, Sec; Jacob Gall, S.D.; S. Mong, J.D.; T. W. Scott, Chap.; A. D. Morrison, S.S.; Edward Drummond, J.S.; J. B. Spafford, Tyler. For eighteen years

A. R, Whitney has been treasurer of the lodge, and P. Riinyan has been secretary for twelve years. In the winter of 1867-8 the lodge met in the new hall over Rooney's store. This hall they purchased in the following year for $3,000. Previously meetings were held in the Hughes House, where the lodge was organized. Its membership is now fifty-five, only two of whom are out of the State of Illinois. Since the last return to the Grand Lodge, August 1880, the Franklin Grove Lodge has sustained the loss of three members, Dr. G. W. Hewitt, Thomas L. Wood, and L. C. Fish. -

George Engel, W. H. Bassler, and Nelson Strong, At the first meeting fourteen were admitted by card and initiation. In 1871 the lodge had forty-five active members. In 1880 eighteen names were reported to the Grand Lodge. The present officers are John Blocher, JST.G.; Solomon Sunday, V.G.; Kincaid Runyan, Treas.; S. "W". Reigle, Sec; Geo. Engel, P.G.; S. W. Reigle, D.D.G.M.

Religious

At quite an early date religious meetings were held by the Methodists, German* Baptists, and the Universalists, of the Franklin Grove settlement. Log cabins and log school-houses served for temples of worship. Even the saw-mill on the creek was sometimes brought into requisition ; and when in a busy time it was considered necessary to run it Sundays, the water would be shut off only long enough for the assembled worshipers to go through with their praises and devotions. The writer did not learn the denomination, if denominational they were, by which these " saM^-mill " meetings were conducted. We doubt not, however, that they were of the genuine stamp. The first class of the Methodist church was formed by Father McKane, the Rock river missionary, probably before 1840, and C3a'us Minor was leader. The class met at his house and at Morgan's, and perhaps elsewhere. " In 1853 and 1854 R. R. Bibbins, of Light House Point (Ogle county) circuit, preached here once in four weeks Sabbath evening. In the fall of 1854 Brother Henry Martin, then stationed at Light House Point, came here and made an effort to raise the scattered membership ; he reorganized the class with James Welsh leader." The class then met in the log school-house at the head of the grove. Brother Welsh Sister Rogers and Joseph Williams were often the only members present ; occasionally old Sister Morgan would attend class. In 1854 Docter Roe and his wife were members of this class. In the fall of 1855 M. Decker was sent to Lee Center, and Franklin Grove became a part of his charge. This year the first quarterly meeting was held in the new school-house, Luke Hitchcock, the presiding elder, being present. A. D. Field, H. Richardson and Brother Penfield followed M. Decker as pastors of the society. In the fall of 1860 W. T. Harlow, principal of the Rock River Seminary at Mt. Morris, came twenty miles to fill his appointments here. " Garrison's " and Grand Detour were then the other points on the circuit. In the fall of 1861 Rev. Brookins came and remained two years. In 1862 the Universalist church was used for worship. During this year many were added to the church ; three classes were formed. In 1863, during the pastorate of C. W. Wright, the church building was begun on the corner of what are now known as State and Middle streets, in the western part of the village, very near where the Tolmans settled. In the same year a board of trustees was chosen, among whom were James H. Welsh, A. R. Whitney, and Joseph Williams. In the fall of 1866 H. J. Husted organized the Sabbath-school, with twenty-five scholars. The same year twenty were added to the church. The school now has an enrollment of seventy-eight, E. A. Wood, superintendent. The pastors not mentioned have been C. Webster, "Brother Penfield," L. M. Anderson, H. T. Giles, John Williamson, A. P. Hatch, S. T. Snow, James Bush, A. J. Scott, J. Wardle, J. C. Cooper, and A. H. Schoonraaker. The present officiary of the church are : trustees, George H. Taylor, A. S. Jacobs, E. A. Wood, George Newcomer, John D. Sitts, and M. L. Gaver ; stewards, George Newcomer, John Welsh, H. L. Gaver, H. Street, E. A. Wood, Mrs. Durkes, and Mrs. Forbes ; pastor, A. H. Schoonmaker. The church is clear of debt and has a membership of about fifty.

On July 12, 1881, the Dixon District Camp-meeting Association was organized at Franklin Grove. The officers of the association are : president. Rev. L. Hitchcock, D.D. ; vice-president, Hon. Isaac Rice; secretary. Rev. I. E. Springer ; treasurer, Rev. A. H. Schoonmaker ; executive committee. Rev. A. H. Schoonmaker, Rev. F. P. Cleveland, Rev. R. M. Smith, Rev. G. W. Carr, Hon. F. G. Petrie, R. B. Sproul, and James Brown. Ten acres of ground just outside of the village corporation, west of the Methodist Episcopal church, was bought from I, Zug for $1,000. This is being fitted up, and is to be used for a permanent camp-meeting ground. The first meeting opened August 31, 1881.

The Revs. W. W. Harsha and E. Erskine, and Elder Charles Crosby, were a committee appointed by the Rock River (O. S.) presbytery for the organization of a Presbyterian church at Franklin Grove. Accordingly the committee met in the public school room January 1, 1861. The following persons presented themselves, and were duly organized under the name of the Franklin Grove Presbyterian church : Thomas Scott and his wife, Elizabeth ; George H. Brewer and Mrs. Abbie D. Brewer, James Leidy, Mary A. Girton, Mrs. A. Twiss, Mrs. C. D. and Mrs. S. Loorais, Jeremiah Ketchum and Mrs. Phoebe Ketchura; George W. Brayton and Lucy A. Brayton by letter; and on profession of faith, Mr. P. Y. Van Yrankin, Richard Pollock, Miss Mary A. Pollock, Mr. J. Gilbert and Mrs. Elizabeth Gilbert, Silas P. Tolman and his wife, Clarinda. Mr. C. D. Loomis and Jeremiah Ketchum were elected elders. C. D. Looniis was the first clerk. G. W. Brayton, G. W. Hewitt, G. W. Pitcher, G. H. Brewer and Jeremiah Ketchum were the first board of trustees. At a meeting February 9, 1861, George H. Brewer was elected secretary of the church and board of trustees. There had been occasional preaching a short time before the organization was effected. W. W. Harsha was the first pastor. During January of 1861 Mrs. Yan Yrankin, Mrs. Jane Hussey, James Butler and Mrs. Sarah Butler were admitted; in June, 1862, James M. Dysart, Martha A. Yan Yrankin, Gertrude M. Yan Yrankin, Alice M. and Lucy A. Brayton. September 19, 1863, G. W. Brayton, Thomas Scott and J. Gilbert were ordained and installed as ruling elders by W. L. Lyons, the second pastor. At the same date Dr. G. W. Hewitt, his wife, Carrie D., and Mrs. Sophia Brown were received on examination ; and Mrs. E. M. Lyons by letter. The Rev. Lyons has been succeeded in the pastorate by W. Hare, A. F. Morrison, Spencer Baker, S. N. Yail, W. C. Cort, F. C. Cochrane, and H. S. Jordan. A Sunday-school was organized in 1857, with T. W. Scott as superintendent, in which capacity Mr. Scott has acted ever since with slight intermissions. This was a union school, and it now numbers about 100 members. The present membership of the church it sixteen. In 1865 this society conjointlj^ with the Lntiierans (German) built a church, which they have since used in common.

The German Lutheran church was organized under the preaching of Rev. William Ulil, and meetings were held in Lincoln's Hall, the Universalist church, and the scliool-house, previous to the building of the church, about one year. George Engel, George Fishback, George Kreitzer and John Genk constituted the first board of trustees. The pastors have been William Angelberger, who organized the Sabbathschool, Charles Young, C. A. Renter, H. Staufi'enberg, and Rev. Stolle. The present trustees are Joseph Goether, Ernst Dietrick, Z. Wendel, and Henry Gonnerman. For several years the church has been weak, there having been a dissension which has divided its members.

The German Baptist church, familiarly styled the Brethren or Dunkards, has great financial and numerical strength. The first families of this faith to settle here were the Lahmans and the Emmerts, who came in 1843. The following year the Riddlesbargers came, and about this time meetings were held in their respective dwellings and subsequently in the log school-house. Father Emmert was the first preacher. Christian Lahman was also a minister in this church. The first liouse of worship was built on the Dixon road in the present town of Nachusa. This was a small grout house, about 20x30 feet, on the south side of the IST.E. J Sec. 5, T. 21. It has since been twice remodeled, until its dimensions are 35x60 feet. About fifteen years ago a'^church was built at Ashton. In the fall of 1879 the central church was built at Franklin Grove, a little northwest of the village. This is a large building. In these three edifices services are alternated. This is styled the Rock River church. Its present membership is about 175. Seven or eight years ago it was 300, but many have left, thus reducing the number. The church has no officiating pastor ; but they, so to speak, do their own preaching ; that is, there are two resident ordained elders or bishops, arid others of inferior orders, there being three orders of ordination in the church. These bishops and elders share the labor of preaching the gospel. The most apparent characteristics of this people are the simplicit}' of their dress and worship, and in business their industry and thrift, with a lack of what is commonly called enterprise or public spirit.

