Cherry Valley Township (part 1 of 2)

Cherry Valley Township

The war ended, peace concluded and the union preserved in its integrity, those sons of Winuebag-o who had vohinteered tlieir lives in defense of the unity of the government who were spared to see tlie triumph of patriotism over treason, returned to their homes to receive grand ovations of welcome and tributes of honor from friends and neighbors who had eagerly and zealously followed them wherever the fortunes of war directed. Exchanging their soldiers' uniform for citizens' dress, they fell back to their old vocations - on the farm, at the forge, the bench, in the shop, and whatever else their hands found to do. Brave men and honorable always; and no class of Winnebago's citizens are entitled to greater respect and consideration than the volunteer soldiery, not only because they were soldiers in the hour ot the country's peril, but because in their association with their fellow-citizens their walk is upright, and their honesty and character without reproach.

Forty-three years have come and gone since white men began to exercise dominion in the Rock River Valley - erst the home of the Winnebagoes and their kindred. These years have been full of changes, and the visitor of to-day, ignorant of the Past of the county, could scarcely be made to realize that within these years there has grown up a population of about 3(>,00(>, that, in all the accomplishments and acquirements of life, are as far advanced as are the people of the counties of the older States. Schools, churches, colleges, palatial-like dwellings, beautiful grounds, large, well-cultivated and productive farms, as well as cities, towns and busy manufactories, have grown up and occupy the hunting grounds and camping places of the Winnebago tribe of red men, and in every direction there are evidences of wealth, comfort and luxury. There is but little left of the old land-marks. Advanced civilization and the progressive demands of revolving years have obliterated all traces of Indian occupancy, until they are only remembered in name.

The beginning of these changes was made in August, 1834, when Germanicus Kent and Thatcher Blake landed their little canoe at the mouth of Kent creek. In June of the following year, the entire population numbered only eleven persons, but during the remainder of that year, and notably during 1836 and up to 1840, immigration was rapid. All the arrivals up to and during the year 1840, are classed as "Old Settlers," and as such are recognized by the "Rockford Society of Early Settlers." When the census was taken in 1840, the population had increased to 4,609, while the election returns for that year show that a total of 1,114 votes was cast for President. [Of these votes, 789 were cast for General Harrison, 321 for Martin Van Buren and four for the candidate of the Abolition party.]

Of the voters and heads of families representing the population of 1840, many removed from the county to find homes in other states, while the spirits of others were called to join the immortal throng gathered.

around the great white throne in the far-away realms of eternal life and light. Others preferred to remain in the homes they commenced in the lands of the Winnebagoes, and, by the goodness and mercy of God, have grown in wealth, wisdom and nsefnlness, nntil in their declining years, they are respected and honored patriarchs in the community that owes much of its character to the influences they established in pioneer times.

It; is not strange that among the pioneer settlers of any new country a deep-seated and sincere friendship should spring up, that would grow and strengthen with their years. The incidents peculiar to life in a new country - the trials and hardships, privations and destitutions - are well calculated to test not only the physical powers of endurance, but the moral, kindly, generous attributes of inanhood and womanhood. They are times that try men's souls and bring to the surface all that there may be in them of either good or bad. As a rule, there is an equality of conditions that recognizes no distinctions. All occupy a common level, and as a natural consequence, a brotherly and sisterly feeling grows up that is as lasting as time, for "a fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind." With such a community, there is a hospitality, a kindness, a benevolence and a charity unknown and unpracticed among the older, richer and more densely populated commonwealths. The very nature of their surroundings teaches them to ''feel each other's woe, to share each other's joy." An injury or a wrong may be ignored, but a Mndly^ generous^ charitahle act is never forgotten. The memory of old associations and kindly deeds is always fresh. Raven locks may bleach and whiten ; full, round cheeks sinken and hollow ; the tires of intelligence vanish from the organs of vision ; the brow become wrinkled with care and age, and the erect form bowed with accumulating years, but the true friends of the "long ago" will be remembered as long as life and reason endure.

The surroundings of pioneer life are well calculated to test the "true inwardness" of the human heart. As a rule, the men and women who first occupy a new country - who go in advance to spy out the land and prepare it for the coming of a future people - are bold, fearless, self-reliant and industrious. In these respects, no matter from what remote sections or countries they may come, there is a similarity of character. In birth, education, religion and language, there may be a vast diflerence, but imbued with a common purpose - the founding and building of homes - these differences are soon lost by association, and thus they become one people, united by a common interest, and no matter what changes may come in after years, the associations thus formed are never buried out of memory.

in pioneer life there are always incidents of peculiar interest, not only to the pioneers themselves, but which, if properly preserved, would be of interest to posterity, and it is a matter to be regretted that the formation of "Old Settlers' Associations" has been neglected in so many parts of the country. The presence of such associations in all the counties of our common country, with Avell kept records of the more important events, such as dates of arrivals, births, marriages, deaths, removals, nativity, etc., as any one can readily see, would be the direct means of preserving to the literature of the country, the history of every community, that, to future generations, would be invaluable as a record of reference, and a ready method of settling important questions of controversy. As important as these Associations are admitted to be, their formation has not yet become general, and there are many counties in the Western country whose earlv history is entirely lost because of such neglect and indifference. Such ori^anizations would possess facts and figures that could not be had from any other source. Aside from their historic importance, they would serve as a means of keeping- alive and further cementing old friendships, and renewing among the members associations that were necessarily interrupted by the innovations of increasing population, cultivating social intercourse, and creating a charitable fund for such of their members as were victims of misfortune and adversity.

Actuated by the purposes suggested in the last ])receding paragraph, the pioneers of Winnebago County organized a society in 1870, that is known as the Rockfokd Society of Early Settlers. The first formal meeting was held in the City Council rooms, January 10, 1870, when a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and signed by such of the old settlers as were then present. Some other preliminary arrangements were perfected, when the Society adjourned until the foUowiug Saturday, January I5th, when the following officers were elected:

President - Thatcher Blake; Vice President - David S. Penfield; Seeretari/ - Duncan Ferguson; Treasurer - A. C. Spafford; Directors - John Lake, Thomas D. Robertson, and David D. Ailing.

At the time of this election twenty-six of the Old Settlers had signed the constitution and thus become members of the society. A residence in the county of thirty years, and the payment of three dollars as an initiatory fee, and one dollar per year as annual dues, are qualifications of membership. If at any time a further sum is needed for any specific charitable purpose, the Board of Directors are clothed with power to levy an assessment upon the members. The object of the Society is thus defined in article two of the constitution:

''It is designed to be a moral and benevolent association for the purpose of cultivating social intercourse among its members, and creating a fund for charitable purposes in their behalf. To collect and preserve information connected with the early settlement and subsequent history of Winnebago County; and to perpetuate the memory of those whose sagacity, energy and enterprise, induced them to settle here and to encounter the toils and privations incident to tiiose who first settle in a new country."

