Amboy Township (part 4 of 4)

Amboy township M^as peopled early b}' enterprising people. So soon as the settlers got their bearings, they proceeded at once to biiild their homes and scliools and churches and then to establish for trading and manufacturing purposes.

Binghamton was laid out by Asa E. Searls and named in honor of Binghamton, Xcw \'oik. its location was on tlic southeast quarter of section 14. The date was April, 1848. Warren Badger laid off some lots contiguous. Hei'e Mr. Searls opened and maintained the Binghamton House. He erected a store as well and took into partnership Edward AVaters. Later Henry Potter l)ought the store and he in turn sold it to the Union ( 'ompany, a cooperative comjiany, conducted by James H. Preston. Tvol)ert <!. liigersoll was Mr. Searls' "hired man," for a considerable period.

Binghamton became a flouring mill center, John Dexter in 1844 built one on Green liver and the Badger brothers, Warren and Palmer, built another. The latter was killed by a bank of earth falling on him and Chester Badger took his place in the partnership. In 1858, Chester and Henry I^adger took ovei' the property and introduced steam power instead of water ])owcr. On Thursday night, July 18. 1872. the mill was burned and a loss of .f6,()<)(> was sustained. The mill was rebuilt and H. E. Badger and son took it over and operated it until the evening of July 21. 1881. when it was struck ))v lightning and burned. Loss ?(^16,000; insurance $6,000.

John Doan started a plow factoiy which he I'au for a year and then sold it to Frederick IJaintei'. hi 1S4() another was started by the Sliaws and Churches. One of the factorit's, a quaint little limestone building testihes to the business thrift of Binghamton, to this very day.

There were tAA'o ])lacksmith shops, a shoe sho]), a wagon sho]), the "Reed House," and in 1850 it liad secui'ed from Shelbui-n the .stage head(juarters and the postoffice. At this time Binghamton was one of the prosperous places of the county.

Binghamton is one nnle east of Amboy. There the cemetery was established in the early day and in it. Patience, wife of A. B. Searls, was Hi'st to be bnried. She died Dec. 19, 1846.

Rocky Eord was settled early aud became the center of manufacturing interests without being platted. The old Indian trail from west to east crossed the river here. Timothy Perkins settled here lirst. He and Horace Bowen erected a sawmill, which passed successively into the hands of Lee, Mason, Van Ai'uam (oi- Van Norman) and Dutcher. In 1849, Frederick R. Butcher platted the property and named the plat, iShelburn. The river was the dividing line. Butcher erected a distiller}' at once and in 1853, he added a store. Jacob Doan next year put in another st()re.

The Shelburn Manufacturing Company of which Uutcher was president, put u]) a large flouring mill in 1856. It was eonil:)ined with the distilleiy and tShelburn attracted considerable trade and a large business was handled.

The mill was a stone l)nilding 60x60 feet, four stories high. The distiller}' was 40x140, two and a half stories high. The dam was built of solid masonry, the whole costing $65,000. Col. John B. Wj-inan for a time was an influential member of the company.

In 1859, by reason of an explosion, the south wall was partially thrown down and the Ijoiler was hurled thirty rods across the ci'eek. The engineer, John Bentley was injured ))adly. Loss $4,000. Ten }'eai's later the building was destroyed by Are. A small section of wall stands today to invite attention to the former glories of Shelburn. Beautiful Rock}' Foixl cemeter}' is located here. It is owned by the Catholic church at Amlioy.

The first jDostal facilities were furnished l)y Dixon. Then Asa B. Searls became first postmaster and the office was maintained in his house. Warren Badger followed when Searls resigned. Dutcher was made postmaster of Shelburn, but when Bingliamton secured its removal, Dutcher secured its re-esta))lishment under the name of Equator.