The Universalist church of Franklin Grove was organized by Thomas J. Carney, who wrote the constitution, by-laws, etc. In 1856 a church was built on the corner of Elm and Bradford streets. While it was building meetings were held in the house of Jonas Clisbe, now Dr. U. C. Roe's dwelling. The Hausens, Uncle John Fish, "old man Clisbe," who had the contract to build the church, John C. Black and Isaac Twombly were early members of the organization. But many years prior to this organized society there was preaching at Hansen's, Whipple's, Cooper's, and at other private houses. T. J. Bartholomew was the first preacher. J. O. Barrett and C. F. Dodge preached each two years. The Rev. Chase and the Rev. Cook were pastors, Cook being the last. For several years there have been no regular services, and the society, once quite flourishing, seems now to be nearly broken up.

The first and only school-house in Franklin Grove was built in part in 1856, on the corner of Elm and Bradford streets. It was then 30 X40 feet. In 1867 thirty feet in length was added, making it 30 X 70 feet. The first principal was T. W. Scott, ably assisted by his wife. The school was soon graded into four departments, one primary, two intermediate, and one high school. Mr. Scott was connected with the school in all seventeen years. The other principals were Moler, Wood, Whetstone, Newton, and Webb. Of the teachers who deserve mention by reason of their long or eflticient service, or both, are Miss Hattie Walters, Miss Young, Julia M. Brackett, Virginia Brown, Sophia Town, Mrs. Tyler, Maggie Bailey, Miss Ramsdell, Bricy Gaver, and Mrs. Kewton. E. W. Newton, S. A. Griswold and A. Plessinger are the present trustees, and Prof. Thorp is the principal.

Miscellaneous

In 1863 the Franklin Grove Cemetery Association was formed, and Isaac Twombly was made president. The long-neglected ground was enlarged and fenced. It is said that Mrs. Holly was the first one buried in this cemetery; this was in 1839, It is situated west of the northern part of the corporation of Franklin Grove, joining it. In 1872 a sidewalk was constructed from the Methodist Episcopal church to the cemetery ground.

In June, 1874, James McCosh organized the Silver Cornet Band of Franklin Grove, with twelve pieces. In October they were made a corporate body, and as such proceeded to the erection of a band hall, which after a year or two passed out of their hands. For about two years it has been used by E. W. Newton for a plow manufactor3^

The Cheese Factory Association of Franklin Grove was organized in February 1881, A. H. Schoonmaker, president ; I^. Hansen, vicepresident ; H. Black, secretary and treasurer ; A. R. Whitney, C. L. Anthony and Charles Wertman, directors. A committee was appointed to draft constitution and by-laws. February 12, 1881, an agreement was entered into between the Association and C. L. Anthony, of "Whitesides county, by which he agreed to manufacture full cream cheese from the milk of not less than 100 cows at two and a half cents per pound. Manufacture of cheese was begun May 4, 1881, in the village of Franklin Grove.

Nathan Whitney, Franklin Grove. Col. Nathan Whitney, or more appropriately Father Whitne}^, was born in Conway, Massachusetts, January 22, 1791. His grandfather, Capt. Joiiathan Whitney, was one of the selectmen who organized the town of Conway, about 110 3^ears ago. He bore arms in defense of the colonies all through the revolutionary war. He emigrated to the Indian Orchard, called " Seneca Castle," near the city of Geneva, Ontario county. New York, about ninety years ago. Capt. Jonathan was followed two years later by his eldest son, Nathan, who settled near him, when our subject was two years of age. The elder Nathan Whitney had five sons, Luther, Otis, Nathan, Jonathan, Cheney, and one daughter. A few years ago these five brothers were all living, their united ages being four hundred years. Three still survive. The eldest died in 1880 of cancer in the eye, aged ninety-eight years. The younger, Nathan, like his father, seems to have been born a pioneer. He opened a farm near Allison, New York, and another in the town of Elba. He first visited Lee county in 1835, again in 1836 and 1837, his family following in 1838. He was one of the commissioners to organize the count}^ of Lee, Illinois, and he has since twice held the office of county commissioner in said county. His nursery was the first north of the Illinois river. From De Witt Clinton, of New York, he has three militia commissions, those of captain, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel. He was in the engagement at Fort Erie in the war of 1812. Mr. Whitney is the oldest Mason in Lee county, if not in the northwest. During the Morgan excitement he was " among the faithless faithful found." He married Sarah Graef when twenty years of ago. He has had a family of ten children, three of whom died young. Of the others only one, the youngest, was a son, with whom Mr. Whitney is now living, about a mile south of the village of Franklin Grove, on the farm claimed by the colonel fortyfive years ago.

A. R. Whitney, nurseryman, Franklin Grove, was born February 22, 1824, in Orleans county, ISTew York. He is the youngest child and the only son of Col. Nathan Whitney. Mr. Whitney was but fourteen years old when the fauiily emigrated to China from the State of Ohio, in which they had lived a few years prior to this movement. August llr, 1851, he was married to Mary J. Oakley. Their issue are four children : Jesse, Carrie (wife of A. W. Crawford, South Dixon), Nathan, and May. The sons are married and associated with their father in his extensive business, the culture and shipping of fruit, and the manufacture and sale of cider. The mother of A. E. Whitney died in April 1865.

William Dysaet, farmer, Franklifl Grove, was born in Henderson county, Pennsylvania, in 1828, son of James and Elizabeth Dysart. His father's parents and his mother's mother came from Ireland, and his mother's father from Germany. They were of strong constitutions and lived to a ripe old age. His mother was born in 1799, and died in 18T5. His father died March 1873, aged eighty-five years. Ten children were born to these parents, eight boys and two girls, all of whom grew to maturity. The}' were all reared on a farm, and received a common schooling. Joseph Dysart, the grandfather of our subject, and a brother, Alexander, were the only members of a family of five or more sons who came from the north of Ireland to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and thence to Henderson county. Alexander traded much with the Indians, and became very wealthy. From 1807 till 1812, inclusive, he was a member of the general assembly of Pennsylvania, from Henderson county, and again in 1815. In 1846 James Dysart came to Lee county, and between that and 1849 bought land enough to give each of his children one half-section. In 1850 William Dysart came to Dixon, Illinois, and the same year broke twenty acres of his farm in Sec. 13, T. 21, China. In 1853 he built a house where he now lives. In February, 1858, he celebrated his mar- riage with Mary Grazier, ot" his native county. Their issne are two daughters, aged thirteen and eleven. Mr. Dysart owns the N.W. ^ Sec. 13, and the E. ^ of S.W. J same, 120 acres of timber in Ogle county, 21:0 acres in Cerro Gordo and Bremer counties, Iowa. In 1869 Mr. Dysart built his barn, at a cost of $4,500. He is a republican in politics, having formerly been a whig. His father was a whig until he became an abolitionist. Of the many genial men we have met in this vicinity Mr. Dysart is rather more than an average.

Samuel Dysart, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1834, son of William and Eliza Dysart, from whom he inherited a strong constitution. He was reared on hi.'- fither's farm, and received a common schooling. In 1855 he came to China township and went to work on a half section of prairie previously purchased by his father. This is the E. ^ Sec. 14, T. 21, to which he has since added an eighty in Sec. 13, making a farm of 400 acres. On February 24, 1858, Mr. Dysart was married to Margaret J. Henderson, born September 11, 1834, a farmer's daugliter, and the playmate of his youth. Ten children have been born of this marriage : Harry W., December 26, 1858 ; Lilly Y., June 7, 1860 ; Lola W., January 10, 1863 (Lola died October 11, 1865, and Lilly, March 15, 1872) ; U. Grant, September 14, 1865; Drusilla D., December 1, 1866; Horace H., September 18, 1868; Jesse R., July 12, 1871; Birdie B., April 4, 1873; May J., August 23, 1875. Mr. Dysart began farming with the intention of raising iifiproved stock as soon as he should get his farm sufficiently improved. Accordingl}' in 1867 he began with four thorough-bred short-horns, and now has one of the finest herds in the state. He has heretofore given attention to the breeding of Berkshire swine, having shipped them as far as the Rocky mountains. Mr. Dysart was one of the first members of the Lee County Agricultural Association. He has been several years a member of the State Board of Agriculture. In consequence of his prominence as a stock breeder he was appointed live-stock commissioner to the Paris exhibition of 1878, and received his commission from President Hayes in February. He sailed in May, and besides spending three months in Paris, traveled several weeks in difterent parts of Europe. Mr. Dysart's residence, built in 1877 at a cost of between $6,000 and |7,000, is elegantly furnished. His grounds are beautifully decorated with choice flowers, in the care of which he is much engaged. His large stock barn is in keeping with his other buildings. The farm is known as the "Pines Stock Farm," having taken the name of the "Pines place" from the large pine trees planted near the house. In politics Mr. Dysart is a republican.

derson county, Pennsylvania, 1841 ; son of James and Elizabeth Dysart. In 1856 he came with his father to Lee county. He attended school at Lee Center and Dixon. In the fall of 1860 he began improving his farm, the N.E. ^ Sec. 23, T. 21, China, and built a house on it. August 7, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, S-lth 111. Inf., and was mustered at Camp Butler, September 2. ISTovember 4, 1864, his resignation was accepted and he was discharged. The same year he was married to Miss A. C. A. Harrison, of Canton, Stark county, Ohio, by whom he has one son, Edgar H., born January 1866. After his discharge from the army Mr. Dysart was one year United States revenue assessor in East Ohio and West Virginia. He was one year engaged in business in Canton, Ohio; thence to Franklin Grove, where he lived one year. In the meantime he was improving his farm, before mentioned, on to which he moved in the spring of 1868. Here he lived till 1876, when he sold out and moved into the village of Franklin Grove, and engaged in the lumber business with C. D. Hussey. In 1866 Mr. Dysart sold his farm of 160 acres in Nachusa township. He is a republican.

