Campton Township

Campton Township

Campton township is the geographical center of Kane county, and in natural beauty and fertility of soil is unsurpassed by any part of the county It is about half wood, half prairie land. Lilly Lake on section 19 was in early days quite a lake, but owing to the modern drainage systems that have drawn the water away, is little more than a memory. An Indial trail originally crossed the township, entering at section 25 and passing out over section 19. The public road follows the old trail most of the way.

The township was originally part of Sandusky precinct, but in 1837 Fairfield was formed and included in 1840 Campton and Plato. The name Fairfield is said to have been given by Timothy Garfield, who came from Fairfield, Vermont. In 1850 the town was known as Milo, but the board of supervisors soon after gave it the present name of Campton.

For many years the town meetings were held in the log house of Eber Chaffee, an early settler; afterward in the school house. In 1874 it was voted to build a town hall, and a neat frame building was that year erected on section 22. The voters met here yearly and used the building as a voting place. It was an exceptional and progressive fact for the citizens to have a special building for the town hall.

The first settler was John Beatty, who staked a claim in 1835, coming from Crawford county, Pennsylvania. When he passed through Geneva Haight and Aken were the only settlers. His claim was afterward owned by C. H. Shaw. He also staked what afterward became the Burr farm. He built a log cabin in 1835, the first in the township. He soon afterward removed to Geneva and lived there. He assisted in removing the Indians in 1836. Next came Henry Warne from New York state in 1837, settling in sections 30 and 31. He built a log cabin which he soon made a tavern, and for years served the weary traveler. He died March 29, 1864; his wife, Charity Warne, February 26, 1864. In 1835 came John Whitney, whose claim was afterward owned by his son, Melvin ; also James Hackett from Ohio, Luke Pike and Charles Babcock. During 1836-37 came Harry and Spalding Eddy from Genesee county. New York; John Elliott from Thornton, New Hampshire. The Eddys afterward moved to St. Charles. Atwell Burr arrived in 1836, as did James Ward of New York.

At Canada Corners the first settler was William Kendall. John Durant located there soon after. E. Reed and James Outhouse took claims near Lilly Lake about that time. John Hagaman, Thomas E. Dodge, Ansel Lake, John Tucker, George Thompson from Ohio, Edward Page, Edmund Elliott, Franklin Watkins from Herkimer county, New York ; Eben Foss from Thornton, New Hampshire; Timothy Garfield of Rutland County, Vermont (father of Lawyer F. Green Garfield) ; Joseph Rice, a native of New Hampshire ; Thomas Scott, James Powers, Garrit Norton of Duchess county. New York ; Mose C. Richmond of Grafton. Vermont (he paid fifty dollars for his claim) ; Calvin C. Barber of Onondaga county. New York, and J. P. Bartlett came from 1836 to 1842, by which time a considerable settlement of Easterners had staked the fertile land in wood and prairie.

In 1838 the pioneers laid out and opened a fairly good road to St. Charles, which was the nearest market at that time. A yoke of oxen was hitched to a tree which was dragged over the route of the road and marked out the highway. In an early day a considerable traffic passed east and west through the township.

Elias Crary opened his cabin as a tavern early, and Timothy Garfield did the like in 1840. Albert Dodge built a log hotel afterward known as the "Fairfield Exchange." It was on the site of the George Norton residence. A log school was built in 1836 on land belonging to Mr. Lawson. Mrs. McClure

The board of school trustees in 1841 were : E. ChafYee, Charles I-'letcher, T. E. Dodge, Ansel Lake. H. T. Currier and Nelson Walker. The township then contained five school districts, all keeping school.

The first postoftice was established in 1849 ^^^ known as "Swinton," although it was first named "Fairfield," until confusion arose owing to another postoffice in the state having the same name. Henry Warne was appointed postmaster. The office was afterward removed to Blackberry Station. An ofiice was also established at King's Mill and King appointed postmaster, but afterward united with one at Gray Willow, which, too, was later abandoned.

Dr. King built the first sawmill, and was the first physician and preacher in the township. He left at an early day. The old mill was run by the water of Lilly Lake creek operating an old style up and down saw.

In 1886-87 th^ ^I- ^ ^'- ^- ^- Company built a line across the township with stations at Lilly Lake and Greystock. At that time Lilly Lake was platted as a village by Renalwin Outhouse. The railroad is now known as the Chicago & Great Western, and adds largely to the traftrc advantages of the township.

The first church meetings were held by the Baptists in a log cabin near King's Mill, and a partial organization was realized. Dr. King was the pastor. It became inactive in 187^ when he left the state, but was revived when the Baptists and IMethodists built a union church at Canada Corners. The Congregationalists organized about this time, the celebrated "Father" Clark and a Rev. Warner officiating. Meetings were held in schoolhouses and residences, and ultimately became dispersed and inactive as a church. The Methodists organized a church at the log school house, which continued until the church at Canada Corners in 1882 was built.

Cheese factories were early built and the dairy interests became early important. Larkin Brothers built a cheese factory at Gray Willow in 1868, and a fine factory was erected at King's Mill in 1875. Butter making was begun in 1877. Edward Thornton constructed a factory in 1884 near Lilly Lake.