Article three provides that "this Society shall be composed of those male residents who settled in this county previous to the year 1840, and who are now residents of the town of Eockford and vicinity. That hereafter thirty years residence in the town of Rockford or vicinity, will be a suffici(!nt qualification for any such settler becoming a member of this Society."

kell and Levi Moulthrop, were born in the county, but as will be seen by reference to article three of the constitution, already quoted, are fully entitled to membership. A lars^e majority of the others came here before 1840, and ha\ e seen the wild prairies disappearino; year by year before the well-directed iiidustries of themselves and their followers. Nearly all of those whose names appear in this catalogue are well preserved intellectually and physicalh^, and surrounded by all the necessarj- comforts of life, and in their declining years are enabled to take life easily - to sit beneath their own vines and fig trees, and enjoy the accumulations of the industry and economy of their pioneer days.

River Improvement

For many years the improvement of Rock River so as to render it navigable was an enterprise that enlisted a good deal of attention from the people, not only of Winnebago, but of all the counties along the banks of this beautiful tributary of the Mississippi. In Winnebago, and especially among the people of Rockford, a river improvement fever would break out every once in a while, meetings would be called, resolutions adopted, com-, mittees appointed, petitions drafted, signed and forwarded to Congress, and great plans inaugurated for this purjjose. And indeed, it seems almost a pity that after so much time, money and labor spent in this direction, the efforts were not rewarded as the people hoped. But then, there is this consolation - what they failed to accomplish by these efforts and expenditures was at length compensated by damnxing the river, building up large manufacturing establishments, and securing railway communication with every part of the country.

Failing to obtain assistance from the national government to aid in the improvement of Rock River, the Legislature of Illinois was invoked, and a special law passed by that body, about 1845-6, to enable the people of the several counties along the river, from Rock Island to the Wisconsin State line, to vote for or against the assessment of a river improvement tax. The measure carried in all the counties, a tax was assessed and collected, and the work commenced. At Rockford, a part of the money so collected was expended in 1846, in attempting to cut a channel through the rapids where the dam has since been built. Work was also commenced at Sterling and other points, but was hnally abandoned. What money remained on hand was paid back jpro rata to the counties from whicti it had been collected, and public attention generally turned to railroad enterprises. Kow the river is dam'd from Milan, near its confluence with the Mississippi, far up into Wisconsin.

The first schools taught in the county were family or subscription schools; the first house erected especially for school purposes ^^as built in Guildford township, in the spring of 1837, and was a round log structure, 12x20 feet in size, and in which a school was commenced in May of that year, by Miss Charlotte Greggs, of St. Charles, Kane County. The house was built and the school sustained by five of the settlers : A. R. Dimmick, whom are now dead. There was neither loft nor ceiling in this school house, which stood one and a half miles east of the present school house in District No. 1, in that township. The next school was commenced in Rock- tbrd the same year, by Miss Eunice J^rown, wlio subsequently married Mr. J. G. Lyon, lier school liouse was a loo^ cabin on the East Side. About' the same time, JVIiss Frances Bradford also commenced a school on the West Side. The building she occupied was a small log cabin belonging to the late William E. Dunbar, and stood a short distance south of the residence of S. C. Withson, in South Rockford. In 1838, Miss Sarah A. Danforth taught on the West Side. In 1889, Miss Wood was a West Side teacher. In the winter of 1838-9, James M. Wight taught in a building on the corner of Main and Market streets, East Side, on the ground now occupied by the American House. In 1839, Miss Hyde taught in the same building. In the same year ('39), Andrus Corbin taught in a house owned b}' himself, on the West Side. But it is unnecessary to continue a detailed mention of the names of those who engaged in " teaching the young idea how to shoot," in the pioneer days of Rockford or Winnebago County, for their name is legiou. But it is due alike to them and their patrons to say that they all made good records as educators. To name all of those who engaged in the honorable profession of teachers from the date of the opening of the first school, in 1837, to the time when lands became taxable, thus enabling the people to sustain free public schools, would be a work of su})ererogation. As the population increased in town and country, schools increased in like proportion. As the years increased, and the people increased in wealth, the old log school houses, with their mud and stick chimneys, puncheon floors, and puncheon seats, greased paper windows, and other primitive accommodations, went down before those more in keeping with the progressive march ot time. But the old school houses and the old teachers are kindly remembered by many of the leading men of the county. In them the foundations of usefulness were laid that have enabled many of their scholars to go out in the world and make honorable records among the learned men of nations.

In no one interest of the country have forty years marked such wonderful and gratifying changes as in the educational. Forty years ago a knowledge of the higher branches could only be obtained at the colleges of the older States - Yale, Harvard, Amherst, Dartmouth and their cotemporaries. Xow, there is not a school in Winnebago County that does'not furnish advantages almost e(jual to those ofl'ered at the beginning of the last half century by the colleges named. All over the Winnebago prairies neat and comfortable school houses are to be seen, w^hile the teachers are proficient and competent to impart instruction in any of the branches necessary to any of the ordinary pursuits of life. In reality, they are the people's col- Jegef(, and no system is dearer to the people than the system that supports and maintains them. To make war upon this system would only be making war upon our nation's life.

The following is a statistical exhibit of the school interests, as shown by the Superintendent's report for the year ending Sept. 30, 1877 : jS'umber of males under 21 years of age, 7,070; number of females do., 7,287; total, 14,357. Number of males between 6 and 21 years, 4,893 ; females, do., 5,155; total, 10,048. Number of school districts, 130. Number of districts having school five months or more, 128; average number of months school sustained 7.7. Number of male pupils enrolled, 3,451; females, do., 3,549; total number of pupils enrolled, 7,000. Number of male teachers employed, 63 ; females, 221 ; total number of teachers employed, 284. Grand total number of days attendance, 790,677 - equal in school time, /. e.^ nine months of four weeks each, and five days to a week, to 4,392 years and 117 days. Highest wages paid any male teacher, $150; do. paid any female teacher, $80; lowest wages paid any male teacher, $25; do. paid any female teacher, $13.50; average wages paid male teachers, $50.73; do. paid female teachers, $30.31. Total receipts during the year, ^72,600.25; expenditures, $55,114.90; leaving a balance on hand of $17,575.35. Estimated value of school property, $117,585; apparatus, $1,987; libraries, $727. Principal of township fund, $41,077.19; county fund, $5,980.06; total of school assets, $167,356.25. Number of applicants for certificates examined, 286; number of first-grade certificates issued, 10; second grade, do., 195; number of applicants rejected, 81. The number of days employed by, the Superintendent in visiting schools, was 120; in the examination of teachers and ofiice work, 80 ; total, 200.