Amos Hussey, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, August 1806. His father, Amos Hussey, and his mother, Abagail Edmondson, were both born in Pennsylvania. His father was of Welsh ancestry, and followed the occupation of farmer; he had a family of twelve children, five of whom lived to maturity. He died when our subject was fourteen years of age. The mother of the latter was of English descent, and died nearly fifty years ago. Amos Hussey, jr., learned the business of w^eaving, spinning, and dressing cloth, and followed the same for a few years. About 1834 he married Jane F. Holly, whose birth was the first in Fredonia, New York, January 1, 1817. In 1838 Mr. Hussey came with his wife and two children overland to Franklin Grove; lived the fii'st winter on the south side of the Grove, and the next year came to his present location, a little northwest of the village of Franklin Grove, in Sec. 35. His wife died May 1876. He and an elder sister residing in Ohio are the only survivors of his father's family. His family consist of three living: Mary D. (Mrs. Josiah Little, Amboy, 111.); Jerome (married and living in Amboy), and Columbus. The second, third and fourth of his family died young: Jesse, aged three years; William H. Harrison, eight years, and Medrick D., between one and two years of age. Mr. Hussey now owns a farm of 115 acres, having sold some of his land. In politics he is a republican.

Geoege H. Taylor, grain dealer, Franklin Grove, was born in Cheshire county, New Hampshire, 1823. His father, John Taylor, was of Scotch ancestry. His mother was Catherine Livermore. The Livermores were early Puritan settlers in New England, and came from Holland. John Taylor was a tanner by trade; he had a family of eio;ht children, only one of whom was a son. In 1838 he came to Ogle county, Illinois, and settled at Daysville, and subsequently claimed half a section of land. Here he lived till 18i9, when he removed to St. Charles, Illinois, where he died in 1854 or 1855. His wife died in 1871, aged eighty-six. In the fall of 1846 George H. Taylor married Emily C Wood. Their children are : Alice (Mrs. William B. Loyd, St. Charles, Illinois), Ella (Mrs. William Hemme, California), Flora (Mrs. D. R. Timothy, China, Lee county, Illinois), Clara (Mrs. David T. Jones, Washington, District of Columbia), Frank and Lucius. In 1857 Mr. Taylor came to Franklin Grove and engaged in the grain business, which he has since followed. In 1870 he built his elevator at a cost of $5,000, with a storage capacity of 20,000 bushels. Mr. Taylor is a republican in politics, having been an abolitionist. His wife is a member of the Methodist church.

U. C. Roe, doctor, Franklin Grove, was born in Eddyville, Lyon count}^, Kentucky. His father, John Roe, was born in Philadelphia, August 19, 1800, of English and German blood, and possessed a splendid physical organization. When he was twenty-one years old he located in Lyon county, Kentucky, on the Cumberland river, and was here married to Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Col. Nathan Lyon, a native of Ireland. In 1827 John Roe moved with his family to Springfield, Illinois, and began the study of medicine. In an early day he settled at Light-house Point, Ogle county, having previously made a claim on the Illinois river, in Putnam county, but on going to Galena to enter it found that a speculator had got ahead of him. In the fall of 1837 the subject of this sketch made his first trip to Chicago. In the winter of 1837-8 he went to a school kept in his father's log house, and in the winter of 1838-9 in the new school-house, to Charles B. Farwell, now of Chicago. He worked on a farm sunnners till 1844, attending the Mount Morris Academy winters. In 1845 he entered the Ohio Botanico-Medical College, and attended one term of lectures. After sixteen years' practice of medicine he received a diploma from this institution. Upon his father's removal to Chicago, about 1845, our subject entered into a large and lucrative practice. In 1846 he married Almeda Brown. Their issue are : Nathaniel C. (married), Ella (Mrs. T. J. Giddings, Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Lucy (Mrs. A. R. Hamlin, Wisconsin) ; Frederick U. and Carrie, Emma and Belle, aged fifteen years, and John, aged two years, are dead. In the spring of 1854 Mr. Roe came to Franklin Grove and lived here till 1860, and returned again in 1870. In 1860 he began tlie manufacture and sale of medicine, in which business with his sons he is now engaged. He has a large number of teams and wagons out through the country in the sale of his medicines. The doctor also treats chronic diseases, and lectures on phrenology and the laws of health. He is an ordained deacon in the Methodist Episcopal church, and a greenbacker in politics.

Conrad Durkes, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in the Pab atine in 1829. His parents were Philip and Appolonia (Stelzer) Dnrkes. His father was three years a soldier, and under Napoleon was taken prisoner on the march to Moscow. Conrad was the youngest of a large familj', only two of whom are living. In 1812 he came to New Orleans with his father, who was a mechanic; thence after six months they went to St. Louis, and in 1815 to Chicago, where his father died in 1858, and his mother in 1866. Here his widowed sister is living. Conrad Dnrkes remained in this city till 1852, when he went to Oregon, Ogle county, where he sold g'oods till 1855. He then came to Franklin Grove and began in the dry-goods business, which he has since followed here with one interruption of three years. By close attention to business Mr. Durkes has amassed a good property. In 1858 he married Mary Jones. They have four children living: Augustus P., Ida E., Warren C. and Stelzer A. ; Mary Kate died in 1870, aged four ^-ears. His family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Durkes is a Mason and independent in politics. He received an average schooling in the German public schools, but ha& since obtained in actual business that which is far more efficient, and which has made him a man of excellent business qualifications.

Ezra A. Wood, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in Augusta,. Canada, in 1833. His mother was Mary (Earle) Wood. His father, Antliony Wood, was born in Schoharie county, New York. In 1838 Anthony Wood left Canada, after a short residence there, and came to Ogle county, Illinois. He settled near Oregon and purchased a claim to 160 acres in Nachusa township and improved it. He died on his way overland to the Pacific coast in 1850. He was twice married and had eleven children, two by his first wife. Ezra Wood was attending school at Mount Morris when his father died, but did not go to school after this event. In 1860 he went overland to Colorado, and there enlisted, October 1861, in the 1st Col. Inf. The regiment saw some fighting in New Mexico, and skirmished there and along the Rio Grande with the " rebs." and Indians. In June, 1862, this regiment was encamped at Yal Yerda on a sandy bluff. There Mr. Wood, with many others, was taken sick with mountain fever, and did not recover till fall, when he was discharged on account of physical disability. He came to Franklin Grove in the fall of 1864, having traveled over much of the western country. In June, 1865, he married Charlotte Herrington. Mr. Wood is a republican and a member of the Methodist church.

Henky a. Black, stationer and jeweler, Franklin Grove, was born in Waldo county, Maine, in 1843; son of John C. and Globe (Wilber) Black, botb of Maine. His fatber was a botel-keeper ; bis family consisted of seven children, six of wboni are living. Tbe famil}- came to Franklin Grove in tbe fall of 1855, and John Black went into tbe drug business witb A. L. Meritt. Mr. Black was made postmaster soon after, wbicb office be beld till 1861, after wbicb be did but little business. He died in 1864 witb consumption, having sufiered many 3'ears from the effects of asthma. Henry Black, tbe subject of this article, attended school two years at Lombard University, Knox county, intending to complete a course there, but the civil war interfered witli this plan, and in December of 1863 be enlisted in tbe 75th 111. Inf., Co. G, Capt. Irwin. By an order from the war department he was detailed clerk in the quartermaster's office at Camp Butler, in which capacity he acted about two months. After tliis he was in the adjutant-general's office at tbe same point, most of the time as chief clerk, till be Avas mustered out, August 1865. In the following November be married Clara A. Timothy, daughter of Otis Timothy. Their children are Nellie, born June 22, 1868; Lindsey, June 26, 1870; Edith M., May 2, 1875. His gi-andfatber on his father's side was of Scotch descent, and his paternal grandmother was Ijorn in Ireland, and came to Maine when she was six years of age. His mother's people were Scotch. His grandfather Black was militiaman in the war of 1812, and participated in the defense of shipping on Penobscot Bay. For this service he received a land warrant. In politics Mr. Black is a republican.

T. W. Scott, teacher, Fi-anklin Grove, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1832. He is tbe youngest child of James and Elizabeth (Jordon) Scott, both born in Pennsylvania. Of their family of live four are living. Mr. Scott's grandparents all came from Scotland. His fatber was a mechanic. Our subject received bis education chiefly at Centi'al Academy, Juniata county. In February, 1856, be married Elizabeth, youngest daughter of James Dysart. He came west to Nacbusa in March 1856. After remaining there a few M'eeks be came to Franklin Grove, which has since been liis liome. At this time he began opening the farm on which Samuel Riddlesbarger lives. In the fall of 1856 Mr. Scott organized the school in tbe new school-house at Franklin Grove. He was connected with this school till 1878 and taught in all eighteen 3'ears, all but one of which be was at its head. So long was be connected with the school that during tbe latter part of bis service he could look over his pupils and see a dozen or more of them sitting in seats formerly occupied by their parents, who bad also been bis pupils. Among other things shown us as testimonials of regard from his pupils was a large bible, presented to him at an exhibition at the close of examinations for the first year. Mrs. Scott died May 11, 1862, leaving three children : Frank G., born September 1, 1858; Lois M., March 2, 1860, and Lizzie D., April 18, 1862 (deceased July 28, 1862). She was born in Huntingdon county, December 14, 1837. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which Mr. Scott also belongs. In 1868 Mr. Scott bought a lot and built his house in the village of Franklin Grove. He sold his farm in 1874, upon which he had lived four years previous to the death of his wife.