Shelburn had all the opportunity t<» lead. When the mail route was changed from Peoria to Peru. Shelburn became the stage headquarters. Two lines were run. one Ijy Frink and AValker and another b}^ Dixon and Andruss. But the Bingliamton people outgeneraled their rivals at everv turn and finally secured the stage lines. IMidway between Binghamton and Shelburn, stands Amboy, made l)y the entrance of the Illinois Central railroad.

ill many iustaiices, by individuals ur cuiupauies, cuiuposed of stockliolders of the Central. Very much after present day methods they pursued the tactics of the present day man. At first a farm two miles north of the present depot, was bought and the company sent out word that the machine shops for the new road were to be located there. Some stone was hauled and the place actually was named Ivepatau. This feint was made for the sole purpose of securing another farm for the town. The scheme worked very well and Amboy stands today just where the Centi'al people desired, on the ' ' Farwell place.

In June, 1853, JNIichael Egan came here to begin woi'k un the station buildings. Plans for the machine shops were made and Mr. Egan i^ushed their construction with rapidity. Eighteen hundred and fifty-four became the birth year of Amboy. Town lots were sold rai)id]y. Earwell's and AVyman's and (Jilson's additions were platted and residence lots Avent oft' rapidly. R. I). Peironet and Samuel Goldman opened the first stores ; the first named had a small stock of knick-knacks, (loldman sold clothing.

In the siji'ing of 185-1, Josiali Little erected a store l)uil(ling which was opened in October and in which a stock of drugs, hardware and groceries was sold; Wilcox and Wooster followed with a dry goods and grocery store. Later, ]\Ir. Wooster ))ought the interest of his partner. During these first formative years, Amboy grew very rai)idly.

David Bainter was the first doctor to settle here. William E. Ives, the first lawyer to settle here, came in December, 1854. Alfred Tooker and James H. Filch came the next _vear. Alonzo Kinyon, who read law here came aljout the same time. Desirous of securing the facilities of a court, Kinyon secui-ed the ])assage of an act Ity the Legislature establishing, "The Court of Couniion Pleas of the City of Amboy." with jurisdiction concurrent with the circuit court, cases of nuu'der and treason exce])ted. In 18(i9. Kiiixdu was elected judge of this court and C. D. N'aughau was elected clerk. The court did not pi'ospei'. however, and in 1874 the law was re])ealed.

Armed Avith a letter of introduction to Ste-i)hen A. Douglas. Bernai'd IT. Trusdell came to Aui)>o\- in 1858, to i>ractice law. Douglas had advised Amboy. Edward Southwick nioxcd lier(> from Dixon, but died about the time Mr. Trusdell came here. N(U'- man H. Ryan came a little later. Both Trusdell and Ryan bc^-ame lawvers of renown.

Incoi'puration as a town followed soon. lu the winter of 1854-5, the town was incorporated. Allen E. Wilcox became the first president of the board of trustees. H. B. Judkins became the second clerk.

On Dec. 23, 1856. a citizen's meeting was held in Mechanics hall to consider the (|uesti(in of city organization. J. B. Wyman, William E. Ives, Alonzo Kinyon and Edward !Southwick, were appointed a committee to draft a charter. On the 30th at an adjourned meeting held at the Orient House, the chartei' was reported, adopted section by section and then as a whole. On Feb. 16, 1857, an act was apiDroved and March 2 was set for the election to adopt or ratify it. On the 8th following, John B. Wjonan was elected ma^'or. Orange D. Reed, marshal; 8. IS. Stedman, E. S. Reynolds. -L R. Stevens, P. B. Little, J. M. Davis and J. A. Jackson were elected aldermen. Two hundred and thirty- four votes were cast. Daniel T. Wood was made clerk ; W. E, Ives, attorney; A. E. Wilcox, assessor; W. B. Andruss, collector; Edward Little, treasurer and Arthur Pond, surveyor.

In 1854-5, the postoifices at Shelburn and Biughamton were discontinued and Amlioy secured the sam<\ Orange D. Reed was made lirst postmaster.

The first birth in the new village was that of Medora Bell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bell, Aug. 29, 1854. The first birth in the township was that of Simon, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Dexter in 1836; the second Avas that of William C. Doan, son of James Doan, Oct. 16, 1837. The first marriage in the village of Aml)oy was that of A\'illiam C. Bartlett, and Caroline Bartlett, Oct. 18, 1854. The first death in the village was that of Almira ^Melissa, infant daughter of Mr. and ^Irs. W. B. StTiart. Jan. 5, 1855.