The present County Superintendent of Schools is Mary L. Carpenter, who was one of the ten lady superintendents selected in November, 1873. December 28-9, 1874, a meeting of the State Association of County Superintendents was held in Chicago. Five of these lady superintendents had been appointed to read papers and lead in their discussions. These appointments included Mrs. Carpenter, and the manner in which they, acquitted themselves, the ease, grace, fluency and force wilh which they treated the subjects that had been submitted to them, was highly complimented in the report of State Superintendent Etter. On the 28-9th of December, 1875. another meeting of this association was held at Rock Island, "when Mrs. Carpenter read an essay on the '"Best Method of Bringing Directors up to Their Duty," and submitted the following conclusions: "First, bringing County Superintendents up to their duty. We should be active ourselves; never dilatory; prompt to meet all engagements; ready to co-operate with school oflicers in the performance of their duties, thereby inspiring them with our enthusiasm. Divide the time in supervision between teachers and school oflicers."

County Associations of School Ojficers. - This is a movement in which Mrs. Carpenter has taken a warm and active interest. A meeting of the Association was held at Rockford, Feb. 24, 1876, which was' largely attended, not only by school oflicers and teachers, but by citizens; As showing the esteem in which Mrs. Carpenter is held, we quote the following resolution from a series adopted by that meeting :

''Resolved, That we, as School Directors of Winnebago County, tender to the County Superintendent of Public Schools, our hearty thanks for that energy and zeal which she has manifested in the interests of our public schools."

The standing of Mrs. Carpenter, and her efficiency as a superintendent, compared with the other superintendents of the State, is unexceptionably good, and is thus complimented by State Superintendent Etter, in a letter to H. R. Enoch, Esq., editor of the Rockford Journal:

"1st. The reports that have been made to this department by Mrs. M. L. Carpenter, the Superintendent of schools of your county, since I have assumed the duties of the office, have been correct in every particular. Every item of information required has been freely and correctly given. The financial statistics balance to a cent, and show ability on her part in this work. jFor the year ending Sejptember 30, 1875, only two rejports out

"2cl. So far as I am able to judge from the work I have seen of Mrs. Carpenter's, both at Teachers' Institutes and Teachers' Association, I am clearly of the opinion that she is well qualified for the position she now holds. I consider her one of the best County Superintendents in the State,

"3d. Her standing- among the leading teachers and with the superintendents, so far as I know, is high, and she is regarded as a thorough and ethcient officer. She has attended three meetings of the Superintendents' Association, and has been called upon to read a paper at each one of them. Last year she was elected Secretary of the State Teachers' Association, which of itself is some evidence of her standing among the class of teachers who are members of the Association. <^

Mrs. Mary L. Carpenter was born in Greenbush, N. Y., in 1839. "When (piite young her parents removed to Rochester, and in one of the public schools of that city, she received her early education. She pursued a classical course of studj' at the Fort Plain Collegiate Institute, graduating with much honor at the age of seventeen years. Coming West soon after, she taught the village school of Waterloo, Iowa. In 1857 she was married, and has since resided in Rockford. Mrs. Carpenter has ever taken an active interest in the cause of education, and for several years was a successful teacher in the public schools of this city. In 18*^3 she was elected County Superintendent of Schools, which office she has filled with much ability; the 136 schools in the county have been visited by her faithfully; shQ has studied the wants of each, rooting out objectionable methods of instruction and introducing new systems. During the past four years she has also had charge of the Normal department in the Rockford Female Seminary. In reports to the State Department of Public Instruction, her promptness and correctness have met the flattering approbation of its officers. The following we extract from a letter written by one of the prominent educators in this State: "Tne high culture and great energy which Mrs. Carpenter possesses, eminently fit her for the Suj^erintendency. The esteem in wliich she is held by her fellow teachers is shown by her election as Secretary of the State Teachers' Association."

Keligious Interests

Have been carefully fostered, not only in the city of Rockford, but in all the towns and villages of the county as well as in the country districts. In a community so thoroughly alive to educational interests as the people of Winnebago have always proved themselves to be, it could not be otherwise. The first religious sermon preached on Kent creek (near Rockford) was rendered by Rev. Aratus Kent (brother of Germanicus), a Congregational minister, of Galena, on the second Sunday of June, 1835, on which occasion the log house of Germanicus Kent was converted into a temple of worshij). Commencing in January, 1870, a local historian furnished the Rockford Gazette a series of articles on early events, and among ofher inci- dents referred to this meeting. He said: '-The city was more Godly and righteous then than it is now, and i;pon this occasion every one came out to church. There were no backsliders in those days, and when the minister began his prayer on that bright Sabbath morning, he had the entire village for an audience. They mustered eleven in all, including three ladies - Mrs. Kent, Mrs. Haight and her sister, and eight gentlemen - Germanicus Kent, Thatcher Blake, Albert Sanford, Daniel 8. Haight, his hired man, and a Mr. Yanzandt (Kent's millwright). The sermon was an impressive, though not a learned one. Aratus Kent was a thoroughly good man, although not an eloquent preacher, and his simple, missionary way of exhortation suited the pioneers better than faultless rhetoric. This gentleman died a few years ago in Galena."

This primitive meeting was the beginning of better thino^s - the dawning of that religious sentiment that has grown with increasing years, until Kockford has become pre-eminently a city, and AVinnebago a land, of churches and religious light. In the city of Rockford there are eighteen church editices, as folio w^s: *First Methodist Episcopal, First Congregational, First lA)tist, Emmanuel, Church of the Christian Union, Second Congregational, St. James Catholic, Court Street Methodist Episcopal, First Presbyterian, Sw^edish Evangelical Lutheran, Westminster Presbyterian, State Street I3aptist, '-^Third Street Methodist Episcopal, Swedish Methodist Episcopal, Woodruff's Addition Methodist Episcopal, South Rockford J^ethodist Episcopal, Disciples, and German Lutheran - IS.

In the outside districts there are twenty-six church edifices, representing as many different religious organizations. They are distributed as follows :

Cherry Yalley, 3; N'ew Milford, 3; Harlem, 2; Roscoe, 2; Eockton, 2; Shirland, 2; Harrison, 2; Owen, 1; Burritt, 2; Durand, 2; Pecatonica, 2; Winnebago, 3; Seward, 1 - 26. Added to the Rockford churches makes a grand total of 44 church edifices in Winnebago County.

The Rockford church edifices are handsome, substantial buildings, and in style and finish well in keeping with the character o± the people by whom they were built and by whom they are maintained. The country church edifices are for the most part frame buildings, Ijut neat and tasty in finish. The Scotch Presbyterian church, erected at Argyle during the summer of 1877, is one of the best in the country, and its stjde, architecture and finish would do no discredit to aristocratic congregations of large cities. This temple ot worship is built of handsomely dress.ed stone, and will cost about $12,000.

