Ashton Township

Ashton Township

This town is located in the north tier of townships. It is one-half the size of a congressional township, being six miles from east to west and three miles from north to south. It originally formed a part of Bradford township. The surface is for the most part undulating. Stone suitable for building purposes abounds in considerable quantities. The finest quarry is just north of the village of Ashton, which is said to be equal in quality to any in northern Illinois for building.

The first person to locateMn the township was Eiastus Anderson, in 1848. He w^as followed in a few weeks after by his brother Timothy, their father coming in December of the'same year. At that time there were only four houses to be seen, and part of these were twenty miles distant. In 1849 a man by the name of Hubbard settled in the west part of the township. In 1852 Daniel Suter located near the site of the German Baptist church, and H. Saunders farther to the west. These comprise most of the settlers of what is now Ashton township prior to the location of the Northwestern railroad in 1854.

The first settlers of Ashton township say not a tree was to be seen nearer than the grove, at what is now Franklin ; that game was plenty, that ducks, geese and sandhill cranes reared their young here in the swamps, and that chasing the prairie wolf was of frequent occurrence. Sheep had to be closely guarded. Prairie fires sometimes broke out, sweeping the grass, which was very abundant, and sometimes the build-

The land of Ashton township was bought principally by speculators about the time the first settlers made their appearance. They rated it from $5 to $10 per acre. Those with small means settled farther from the railroads, where land could be had for less money. Ashton township is yet owned largely in large farms, and worked by tenants.

In 1854 emigrants began to come in from every quarter and located in Ashton township. In that year the first house was built by James L. Bates, where the village of Ashton now is. The town was laid out in 1855. J. L. Bates kept the first store here. The first warehouse was erected in the latter part of 1854, and in this was kept the first post-office? The first blacksmith shop was erected in 1855, by S. M. Kifnes.

The first church erected was tiie Methodist Episcopal, in 1863. A lot was offered, free of charge, to the church societ}^ which would erect the first building in the village. The Methodist Episcopal people, not feeling themselves able to build a durable church, erected a temporary structure to secure the lot till such time as they were able to build a durable church. The second church was erected by the Free Methodists in 1864. This is said to have been the first church of the kind in the state. The societ}^ was first organized in Ogle county, four miles north of Ashton, by J. G. Terrol, in 1860, but for convenience the society was divided and a church built in Ashton. Among the prominent members at the time of its organization were Charles Butolpk, Jonathan Dake, Sidney and Melville Beach, Sylvester Forbes, Isaac Martin, Samuel Walker, James Heed, William Martin, their wives and others. Rev. Terrol was followed by Rev. W. Underwood. The society at one time, shortly after its organization, numbered ninety active members. It now numbers twenty-five. It is in a flourishing condition. The society has kept in good running order a Sunday-school most of the time. It has now united its Sunday-school with that of the Presbyterians. Its church principles are absolute freedom and strong opposition to all secret societies.

The third church erected here was by the Catholics, in 1866. Its members are for the most part Germans, and number about fifty active communicants.

The Christian church was built in 1868. The prime leaders were F. Nettleton, J. P. Taylor, and Peter Plantz. It was organized with fifteen members. It first held its meetings in the school-house. The society flourished with the other societies of the town till within the past two years, when misfortunes beyond its control befell it, but it is now in a fair way to revive and recover its former standing.

The German Baptists built their present church house one fourth of a mile south of town, in 1866. Its membership at the present is something more than forty, and is in a flourishing condition. The cemetery connected with this church is on a beautiful rising ground.

The Presbj'terian church was erected in 1877. The building committee were Messrs. Mills, Petrie and Polluck. At the time of organization its membership was fourteen. The leading members were Griffith, Hutsen, and Brewer. The first minister was Rev. S. Vale ; present pastor. Rev. Jordan. The present elders are S. F. Mills and J. Brewer. The society is in good condition.

The Masons and Odd-Fellows each have a society here. The former was organized in 1862, and is prosperous. The latter was organized in 1867, and though not so numerous in members is enjoying a good degree of prosperity.

The Ashton Bank

This bank was opened by Mills & Petrie in 1867. During its existence it has never closed its doors. During the month of June, 1881, it received checks amounting to over $80,000, the greater part of which was for produce shipped from this point.

Ashton has several times been visited with very destructive fires for a town of its size. The first fire of note was in 1863. The grain elevator was burned, and the loss was estimated at $2,000. Next, the Ashton flouring mill burned in 1863 ; loss, $60,000. In 1871 the railroad property, which consisted of two tanks, the depot and a coal-house, in which were stored 1,200 tons of coal; in addition to the railroad property, a lumber yard and four dwelling houses were burned, the estimated loss being $75,000. This fire originated in the coal-house. In 1874 the hay-press and elevator were burned ; a loss of $30,000. Besides these fires named there have been numerous smaller ones.

At the present time Ashton has three elevators, two hotels, and flouring mill, six churches and seven congregations, one bank, of which Mills & Petrie are the sole proprietors, and several very good stores for a country town. The Masons and Odd-Fellows are the only secret societies.

McGee. He was a minister stationed at Ashton. It seems the villain had become enamored of another besides his wife, and not possessing moral courage sufficient to free himself from the matrimonial bonds in an honorable way, resorted to poison as a means of putting his wife out of the way. Strichnine was his agent; this he gave to his wife in minute quantities for some time. The doctor was summoned, but not suspecting the treacherous villainy that was being practiced, did not discover what had been done till a short time before she died. The fatal dose was administered by him just before he repaired to the church to preach. He was arrested and incarcerated in the county jail. He then thought to place his crime upon his fourteen-year-old daughter by making her sign a paper stating that she had poisoned her mother. In this he failed. He was tried, convicted and sent to the state penitentiary for a term of fourteen years. His wife was much loved and respected by the community, as are his children, and no one reflects on them the villainy over which they had no control, but all are filled with sympathy for their misfortune.

W. A. Peteie, of the firm of Petrie & Mills, bankers, Ashton, was born in 1842, near Syracuse, New York, and is the son of Rudolph and Elizabeth (Yrooman) Petrie, natives of New York. His parents were of German descent, and his maternal grandfather was captain of a fort in the pioneer times of New York, and was killed and scalped by the Indians; and a son was also killed and mutilated in the most horrible manner. The Yroomans are an old established family of New York. W. A. Petrie received a fair education and came to Lee county in 1858, and went into partnership with his present partner, Mr. S. F. Mills. Mr. Mills is a native of New York, born in 1830 near Utica, and is the son of Loran A. and E. (Petrie) Mills, natives of New York. Mr. Mills' father was colonel of the state militia. His father was of Scotch extraction, his mother of English descent. He came to Ashton in 1854 and engaged in the grain and lumber trade and was joined by Mr. Petrie in 1858. In 1861 they gave up the grain and lumber trade and engaged in the mercantile trade, and in one year sold $109- 000 worth of goods, their yearly average being $80,000. In 1867 they quit the mercantile business and opened a private banking house in Ashton, in which business they still remain. They were both married in 1879 at the same ceremony : Mr. Petrie to Sarah E. Howard, daughter of William and Mary Howard, natives of England, who emigrated to America in 1856 and settled in Ohio, and Mr. Mills to Louisa Getman, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Yrooman) Getman, natives of New York. They live in the same house on a beautiful farm one mile west of Ashton. Mr. Petrie has held the office of notary public for twelve years, and is elected for four years more. He has been trustee of the township four years and still holds the office, and was supervisor for two years. They constitute a firm of liv^e business men, who have the business confidence of the community.