W. C. Robinson, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in central New York December 26, 1817. His parents were JSTathan and Mary (Minor) Robinson. He was reared about a mile and a half from the Pennsylvania state line in Chautauqua county, ISTewYork, into which his father moved at an early day and cleared up a farm. It is here that our subject has his first recollections. His father's ancestors were Scotch ; his mother's English, His father raised eleven children, seven of whom are living. In the fall of 1841 W. C. Robinson left home with a brother and went to Louisiana. Here they chopped wood during the following winter. In the spring he came to Ogle county, his brother returning home via Kew Orleans. In the winter of 1842-3 Mr. Robinson again went down the Mississippi. Returning in the spring of 1843, he bought a claim to his farm in Sec. 10, T. 21, China township, and built on it. The following year he married Harriet Hansen, eldest daughter of Charles Hansen, sr. Their issue are : Sophia (wife of Robert McCoy, Iowa), Henry, George, and Anna (Mrs. Frank Mentzler). Mrs. Robinson died April 10, 1872. In 1856 Mr. Robinson engaged in the drug business, having rented his farm. In 1874 he went into partnership with his son George W., who was married in 1874, to Mary E. Spiller, by whom he has one daughter. Mr. Robinson is a republican, but voted the democratic ticket till Fremont's candidacy.

David R. Minor, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in the State of New York, in 1827. His father, Cyrus R. Minor, was born in Massachusetts, in 1782, of English ancestry. In 1836 David Minor came with his parents and their family to Lee county, where they settled. The family consisted of Lockwood, Albert, Sarah, Daniel, and David. Lockwood died in Missouri, September 1870. Daniel died in California in 1852, aged twenty-five years. Cyrus Minor died in 1846. In 1854 David Minor married Cina Wliitmore. Their children are Daniel, Iva, Rose, David H. and Cyrus E. Mr. Minor is living on his farm in Sec. 12, T, 21, China. This is land he claimed in an early day, and worked several years before he was married. He belongs to the Evan-

Dayid F. Laiiman, farmer and stock dealer, Franklin Grove, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1837. He is the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Emmert) Lahman. He came west with his parents in 1843. He was reared a farmer. In 1863 he married Anna Brngh. Lulu is their ou]y child. Mr. Lahman has lived on the homestead since 1858, at which time he came in possession of 205 acres. He built his barn in 1867, his house in 1869, which with his other buildings, cost about $7,000. Mr. Lahman now owns 532 acres in Lee county, 165 in Ogle, and an interest in a large tract in Story county, Iowa. Mr. Lahman is a man of great business activity. For about ten years he made stock shipping his business. He does but little of this now. From his farm he turns each year from 500 to 800 head of stock. For several years he has been extensively engaged in poultry dealing, handling from $18,000 to $20,000 in one season in this traffic. There are but few men who do as much business as Mr. Laliman. He has five brothers and two sisters living, having lost his parents, one brother, and one sister. Mrs. Lahman is a member of the German Baptist church.

Israel Zug, butcher, Franklin Grove, was born in Lebanon county^ Pennsylvania, in 1827. His parents were John and Margaret (Lane) Zug. His fathers ancestors were from Switzerland, and his mother's from Holland. His father was born in 1797, and died in 1873; his mother was two years older, and died in 1871. Israel Zug followed forming, his father's occupation, till he was about seventeen 3'ears old ; then he learned the tanner's trade. In 1850 he came to Peru, Illinois; lived there one year, and then bought 80 acres of land about eight miles north of that city, and farmed it till 1855. In 1856 he came to Franklin Grove, and the following year opened a meat market. He has followed this line of business ever since, and has established a good trade. In 1848 Mr. Zug married Rachel Johnson. Their issue are seven : John, Nathan, Alfred, Marj', Frank, Ilattie, and Llewellyn. John, when about fifteen or sixteen years old, left home, went east, and enlisted in a New York artillery company. He was in the service about one and a half years; subsequently learned the mason's trade, and was married in Memphis, Tennessee, to an Iowa lady. About six years ago, while working in St. Joseph, Missouri, he wrote to his wife, at Virgil City, that he would be home in a few days. He started from St. Joseph at the appointed time, but was never afterward seen by his family and friends. His fate is a mystery. Ho is thouglit, however, to be dead.

John D. Sitts, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1831. His parents were Geor2;e and Harriet (Bartlett) Sitts, who were born and reared in the Mohawk valley. His mother's ancestors came from Holland, and his fatlier's from German}', at an early date in the history of New York. His father was a contractor on the Erie canal. In 1849 he came to Chicago and engaged in a commission business, which he followed till his death in 1863. John Sitts, his son, received a common schooling and learned the molder's trade. In 1854 he came to Chicago and in 1857 to Franklin Grove. Here he engaged in the lumber business, in the firm of Sitts, Thomas & Co. This he followed chiefly for about ten years. In 1872 he began in the grocery business, having previously farmed in Lee and Ogle counties. In 1863 he married Eva E. Lincoln. Their children are Henry B., Gertie G., Bertha C. and Helen E. .Mr. Sitts has been four years a notary. He is a republican. His mother died in 1844. Of his father's family of nine only four are living, one sister and two brothers in Chicago.

D. B. Senger, editor, Franklin Grove, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1849 ; son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Bayer) Senger. His father was a shoemaker. He had a family of four, of whom our subject is the eldest. The family settled at Cedar Bapids, Iowa, in 1865. Here the junior Senger worked on the shoemaker's bench and attended the common schools till lie was twenty-one years old. Then he went to Western College, attending there nearly two years, the last in 1873, in the meantime teaching to support himself. In 1876 he bought from T. W. Scott the Franklin Grove " Reporter," having first come to Lee county in 1873. He was married in 1875, to Susan A. Buck. He has two children, a son and daughter.

JosiAH Hughes, hotel keeper, Franklin Grove, was born February 15,1808, in Otsego county. New York ; son of Willian and Sally (Dilly) Hughes. His father was a farmer, and of his family of eight sons and three daughters Josiali was the eldest. On New Year's day of 1831 he was married to Lydia Barry. Ten years later his mother died at Waterville, and in 1844 he came with his wife, two children and his father to St. Charles, Kane county, Illinois. In this vicinity he bought a farm, which he worked a short time. He then moved into the village of St. Charles and dealt in stoves, etc. On September 1, 1854, he arrived in Franklin Grove, The following year he built the Hughes Hotel, a three-story stone building, at a total cost of nearly $9,000, having bought the premises from C. Lahman for $1,800. Mr. Hughes has had five children, only one of whom, the eldest, lives: Oscar (married and living in Henderson county, Kentuckj'), Julia (Mrs. Trumbull, died

George Fishback, carpenter, Franklin Grove, was born in Alsace, then part of France, in 1828. His parents, George and Margaret Fishback, had four children, of whom he was the eldest. His fjither died when he was eight years old. He came to New York city in February of 1S53, and worked three years at his trade; thence he came to Lee county, Illinois, and in 1857 he bought property in the southwest part of the village of Franklin Grove. Here he has since lived and followed his trade. In 1854 he married Rose Schweisberger. Their children number five : George, Lena, Margaret, John, and Rose. Frank died aged one year. George, Lena and Margaret are married and living in Dixon.

John L. Steock, mechanic, Franklin Grove, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1841. His parents were Samuel and Esther (Lahman) Strock. Their family consisted of three sons and two daughters. John Strock lived on his father's farm till he was sixteen years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1861 he came to Mount Carroll, Illinois, and on June 6 of the same year enlisted in Co. C, of the 92d 111. Inf. The}^ were mustered at Rockford, Illinois, September 4, 1861, and were sent to Perryviile, Kentucky. The subject of this sketch was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloli, Nashville, Stone River, Chattanooga, with Sherman to the sea, and around to Baltimore. He was shot through the right arm Nicky- Jack Gap, losing thereby a part of the radius near the wrist. He was mustered out July 15, 1865. In 1867 Mr. Strock came to Franklin Grove and worked at his trade till 1876, having in the meantime built many of the fine barns that adorn this region of the country. He is now in company with the Lahman Brothers in the manufacture of the Great Western Seeder, having recently rented the large windmill which he built in 1876, and in which he has a half interest. In 1869 he married x\bbie Withey, of Lee county, by whom he has two children : Warren, born January 1870, and Irmie, August 1876. Mr. Strock belongs to the order of Masons and in politics is a republican.

John Blocker, Franklin Grove, was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, February 23, 1833 ; son of John and Catherine (Bishop) Blocher. These parents had a family of five sons and six daughters, six of whom are living. John Blocher, the father, was an 1812 militiaman. Subsequently he moved from his farm near Bnfi'alo, New York, to Gettysburg. The youth of our subject was spent on a farm until he was sixteen years of age, subsequently in a woolen factory. In 1852 he came to Lee Center, and after remaining a year returned east. In 1856 he married Ann Gear and came back to Franklin Grove. He began in tlie daguerreotype business, wliich he followed till 1869, when he began the "Reporter." In 1872 Mrs. Blocher died, leaving four children to mourn her loss. Their names are William, Flora, John II. and Charles. In 1875 Mr. Blocher was married to Elizabetli "Wattles. Their issue are two: Claude and Ella. Mr. Blocher is a member of the Presbyterian church, as was his first wife, his present wife being a Methodist. He is a republican, and belongs to the order of Odd-Fellows.