The seed sown by Rev. Aratus Kent, in his brother's log cabin on the bank of Kent creek, on the second Sunday in June, 183.5, grew and ripened into the fullness of a plentiful harvest. Until then the stillness of the country of the Winiiebagoeshad never been broken by the voice of prayer and praise, unless the songs the birds sang were offered as a tribute to the glor}' of the Great Architect whose hand unfolded these rich prairies and reared their grove-covered hill-sides. Since Rev. Aratus Kent preached to the Rockford population of eleven persons, all told, a population of 30,000 has grown up in Winnebago County, who

Methodism was established in the county when the Enochs settled in what is now Guilford townshij), in 1835. Preaching, however, was unknown until the following June, in the early part of that month. Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, a very prominent Methodist divine in those days, came along in the discharge of the duty assigned him by the annual conference, and stopped with the family of Henry Enoch, the father of Abraham I. and Hiram R., now well known and prominent business men of Ilockford. Pour o'clock p. m. was set for preaching, and the neighbors (what few there were) notified. Abraham 1. and Richard H. Enoch were hauling rails to fence their broken grounds, and their father was building the fence as the rails were delivered. When four o'clock came the teams were turned out to graze on the prairie, and the family assembled for worship. Style and fashion and dress were not so elaborate in those days as at present, and it may be readily assumed that that lirst Methodist meeting was a rather primitive affair in all its cliaracteristics, but it will be casting no reflection on the Methodism of the present to remark that a more earnest meeting, of any kind, was never held on any part of the Winnebago prairies. If the congregation was small and plainly dressed, as compared with the present, what they lacked in numbers was more than compensated in their zeal and earnestness. About earl_y Methodism there was never any half-way work. Every professor and believer gave his whole soul to it, and to the zeal of the founders and pioneers of that faith can justly be attributed the great work accomplished through it in later years - the reclamation of untold thousands from the paths of sin and moral degradation - the founding of theological schools, seminaries and colleges, and the j^erfecting of that system of work that not only challenges the admiration of civilization and intelligence everywhere, but which has carried light and hope and peace to multitudes of people even in the remotest ends of the earth. Early Methodists never stopped to measure the size of church edifices, the heighth of church steeples, to look for cushioned pews, to see what their neighbors wore, nor its ministers to reckon what lield would pay the most in dollars and cents. They only sought those lields where the Master's work needed most to be done, and thitJier they went, regardless of all else. And so came Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, peace and honor to his memory, to the pioneer home of Henry Enoch in June, lb36.

The sermon of Rev, Pillsbury on that occasion was an earnest and devoted one, and the foundation of a society that, in later years, became the First M. E. Church of Rockford, being organized at the house of Henry Enoch, in August, 1836, with five members: Samuel Gregory and wife, Daniel Peers and wife, and Mary Enoch, the wife of Henry Enoch. Rev. William Royal was the first regular pastor or circuit rider. Thus were the seeds of Methodism planted in Winnebago County. The first preacher (Rev. Mr. Pillsbury) and probably the second (Rev. Mr. Royal), Henry and Mary Enoch and Mrs. Samufel Gregory, have gone

Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet, Their Saviour and brethren transported to greet ; While the anthems of rapture unceasingly roll. And the smile of the Lord is the life of the soul -

A. I. Enoch, who was present at the first sermon, related to the writer that, after preaching, the entire congregation, the preacher iuchided, remained to supper at the invitation of his mother. Aside from the eight members of Henry Enoch's family, only two others - Mrs. Jacob Enoch and another lady whose name is forgotten - were present, making a congregation of ten persons to listen to the first Methodist sermon preached in Winnebago Coimty. There are now, perhaps, half as many thousand, as there were then individual, members of this branch of the Christian church.

The New Court House

The first county business was transacted in a private residence on the East Side. The first Circuit Court was held in Haight's Rockford Hotel, also on the East Side, and the first court-house was also erected on that side, but in April, 1843, the County Commissioners entered into a contract with G. Haskell, Charles I. Horsman, H. W. Loomis, M. Burns, Charles Hah, Thomas D. Eobertson, G. W. Dewey, D. D. Ailing, H. R Maynard, Dr. A. Thomas, Skinner G. Barrows, J. Fisher, D. Harper and D. Dow, for the erection of the old frame court-house building on the public or county square on the West side - the old building that is now overshadowed by the finely finished and towering walls of the grandest court-house in the State. The one whose front bears the figures " 1492," was completed and accepted .by the county authorities, in JSTovember, 1844. Then it was considered a model .of excellence and convenience, and the pride and credit of the county. In the fall and winter of 1S45-0, one Julius P. Bolivar McCabe (that's the way he wrote his name) compiled a history of Winnebago County, and among other things gave a description of this new temple of justice. As the subject of his description will soon be torn away, we will preserve its memory in these pages as Julius P. Bolivar McCabe saw it:

"The court-house stands on State street, on the west side of the river. It is a handsome and well finished frame building of one story, measuring about 56 feet long, 35 feet wide, and 17 feet high. It is crowned with a magnificent ;ind well proportioned cupola, which rises 15 feet above the roof of the building. The front is finished with a tastefully executed pediment, supported by four fluted columns, and forming a portico which projects nine feet from the body of the building, and having a wing on either side, in which the county offices are held.* The court room measures 54x32 feet; 9 feet of the building in the rear of the bench being partitioned oft' into the jury rooms. Two rows ot slips, made in the style of those erected in churches, fill up tlie portion of the court-house without the bar, and are capable of accommodating 300 persons. The whole of this edifice', including the pediment and columns, is built in the Grecian Doric order of architecture, and speaks much for the skill of the architects, Messrs. Beattie and Harper, both citizens of Rockford."

But grand as it may have been considered thirty-three years ago (the date of its completion), it had to give way before increasing population, wealth, and public business, and at the February session, 1875, of the Board of Supervisors, Messrs. Duncan Ferguson, C. A. Hemenway, A. Haines, F. E. Latham, and A. C. Gleason, members of the Board, were appointed a committee to examine and report to the Board what kind of a Court House would be suitable for this county. Monday, April 19, 1875, this committee reported as follows:

In Ibol a stone building was creeled near tliis building, into which the county records were removed, and in which all the county business has since been transacted.

" That we have examined the court-liouses at Janesville, Wis., and at Freeport, Macomb and Princeton, in Illinois, and got such information as we considered essential to enable us to arrive at a correct decision as to the size, materials, general construction, and probable cost of such a courthouse as will be recpiired by this county. That accompanying are sketches of the ground-plans of the offices, court room, etc., on tlie first and second floors of said buildings, and a detailed statement of the same as we found them, and what we thought necessary in reference to each of them. After making the said examinations, and fully considering the matter given in charge, to us, we have unanimously come to the conclusion that a courthouse nearly similar to the one in Freeport, with the alterations mentioned in our detailed statements, constructed of like materials, both externally and internally, and of the same or nearly the same kind of workmanship, would in our opinion be such a court-house as is required by this county.