Sidney Beach, farmer and stock raiser, Ashton,was born in Delaware county, Ohio, in 18S7, and is the son of Israel and Roda (Lockwood) Beach, natives of New York. The former was by trade a shoemaker. They settled in Ohio in 1822 and engaged in the business of farming, which pursuit they followed the remainder of their lives. They were members of the Presbyterian church. Israel Beach served in the war of 1812 as drummer. Sidney Beach remained in Ohio till he was fifteen years old, then came to Ogle county, Illinois, with an older sister, where he remained three years and accumulated some property, which lie lost ; hence he says his "first three years in Illinois were spent in getting experience." He returned to Ohio when eighteen, but after a lapse of three years returned to Ogle county and began trading in cattle as much as he was able, which proved to be quite lucrative. Then he speculated in land to some extent. In 1856 he was married to Sarah Yandermark, daughter of Daniel and Anna Yandermark, natives of Pennsylvania. By this marriage he has three children: Clement L., Jessie C. and Sidney. Mrs. Beach's father was of German descent and a button-maker by trade. Her mother was of English extraction and both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Beach owns 680 acres of good farming land. He markets isome grain, but stock principally. He is a prominent republican, and was formerly a whig. He took an active part in raising recruits during the war. He and his wife are members of the Free Methodist church. He began life for himself with less than $10, and what he now possesses is the result of his own industry.

James King, farmer, Ashton, was born in Merrimac county, New Hampshire, in 1821. His parents were John and Sarah (Hill) King, natives of New Hampshire and children of English parents. James' grandfather was Gen. Wolfe's aide-de-camp at the battle of Quebec. His parents came to Illinois, where they spent their last days at the residence of their son. Mr. King received but little educational training in his early youth. He emigrated to Illinois in 1854 and settled in Bradford township, where he remained till 1875 engaged in farming. Having sold his farm of 165 acres he moved to Ashton. He was married in 1849, to Rolana Barnard, daughter of Ezekiel and Judith (Sargent) Barnard. She was born in Warren county, New Hampshire. By this union he has three children : Almon E., Walter B. and Flora D. His two boys are at present engaged in the mercantile business in Redwood, Minnesota. Mr. King, like most men who came to Illinois in the time of its first settlement, had but little means, but by judicious management and industry prospered. After selling his farm he has lived in Ashton, where he has a beautiful home and forty acres near the village. He has held the offices of commissioner and supervisor. In politics he is a staunch republican.

Peter Plantz, farmer, Ashton, was born in New York in 1805, and is the son of Richard and Maria Plantz, both of whom were of German descent, and members of the Lutheran church. Peter was educated in the common schools of his native state. He was married in New York, to Margret Putman, daughter of John and Catherine Putman, natives of New York, and members of the Dutch Reformed church ; both were of Holland extraction. Mr. Plantz has by this coalition six children : Yictor, Margret, Henry, Hannah, and Abraham. He came to Illinois in 1851 and settled in Ogle county, where he remained till 1856, when he came to Ashton, where he has since lived. Until recently he was engaged in farming, but has sold his farm and retired from business. He served three years as commissioner of highways. The success of Mr. Plantz is due wholly to his energy and industry. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. He has a comfortable home at Ashton, where he expects to enjoy the fruits of his former labors.

Melville Beach, farmer and stock raiser, Ashton, was born in Essex county. New Jersey, in 1812, and is the son of Israel and Roda (Lockwood) Beach, both natives of New Jersey. The former was a shoemaker by trade, and with his family emigrated to Ohio in 1822. He engaged in farming, which pursuit he followed the remainder of his life. He and his wife were devoted members of the Presbyterian faith. Israel Beach served in the war of 1812 as drummer. Melville received his education in the pioneer schools of Ohio, where he resided till 1852. He was married in 1851, to Eliza Scott, a native of Connecticut, and daughter of Cark and Flora (Beckley) Scott, who emigrated to Ohio in 1835, when she was six years old. Her parents were Presbyterian, and her father by trade was a button-maker, and raised a family of seven children. Mr. Melville Beach has a family of four children : Melville W., three years a student of Wheaton College ; Melva E., music teacher, educated at Spring Abbej^, Michigan, and Wheaton College; Cora C. and Esmarelda A. Mr. and Mrs. Beach have been members of the Free Methodist church since its organization here in 1860. Mr. Beach is one of the active members of the Free Methodist church at this place, having been class leader nearly all the time since its organization, as well as filling other offices of the church and Sunday-school at different intervals. In his early life he followed the trade of his father. Having previously purchased land in Lee county, he moved in 1852 with his family to Ogle county, where he remained two years, and then came to Ashton, where he has since resided. He now owns a fine farm of 1273 acres, upon which he raises hogs and cattle, and owns a very pleasant home in the village of Ashton. He is a radical anti-secret-society and anti-slavery man, and a staunch republican.

Riley Paddock, farmer, merchant and banker, Ashton, is a native of Ohio, born in 1810, and is the son of Ebenezer and Nancy Paddock, natives of Kentucky. They first settled in Butler county, Ohio, then in Clark county, of the same state, and subsequently emigrated to Vigo county, Indiana. Mrs. Paddock was a member of the Baptist faith. Riley Paddock received such educational training as was to be had in the pioneer schools of Ohio. He was married in Vigo county, Indiana, to Eliza Snoddy ; she and her parents were natives of Kentucky. By this coalition he has four children : Bell Jane, Mary E., Victoria, and William E. The girls have all been students of Mount Morris Seminai'y, Illinois. William E. was educated at Jennings College, Aurora, Illinois, and is now engaged in the mercantile trade with his father, in Ashton. They deal in boots and shoes, and dry goods. Their trade amounts annually to about $25,000. Mr. Paddock settled in Ogle county, Illinois, in 1837, where he remained till he came to Ashton. He began life with limited means; he has made farming his principal business. In 1872 he became one of the charter members of the First National Bank at Forest, Illinois, of which he has been, since its organization, one of its directors, and is now vice-president and director. He owns 300 acres of fine farming land, which he has well stocked, and 160 acres of Iowa land. He and his wife were formerly members of the Christian church. In politics he is a republican.

Erastus Anderson, farmer, Ashton, is a native of Canada West, and was born in 182-1. He is the son of John H. and Martha (Morgan) Anderson ; the former, a native of New York, emigrated with his father to Canada when sixteen years of age, where he grew up. He served as a British soldier in the war of 1812, and was in the battle of Lundy's Lane. In 1848 he came to Lee county, where he remained the balance of his life. Erastus Anderson's mother was a native of Canada, and died a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Anderson came first to Michigan, where he remained till 1816, w^hen he settled in Ogle county, where he lived till the spring of 1848, when he settled in the northeast part of Ashton township, where he still lives. He was married in 1847, to Mary Halverd, a native of Norwaj^ by whom he has had two children : Roda A., now Mrs. W. M. F. Clark, and John H. Mr. Anderson's education is only such as he has been able to obtain in active business. He began life for himself by working at whatever he could earn a penny, and so continued till he had saved enough to buy eighty acres of land ; then he began farming for himself. In politics he has always been a republican. Erastus Anderson's grandfather was a sliip-carpenter by trade, a Scotchman by birth, and emigrated to Canada. His paternal grandmother by birth was a German ; his maternal grandmother's people formerly came from Ireland. Mr. Anderson has a fine farm two and one-half miles northeast of Ashton. It is well improved and well stocked. .-;..,