Louis M. Blaisdell (deceased) was born in Kennebec county, Maine. His father was a farmer and ship-builder. Three of his father's family grew to maturity, the youngest of whom was Louis. ISTone of the family are now living. Our subject left his home when quite young, for his health. He was in the south, Chicago, and in 1843 came to St. Charles, Illinois, and began in the sale of dry-goods. In December, 18-±7, ho married Rosalind Durant, who came with her mother and two brothers from Vermont to St. Charles in 1845. Mr. Blaisdell removed with his family to Franklin Grove in 185L Here he began in the lumber business, and subsequently dealt in grain. His house, on Spring street, was one of the finest in the "new town " of Franklin. Here his family are now living. Mr. Blaisdell was successful in business. At the time of his death (March 1863) he owned a 160 acre farm in Bradford township, besides considerable property in the village of Franklin Grove. His familj^ are Louis, born June 1850 ; Alice, March 1857; and Rosalind, November 1861. Mr. Blaisdell was of Scotch descent; belonged to the order of Masons, and was a republican. Mrs. Blaisdell's mother's father was from Rhode Island ; English descent. Her mother was born in 1798 ; her father in 1800.

Oscar G. Smith, grain dealer, Franklin Grove, was born in Frostburg, Alleghany county, Maryland, September 17, 1850. His parents are Joseph E. and Henrietta (Merrill) Smith. The former came from Hesse-Cassel, Germany, when he was sixteen years of age. Of a family of nine only four live, two sons and two daughters. The family came west in 1852 and settled in South Dixon, Lee county, where they have since lived. In 1874 Oscar Smith married Margaret C. Burket, of Lee county. Their issue are Mabel, born July 6, 1875 (deceased July 3, 1876), and Walter Lee, January 1878. In 1877 Mr. Smith sold his farm of 130 acres, in Nachusa township, for $7,000, and engaged in the grain-buying business, at Urst at Dixon with Captain Dysart, and since 1878 in Franklin Grove. Tlie same year he bought the Williams warehouse property for $1,600, and in 1879 built his new warehouse at a further cost of about $1,400. In the spring of 1881 Mr. Smith entered into partnership with Robert C. Filson, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1847. He is the son of

Sainnel and Marv E. (Miller) Filsoii, who had a famil}' of four. The father died in August 1863. Robert Filson came to Lee county in 1870; was married in 1872, to l^ancy J. Shorrar, by whom he has four children : William S., Mary E., Minnie Y. and Edwin C.

Joshua Lahman, farmer, was born June 1839, in Washington county, Maryland, into which his parents moved from Adams county, Pennsylvania, a few years before. He is the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Emmert) Lahman. He was reared a farmer. In 1843 he came with his parents to Franklin Grove. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the 34th 111. Inf., Co. C. He was in service two years; was wounded in the arm and thigh at Murfreesboro, Tennessee ; was sent to the hospital at Cincinnati, where he remained nearly six months; he w^as mustered out June 13, 1863. For two years after the war Mr. Lahman walked on crntches, and thinking that he would never recover the use of his limbs he learned harness-making. Three years he ran a harness shop in Iowa; he was there married to Hannah M. Batschelett. She was born in Illinois, but went to Iowa when but ten years of age. In 1868 our subject came back to Lee county and began farming. He now owns 240 acres in Sees. 11 and 12, T. 21, China. In 1879 he built a fine brick house. He has a family of four children : Edgar R., born October 11, 1867: Clifford E., February 8, 1869; Elizabeth, July 22, 1875, and Clara F., October 19, 1877.

Joseph Lahman, farmer, Franklin Grove, the oldest member of one of the most prominent families in this part of Lee county, was born January 24, 1833, in Adams county, Pennsylvania. His parents, Christian Lahman and Elizaljeth Emmert, were both of German ancestry. Two Lahman brothers settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, about 1700. In 1843 Christian Lahman and his family settled on the north side of Franklin Grove, nearly opposite the Dunkard church, on the place now owned by David Lahman, his son. In 1856 Joseph Lahman married Lorenda Diehl, who died April 28, 1879, leaving five sons and three daughters, the fruits of their married life: Fremont D., born November 1856; Oliver D., April 1858; Florence J., May 1860; Poscoe D., July 1862; Frank E., December 1864; Ella J., January 1868; Charles E., January 1872; Grace, May 1874; In February of 1881 Mr. Lahman was married, in Pennsylvania, to Mrs. Susan B. Gitt, of Adams county. Both belonged to the German Baptist church, in which Mr, Lahman is an ordained elder. He owns about 800 acres of land in Lee and Ogle counties, besides about 400 acres in Iowa. He is living a little west of the village of Franklin Grove, on the S.E. ^ Sec. 2, T. 21, where Lockwood Minor first settled. Here Mr. Lahman has lived for about fifteen years. Previous to this Mr. Lahman ran a mill on the creek for about sixteen years.

George W. Hewitt, M.D. (deceased), was born in Middleburg, Franklin county, Pennsjdvania, December 23, 1830. He was the son of Gr. W. and Margaret (Conkleton) Hewitt, to whom were born four sons and three daughters. His medical studies were pursued under Dr. Samuel Chew, of Baltimore. At the same time he attended lectures at the Universit}' of Maryland, where he graduated in 1854. On the first of May of the same year he settled to practice medicine at Franklin Grove. Early in his practice he took a high rank in his profession. In 1871 he was appointed a delegate from the Illinois State Medical Society to the American Medical Association. During the late war Dr. Hewitt served as surgeon in 34th reg. 111. Yols. He was on the staff of Col. Kirk when he was promoted to brigadier general, with whom he served for some time as brigadier surgeon. He was uncompromisingly devoted to his profession ; he was a member of the American Medical Association, and an honorary member of the California Medical Society. In the best sense of the word the doctor was a philanthropist, ever anxious to avail himself of every opportunity to acknowledge the common brotherhood of humanity and fatherhood of God. In accordance with his convictions, and as a means to the end he had in view, he united with the Masonic fraternity. He was made a Master Mason at Lee Center, August 30, 1857 ; took his chapter degrees at DeKalb, August 11, 1859, and received his commandery degrees at Sycamore, May 9,1866. He was a charter member of Franklin Lodge, No. 264, also of Nathan Whitney Chapter, and at his death was an active member of the commandery at Dixon. On September 25, 1856, he was married to Miss Caroline Davis Miller, with whom he lived until November 19, 1863, when she died, leaving him two sons, aged five and three years respectively. During the last illness of his lamented wife she and the doctor were together received into the Presbyterian church on their profession of faith. On September 1, 1879, a team which Dr. Hewitt was driving ran away with him, throwing him out against a creek bridge and precipitating him into a creek twenty feet below. He received injuries in this fall from which he on]}' partially recovered. October, 1880, he received his first stroke of paralysis; the second, Jannaiy 5, 1881, caused his death on the 12th of the same month. Henry M. Hewitt, eldest son of the above, was born August 24, 1857, in Franklin Grove, Lee count}'. He received his preparatory education at Normal and Evanston, Illinois ; graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois; and after this attended medical schools in the city of New York and on the continent of Europe. In September, 1879, he returned to his home at Franklin Grove, where he is now practicing medicine. His brother, George W.

John Leake, farmer, retired, was born in Leicestershire, England, April 17, 1808. His father, William Leake, and mother, Clarissa (Chapman), danghter of Daniel Chapman, were also natives of England, and there died. His grandparents on his father's side were William and Mary Leake, also of English birth and burial. Mr. Leake was raised a son of toil in the true sense of that word. Farming has occupied his time in chief, yet after arriving at manhood he also engaged in milling. He was married December 2, 1836, to Miss Hannah Skermer, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Cooper) Skermer, both of English birth. Mrs. Leake is one of those women of industry for which old England is so noted. This union has been blessed with six children : Clarissa, Mary A., William, Susanah, John H. and Joseph T. Litluenced by the flattering reports from America sent them by relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Leake also set sail about September 1. 181:3, on the sailing-vessel Garrick, commanded by Capt. Kiddy. After about a month's voyage they reached Chicago, where Mr. Leake contracted with John B. Tinker to convey self, family and baggage at a low rate to Dixon's Ferry. Arrived here Mr. and Mrs. Leake immediately began the work of the pioneer in the southwest corner of wdiat is now China township, where they still live. They have become in good circumstances and good standino- in the community.

William Graves, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove, is a son of William and Sarah M. (Bostwick) Graves, and was born in the State of New York, February 19, 1839. He was reared on a farm, with only such school advantages as were afl'orded in his boyhood days. In 1853, in company with his mother, one brother and one sister, he came to Illinois, and settled for a short time in Newark, Kendall county, Illinois, but in November, 1854, they came to Lee county, and settled permanently in China township, on Sec. 15, T. 21, R. 10, where our subject now owns a iine farm of 200 acres of well improved land. February 15, 1870, he married Miss Martha A., daughter of Evans C. and' Harriett A. (Whitmore) Thomas, of Franklin Grove, Lee county, Illinois. She was born March 17, 1818. They are the parents of two children living, Grace and Louis C. Mr. Graves is now actively engaged in stock raising as well as farming. He is one of the live men of Lee county, and takes an active part in any enterprise that tends to the mutual improvement of his own interest or that of the community in. which he lives.

The voters of T. 38 N., R. 1 E., met at the house of Moses Yan Campen on the 2d of April, 1861, and nominated Abram Van Campen clerk pro tem, and Simeon Cole moderator. They being duly elected, proceeded to the business of organizing the town of Yiola. Polls opened and the following first town officers were duly elected. Fiftytwo ballots were cast, a majority being: for supervisor, Samuel L. Butler ; assessor, Simeon Cole ; town clerk, Samuel Yasbnrgh ; constable and collector, John Melugin ; justice of the peace, Henry Marsh; commissioners of highways, William Holdren, Ralph E. Ford, and Moses B. Yan Campen ; for poor-master, Evins Adrian, and for pound-master, John Melugin. The names proposed for the town, Butler, Elba, and Eldorado, Previous to this the town was called Stockton, the name being given on account of the large numbers of stock being herded by Robert M. Piele, and others who were also on the creeks with large herds of cattle. The first town officers were sworn in and their bonds given to the name of Stockton.