" In reference to the manner of raising the sum that would be required for building such a house, we may suppose that the amount necessary for building it will be raised by tax in four years in equal amounts (that being the longest time that any of the counties referred to took to pay for the same). It is probable that the taxes would be raised for the first three years in nearly sufficient amounts to meet the outlay, as it is likely that the house would not be finished until the third year, and there would then be no difficulty in the county borrowing what money they needed at 8 per cent, to pay for finishing the building, should money be as plenty then as it has been for the past two years.

" Accompanying this report is a statement showing the proportion of tax that each town in the county would have to raise, to make the sum of $101,000 in tour equal annual payments, on the basis of the assessment of 1874, as fixed by the State Board of Equalization, and adding to said valuations the proportion of i-ailroad taxes to which they were entitled.

Table slwwing the amount that each town in the county would have to pay to make up $100,000 in one year, and also by dividing it into four years; assuming as a basis the valuation fixed by the State Board on the assessment of 1874, and assigning to each town, as near as may be, its share of the railroad tax.

After the reading of the above report, a motion was made to postpone the further consideration of the question of building a court-house until the next meeting of the Board, which elicited considerable discussion, in which most of the members of the Board participated. Finally, at the request of Mr. Herring, of Durand, the question was laid over for one day. On Wednesday, the 21st of April, the question again came up, when, on motion of Mr. Budlong, the report of the committee appointed at the last session of this Board, to investigate in relation to building a court-house, was adopted, and the committee discharged.

^'"Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors appoint Duncan Ferguson as chairman, and Anthony Haines, J. B. Merritt and Hugh Mackey, as a committee to be known as the Court House Building Committee."

^^Hesolved, That this Board do now appoint 3, committee consisting of five members to be knoAvn as a special Court House Building Committee, that Duncan iFerguson be one and chairman of that committee, and that he as chairman of this Board appoint the other four members of it."

On which the ayes and nays were called, with the following result: Ayes - Whittlesey, Fiance, Herring, Bowley, Cowles, Hemenway and Derwent - 7. Kays - Perguson, Atkinson, Sweet, Haight, Budlong, Haines, Scoville, Smith, Manny, Barnum, Latham, Merritt, Mackey, Kirk, Fabrick and Bhoades - 16. Mr. Herring moved to amend the original resolution so as to make Mr. Hemenway a member of said committee, and Whittlesey seconded said motion, on which the ayes and nays were called, with the following result: Ayes - Ferguson, Herring, Bowley, Scoville, Smith, Barnum, Latham, Merritt and Whittlesey - 9. Nays - Hance, Cowles, Atkinson, Sweet, Haight, Budlong, Haines, Derwent, Manny, Mackey, Kirk, Fabrick and Bhoades - 13. Lost.

Mr. Herring then made a motion to adjourn, which was lost by a vote of 8 for and 13 against. Then upon a vote being taken upon the original resolution, offered by Mr. Budlong, same was carried. On motion the Board adjourned until two o'clock in the afternoon.

" Resolved^ That the Building Committee on the Court House are hereby instructed to give notice, by advertising or otherwise, that plans for building a court-house in Winnebago County will be received at any time previous to the first Monday in July next."

At the July meeting, on Tuesday, the 13th, the Building Committee was instructed by resolution to examine all the .plans submitted by competing architects for the proposed court-house for this county, to select such number of said plans as they may think advisable, and la}' the same before the Board, either for the Board to make a selection, or to take such fui-ther steps in the matter as they may think the best interests of this county require.

On Wednesday evening, July 15th, the Board adjourned until Monday, the 26tli, at which session of the Board the Building Committee reported thit eighteen ditfsjrent plans and specifications had been received from archit33fcs o}' Illiujis aad other States, and that they had given the architects an opportunity of explaining to tlieni all the points to which they (the architects) wished to call the committee's attention, and of answering any questions the committee wished to submit to them, and that from the eighteen plans submitted, they had selected the designs offered by E. E, Myers, of Detroit, Mich.; Henry L. Gay, Cass Chapman, J. 0. Cochrane, and Alexander Kirkland, of Chicago; and David S. Dory, as the most likely to meet the demands of the contemplated building. Accompanying this report was a condensed statement of the most important points in each of the plans submitted. The committee also reported that in the plans rejected they had found many points that they could freely recommend, etc. On Friday, July 30, 1875, the Board passed the following resolution:

Resolved^ That the Court House Building Committee of this Board be and are hereby instructed to adopt the design or plan submitted by Henry L. G-ay, Architect, for a court-house for the county of Winnebago, to be erected on tlie Court House Square, in the city of Rockford, on the west side of Rock River, when the following conditions and stipulations are fully complied with by the said Henry L. (Say, to-wit : That such modifications or alterations shall be made in his plans as shall seem to said committee necessary and expedient; and that the committee and the said Gay shall agree u})on the amount that the said alterations shall either increase or decrease the sum which the said Gay has stated that this building will cost (whicli sum was S10'i,000), and provided, further, that one or more responsible contractors, giving bonds to the county, to the safisfaction of this Board, for the erection of the proposed court-house, agreeably to the proposals tor letting, advertised by said committee, shall agree to do the work of erecting and completing the said building within, or very near the estimate of the said Gay, and as the same may be agreed to by the committee after the proposed alterations in said plans ; and should there be no satisfactory bid, as above stated, at or near the said sum, then the said committee may reject the plan of the said Gay, and he shall not be entitled to any compensation from this County Board, or Building Committee, for any labor or expense that he may have incurred in preparing or altering the said plans or specifications; and this Board shall have the right to make another selection of any of the plans that have been submitted to the Board by competing architects; and also provided, that this Board preserve the right of appointing a superintendent for the constrnction of the proposed building.

" And, provided, further. That, when the plans and specifications are all completed to the satisfaction of the said Building Committee, that they are hereby instructed and directed to advertise in such newspapers as may seem to them best, giving at least three weeks' notice, for sealed proposals for the erection of the said building, the said proposals to be lodged with the clerk of this Board, at such time as shall be specified in the said notice, at which time an adjourned meeting of the Board will be held, when the said proposals will be opened and examined by the Board, who may then award the contract, should they consider it for the interest of the county to do so. The notice above referred to shall distinctly set forth that the Board reserves the right not to accept the lowest offer, but may reject any and all proposals for the erection of said building. The said bids to be accompanied by bonds, to be executed by the party offering to contract for the building of said court-house, and by one or more sufficient sureties, to be approved by the Board, in the sum of $100,000; that all the stipulations and conditions that may be entered into by the proposed contractor with

Cherry Valley Townshir

BARXrM ». H. Farmer; Sec. 5; P.O. Rockford; was born in Fairfield Co., Conn., town of Danbury, on Feb. 12, 1816; came to this Co. in June, 1888, and is one of the oldest settlers; no children; wife was Miss Hattie, daughter of Dr. J. C. Goodhue, one of the first physicians of Rockford ; she was born in Chicago, May 1st, 1840; married Feb. 22, 1870; has 168 acres valued at $8,150.