Henry Saunders, jr., farmer and stock raiser, Ashton, is a native of Hardin county, Pennsylvania, born in 1826, and is the son of Henry and Mary (Buck) Saunders, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of German extraction, and farmers by trade. They left to their children a handsome propert}"^, but owing to the course pursued by the administrators it was all lost and their children became penniless. H. Saunders, sr., was captain of the state militia. By faith he was a Catholic. H. Saunders, jr., came to Illinois in 1845, and remained one year, then returned to his native state, and came again to Illinois after an absence of almost two years. He was married in 1851, to Kachel Morgan, a native of Illinois, daughter of Edward and ISTancy Morgan, both natives of Ohio. They have nine children : Wiufield B., Joseph J. F., Jerome (deceased), Alice (deceased), Jane, John, Edward, Lucy, and Harry L. He has an excellent farm of 286 acres, situated two miles west of Ashton, which is well improved and well stocked. He and his wife are not members of any christian sect, but believe in the practice of christian principles. Formerly he was a republican, but is now a democrat.

A. A. Heckart, grain buyer, Ashton, is a native of Pennsylvania, and a son of Peter and Elizabeth Heckart, both natives of Pennsylvania, but now living one half mile north of the village of Ashton. A. A. Heckart was born in 1844. He received a good common school education. He first engaged in the mercantile business in Ashton. He is now employed at Ashton by George H. Taylor & Co., grain merchants, where he has been for several years. He was married in 1868, to Mary J. Colwell, of Iowa, and they Jiave one child. Temperance. He served in the war of the rebellion, first in Co. B, 46th 111. Yols., was wounded at Shiloh, and discharged from the service. Having recovered he again entered the service of his country in the 75th 111. Vols., in Co. G. Altogether he served two years and ten months. In politics he is strictly republican. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. at Ashton.

John A. Andrus, attorney, Ashton, is a native of New York, born in 1833, and is a son of Elim and Margaret (Mooney) Andrus, both natives of New York. John's grandfather, Benjamin Andrus, served in the revolutionary war. His literary education is that of the common school and the Holly Academy of New York. He graduated in the Bryant & Stratton Commercial Business College, ISTew York. He then read law for some time, and then came west and taught school in Michigan two years, and at Rochelle and Ashton each one year. He was engaged in the mercantile business for twelve years, and in farming for a time. In 1877 he was admitted to practice law in Michigan, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar in Illinois. He was examined before the appellate court at Chicago, in a class of forty-nine, seven of whom were rejected. He has since practiced in Ashton. He held the office of police justice in Ashton for four years. He and all his family, so far back as he can tell, have been members of the democratic party. He w^as married in 1861, to Rhoda A. Siple, daughter of John and Harriet Siple, of Ohio. They have two children : Dora A., a senior of the class of '82 of the University of Champaign, her 'course being that of literature and science. The second child is an infant.

Contributed By William B. Andruss

At the time Lee county adopted township organization, in 1850, Hamilton embraced what is now Hamilton, East Grove, May, and the south half of Marion, and William B. Stuart was its first supervisor, he serving two years in that capacit}', when R. B. Yiele succeeded him for the next three years. In 1855 W. B. Stuart was again elected and continued in the office that and the following year. In 1856 the board of supervisors took oif what is now the township of May, still leaving two and a half congressional townships in its territory. In 1859 Marion was organized, taking T. 20 N., R.. 9 E. as its limits, thus again taking from Hamilton a half congressional township. In 1865 T. 19 N., R. 9 E. was organized, taking the name of East Grove, leaving Hamilton with only the territory of one congressional township, T. 19 N., R. 8 E. of the 4th P. M., and these are its present limits and it is the southwest corner town of Lee county.

Settlement

Prior to township organization, as adopted in 1850, within the present limits of Hamilton there were no settlers except the Indians, and none of the inhabitants can speak of exercising the right of suffrage at precincts, as some in other townships of earlier settlement do. From the best information the writer can obtain the first dwelling built in the limits of this town was by Charles or Ross Freeman on the S. ^ of Sec. 32, - the date not known, - which was afterward moved to another location and remodeled into a school-house. The first man to build a house and make a home in this township was a German by the name of Jacob Pope, who came in 1854 and settled on the S. ^ of S.E. J of Sec. 26. Morris Logue, from ISTew Jersey, occupied the N. ^ of K.E. ^ of Sec. 27, built a shanty and broke up his land in the same year, and the next season brought his family. David and John Knight came from Ohio also in 1854, and having purchased Sec. 35 at once began improvements. They boarded in Walnut that year, but in 1855 erected a house on their land. In the spring of 1857 David Griggs, another Ohio man, settled on the S.E. ^ of Sec. 34. His house had been built the year before by a man whom he had sent for that purpose. J. F. McMnrray, a Pennsylvanian, arrived in the spring of 1857 and made a home on the S.E. J of Sec. 33. Amos T. Kegwin, of Windham, Connecticut, purchased the IT.W. ^ of Sec. 27 in 1856 and built a house thereon in 1858, and has occupied it since. He and liis son, Horace Kegwin, together have added piece by piece until they now have a section or more in all in the vicinity of the original purchase. In the summer of 1858 Anson Stone's house was built by E. D. Carpenter on the N.E. J of Sec. 26, the same now occupied by his son, R. P. Stone. J. Shields bought and occupied the N. ^ of ]^.E. i of Sec. 24 and most of the S.E. I of Sec. 13 in 1858. William Sculley settled on the E. i of N.W. I of Sec. 24 in 1858. Michael Dunn came to his farm, the S.E. I and the S. ^ of N.W. i of Sec. 24 in 1859. Bennett Havens was early in the town on the S. ^ of N.E. ^ of Sec. 36, and served for several years as supervisor. He is now at Walnut station. L. B. Moore, on the S.W. i and W. ^ of N.W. i of Sec. 24, and M. Fleming on the S. ^ of S.W. ^, were also among the early settlers and still occupy the same. J. L. Reed came to the W. |- of S.E. I of Sec. 23 in 1862. Rev. K G. Collins, a Baptist clergyman for a time residing in Lamoille, figured largely in lands of this town on both sides of the Green river, and still holds some. All the foregoing settlers were south of the swamp. That part of the township lying north remained unsettled for many years and served as a range for large herds of cattle. The first improvements on that side were made by non-resident owners who rented their lands. Of this class A. T. Anderson, of Polo, opened a large farm on the north part of Sec. 7. Perhaps the first to break any of the prairie for cultivation in this part of the town was William Rink, on Sec. 5. He resided in Dixon and rented it. The first to inhabit that portion was John D. Shafer, a bachelor, who built a cabin on Sec. 8 and herded cattle there for several years. James Durr was on the N.W. ^ of N.W. J of Sec. 19 in 1862.

southeast and northwest corners were comparatively higher and drier. A former writer in speaking of it says: " It is ahiiost entirel}^ covered by what is known as Winnebago swamp, which renders a great portion of it uninhabitable at the present time." The lands, however, to quite an extent have been bought up by actual settlers, who resort to drainage. Some parties owning large tracts have made large ditches, and every year the swamp is growing perceptibly less. The probabilities are that ere many years it will be the most desirable land in the county. The soil is of the richest quality, and of great depth.