At a meeting of highway commissioners of the towns of Brooklyn, and Stockton, held May 11, 1861, for the purpose of dividing road on the line between towns thirty-seven and thirt^'-eight, or very soon after, the name of this township was changed to Yiola, the names proposed at the previous meeting having been found to conflict with other township names in the state.

The soil of this township is a rich loam, having a sand and gravel subsoil at a depth of from seven to fifteen feet; the drainage is by wide and deep ditches leading toward and through the inlet swamp. The surface is, for two miles on the east and the same on the south, rolling ; the balance that is tillable is flat and even in surface. About threequarters of this township is under cultivation ; the remaining quarter is known as the inlet swamp.

The beautiful natural grove situated in the southeast corner of Yiola township, half a mile west and same distance north of the southeast corner, is divided into lots of from 1 to 60 acres. It contains about 320 acres. In an early day, or when first settled, it was called Guthrie's Grove, after William Guthrie, its first settlei', but is now called and is marked on most maps as Little Melugin Grove. In early times it was sometimes called Lawton's Grove, after William Lawton, who was an early settler. The Big Melugin is also a beautiful natural grove, partly in Brooklyn township, and one half or more in Yiola, there being about one section or 640 acres in Yiola. This is also divided up into grove lots of 3 to more acres.

Willow creek is the only natural water stream in Viola township. There are two otlier " runs" called dry runs, water being in them only at wet seasons of the year. These all empty into the inlet swamp. The wells of this township are of an exceptionally pure and cool nature and reached at a depth of from ten to thirty feet, giving always a plentiful sup])lv of this needed article. This township was first settled in 1834 at Guthrie, or as it is now called Little Melugin Grove, by William Guthrie. The first buildings were put thereon the extreme south end of the grove and built by William Guthrie; the first wagon roads were anywhere to the nearest point over the then vast and open prairie, but soon after settlement and organization they were laid out on section lines, or mostly so by the elected highway commissioners. The north and south roads ran through the township, the east and west only a part of the way through, partly on account of the inlet swamp.

Among the first white persons and settlers about the groves (as these towns were first settled there) was David Town, then Dick Allen, then Zach. Melugin, after whom the groves in Viola and Brooklyn were named, then William Guthrie, who also named the small grove. After these came John Gilmore, William Lawton, who sold to Walter Little. Then they began to come in faster, among those a little later being Evins Adrian, who perhaps has made himself more felt than any of his predecessors in this township and Lee county.

There are several large farmers in this township ; but among the most noted are Evins Adrian, with his 1300 acre homestead and miles of osage hedge fence and herds of fine blooded stock reared hy him. Mr. Adrian is not a large purchaser of stock except to improve his already high grade. He is a stock raiser and seller, doing all business on his own premises. Mr. H. B. Cobb is also an extensive stock man in this township. He not onlj' raises large droves, but is also an extensive buyer and shipper of large bunches of hogs as well as cattle.

About four years ago Mr. Evins Adrian lost one of his large barns by fire. It was 42x60 in size, with a fine basement for stock, and had just been filled M'ith hay. In it was also stored a lot of farm tools, harness, and some valuable live-stock. It was the work of an incendiary; the total loss was about $5,000. He rebuilt, and had the new barn ready for occupancy in about thirty days after the burning.

There are six school buildings in this township, and anothei contemplated this fall. The cost of these was from $400 to $600 each. There are seven school districts in Viola, and schools are held from six to nine months a year in each. The school fund is $7,496.

Yiola's present town officers are: supervisor, James Adrian ; town clerk, Rnt'us Johnson ; assessor, Calvin Johnson ; collector, Robert Hutchinson ; commissioners of highways, Joseph Merrill, three 3'ears ; Alexander Harper, two years ; Abram Bennett, one year ; justices of the peace, Alexander Harper and Truman Johnson ; constables, Rufus Johnson and William H. Bennett; school trustees, A. J. Ross, three years; Truman Johnson, two years; James Taylor, one year; and school treasurer, Calvin Johnson. The number of votes polled at the 1881 election was 130.

Mr. Evins Adrian was the first person married living in Viola, to widow Smith, formerly Marrilla Goodale. The next was William Happ, who married a Miss Smith, of Smith's Grove. He afterward in a spree stabbed his wife, who died. Truman Johnson's was probably the third marriao^e, to Miss Marv Melus^in.

The first adult person who died in this township was Walter Little, grandfather of the present sheriff of Lee county. An infant child of William Lawton's died previousl3^ Mrs. Curtis Lathrop and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Little also died in the early history of Lee county. The first birth in this township was a child to William Lawton, which died in its infancy.

One mark of prosperity in this township is its large and intelligent family records, giving the residents not only^great present aid, but providing for the future management of the aft'airs of this vicinity.

In the early history of Yiola township, long before Lee county was set ofi^, roaming bands of Indians from several tribes inhabited the beautiful groves, there being those now living among its citizens who have played with the children of the red men, and were eye witnesses to the great council and last payment in Illinois of the Indians by the government at the grove at Shabbona.

M. W. Harrington, farmer, Compton, removed with his parents when four years old from Grand Isle county, Vermont, and located at Joliet, Will county, Illinois. He was born in Grand Isle connty, Vermont, May 21, 1835. His father, at an advanced age, is still living. In 1862 he removed to Viola, Lee county, and on August 13, 1862, enlisted in Co. E, 100th 111. Vol. Inf., and remained eighteen months. He was wounded in the battle of Chickaraanga, September 19, 1863, which disabled him for service, and he was honorably discharged. He married, July 2, 1858, Mary E. Cole. They have three children : Charlie E., Willie M., Oric C, and one adopted child, Carrie A. He

Catharine (Johnson) Gray, widow of Henrj W. Gray, farmer, Compton, was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, September 1826. Her youth was spent in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where she resided with her parents. They came to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1830, where they remained until she was twenty-five years of age. In 1855 she removed to Illinois, locating in Lee county. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1844 she was married to Henry W. Gray. She has five children living, three having died since her husband's death, which occurred twenty-two years ago. Her three sons at home, Emory, James, and Lewis, are working 160 acres. They also thresh and shell grain during the season.

William W. Gilmore, farmer, Compton, born in Brooklyn township, Lee county, November 8, 1835, was the second white child born in the grove. His mother is living. He had the common school advantages, such as could be obtained in his pioneer youth. Nearly all liis life has been spent near his birthplace. Mr. Gilmore has held local town ofiices for several terms, and given good satisfaction. He is a chapter Mason, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a democrat in politics. He was married January 15, 1856, to Regina Carnahan. They have five children: Jennie, now Mrs. Chas. Guffin, of Compton ; John, Ida, Hattie, and Floy. He has a 255 acre farm, well managed, and is building a residence at Compton, where he wnll remove. He was engaged during considerable of his life in the drygoods and general store business, also in agricultural and hardware, in Melugin's Grove and at Mendota. Mr. John Gilmore and Hannah, his wife, father and mother of the subject of this sketch, were the next settlers, after Zachariah Melugin, at the grove, and nearly their entire life has been spent at or near their early settlement. They have been identified with the growth and prosperity of Lee county for near half a century, and have endeared themselves to all who have known them, Mr. J. Gilmore was a Master Mason in New York, and upon his removal west he was presented with a valuable token of jewels by his comrades. They are now the heirlooms of Mr. W. W. Gilmore. When Mr. John Gilmore first settled he had $40 and an old team, which was all he possessed.

Margaretta (Hannan) Barr, widow of John Barr, farmer, Compton, came to America in 1850. She landed at the city of New York, and came directly to Illinois, locating in Lee county. She was born in county Antrim, Ireland, in May 1833. She received common school advantages in her native country. Her youth, till seventeen, was spent there. She was married May 13, 1851, to John Barr, who died in the spring of 1881, leaving herself and nine children. She has a 203 acre farm, which the youngest son, Alexander, manages for her. It is well stocked and cultivated. The other children are Martha, Jane, James, Robert, William, Maggie, Mary, and Ellen. Mary, Ellen and Alexander are at home and are the only members of the family unmarried.

Moses B. Van Campen, farmer, Compton, landed in Illinois on April 13, 1854, locating in Lee county. He was born in Warren county, New Jerse}^ October 24, 1816. His mother lived till over ninety years of age. His father died when young Moses was but ten years of age. He received common school advantages in his native state, where he lived till twenty-four years of age on a wooded farm. In 1840 he moved to Pennsylvania and commenced the clearing of a new farm, and remained there fourteen years. He was mairied November 30, 1844, to Eliza Ann Winters. They have four children living. He has now a homestead in Melugin of twenty-five acres. Mr. Yan Campen holds certificates, bearing date March 29, 1826, from his teacher, Benjamin Depue, given at Pahaquarry, New Jersey, which are quite interesting relics of his early school days. In 1854 he began in this county with only a yoke of oxen and good health. The first town meeting and the first election in Yiola were held in his house. The first school in district No. 3 was held for three terms in his house, with no charge for its use. Mr. Van Campen has been largely identified with his township, and is among the most respected of her citizens. He is a Jackson democrat. His children are Cyntha, James, Emanuel and Cecilia. His son Emanuel manages the homestead and a rented farm, and is one of the valued young men of his township.