BEAMER AL.VA, Farmer; Sec. 26; P. O. Cherry Valley ; was born in Stuben Co., N. Y., May 7, 1830 ; came to Belvidere with his parents in the spring of 1838 ; remained in Boone Co. 19 years and then came and has remained here ever since ; has 82 acres valued at $4,100; married Miss Clarinda Doolittle ; she was born in this Co. Oct. 16, 1841 ; they were married Jan. 22, 1868; has three children, Minnie L., Ettie M., and Herbert E.

BEI.l,MYER E. T. Physician and Surgeon; Cherry Valley; was born in Union Town, Carroll Co., Md., July 8, 1831 ; commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Leroy Swormsted, of Westminster, Md. ; he graduated at the Physio- Medical Institute, of Cincinnati, in 1855 ; and commenced practice in Aug. the same year in this Co. ; he married Miss Mary Mettler; she was born in Eudfield, Thompkins Co., N.Y., March 26, 1829 ; she came to the Co. in the fall of 1840 ; they were married June 2, 1858.

Weitenburg,Germauy,Dec.5,1885 ; leftthere when past 17 years of age and (;ame to the U. S., and to N. J., and located near Newark ; remained there 8 years and then came to 111., and to this Co. in 1858; owns 420 acres, valued at $16,800; he married Miss Sarah Shetter ; she was born in Yorktown, Pa., March 21, 1886; they were married in Sept. 1861 ; have three children, Lizzie, Eugene and Ophelia.

BROWEf O. 'W. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 26; P. O. Cherry Valley; was born m this Co. March 6, 1888 ; his father, Jacob, settled in this Co. in Aug., 1835, and was one of the first settlers ; he died in June, 1868; Mr. B. owns 400 acres, valued at $20,000; he married Miss Marie Gouchenour ; she was born in Noble Co., O., May 2, 1840; they were married June 19, 1866; has two sons and two daughters; Clarence born May 11, '67; Florence born Sept. 7, '70; Arthur born Jan. 15, 65; baby not named, born Aug. 27, '77.

BROWX J«HX, Fkrmer and Stock Dealer; P. O. Cherry Valley; was born in Morgan Co., O., Sept. 11, 1832; came to Winnebago Co. with his parents in 1836, and is one of the earliest settlers of this Co. now living ; he owns in Winnebago and Boone counties 1,000 acres land, valued at $60,000; raises 350 acres and upwards of broom corn annually; owns 172 acres in Buena Vista Co., la. ; deals largely in cattle, and has 350 head on his western farm and 100 head here and 40 head horses, and has the largest and best arranged barn in the State ; married Miss H. M. Packard, of Mass.; they have 7 children, five sons and two daughters, Annie, now Mrs. Raymond Rowley, John, Lina, Richard, Ellsworth, Scott, and Major.

BROW^T MICHAEt, Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 20; P.O. Cherry Valley ; was born in Morgan Co., O., Sept. 9, 1830; came to this Co. in Aug. 1836, and is one of the first settlers ; has 134 acres, valued at $8,710; he married Miss Nancy Frick; she was born in Erie Co., N. Y., May 6, 1831 ; she came to the Co. in 1840 ; they were married March 6, 1853; she died July 31, 1875; has two sons, Albert S. and Chas. W.

Farming; Sec 6; P. O. Rockford; daughter of Harley Stilson, born near Hartford, Conn., Jan. 17, 1800; he came this Co. and to Rockford in April, 1844, and was one of the oldest settlers; he died March 17, 1874, on liis farm in Rocktord township; Retta Burton, Iier mother, was born Feb.

13, 1803, in Sullivan Co., N. Y.; she died April 10, 187(5, at their liome in Rockford towusliip ; Mr. S. was a cari)enter by trade ; lie helped build the first bridge in this Co. across Rock River, also helped build the first Court House; lie left a family of two daughters and one son ; Mrs. Buchan, born in Broome Co., N. Y., Sept. 3d, 1825; Nathaniel L., born in Broome Co., N. Y., March 19, 1832; Lucy L., now Mrs. Q. H. F. Burt, born in Lanesborough, Pa., June

CARMICHAKJL H. IV. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 18; P.O. New Milford; was born in New Milford township, this Co. July 13, 1845 ; his father, J. P., came to this Co. in 1838 ; lie married Miss Lyda Carpenter; she was born near Oswego, N. Y., March 6, 1851 ; they were married Dec. 14, 1870; have one son and one daughter, Editli M. and Leroy C. ; owns 280 acres valued at $14,000.

CASE AMON, Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 13; P. O. Cherry Valley; was born in the town of Hoosick, Renssalaer Co., N. Y., Oct. 8, 1816; located in this Co. in June 1846 ; owns in this Co. and Boone about 2,500 acres, valued at $75,000 ; Mr. C. is one of the most extensive farmers in Northern Ills. ; he married Miss Mary J. Lamb; she was born in Pittstown, Renssalaer Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1825 ; they were married June 21, 1846 ; have two sons and one daughter, Chas. C, David L. and Sarah E.

CASSIDY MOSES, Farmer and Stock Raiser ; Sec. 35 ; P.O. Cherry Valley ; was born in the Co. of Donegal, Ireland, in 1847 ; left there and came to the U. S. and to this Co. in 1862, owns 200 acres valued at $10,000; he married Miss Sarah Graham ; she was born in the Co. Antrim, Ireland, June 4, 1853 ; they were married Dec.20,1870; have four children, three sons and one daughter; Samuel, born Sept. 24,

CI.EVEI.A]!»rD CJEO. C. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 27; P.O. Rockford was born in Washington Co., N. Y., July 27, 1818; became to this Co. in July, 1843 owns 254 acres valued at $15,240 ; has been married twice; married Miss Elvira J. Clark ; she was born in Manchester, Bennington Co., Vt., Feb. 23, 1820 ; they were married Jan. 18, 1843 ; she died Oct. 25, 1849; he married again to Pamelia Lewis; she was born in Orangeville, Wyoming Co., N. Y., Dec. 7, 1823; they were married Oct. 1, 1851 ; has one son by first marriage, tliree sons and one daughter by second ; Geo. C, Jr., Frank L., Edward W., Willis P., and Carrie E. ; was School Treasurer 14 years ; Assessor 3 years, and Commissioner of Highways about 5 years.

COHfKEI]Sr GEO. Carriage Making and Painting; Cherry Valley; was born in Tioga Co. N. Y. ; lie came to this Co. in Sept. 1825; he married Miss Amanda Shelton; she was born in Guilford, N. Y., Dec. 12, 1835 ; they were married Sept. 24, 1854 ; have seven children, Isabel, Emma H.,Mary K., Geo. F., Chas. E., Maynard W., and Asa F.