The first school taught in this town was in a room of David Griggs' present residence, by Mrs. Cornelia Mayona, daughter of A. T. Kegwin, in 1861 or 1862, and Miss Lizzie Larkins followed in the succeeding summer, and still later Miss Lavina Swisher followed her. Mr. McMurray moved over into Bureau county, and the house he left was made into a school-house, and Mrs. Mayona taught there. All this was before school districts were organized, and teachers were paid by private subscription. In the fall of 1863 or 1861: school district No. 1 was organized, and the next spring a building was bought of Ross Freeman on Sec. 32, and moved near David Griggs, on the southwest corner of Sec. 34. This was used until 1874, when a new school-house was erected, the site being on the west side of the W. ^ ot'N.W. J Sec. 35. It is a beautiful structure, and speaks well for the educational interests of its vicinity. School district No. 2 was organized about the same time as district No. 1, and the first school was taught in a portion of Thadeus May's dwelling, on Sec. 26, by Miss Lydia Havens. The first school-house was built in 1864 or 1865, at the southeast corner of S.E. ^ Sec. 25. Afterward it was moved to the southwest corner of Sec. 25, where it still is. There are four parts of school districts united with other towns, one each with Walnut, East Grove, Harmon, and Hahnaman.

The first preaching that the settlers of Hamilton township had was in a little school-house known as the Dodge school-house, on the prairie south of the county line. The Sabbath was but little respected at first, as nearly everyone w^ent gunning on that day, and to reform this habit David Griggs, William Griggs, Solomon Welsh, J. F. McMurray, Johnson Griggs and J. H. Knight contributed to pay for preaching, and employed a neighbor, the Rev. Ford, who lived at the east end of Red Oak Grove, paj'ing him fifty cents for each Sunday. The singing was led by Prof. I. B. Dodge, with his violin. It was not a devout congregation; few, possibly none, of those who attended the services were professing christians, nevertheless they recognized the necessity for divine worship in the settlement, and tlins were the sweet influences of better things inaugurated. The Rev. Lumery, who sometimes used strong language, remarked of this beginning that "the singing was fit to be heard anywhere, but the religious propensities of the people belonged to the devil." There are no religious organizations in this township, but a Baptist church was organized just over the south line in Walnut, in Bureau county, at the house of John H. Sayer, in May 1853, and half of the organizers were from this town, namely, Amos T. Kegwin, Alice K. Kegwin, his wife; Ezekiel Sayers, Caroline Sayers, his wife ; S. H. Sayers, and Mrs. Lyda Stone, while from Walnut there were John H. Sayers, William Mapes, Susan Mapes, his wife ; Thadeus May and his wife, and I. B. Dodge. For a number of years after organizing meetings were held at irregular intervals at the dwellings of John H. Sayers, Ezekiel Sayers, Amos T. Kegwin, and some others, ministered to by itinerants ; no regular pastor settled over them until 1870, when the Rev. Mr. First was called, and the village of Walnut having sprang up the location of the church was removed there, and services at stated times were held, and soon after, in 1871, a fine church building was erected, and the means of grace thus used have been blessed, and " numbers have been added to them," until now they have a membership of over 100.

East Grove Townshir Contributed By William B. Andkuss

This township was originally in what was known as Winnebago precinct, the voting place being for a time at Samuel Meek's and then at David Welty's. In 1850 Lee county adopted township organization, and what is now the townsliip of East Grove was embraced with May, Hamilton, and the south half of Marion, all called Hamilton. In 1856 May was organized therefrom, and in 1859 Marion, and it was not until 1865 that East Grove was organized in its present boundaries, namely, T. 19 N., R. 9 E., and Fen wick Anderson was its supervisor for that and the succeeding year. It is of the south tier of towns of the county and the second from the southwest corner.

Esq. Charles Falvey purchased a claim of one William T. Wells in 1836, and occupied it in 1837. This was in what is now the north half of Sec. 34, in the grove that afterward gave the name to the town. On the north his nearest neighbor was a Mr. Robinson, six miles distant in the south part of what is now Marion, who afterward (in 1839) sold his claim to David Weltj, Esq. Falvey has resided there almost continuously since. He owns lands also in Bureau county, a little south, near Ohio station, and a portion of the time he has resided there. He is of an active, energetic make-up, and has been identified, in some phase, with almost every movement in not only the township of East Grove but the surrounding towns in Lee and Bureau counties. He enlisted under Thomas Carlin, afterward governor of Illinois, and served through the Black Hawk war. ISTow in his old age he is with an only child, a daughter, Mrs. Weldon, on his farm near Ohio station, his wife having been dead many years. Joseph Smith (familiarly known as "Dad Joe") settled in 1833 in the grove bearing his name, southwest of East Grove, some three miles in Bureau county. He was a guide for Gen. Atkinson's army, and a spy under Zachary Taylor in the Black Hawk war. H. W. Bogardus was also prominent as a settler of early date. In 1839 David Welty resided a short time in the north part of this town, while erecting buildings on a claim he purchased of a Mr. Robinson, in the south part of what is now Marion. His residence has been in Marion and Dixon ever since, and will be spoken of in notices of them no doubt. Fenwick Anderson came from Canandaigua, New York, to Dixon in the fall of 1811, and remained there until 1819, then came to what is now the S. ^ of Sec. 31 of East Grove. He purchased a claim of Robert Tate. This Mr. Tate was a workman in the plow shops of John Deere, at Grand Detour. His family, with a son-in-law by the name of Kyes, worked the claim until Mr. Anderson bought it. This house, a rude log structure, was for a number of years a stage depot on the Galena and Peoria road. When he came his nearest neighbor on the north was 'Squire Falvey, on the east Aaron Kelly. In 1852 he, with S. P. Mcintosh, put up a kiln of 200,000 brick in the south part of the grove, which when burned proved most excellent, and from which he built his present residence in 1853. Thomas Shehan came to Bureau county in 1814, and moved to Sec. 35, in East Grove, in 1849, buying a claim of one John Kasbier. S. P. Mcintosh came from Alton, Illinois, at the time of the land sales in Dixon, and purchased the E. ^ of Sec. 36 of East Grove township, and the E. ^ of Sec. 1 in Ohio township, though he did not occupy it until 1856. John Downey, A. A. Spooner, John Flynn, M. Coleman, A. Barlow, D. Sullivan, Henry Hubbell and Samuel Tubbs settled in this town soon after those formerly mentioned.

In 1842 John W. Harrison, a deputy sheriff from Toronto, Canada, while on a visit to this region, was murdered by James S. Bell, near the N. W. corner of Sec. 35. David Welty, then a justice of the peace, held the preliminary examination on a charge of murder, and committed him to jail at Dixon, to await his trial in the circuit court, if indicted by the grand jury. A bill of indictment was found and returned into court September 13, 184:2. After motions to quash the indictment and continue the case to the next term had been denied, a change of venue was taken, and Judge Thomas C. Browne, then presiding, sent the case to Whitesides county circuit, where he was tried, convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to the Alton penitentiary. After serving a part of the term of his sentence he escaped from the prison and was never retaken.

A charter was granted by the legislature of this state to H. W. Cleveland, who built a tnrnpike in Sec. 3 of this town effecting a crossing over Inlet creek, and a toll-gate was kept at the southern terminus. This was on the Peoria and Galena stage route. Mr. Cleveland sold his interest to a Mr. Millard, and his heirs to Charles Crofts. All this was prior to 1849.