John M. Abell, farmer and carpenter, Compton, was born at St. Charles, Kan<; county, Illinois, December 25, 1844. His mother is still living. Mr. Abell has followed the carpenter business for seven years till the past year. In 1864 he enlisted in the artillery service, Battery G, 2d reg., and remained till the close of the war. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and in politics a republican. He married, March 11, 1869, Leonora Lazarus, and they have four children: Charley, Phillip, Harry, and Laura. He has a 143 acre farm, under good cultivation. Mr. Abell has lived in Viola thirty-six years.

C. F. Van Patten, farmer. Steward, came to Shabbona, De Kalb county, Illinois, in 1856, where he lived eleven years. He was born in Glenville, Schenectady county. New York, January 6, 1826, and there received common school advantages. His youth and early manhood were spent at home on the farm. In 1868 he moved from De Kalb county to Viola. He has held several local town offices. He is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal society of the flats. He was married October 22, 1855, to Mary Jane Young. They have fourteen children living, one dead. He has a 320 acre farm, well managed and well stocked. The family of Mr. Van Patten are worthy of mention, being of more than usual intelligence, and all standing high in the estimation of their neighbors.

Joseph Merrill, farmer, Compton, was born in Hartford township, Licking county, Ohio, February 14, 1831. His youth and manhood, till thirty-five years old, was spent in Ohio at the blacksmith trade. He moved to Viola in 1866. He is a Chapter Mason, and in politics a democrat. He married, in the summer of 1853, Sarah J. Noe, who died March 28, 1869. He was again married January 31, 1869, to Lydia J. Johnson, widow of Alfonso Johnson. He has six "children, three by first and three by second marriage. The}- have a fine large farm, formerly the property of A. Johnson.

B. F. Johnson, farmer, Compton, was born in Kane county, Illinois, March 1, 1846. He had a common school education, mostly received in Lee county. His youth till about six was spent in Kane county, at which time he was brought to Viola, Lee county. In the spring of 1865 he enlisted in Co. I, 156th 111. Inf, remaining till the close of the war. In politics he is a republican. Ile^married, February 21, 1877, Arrilla Compton. They have two children, Lewis Emory, and Andrew, He has a 300 acre farm, well stocked and cultivated. Mr. Johnson was mining in Montana territory for six years, from 1870 to 1876, with more than ordinary success. The lastyear took out over $26,000. Mr. Johnson's family were the first settlers on the prairie in Viola township.

EviNS Adrian, stock raiser and farmer, Compton, the genial proprietor of the Grlenwood farm, was born in county Antrim, Ireland, October 15, 1815, and received a portion of his education in that country and partly in Illinois and New York. His youth till about eighteen was spent in Ireland on a farm. In 1833 he came to America, landing in Quebec, Canada, where he remained about two years. He then went to Erie countj^ New York, and remained about two years, getting $7 per month wages, when he removed and settled in Illinois, before Lee county was set ofi" or organized. He was married October 1840, to Mrs. Marilla Smith (widow of Kev. George Smith). She died in February 1857, and he was again married in July 1857, to Mary Ann Agler. He has nine children, six b}' the first and three by the second marriage. His magnificent homestead contains 1300 acres. Mr. Adrian is an aggressive farmer and buys but little stock, and that only to improve his herds. He usually keeps on hand 200 head of cattle, 300 sheep, 100 hogs, besides horses and mules sufiicient to work and manage his farm. He feeds all grain raised, and is a large purchaser of corn from the adjoining farms. He is selling every year large lots of stock, weighing and doing all business at home, having all conveniences for so doing. In an earl}' day he chopped and split rails at fifty cents per hundred, and has come up to his now independent and commanding position only by energy, self-sacrifice, and an indomitable will. His daughters, Emma, Marrilla and Sarah, also his sons, John and Willie, deserve mention, as they have been and are now largely interested and worthy helps to their father in his vast undertakings, and now in the shadow of his life remain to cheer and assist him through. Mr. Adrian has not only done well for himself and family, but is largely interested in the growth and prosperity of his township, giving liberally and rendering mature advice in school, road, and other improvements. He has honored his township by being their supervisor several terms.

H. B. Cobb, farmer and stock buyer and shipper, Steward, was born in Tallard, Connecticut, November 27, 1834. His youth till sixteen was spent in his native state at home. When sixteen years of age he went to Massachusetts and engaged in a cotton-mill, and remained till nineteen, and then came west, locating first at Lamoille, Bureau county, Illinois. Here he worked in a nursery for Samuel Edwards, at $13 per month. However, he soon after went at regular farming, living there about four years. In the spring of 1856 he removed to Lee county. Mr. Cobb had three brothers in the late civil war. He has been supervisor of Yiola four years, township treasurer about fifteen years. He is a Mason and a republican. He was married May 15, 1859, to Ellen C. Beamer. They have five children : Minnie J., Lillie A., George H., Flora E. and Laura L. He has a 490 acre homestead, over 900 acres in Yiola township, and a joint farm in Brooklyn of 110 acres. Mr. Cobb has one of the finest farm residences in Lee county, and few equal it anywhere, being first-class in all its appointments. His farm is first-class, well managed, and well watered. He keeps about 250 cattle, on an average, all the time, also other fine stock. Mr. Cobb is one of the largest stock raisers and shippers of Lee county, and among the most popular and energetic farmers.

CuMMiNGS NoE, farmer, Early Dawn, was born in Caldwell, Essex county, New Jersey, July 20, 1809. He had common school advantages partly in New Jersey and partly in Ohio, going to school part of two winters in a log school-house without a pane of glass in the building, a log being left out and oiled paper pasted over the opening to admit light and keep out the wind. His youth till nine years of age was spent in New Jersey. About 1817 he moved with his parents to Franklin county, Ohio, near Columbus, and there remained about two years, when he again removed to Licking county. His mother died in Franklin county, and he lived, with a brother-in-law three years near

Columbus. He then returned to Licking and lived with his brother, adjoining his father's place, about three years. In the fall of 1834 he removed to Illinois, locating and remaining a year in Tazewell county, then to Franklin, Jo Daviess county, before Lee county was set off, remaining over a year, and then to Ogle county for eight years, at the end of which time he came to Lee county, living in Willow creek for many j^ears. In 1878 he came to Yiola. His sons William and Amos enlisted in the summer of 1862 in Co. B, 27th 111. Vol. Inf. They were in the battle at Yicksburg that season. They contracted disease from which both died, never returning. Mr. Noe is a member of the United Brethren church, and is anti-Masonic in politics. He was married April 1, 1830, to Martha Parkhurst. They have four children living (eight deceased). He has a 160-acre homestead, well stocked and managed. Mr. Noe came to Illinois in company with an elder brother. Each had a wife and two children in a wagon. All their capital was health and §10 in money, which not being current had to be returned to Ohio for exchange, which took many weeks.

Source changes here: from History of Lee County, Illinois, by Stevens, Frank Everett, published 1914; 3,224 words in this source stream.

Alto Township

Traveling northward from Willow creek, along the east county line, Alto is reached. The origin of its name does not seem to have been preserved. At all events the oldest settlers can give me no information npon the point and the so-called histories written years before overlooked that important feature.

At a meeting of the citizens of Alto township, held in the schoolhouse of district 3, April 3, 1860, Hiram C. Holcomb was appointed chairman. Charles R. Hall was made moderator, and James Tyler, clerk. Justice H. C. Holcomb administered the oath and the polls were declared opened at 9 o'clock.

At this meeting, it was ordered that the township be divided into four road districts and that a tax levy of 40 cents on the hundred dollars he levied for road purposes. A motion was also carried to raise a tax of 2 mills on the dollar for town purposes. The long period of herding cattle had become so much of a nuisance to the increasing settlements that drastic mea.sures were taken to compel cattle owners to fence their cattle. A motion was carried to the effect that all cattle should be kept up at night and if damage followed from leaving them at large, the owner was to pay for all damage done foi* the first offense and f(Tr the second otfense the owner was to pay double the damage done. And to enforce the rule summarily, everv man was made his ow^i pouudmaster.

Forty-seven votes were polled. C. R. Hall was elected the first supervisor; James Tyler, the first town clerk; Josiah Carpenter, the first collector; James Tyler, the first assessor; Daniel Carey and H. C. Holcomb, the first justices of the peace; Josiah Carpenter and John Dorsoia, the first constable ; Jedediah Loneridge, the first overseer of the poor ; and James A. Smith, Roan McClure and M. Mills, the first highway commissioners.

The first settlers of Alto were Mr. and Mrs. John Grimes who came to Alto in 1843 and settled near Plum Thicket, the only grove in the township. The house of Mr. <i rimes, the tirst one built in the township, was built, we are told, in 1847, four _years after he settled in the township. The second settler came in 1845 and his name was J. Wood, a Baptist preacher. He remained two or three years and then removed to Earlville. About 1852, Jedediah Loneridge came next. He remained about twenty years and lemoved to Nebraska. Following Loneridge, "the basket maker," came the families of James Holcoml) and his father, Hubbell Williams, Mason Flerriek, the Mills family, James Tyler, C. R. Hall, the Kirbys, the Stewards, the McDonalds (or McDonnels, as spelled sometimes), and the Carpenters - AMlliam F. Carpenter came to Alto in 1857.

Alto township is a pi'aii'ie township and like other prairie townshi])s. did not settle rapidly. In fact it may be said of Alto that its })oi)uhition was sparse mitil the late sixties. And it excited little attention until the railroad caiiic tlii'ougli.