COJfKEIW JAMES, Farmer; Sec. 34; P. O. New Milford; was born in Washington Co., N, Y., June 14, 1823; came to this Co. in Oct. 1860; owns 95 acres valued at $4,750; he married Miss Teressa Martin ; she was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., July 14, 1826; they were married in Feb. 1845 ; have two sons and eight daughters living; lost two sons and two daughters, Helen, Emma, Laura, Melva, Cora, Kate, Lulu, Capitola, Martha and Clara; Fred, Oscar, George and John deceased.

Farming; Sec. 27; P. O. Cherry Valley; widow of Robert Dawson : he was born in Toronto, Canada, Nov. 17, 1819 ; he came to this Co. in 1846; Mrs. D's maiden name was Dewitt ; she was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., May 16, 1821 ; they were mar-, ried May 1, 1843, in Twinsburg, 0.;he died Aug. 2, 1856 ; left a family of one son and one daughter, Trocelia M., now Mrs. Calvin Welty, living in Rockford; James, who was killed in the late rebellion on the gunboat Hastings; she was married again to Saml. Kyes, Dec. 13, 1859; he was born in Avon, O., June 14, 1833 ; she has 100 acres valued at $7,000.

DOI.A1V ilIICHAEI., Farmer; Sec. 21 ; P. O. Cherry Valley; was born in the Co. Galway, Ireland, in 1827 ; came to the U. S. and to this Co. in 1855 ; owns 200 acres valued at .f 10,000; he married Miss Mary Dowd ; she w^as born in the same place in 1822 ; they were married in 1847 ; have three sons and four daughters,Patrick, Thomas, James, Bi-idget, Annie, Mary E., and Aveline.

DOTY li. W. Proprietor Valley House ; Cherry Valley; was born in Tioga Co., O., Aug. 9, 1825 ; came to this Co. in 1857 ; have seven children, R. B., Chas. E., Bertha, Hattie, Lewis, Oscar, and Jessie ; wife was Miss Emeline Blakley; she was born in Ashtabula Co., O. ; served 3 years in the late rebellion ; was 1st Lieutenant of Co. G, 46th Regiment of Wis. Vol.

DlJHfWEl.1. A. Attorney at law; Cherry Valley ; was born in the town of Arcadia, Wayne Co., N. Y., Aug. 1, 1824; came to this Co. in the spring of 1850; was Justice of the Peace 12 years ; Associate Ju.stice of the Co. 4 years; and Supervisor 4 years ; married Miss Elizabeth Pike of Maine ; they have one sou and one daughter, Augustus and Lizzie May.

ERFFMEYER HEXRY, Farmer; Sec. 16 ; P. O. Rockford ; was born in Germany, Nov. 12, 1821 ; came to the U. S. and to N. Y., in Oct. 1845, and to this Co. in May 1855; owns 100 acres valued at |4,000; he married Miss Elizabeth Gosmyer ; she was born in Germany, Oct. 30, 1828; tliey were married Nov. 24, 1849; she died Jan. 17, 1863 ; have four children living, lost one ; Caroline, Henry.Charlotte, Chas., and Wm. (deceased.)

EVAN'S DAVID W. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 35; P.O.Cherry Valley; was born in the town of Granville, Canada, Nov. 30, 1840; came to this Co. July 1, 1856; owns 170 acres valued at $8,500; he married Miss Emma J. Conklin;she was born in the town Western, Oneida Co., N. Y., March 29, 1849 ; they were married April 27, 1866; have four children living, lost one; Jesse R., J. Leroy (deceased), Olive G., Nettie M., and baby not yet named ; he served nearly 4 years in the late war, in Co. L, 8th I. V. C.

EVAlfS^J. C. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 8; P. O. Rockford; was born in Canada, March 1, 1835 ; came to this Co. in Dec. I860; has 180 acres valued at -f 7,200 ; he married M'ss Alice W. Winlield; she was born in Montreal, Canada; they were married March 19, 1863; have two sons and one daughter, Lillie M., Percival G., and Eddie I.

FISHER JOHK", Miller; Cherry Valley; was born April 8, 1819; came to this State in 1849; to this county in 1865; married Sallie Mason, wlio was born, Dec. 1819, at the same place in Penn. as her husband ; they have thirteen children.

FITCH VAIiEXTIXE, Farmer; Sec. 9 ; P. O. Rockford ; was born in Germany in 1823 ; came to the U. S. in 1855, and has been in this Co. 22 years ; owns 50 acres valued at $2,500; he married Lina Tripp ; she was born in Erie Co., N. Y. ; they were married in 1850 ; have nine

FOWLER GEO. Farmer; Sec. 2, P. O. Cherry Valley; was born in Westfield, Mass., May 11, lb25; located in this Cn, in the fall of 1840, and is one of the oldest settlers; owns 90 acres valued at $4,500; married Mrs. Elizabeth E. Patten, widow of Samuel ; she was born in the town of Homer, Cayuga Co.. N. Y., July 27, 1830; they were married Feb. 15, 1855 ; they have six children, two sous and four daughters, Emma, George, Estella, Edgar, Annie and Ida ; Mrs. F. has two sons by former marriage, Berdett E. and Frank; Mr.F.has 320 acres in Pottawattomie Co., Kansas.

GOVE RUT PATRICK, Farmer; Sec. 21 ; P. O. Cherry Valley; was born in Ireland in 1823 ; left there and came to the U. S. in 1853, and to this Co. in 1857; owns 320 acres valued at $16,000; he married Miss Mary Turley; she was born in Ireland in 1825; they were married in 1851; have three sons and two daughters, John, Michael, Peter, Mary and Julia A.

Gunsolus Mrs. Sophia

Farming; Sec. 17; P. O. New Milford; widow of James S. ; he was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Sept. 17, 1810 ; he came to this Co. and settled on the place where they now live in the spring of 1835, and was the first settler in Cherry Valley township ; he died July 17, 1872 ; Mrs. G's maiden name was Babcock; she was born in Oswego, N. Y., Jan. 12, 1816 ; they were married June 19, 1834; he left an estate of 145 acres valued at |7,250; he served all through the Black Hawk War, and was Justice of the Peace in this town 11 years; left family six sons and three daughters, Caroline, Jeanette, Isaiah, Chauncey, John T., James H., Sarah L., Andes, and Alson (deceased); Alson was killed at the Camee Agency while fighting the Indians; he belonged to Howard Command, Co. I 21st Infantry.

RESTED JAMES, Farmer; Sec. 27; P. O. New Milford; was born in Kent, England, Oct. 9, 1825 ; came to the U. S. witli his parents when five years of age ; came to this Co. 22 years ago and has remained here ever since ; owns 160 acres valued at $8,000; he married Miss Mary J. Baltozer; she was born in Penn. in May, 1835 ; they were married in Januar}^, 1861 ; have four children, William E., Minnie E., Harriet B., and Eddie J.