A somewhat detailed account of a murder committed in this town in 1849 is here given, as it has a connection with the "Banditti of the Prairie " of those times, and perhaps was the last of their depredations committed, as so many in this case were implicated and came to their death that it broke np the gang.

The one giving an account of this murder says : " In the summer of 1849, on a Monday morning, Charles Crofts (reputed to belong to the gang or band of the 'Banditti') came to Hyra Axtell, and the two came to my house inquiring if I had seen or heard anything of Crofts' hired girl. Her name was Salina Montgomery, aged about fifteen years. JSTeither myself nor family could give any tidings, not having seen or heard of her for some time. Crofts claimed that she had disappeared without saying anything to the family of her intention of going away, and what had become of her was a mystery. Axtell took an opportunity to communicate with me, unobserved by Crofts, and said he believed there was something wrong in the matterj and that the neighborhood should be informed and a search made. I agreeing with his suggestion, we accompanied Crofts to his house (being connected with the toll-gate on the south end of the turnpike) and were with him about the premises. There were three men mowing not far from the house, Eli Shaw, and the names of the other two I cannot remember, except that the first name of one was Dennis. There was also in their company one Samuel Perkins, usually called ' Sam Patch,' having a rifle with him. After being there some time and having conversation with them in various phases, Axtell and myself became more fully convinced that a misdemeanor had been committed. We concluded to go in different directions and inform the mother of the missing girl, who resided in Dad Joe Grove, or in that vicinity, and the neighborhood generally. He went west and south, and I north and east, and by night near a hundred people had gathered. We searched that night through the woods and grass, and the next day until noon, and finally Crofts' house. Crofts had stated that the girl had taken all her clothes with her. While searching the second story we discovered that one of the ceiling boards had marks of having been recently moved and replaced. We took ofi the board and found the best clothes of the missing girl, and under them implements for making counterfeit half dollars. These incidents strengthened the convictions of foul pla3\ A consultation of the crowd was had, and two (W. B. Stuart and James Blainsen) were deputed to goto Dixon for a boat witli which to explore Green river. There was an element of the credulous who sent two (Samuel Meek, jr., and Patrick McFadden) to consult a fortune-teller. The search was continued while these committees were gone, but without success. The committees returned ; the one with a boat and Nathaniel G. N. Morrill, the owner, and the other reporting that the fortune-teller said a murder had been committed, and live persons were implicated, that the one who had committed the overt act had neither boots on nor was barefooted, that he was ragged, and wore a straw hat, that the law would never be enforced against any of them, and yet the public would be satisfied that they were the ones who were concerned in the matter. Perkins wore moccasins and otherwise answered the description of the one first spoken of. The search went on. This N. G. N. Morrill was peculiarly well adapted for working in business like this. About this time Stuart and Blair, each with a party of men, went to their respective homes for dinner, and when Blair arrived his wife informed him that Perkins had been there during the forenoon, looking pale and haggard, and inquired of her if they had dragged the lower bayou. She told him she did not know, and he went away hurriedly. Blair deemed this important tidings, hurried through his dinner, and came to Stuart's with the information, and on consultation a complaint w^as made and a warrant was issued by 'Squire Stuart for the arrest of Perkins, and placed in the hands of Constable Willard and Richard Meek. Previous to this Perkins had been living in a shanty in the grove, about half way between Crofts' and the baj^ou. On the search being instituted, he removed his family and effects to his fatherin-law's, Reuben Bridgman, a little north of the present limits of the city of Amboy. The constable, vvith his assistants, proceeded to Mr. Bridgman's and were informed by him that Perkins had taken his rifle only a short time before and went into the cornfield (of about 30 acres) to hunt chickens.

More assistants were procured, and the cornfield was surrounded. By this time it was about ten o'clock at night, with a bright moon. The family at Mr. Bridgman's were in bed except Perkins' wife. The old gentleman got up and stated that Perkins had not yet returned since going into the cornfield in the afternoon. He pointed to a cottonwood tree, which he said was in the direction Perkins had taken, that a little before sunset they heard the report of a gun which they supposed was a shot at prairie-chickens. Constable Willard, with Richard Meek, James Keeling, W. B. Stuart, and F. R. Dutcher, went in the direction of the tree, and a few rods before reaching it they found Perkins lying on his back, dead. Notice was given to those around the field, and a crowd was soon there. Perkins was still grasping his gun with both hands, and the toe of his moccasined foot was in the guard on the trigger, the muzzle on his breast. A portion of the skull was found nearly a rod from the body, the inside powder-burnt. The coroner (Solomon Parker) was sent for, who summoned a jury of inquest. The}^ investigated the case and rendered the following verdict : " The undersigned being duly summoned and qualified by the coroner of Lee county, as a jury of inquest on the dead body of Samuel Perkins, found dead in the cornfield near Reuben Bridgman's, believe the said Perkins came to his death by shooting himself with a rifle-gun through the head." (Signed) " Jessee Hale, foreman ; W. B. Stuart, Richard Meek, Francis H. Northway, Joseph Farwell, William M. Hopkins, Samuel Bixby, Elisha Palmer, John C. Church, Ira P. Hale, John Skinner, R. P. Treadwell. Inlet precinct, August 3, 1849." Meanwhile the search for the missing girl had been going on. This Mr. Morrill adopted the plan of going down the stream to where it loses itself as to having a channel by spreading over the swamp, and by wading upward thoroughly searching every part. It was a dry time and the water quite low. This plan was followed, and when the mouth of the little bayou (as the coroner termed it in his report) was nearly reached, the body was found. The upper part of the face was bruised as though struck with some heavy substance, and some insist that a bullet-hole was in the forehead. The excitement ran high, the male portion of the country for a dozen or more miles in every direction had come out. Coroner Parker was among the number and at once impaneled a jury of inquest, who took possession of the body and held their inquest. The following witnesses were examined, as the records show : Drs. J. B. Gregory, of Dixon, and Harmon Wasson, of Amboy, as physicians; Samuel Meek, sr., Eli Shaw, John Koons, Hyra Axtell, I^. G. H. Morrill, Samuel Shaw, Richard Meeks, T. L. Dennis, Charles Crofts, Sally Perkins, Catharine Shaw, and Lyman Hubbard. After the examination closed, the following verdict was rendered : " We, the undersigned, having been summoned and sworn to hold a jury of inquest on the dead body of Silena Montgomery, found dead in Inlet creek, in Winnebago precinct, Lee county, and State of Illi- nois, and having attended to their duty by a faithful examination of the said body, and by an examination of witnesses in the case and all diligent inquiry they have been able to institute, do report their verdict to be, that the said Silena Montgomery came to her death by violence, and that one Samuel Perkins, late of Lee county, was the immediate agent in procuring her death, as we verily believe." (Signed) " George E. Haskell, foreman ; Joseph Gardner, Sabin Trowbridge, I. Means, Alva Hale, L. D. Wasson, Lewis Clapp, Cyrus Williams, Philip Mowry, Joseph Lewis, Ozias Wheeler and B. F. Brandon. Winnebago precinct, August 4, 1849." The circumstances surrounding led to the conclusion that Crofts, Eli Shaw, and the two others that w^ere found mowing for Crofts at the commencement of the search, were implicated in were deputed to arrest Crofts and Shaw. They, with Hyra Axtell, started, and on the way, near Samuel Meek's, they found a team and lumber wagon, and in it lay Eli Shaw dead. One report is that ho died from the effects of strychnine and whisky, and that it was found that he had purchased some of the former at Dixon, of Dr. Gregory, on that day. From the records in Dixon it is found that a coroner's inquest was not held until March 1, 1850. As his death occurred so long before this he was probably buried and exhumed when the inquest was held. The verdict was as follows : " Yerdict of the coroner's jury, impaneled to ascertain how and in what manner the body of Eli Shaw came to its death. We, the jury in said case, do find that Eli Shaw came to his death from causes to the jury unknown. Dixon, March 1, 1850." (Signed) " John Dement, foreman ; A. L. Porter, A. H. Eddy, L Means, N. F. Porter, J. W. Davis, J. M. Cropsy, C. A. Smith, John Y. Eustace, Thomas H. Ayers, Cyrus Williams, N. G. H. Morrill."