Two tragedies occui'i'ed in Amboy. Owen O'Connor shot and killed Dennis Allen, saloon keeper, Oct. 11, 1872. On April 18, 1873, John McGrath stabbed and killed Edward Egan. A negro killed another negro in the passenger station liy striking with his fist.

Amboy has made sevei'al fights to secure the coimty seat and always she has been vigilant to see that Dixon obtained no advantages. For that reason, imtil the erection of the ]n'esent courthouse, Dixon always had been compelled to build and maintain the courthouse. In 1866, the first effort was made. With Dr. George Ryon in the Legislature it Avas conceded that her chances were better than an average. But the effort failed. When it be- came kuowu that tlie present new cuurtliouse was probable for Lee county, Amboy made another desperate effort to secure the county seat ; but tliis defeat was more decided than the first. The removal of the division oftiees and the slio^js from Amboy, had cut her population, while the territory naturally tributorj- to Dixon, as well as Dixon herself had been enjoying a long period of prosperity and increase in population.

Amboy has been subjected to fearful fires. The first big fii'e on the morning of Dec. lU, 1863, originated under the brick city hall, three stories high. A $35,000 loss followed; insurance, $14,000.

In 18()1 a $45,000 fire followed; insurance, $38,000. March 10, 1865, another big fire followed. Other fires occurred April 2, 1868; April 25, 1871, and Aug. 25, 1871, the last one entailing a loss of $175,000; insurance, $103,000. In this last fire John Shannon was burned to death. He had been incarcerated in the city jail and was forgotten until too late. Other fires of smaller degree have followed since, but none of an}' magnitude.

After the railroad debt had been saddled upon the conmiunity, the sti'xiggles of Amboy were hopeless, many times. No money could be secured for improvements. The railroad shops were taken away. The division offices were removed ; yet she struggled forward bravely, and beginning with the administration of Mayor John P. Harvey, splendidly paved streets made their appearance. Boulevard lam])S followed. Now Amboy is pushing forward splendidly. I dc insist, however, that the splendid grasp which Mayor Harvey had of the situation and his uncomprouusing efforts for order, beauty and business development, ha\e l)een responsible very largely f()r the new Amboy of today.

The Lewis fannlies in Lee eoimty are descendants of George Lewis, who, with his l)r(ither J(»hn, eame from East (Treenwich, Count}^ of Kent, England, about 16:>0, to Plymouth, JNIass.

George married Sarah Jenkins in England. She was sister of Edward Jenkins, one of the earliest settlers of Scituate, aud ancestor of most of that name in New England. George Lewis w^as a clothier by occupation aud in religious matters was a Separatist, or otic of the Pilgrims, as distinguished from the Puritans of the iMassacliusctts l>ay Colony. He went from Plyiiiouth to Scituate, and tlieuce to Earustable, being one of the early settlers of that town.

rnout May 27, 1769, and, witli his wife (Esther Tuttle), came to Susquehanua coimty, Peunsylvania, about the year 1785. Six sons and six daughters were born to them in Susquehauna coimty, and their names, date of birth, date and place of death are as follows :

These twelve children of Nathaniel Lewis, Jr., were all liorn in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, and all, with their families, came to Illinois between the years 1842 and 1845; and at one time, were all in Lee county, Illinois.

Amboy Of Today

The city of Amboy has had its vicissitudes and days of darkness and gloom; biit. phoenix-like, it is arising from the ashes of the dead past and with confidence and assurance is now looking straight into the future.

tion of the Rock Ri^er railroad, - the two ghastly spectres which for many years hung like a finiei'al pall over (jiir jjeople, - are now matters of ancient history.