But since that date, Alto has gi\cii an excellent account of itself. It is a wonderfully rich township and until little Scarboro was created, Steward was the only village or city, for that matter, in Northern Illinois to market ovef a million bushels of grain year after year. Even now, with Scarlioro feeding on its old territorj', Steward has marketed 8()0.()()() bushels of grain. In the years 1869 and 1870, when every connnunity in Northern Illinois was agitated by the prospects (on ])a])er ) of having a railroad or two, Alto experienced those same thrills. It was said that Francis E. Hinckley desii'cd to build a I'ailroad from Foi'reston to Chicago, to run thi'ough Alto township. The rumor created great excitement of course and when it was proposed to bond the township for $32,000, payable when cars were running over the rails, the proposition pi'ovokcd the usual antagoiiisiu. Patriotism was appealed to on the one hand ; the felloAv who thought he was paying taxes enough, o]iposed the venture. A meeting was had and a vote was taken which was carried favorably to the bonds by a vote of ninety-three foi-. to lil'ty against. Grading was connneuced on Monday, Se]it. 26, 1870, and on Dec. 31, 1870. the road was finished to Rochelle and trains moved regularly to that point. After that date trains ran rather irregularly until April, 1871, and only one per day until 1872. The Chicago fire and the financial distress prevailing over the country inteifered with the ]»laiis of the company considerably,

Naturally there was a light ovei' the question of the l)Oiids, but this question was compromised by the issuance and acceptance of a $25,000 issue, and at a less rate of interest.

Now, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy company controlling the road, runs some of the most beautiful trains in the country over this line of railway. All its noi'thwestern business is carried \da that route. This service includes two beautiful through trains each way, each day. The freight traffic over it now is enormous.

In 1904, the importance of Steward was recognized by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul company. That corporation enjoyed a joint occupancy of the strip of I'oad riuming southerly out of Rockford, and when the latter company desired to reach further south into the coal fields, Steward was selected as the junctional point from which to bear off to the southwest. Immediately this new road established two new stations in Lee county, Scarboro in Willow Creek township, and Roxbury in Wyoming township. With the up-building of Steward, the township of Alto took on an unusual degree of activity. Projects of imi)rovement in every direction were formulated, not the least of which was the extensive system of drainage more particularly mentioned in other parts of this work. But here in Alto they were agitated fii'st and here in Alto they began to materialize under the dredge and the spade, and an Alto man, Wesley Steward, was made a member of the first di'ainage board of Lee county to begin those operations which since have been made so stupendous.

The village of Steward stands upon the corners of four sections, 16, 17, 20 and 21, and Main and Dewey streets form the dividing lines. The town site was selected by Wesley Steward, on his lands, and he platted the village in 1870. William McMahan, the then coimty surveyor, made the survey of the plat, and S. O. Barnett, still a resident of Steward, assisted him in the performance of that job, as chainman.

The first house on the new town site was built by Patrick Carey, from the first a section foreman foi' the Burlington company. This was in 1874 ; it was built on John street, where it stands today, and was used as Mr. Carey's residence.

In 1875 P. A. Billion & Co. opened the first hardware store. The)" sold it to C A. Ruckman, who conducts it today on the same spot and in the same building.

In 1877, Edward O'Neil erected a building on Main street and oj)ened therein a general store. Doctor Gardner opened the first drug store, but finding a drug store would not pay, he moved the stock upstairs and rented the store room to Yetter and Healy, who put in a stock of general merchandise.

In 1859 the first schoolhouse was built in Alto, and Miss Carrie Whitcomb was the first teacher. Miss Carrie Norton succeeded hei'. The last named lady married Mr. Merritt Miller, who was a teacher, and afterwards Mr. Miller taught during the winter months and Mrs. Miller duiing the summer months. In the old schoolhouse, Misses Thurber, Holmes and others, followed. This same ()ld binlding stands t(jday on Main street and is used for a store building.

In 1881, at a cost of $7,000, a new school building was built. On Feb. 8, 1903, this Iiuilding was destroyed by fire and for the rest of the school year school was conducted in the rooms over a Mr. Foster's store. Duiing the summer of 1903, the present beautiful building was erected, and b_v November 1st the schools were opened with Miss Ida Van Patten as principal. Miss Nona Floyd, teacher of the intermediate department, and Miss Valeria Whetston (Mrs. F. J. Beardsley) as primary teacher. Among those who have taught in the Steward schools are Delos W. Baxter, of Rochelle, and Messrs. Sensor, F^illmore and Miller as principals; Miss Ella Wilcox, now Mrs. Robinson of Iowa, Mrs." Nellie Bowles, Doctor Fauser ; Henry H. Hagen, principal ; Miss Nora O 'Neil, primary, and Miss Dora Ackland, intermediate.

The postoffice was established in Steward in 1871 and Mrs. Merritt INIiller became the first postmistress. Through the intrigue of cheap enmity to the founder of the town, the namt> of the postoffice was made "Heaton," professedly in honor of Judge William W. Heaton of Dixon. But this inconsistency and troublesome feature was short-lived. The de]»artment changed it to the name of the plat and the railway station, "Steward,'' just as it shoidd have been called from the first. The first postoffice was in the old depot, the scene of other interesting beginnings. After about a year, Mrs. Miller gave uji the office and H. A. Robinson was appointed. Those who STicceeded to the office have been William Preston, G. A. Ruck- mau, aud Jolm P. Yetter, the present postmaster, although on Cleveland's second election, Rueknian was returned and then in turn, Yetter was returned. In 190-1: two rural deliveries were established from this office, both of which continue to this day. The two first carriers were S. H. Diller and Patrick O'Neal.

In view of the enormous ([uantities ot gi'ain }»ruduce(l at this point, Air. Steward erected in 1872-73 an elevator to handle it and he engaged in the grain business. A coal and lumlter Inisiness was connected with the grain l)usiness.

In 18SU, C. Jorgens & Co. erected another elevator. These people sold out to Miller and Emmitt and they in turn, in the year 1894, sold to Titus Brothers. In 1901 this old elevator was torn down and rebuilt, much enlarged, on a new site furnished by the uew Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul company.

One will find in Steward a peculiar situation in the business field. The grain dealers lun-e always done a banking business and to this da}^ Shearer Brothers receive deposits and write exchange to a very large amoimt in the course of the year.

The Xeola Elevator Company operates the old Wesley Steward elevator. Alto township contains one of the best herds of pure bred Hereford cattle in the State of Illinois, owned l>y ^Y. E. Hemenway. The annual dispersion sales from this farm are events in Lee county history. For many years, Moriis Cook, son-in-law of Mr. Hemenway, owned a rare herd of the same breed, but on account of his large landed interests, he dispersed them aliout four years ago.

which tie had to be decided by casting lots, lu this test, Mr. Hemenway lost and so was given second. At other live stock shows this herd has achieved great distinction with "Right Lad" and other noted animals.

Concerning the churches of Alto, their early history is much the same as the history of Malugin's Grove in Brooklyn and Willow Creek. All were in the same circuit and the same circuit riders visited each, altlidugii circuit riding had been almndoned practically when Alto began its church history.

The year 1874 seems to mark the beginning of clmrch life in Steward as a distinctive feature. Of coui-se there were other church services in Alto township, but just where I have not been able to ascertain.

In April, 1874, a meeting was lu'ld in the i-ailruad depot for the p^irpose of maturing plans to build a Methodist church in Steward. J. C. Curry, H. A. R(»]unson, H. YauPatten, V. W. Wells, Jeremiah Tyler, James A. Smith, Merritt Miller, Robert M. Peile and John Yetter were elected a building cununittee. M. Jj. Barnett was made treasurer and J. C. Curry was made clerk. Perkins Richardson of Aurora draughted plans and to T. J. Labdell was given the contract for building the new church. By September it was finished and then the question arose as to who should l)e given control of it. It was voted to the Methodists. On Sept. 6, 1874. the church was dedicated by Prof. Miner Raymond of the Carrett Bil:)lical Institute of Evanston.

Mr. Steward then was superintendent of the railroad and to secure a large attendance he caused free trains to run into Steward from Chicago and ]\[omit Morris. The ladies furnished free dimiers. At the meeting Messrs. Steward and Curry agreed to 13ay the d(>ticit after all t1ie su1iscri]itions had been nia<le liv the volunteers.

North and soutli through Alto township the old Ottawa-Rockford trail ran. In l.Sf)!; a I'oad was viewed and laid out fi'om Paw Paw to Ruchelle.

The Plum Thicket run is the only natural stream running thi'ough Alto townshi]). and that is so unimi»ortant that it is little known. Water is reached easily. Drive wells reach an easy flow of water at a (lei)th of TOO to 200'feet.

The ver}' large Norwegian Evangelical clnireli in the suntlieasteru corner of the township already has been noticed in the account o'f Willow Creek. Jt is known as the North West church and is not far from Lee.

It is so close to Lee that it is regarded as a Lee institution, it was organized June 25, 1870. At the meeting Michael Knutson was made chairman and Rasmus (). Llill, secretary. After prayers, articles of faith were adopted and officers were elected. Peter 0. Espe, Peter O. Hill and Elias O. Espe were elected trustees and Michael Knutson, Rasmus O. Hill and Ole O. Hill Avere made deacons.

Its size is 36x56, 16 feet high, and has a seating capacity for 400. It is surrounded by a large yard and ample shed room for many teams. The cost of construction was $2,300 and the society is free from debt. While the Fertile Valley church is considered as a Steward church, it is in reality an Inlet swamp church over in Reynolds township and will be considered there.