After leaving the body of Shaw in the care of Meeks the three before mentioned went on to Crofts' house, arriving there at a late hour of the night. Near the door they found a horse and spring-wagon and a trunk in the wagon. Crofts was about ready to go away. Through a rift in the window curtain they saw him load one pistol and lay it upon the table near him and take up another and commence to load it. At this jimcture the door was burst open, the loaded pistol and Crofts grabbed at the same time, and Crofts duly ironed by the arresting party. The trunk was taken from the wagon, Crofts placed in it, and Stuart hurriedly drove to Dixon and delivered the prisoner to the jailor. Crofts' wife and her brother, John Bryant, were in the house at the time of the arrest but did not attempt to interfere. The remaining two implicated ones left this vicinity, but were heard of at Peoria, and the officers having the warrants for their arrest proceeded there, found and took them in charge. They were ironed and placed upon a steamer for Peru, there to take the stage for Dixon. Not long after leaving Peoria the prisoners, having the privilege of walking about the boat, watched their opportunity and simultaneously t^rew themselves overboard and were drowned, the irons upon them facilitating to make an effectual taking off in this way. Of the five implicated only Crofts now remained alive. He remained in jail, having been indicted by the grand jury August 23, 1849, and the case continued to the next term. His wife visited him occasionally, and a few days before the term time and shortly after one of these visits the jailor, calling at the cell, found Crofts with his throat cut and life extinct; a razor lay by with which the deed was done. The next day a coroner's inquest was held, which resulted in the following verdict : ' Upon the view of the body of Charles Crofts, now lying dead in the jail of Lee county, at Dixon, Illinois, we, the jury of inquest duly impaneled and sworn diligently to inquire, and a true presentment make, how, in what manner and by whom or what the body of the said Charles Crofts, which here lies dead, came to its death, do find that the said Charles Crofts came to his death by cutting his own throat with a razor on the afternoon of the 22d November, a.d. 1849, while confined in the jail of Lee county.' (Signed) 'William W. Heaton, foreman ; Charles Dement, E. W. Hines, J. B. Brooks, James Benjamin, A. M. Pratt, P. B. Loveland, James Campbell, Horace Preston, E. B. Blackman, Gilbert Messer, Elias B, Stiles. Dixon, Lee county, Illinois, November 23, 1849.' The theory generally held in relation to this matter, which caused the murder of the girl Selina, is as follows : Crofts' premises was considered a rendezvous of the banditti of those times. Crofts owned the turnpike across the Winnebago swamps .and kept the toll-gate at the south end, it being near the center of Sec. 3, of East Grove. Several individuals had been known to pass over the turnpike from the north and. were not heard from afterward, especially a peddler who had formerly frequented these parts, and it is supposed this hired girl knew so much of the workings of this banditti that they concluded it was not safe for her to live, and as ' dead men tell no tales,' they murdered her. Crofts planned the mode of proceeding, Perkins was guilty of the overt act, and the other three helped to secrete the body, so all were, as principals or accessories^ participants in the matter."

Source changes here: from History of Lee County, Illinois, by Stevens, Frank Everett, published 1914; 3,436 words in this source stream.

Ashton Township

And here is another resource of okl Inlet ! Until 1861 it was included in Bradford township. In 1861, it was set off by itself. It contains but one-half a government township.

Ashton was not settled early for the reason that, knowing the land was exceedingl}' lich and fertile, speculators later bought up nearly the whole township. Xot a single settler is known to have settled here in the thirties and even not until the late forties when in 1818, Erastus Anderson settled here. A few weeks later his brother Timothy followed. In December their father followed.

In 1849 a man named Hubbard settled in the western part of the township, and in 1852 Daniel Suter located in the town and so did H. Sanders.

Another reason for the absence of settlers was the lack *>t timber. Old settlers demanded fuel. They feai'ed the prairies over which the winds whistled. Then too, there was no great road or trail through that section and naturally settlers would not seek the country so long as claims nearer the ti'ail were to be had.

The first church erected in Ashton was the Methodist, in 1863. It was a temporary Inulding to hold down the donation of a lot until a bettei' could be built. The second church was a Free Methodist Church Imilt in 1864 and it is claimed for itself to be the first of that denonnnation to l)e built in the state. Among the first members were Jonathan Dake. Sidney and Melville Beach, Sylvester Forbes, Charles Butolpk, Isaac ]\Iartin, Samuel Walker, James Reed, William Martin ; Rev. J. G. Terrol was the first pastor.

In 1877 the Presbyterians erected their church. Their first minister was Rev. S. Vale. Among the earliest members were Samuel F. Mills, Nathan A. Petrie and Messrs. Pollock, Griffith, Huston and Brewer.

Ashton is a wonderful little city. Beginning with 1863 it has been visited several times with very destriactive fires. The grain elevator, loss $2,000 and the flouring mills, loss $60,000, were burned. In 1871, the railroad property, which consisted of two tanks, the depot and a coal house with 3,200 tons of coal were consiuned. A hunberyard and foui' dwelling houses went too. The coal house was the origin. Ijoss $75,000. In 1871 the hay press and an elevator were burned ; loss $30,000.

Several tragedies have been enacted in Ashton. of the most atrocious character. A preacher named Sanuiel P. McCrhee, a married man, in 1877 became infatuated with another woman. By the use of strychnine, administered in small quantities he pi;t his wife out of the way. When first taken ill, the doctor was called. He attended her constantly, but the trouble was not discovered until later. The last dose was administered by the husband just before he left for church to preach and hold his usual Sunday services. He was arrested at once and placed in jail. At first he tried to fasten the blame on his fourteen-year-old daughter, and he succeeded in having her sign an acknowledgment to that effect. But the jury did not lielieA'e him. He was seen to throw the package containing the last dose on an awning. It was recovered and used in evidence.

Tn this trial which lasted about a Avt'ek before Judge Heaton and a jury. Judge John V. Eustace defended the ])risoner. As already stated it was one of the noted trials in the state, and Judge Eustace presented a masterfid defence. If he had not, the verdict of ginlty and fourteen years, would have been for life or hanging.

Mc(!hee was a sl(>ek fellow; his long silky beard almost black, was regai-ded with the same affection that the jX'acock has for his brilliant tail. Duiiiig all the long trial, he stroked it continually. The other tragedy was enacted but recently Aug. 18, 1912. It was a frightfid one.

lu time a child was burn, little Naomi. Later the couple parted. Sauders lacked the knack uf getting along in the world. At tirst the father-in-law permitted him to occupy the old home farm.