The Illinois Central has in a measure returned to Amboy, - its monthly pay roll at the present time at this place amounting on the aA-erage to $15,900 with Ijright prospects for an increase in both pay roll and business and with a strong j)robability that this compan}' will again make this place a I'egular terminal station. At the present time, the compan}- makes Amboy its freight terminal, and it is here well provided with side tracks and rovmdhouse. The business transacted by this company at this i)lace is summarized by its gentlemanly agent, A. A. Caiinichael, as follows:

Employes at station. 16 ; at I'Oiuidhouse, 25 ; on section, 15 ; and on trains and engines, 1 iO : making a total of 196 and an average of over thirty thoiisand freight cars are handled through the Amboy 3^ard each month.

The Rock River railroad Ixmds have' long since been paid ($100,000), and long years of interest, and from this time on the road constructed, now a branch of the (Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, will be a good investment and a source of income to the entire town, at least in the ])a3'ment of taxes, which for the year 1912 amounted for the townshi]) to the siun of $2,692.46.

Amboy is also the western terminal of the Xorthern Illinois Electric Railway Company whidi lias its road under construction from Amboy to DeKalb, and of which twehe miles, reaching through liCe ( V'uter and Ijradford to lu'ar the Reynolds township line, are completed and in operation. These three railways give Amboy excellent shipping facilities, l)ut the one thing that has duriiig the past few yeai-s tended to build iij) Amboy and its business interest has been the develoi)ment of the agi'icultural resources in this vicinity. By a thorough system of drainage by means of tile and open ditches, it has discovered that the farm lands in the vicinity of Aml)o\' may and lia\ c hecoine very prodiu-tive, - and as a result our l)usiness men now look and depend on the fai'mei- more than any other one class of people. As these farms continue to imj)rove in value and ])ro(luctiveness it is but natui'al to believe that Amboy Avill be l)eneiited thereby.

May 8, 3888, was reorganized under the city and callage laws of the state. The more marked improvements during the past few years have been the instaHation of a city water system, with the water supplied of an excellent quality from an artesian well over two thousand feet in (lei:)th, luider Mayor Geoi'ge E. Young; the removal of the old wtioden awnings in the business section, the construction of cement sidewalks and the installation of a general sewer system under ]\rayor J. P. Johnson ; the paving of the streets in the business section, and the extension of water mains, sewers and cement walks under ]Mayor John P. Harvey ; and the installation of the boulevai'd lighting system in the business section, and the improving and rel)uil(ling of the electric lighting system of the entire city, under the present mayor, Pred N. Vaughan. The present officers of the city government are as follows :

Aesthetics

The ci\TC pride of the cntizens is shown by the well painted homes, the well kept lawns and the care and attention given street trees, shrubs and ornamental plants, by reason of which Amboy always presents a neat and tidy appearance. The city owns Oj'een "River Park, a tract of about forty acres lying adjacent to the city on the east and which is well shaded with native oak trees. This park is situated on the banks of (freen river, is well cared for by the cit}^ and is well patronized, not oidy Ijy the people of the city, but also by many people f I'om a distance.

Adjacent to this park on the south and west are located the grounds and improA^ements of the Lee County Pair Association Avith a half-mile track which is a joy to the horsemen. During the fair the association is granted the use of the park, and taken together they make an ideal ])lac(' for the animal gathering of the people of the entire county.

Hospital

Amboy Hospital, owned by tbe Amboy Hospital Company, lucm'poi'ated, is located at tlie coriun' of Plant and Division streets and is well equipped and lias competent nurses for the treatment and care of tbe sick and for surgical operations, and is being much appi'eciated and well patronized by our citizens. While it is o\\"ned and controlled as a priA^ate corporation, yet its doors are always open for any legitimate business and all re]tntable physicians and

'I'lu'i-c arc three school liiiildings in Anil)oy,--a pel:)l)le dash tworoom Iniilding located on East Main street, a two-story brick building on AN^'st Provost street, and a two-story pressed brick high school biiilding located near the center of the city. Grades 1 to 4, inclusive, are taught in the two tii'st mentioned buildings, and grades 5 to 12 inclusive, are taught in the high school building.