He did not succeed there and experimented with other i^ursuits in town. At last Mrs. Sauders, left him and with the child, went to live with her parents. Reconcilements were effected, but for no lasting time. About a year l^efore the tragedy occurred, Mrs. Sanders went to Chicago to seek employment. Sanders followed and for a short while they lived together. Another separation followed. Mrs. Sanders procured a divorce. Later the decree was reopened and thei'e the matter stojud, when learning from the daughter at Ashton, that his wife was to return to Ashton that night for a visit, Sanders waited till the train arrived that night, about 1 o'clock, and when his wife alighted, he deliberately shot her two times and she dropped dead on the station platform. Theu turning to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Melva Griffith, who had brought the little daughter, Naomi, down to the train, he shot the motherin-law twice, and then surrendered himself. He pleaded guilty to the indictment for murder and Judge Farraud sentenced him to life imprisonment. ^Ir. Harry Edwards made a remarkalily able prosecution, and Mr. John E. Erwin made a brilliant defense. Asht( m is one of the richest communities in this part of the state. Way ])ack in the sixties. Mills & Petrie sold $109,000 worth of general merchandise in one year in A,shton and today in the little "\'i]lage the Ashton bank presents a statement of three-qiu^rters of a million dollars, almost. Two of the very oldest, almost the very lirst Inisiness men of Ashton live there today. They are Samuel F. Mi\ls and Nathan A. Petrie.

In 1854 Mr. ]\fills came here and engaged in the grain and lumber trade. In 1858 ]\Ir. Petrie, his cousin, joined him and ever since the lives of those two gentlemen have been wrapped up as one. For years it was their custom to dress alike ; to wear moustaches alike. The}^ were married on the same evening, and for most of their married lives, they lived together. Now JNIr. Mills is eighty-three years old and the devotion of Mr. Petrie, twelve years his junior, is even more l)eautiful than Jonathan's devotion to David.

About two years ago Mrs. Mills died. ]\Ir. Mills and she had returned to the old family home in Parrish, New York, where, retired, the comforts of the old home and the glamour of childhood scenes might be enjoyed. On the death of Mrs. Mills, the husband

In 1861, these gentlemen gave up the grain business for general merchandizing. In this they made fortunes. In 18G7 they entered the banking business. A few years ago the}' incorporated as The Ashton Bank.

Sidney Beach came out to <_)gle county in 1838, later he moved across the line to Ashton; James King came to Bradford in 1854, later he moved into Ashton ; Peter Plantz moved from Ogle county into Ashton in 1856 ; Melville Beach, 1852 ; Riley Paddock settled in Ogle county in 1837, later he moNcd to Asliton ; Erastus Anderson settled in Ogle count\' in ISK); in 1848 he moved to Ashton township; Flenry Saunders. Ji-., came here from Ogle county. Thus it will be seen that most of the tirst settlers moved from Ogle county, immediately north, and Bradf(U'd, immediately south.

Al)out twelve years ago, Mr. Benton Driinniiond planted seven acres to asparagus. The next year he planted five acres, making a total of twelve acres.

In three years time after j)lanting, the grass began to yield a crop for market. By careful tillage and very heavy einichmeuts each \ear, the field now yields annuallx' tlu'ce thousand cases of choice grass. During the season j\li-. Drummond liires seven people to cut and ])ack this grass. At first he shipped to Cliicago. but the quality of his ])rodiiet s])rea(l so rapidly that very soon he was deluged with offers in other ijhices, and latterly, all of his shipments have been made to Milwaukee.

In every crate there are twenty-four Ixixes. Every afternoon the grass is ship])e(l on the four o'clock east bound train and arrives that evening in Milwaukee.

Since Mr. l)runnnond"s success has become so ])ronouiice(l, eight others have jilanted fields, so that now, Ashton fui-nishes about nine-tenths of the as])aragus which goes into the (~^hicau'o market.

Ashton Of Today

Following is the roster of the officers of the R. N. A., Myrtle Dade Camj) 6061: Mrs. Earl Howey, oracle; Mrs. George Van Ness, vice oracle; Mrs. George Putman, past oracle; Mrs. Adam Eisenberg, chancelor; Miss Minnie Aschenln'enner, recorder; Miss Ida Eisenbei'g, receiver; George Putman, manager; Mrs. Roland Eisenberg, marshall; Mrs. John AVeishaar, inside sentinel: Mrs. Gonrad Smith, outside sentinel.

The Masonic body is veiy strong. Following are tlu' officers of Ashton Lodge, 531, A. F. & A. M. : John Drunnnond, worshipful master; Garl Schade, senior warden; Ralph S. Charters, junioi- Avarden; George R. Charters, treasurer; Roy AY. Jeter, secretary; Charles Hunter, senior deacon; Jacob B. Farver, junior deacon; Fred C. Mall, senior steward; Paid AY. (Charters, J!uii(U' steward; Laban T. ]Moore, marshall; Fh'ed A. Richardson, chai)lain; John D. Charters, organist; Charles Tuck, tyler.

' The Asht(»n churches are all handsome structures. Of the Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. A. E. Ullrich is pastor. The Sunday school of this church is a marvel. Ralph J. Dean is the veiy abk' .superiuteiuk'iit. The Men's class of Mr. A. W. RoseeraiH has a membership of 85 men and the average attendance is 5(i. In the school there are 201 members.

Of the Presbyterian chnrch, Rev. McWherter is the pastor. He presides over the Franklin Grove ehnreh, too, I nnderstand. Rev. Mack is the pastor of the Lntheran church. All of these buildiut^s are frame. Tlie United Evangelical, German, is a brick structure and Rev. George Walter is the pastor. Of the Catholic church, the pastor at Rochelle ministers to its meml)ers. Thus it will l)e seen why Ashton enjoys so much comfoi't and winso many good things aboiuid there. The schools too are of tln' highest order.

The new school l)uilding which cost >(^:15,()()() is the best equipped school building in the comity liy all odds. It is ])ositively tire proof. It was occupied Dee. 8, last. The present enrollment is 185. There are eight grades and a four-year high school course. Diplomas from this school are recognized by the colleges and universities Avhich of itself speaks volumes for the high character of the Ashton schools. There are three teachers in the high school courses. Prof. J. Nofsinger, su}>erint('ndent; Miss Eva Nelch. principal and Miss Alice Eddy, assistant principal. In the four lower rooms where eight grades are taught, the teachers are .John Absher, Miss Minnie Scliade, Mrs. Pearl Bilhnire and Miss Eena Bode.

"More than a hall' a century has passed since the educational interests of the village of Ashton Ix'gan. The cai'ly inhaliitants of the village were lai'gely of Irish descent. To the north it was (entirely American while to the south tlu're wei-e some English peo]»le and a small settlement of French. The thrifty (Ternian p(t])ulation is of more recent years. Xo \-ei'\' learned oi- cultni'ed classes seem to have gilded the fair name of Ashton in an early (lay. ^Fost emphatically the ])eo]ile of today are descendants of the coniiiion people, the tillers of the soil, of which we ha\c no I'egl'ets to exprt^SS.

"As early as 1859 a school election was held in the village of Oiile and elected James Brecumer, Daniel Suter and (^e(U'ge (ilenn as directoi's. 'I'he I'ecords have it that the first school in the plac(> where Ashton now stands was tauiiht b\' J. A. Andrus who acted in tliis capacity for several terms. The first assistant was David A. Glenn. Among the early assistants were Aiaria Eradstreet, Miss Kate Buck, Avho tanght for the stated snm of .^10 per month, and Miss Margaret Cartwright who was engaged for $12.50 per month and furnish her own l)oard. Allies Tennyck and (leorge Breweiwere also among the early teachers of the school. Tlie ahove teachers taught in an old stone schoolhouse with a frame wing located on the south side of the jn-esent school lot.