The high school has a regular four-year course and includes liousehohl scit'iice, mamial training and agriculture. As to the characte]' and standard of the work done in the high school it is sufficient to mention the fact tliat this school has been on the fully accredited list <if the Cniversity of Illinois for many years, and at the present time its graduates may olitain seventeen credits or two more than are re(|uired for admission to the university.

tSt. Patrick's Catholic Church, with a large brick editice located on Jones street, and with Rev. 'J'. J. Culleu, priest, in charge; Cernian Lutheran, located on Jones street; Baptist on Alasou street, Kev. Earl A. Rine,y, pastor; Methodist Episcopal with a stone ediliee on Mason street, Rev. J. W. George, pastor ; St. Luke 's Episcopal, on Mason street; (Jongregational, located at cornei' of Main and Plant streets, with Rev. 11. H. Appelhnan, pastor; and the Christian Science occupy rooms in the Badger Block.

E'or many years Amboy has had two newspapers, known as the Amboy News and the Amboy Journal, but in October, 1913, the News-Journal Company was incorporated and took over and consolidated both plants and will continue publishing the Amboy News.

G. L. Carpenter, i)resident; Philip Clark, vice president; Andrew Aschenbrenner, H. H. Badger, George P. Miller; and Mary J . Burnham, secretary-treasurer.

The First National Bank of Amboy, as shown by its statement of Oct. 21, 1913, had a capital of $100,000.00, a surplus and undivided profits amounting to $107,690.16, and total assets- of $1,155,724.17. The officers of the bank are, Fred N. Vaughan, president; Elijah L. King, vice president; H. H. Badger, cashier, and L. L. Brink and W. B. Vaughan, assistant cashiers. The directors are F. N. Vaughan, E. L. King, E. L. Price, H. W. Hillison, W. V. Jones, W. A. Green, P. M. James, Philip Clark and H. H. Badger.

The Amboy State Bank, was established in Decembei-, 1912, with a capitalof $25,000.00: on Oct. 22, 1913, it reported assets to the amount of $84,624.14. The officers and directors of the ])ank are: George P. Mller, president; F. W. Harck, vice president; R. W. Ruckman, cashier; and Messrs. F. C. Halev, Jarvis Leake,

Industrialism

Tlie crying need iii Ambu}' i.s the establislnnent of industries that will fui-nish work for our young people so that they will not be compelled to go elsewhere to lind emi^loyment.

Tlie John P. Harvey Bridge and Iron Works occupies commodiLius quarters with high grade machinery, and is engaged in concrete and structural steel work. Mr. Harvey employs ten men, and his pay roll for labor for 1913 amounts to $6,500.00 per year and material $10,500.00.

Tlie Sanitary Creamery Company purchases milk and cream and sells milk, cream and butter. It has twelve employees in its serA'ice, and last year paid out $71,296.85 for milk and cream and $7,118.00 for labor. The officers of the company are P. M. James, president; H. H. Badger, vice president, and J. C. MacKinnon, secretary-treasurer and general manager.

The Entorf Filter Company, Amboy, 111., was incorporated on April 17, 1913, with a capital stock of $15,000.00. The company is engaged in the manufacture of the Entorf water separating filter for gasoline, kerosene and similar oils. The officers are Charles A. Entorf, president, and Carl P. Baird, secretary-treasurer.

Masonic

Keenan Council No. 740, Knights of Colmnbus, was instituted June 21, 1913, with forty-five charter members, which has since increased to 147. The present officers are :

Grand knight, William E. Clark ; deputy gTand knight, John P. Canavan ; chancelor, Charles W. Ral)bitt ; financial secretary, John P. Hanuuond; advocate, D. M. Reilley ; treasurer, Paul P. Reilley; chaplain. Rev. T. J. Cullcn; lecturer. Rev. P. S. Porcella; inside guard, John J. Edwards; outside guard, L^^nan T. Callahan; trustees, Philip Clark. J. P. Harvey and F. W. Meyer.

This club was incorporated in 1911 ; has commodious rooms in the Entorf building and is doing nu;ch for the commercial interests of the city.