"Owing to the needs and increasing demand for ))etter school advantages there was considerable discussion as to the possibility of a new school building. Tlie agitation grew and fomid liearty cooi)eration among the more progressive people of the village. These affairs took definite shape when an election was held which resulted in the decision for a new building. There was considerable contention over a location for the new building. Two sites wei'e under consideration l)y the people. One side favored the site where the present school liuilding is and the other the more elevated location where the Catholic church now stands. After a considerable excitement ovei' the contending locations tlie old one was chosen and was made larger by the district ])urchasing the lot to the north which made tlie i)resent school grounds. Tlie trustees at the time of the new building were Henry tilenn, Henry Bly and Aaron Weeks. W. H. Emerson was clerk when the school site was chosen.

"The material f(n' the building was obtained in the quarry on the north edge of the village. James Quick superintended the work and a Chicago architect designed the style of the building. Among those that worked upon the Imilding were Isaac Earl, Wilburn Earl, and J. S. Thompson : the latter making the pattern work for the stone. There is no accurate record as to the actual cost of the building, but upon iuqinry we find that a bond of $19,000 was given by the district and other additional expenses brought the cost u|) to $23,000. The building was completed in the fall of 1869 and school was begun in the new building the fii'st Monday after New l^ears, 1870, with H. M. Halleck as principal.

"No town in this part of the state could l)oast of better school advantages at this time than Ashtou. The building was a monument to the district and was considered superior to any in this section of the c(nintrv. Eoreicn scholars from a radius of manv miles were eurolled as nieinl>ei's of the Asliton High School, there being so many that it was necessary to utilize a portion of the upper hall for a part of the scholars. During the history of the school which covers a period of forty years there have been seventeen principals. The tirst high school assistant was Miss Olive Rogers. Among the most successful of the early principals were M. B. Phillips, A. W. Rosecrans and H. V. Baldwin. There are other good teaehei's that preceded and followed these and did their share t<»wards raising the school to a higher standard, but there can jje no ^-alid objection in giving these men the lumor of such successful effort.

"Many able scholars and professional men have had their pre- ])aratory work in this school. The first class that graduated from the school was under M. E. Phillips in 1874. The class consisted of layman Booth, Mrs. Westana Glenn Rosecrans and Mrs. Maggie Brown Byers. Since that time many good classes have been gi-adiiated from the school whose members are prcmd that the Ashton High School is their alma mater. The Ashton High School Alunmi Association is a flourishing organization and its influence will be a force foi' good for the sclioo]. '

"The influence of the former students and the general interest of the patrons of the school and the people of the village is the best evidence of the spirit and success of the school.

"Perhaps some <>t the older inhabitants of tlic village, as well as the younger generation, will l)e interosttMl in the above .sketch. To the critical reader some errors may be detected in data and names, but often school recoi'ds are poorly kept and errors in dates are vei'y frequeut and sometimes annoyingiy so, and for this reason much of the information has been obtained from in(|uiry. ^Nlere facts have only been stated and some one after me has the field for embellishment."

Naturally in listing the business houses of a place, the banks come into view first. The Ashton Bank is a very prosperous concern. Its history has been noticed already. Its published report Jan. 20th. last, shows loans, $42U,UUU; bonds, $62,000; cash means, *79.000. Its capital stock is $50,000 and its surplus is $25,000. Its deposits are $482,253.10.

The Farmers Bank was organized April 10, 1905. its president is W. C. Yenerick; vice president, Lewis Sindlinger; cashier, E. J. Yenerick and the directors are W. C. Y''enerick, Lewis Sindlinger, John M. Killmer. William Krug and Will Sandrock. The beautiful new building f(n' this bank will be ready for occupancy in a very short while. Thus equii)ped the Ashton lianks will have the finest homes to be found in any small town in the state. By statement dated January 19th, this bank is shown to have a capital stock of $25,000 and undivided profits of $3,234.42. Its deposits are $104,414.21. Its cash means are approximately $20,000.

At the present time, Ashton markets 450,000 bushels of grain every year. Before the elevators were Iniilt down at iNIiddlebury on the electric road which runs from T^ee Center, Ashton shipped 650,000 bushels, and inasmuch as the Middlebury houses are run by Ashton ]ieople. it might be classed as Ashton grain to this very day.

A little further up the track, Nathan Sanders has his sheep yards. Annually, Mr. Sanders feeds thousands of sheep which are taken off here in transit and he feeds them until they are fully rested from their usually long journey from the West. Sometimes he buys and feeds his own sheep: but he prefers feeding for others. This business amounts to a larg(> ju-ofit annually.

The]'e are no lawyers in Ashton: just why is inexplicable because in the probate court at least, there is a vast amount of legal business for this comnumity to be transacted.

Gleun, hardware; The Passtime theater, picture show, by Philip Ereich; Conrad Kliebe, butcher; The H. D. Mosher candy store; Mrs. William Fee, gift shop ; Jordan & Paddock, blacksmith shop ; Carl Wedler, jeweler; J. 13. F'arver, blacksmith; Philip Ereich, pool room; William Meister, livery; ¥. H. Boyd, garage; W. J. Sams, blacksmith; J. C. Griffith, lumber and coal; McCade & Weishaar, implements; Charles Bode, harness and shoemaking; Oscar Schade, pool room; Louis Sindlinger, tinner; F. P. Eisenbei'g, 10 cent novelty store; George Stephan, furniture and undertaking ; P. I. Smith, drugs ; Adam Faber, lunch room and cigars ; E. S. Rosecraus, clothing; W. B. McCrea, grocer; postoffice, Harlow E. Chadwick, postmaster; Clifford Knapp, plumlxu- and auto dealer; Joseph A. Roesler, grocer; William Leslie, implements and coal ; Griffith & Moore, automobiles ; L. T. Moore, harness and buggies; Yentler and Klingeluel, implements and automobiles: C. S. Kron, hotel and restaurant ; G. A. Haniel, general merchandise ; George Van Ness, barber; George Geyer, harness; Henry Nelson; William Schade, cigars, paints and oils and C. W. J( inker, jeweler, a very strong array of very strong business men. The Illinois Northern Utilities Company supplies Ashton with electricity and power. Ashton has the only municipal gas plant in the county. The streets are well lighted with 300-candle power electric lights, one on each corner. Cenient walks have been laid before every building in Ashton and every vacant lot as well.

In Ashton township there arc tiA'c quari-ies from which the very best of sandstone is taken. Once these quarries did a thriving business, but cement now foiins so sti'ong a competitor that but little is quarried.

Ashton townshi]) and village lead all other conununities, exce]»t Dixon, and perhaps. Lee Center, with macadam roads. This town has spent large sums of money for roads. Only a short while ago .$20,000 Avas expended in making hard I'oads. Every main road in the townsliip has been macadamized. Ashton is blessed with one of the best local news])apers in the State of Illinois. Mr. Raljih J. Dean, the proprietor, makes every train ; he is constantly on the alert for locals with the result that every week he gives his readers about eight colunms of locals besides a front page full of good matter pertaining to his locality. In connection with his Y>vmt shop Avhich turns out the vei'v best of job work, Ylr. Dean owns the only book stoi'e of Ashton. He is a very active wire, a money makei' and saver and I put him down as the most comfortable news]»a]ier man in the county.