HORTON LEVI D. Farmer; Sec. 28; P.O. New Milford; was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., April 22, 1811; came to this Co. in July, 1844; owns 160 acres valued at $8,000; he married Miss Susan Polhamus ; she was born in Orange Co.. N. Y., Feb. 18, 1813; they were married July 12, 1834; have five children, one son and four daughters, Annie R., Ruth A., Phoebe J., George, Clara, Eva If.

HOVEY R. R. Merchant; Cherry Valley; born in Washington Co., O., Jan. 16, 1825 ; came to this Co. in April, 1856 ; have family eight daughters and one son, Edwin H., Mary F., Minnie F., Josephine L., Esther C, Nellie H., Clara S. and Nina B.; wife was Miss Elizabeth Farley; she was bora in Morgan Co., O., April 1, 1832; they were married Dec. 25, 1850; is Notary Public, and was Overseer of the Poor about 4 years.

Cherry Valley T0Wn8Hi1'

Rosa Burns ; she was born in Ireland in 1837; they were married Jan. 23, 1858; have three sons and three daughters, Edward, Arthur, Mary A., Kate, Rosa and Cluirles.

JOXES JOH:^ E. Farmer; Sec. 17; P. O. Rockford ; was born in Glossenburg, Conn., June 12, 1818; came to this Co. in Dec. ~ 1866 ; has 84 acres valued at $5,880; he married Miss Roxanna Barber ; she was born in the town of Maryland, Otsego Co., N. Y., July 17, 1815; they were married in Sept. 1832; have five children, two sons and three daughters, Ruth C, Mary, Chas. A., Joseph H., and Eunice.

KEITH ^WESI^E Y, Merchant ; Cherry Valley; was born in Flora township, Boone Co., 111., Jan. 23, 1856; has been in the mercantile business here for two years ; not married ; owns 160 acres on Sec. 20, Flora township, Boone Co., valued at $12,000.

KlirO OSCAR, Druggist; Cheriy Valley; was born in Broome Co. N. Y., March 9, 1832 ; came to the Co. in 1854 ; have two children, Arthur H., and Lizzie B. ; wife was Miss Annie E. Swits; she born in Schenectady, N. Y., March 2, 1852 ; they were married Oct. 22, 1873 ; he served about seven months in the late rebellion in Co. C, 15th I. V. I.

L.EE T. M. Lumber dealer; Cherry Valley; was born in Flora township, Boone Co., 111., Sept. 6, 1844; has lived in Cherry Valley 6 years; he married Mrs. Susan Howe, widow of M. M. Howe; she was born in Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 1845; they were married Nov. 27, 1875; no family; Mrs. L. has one son and one daughter bv her former marriage, Fannie M.," and Frank W. ; Mr. L. is Township Treasurer.

McKEE J. I¥. Merchant; Cherry Valley; was born in Blair Co., Penn., Feb. 9, 1837 ; he came to Flora township, Boone Co., 111., in 1846; he came to Cherry Valley in 1861, and two years later started business, dealing in dry goods, groceries, hats, caps, etc., of which he now keeps a full assortment ; he married Miss Louise, daughter of Rufus C. Potter; she was born in Lapeer Co., Mich., May 20, 1845; they were married Dec. 20, 1865; have two children, Frank, born Nov. 4, 1866; Mabel, born Feb. 3, 1874.

McMAlf PETER, Farmer ; Sec. 25 ; P. O. Cherry Valley; was born in the Co. of Armaugh, Ireland, in 1817; left there when 16 years of age and went to Orange Co., N, Y. ; came to this Co. in the fall of 1854 ; has 80 acres, valued at $4,000 ; he married Miss Anne Welch; she Avas born in the Co. Longford, Ireland ; they were mari'i^ed April 26, 1860 ; have one daughter, Rosanna ; she was born Dec. 4, 1863.

MACKEY C. H. Proprietor Meat Market; Cherry Valley; was born in Washington Co., O., Nov. 17, 1848 ; came to the Co. in 1864; he married Miss Laura Griswold; she was born in Madison Co., N. Y., March 20, 1853 ; they were married March 20, 1871 ; they have one daughter, Elvira M. ; she was born June 23, 1877.

MAC KEY HUGH, Farmer and Stock Dealer; Sec. 1; P.O. Cherry Valley; was born in Washington Co., Penn., May 1, 1822; located in this Co. Sept. 7, 1865; owns in Winnebago and Boone counties 940 acres valued at $65,800 ; he raises 350 acres, and upwards, of broom corn, annually; deals largely in cattle, and has some very fine Durham stock; he married Miss Eliza L. Adams, from Delaware; she was born July 1, 1822; they were married July 8, 1845; was Supervisor two terms, and School Director nine years;

MEiSICK D. P. Farmer; Sec. 6; P. O. Rockford ; born in Athens, N. Y., Jan. 2, 1824; came to this Co. Dec. 16, 1854; has 9S acres, valued at $4,900; no children: wife was Miss Susan Crane; she was born in Clinton Co., N. Y., Feb. 25, 1829; they married Oct. 5, 1861 ; Mr. M. has followed the Carpenter and Joiner business trom the time he was 17 years old till 1871, and then moved on his farm where he now lives.

Ollili W. H. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 8; P. O. Rockford; was born in Canada, Aug. 2, 1820; came to this Co. in May, 1855 ; owns 160 acres, valued at $10,- 400; he married Miss Hester A. Snure; she was born in Canada; no children, has five adopted children, Hervey H. Hulbert, has taken the name of Oill ; Wm. and Adalaide Beckett, Harriet A. and Chas. Gipple.

PEACOCK THOMAS, Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 10; P. O. Cherry Valley; born in Lincolnshire, England, Sept. 17, 1835 ; left there and came to the U. S. and to this Co. in 1862; he works 308 acres; has a fine herd of Hereford cattle, all of which took the premium at the Co. Fair last fall; married Miss Jeanette Brunton, Feb. 22, 1855 ; she was born in

PERRY DAVID, Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 11; P. O. Cherry Valley born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., July 6, 1825 ; came to this Co. in Sept., 1851 ; owns 280 acres, valued at $14,000; married Miss (Jharity Vanalstine ; she was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., in Jan., 1832; married in Feb., 1854 ; have two children, one son and one daughter, Clark and Ella F. ; is Commissioner of Highways.

Ri Vexburoh Hiram B.

Restaurant ; Cherry Valley ; born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Jan. 25, 1845; came to this Co. in 1864; married Miss Addie S. Merrill, of Oneida Co., N. Y. ; born in August, 1850; married in August, 1864; have four children, Eva, Irving, Edward and Faye.

ROWI^EY AAROX, Farmer; Sec. 7 ; P. O. Rockford ; born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Sept. 7, 1839 ; came to this Co. in 1850 ; has 77 acres, valued at $4,235 ; married Miss Elizabeth Thompson ; she was born in Kalamazoo Co., Mich., May 15, 1849; married Oct. 17, 1867; have two sons and one daughter, Bertie, James and Ella May.

SA:SfBOR]^^ B. S. Grain Buyer; Cherry Valley; born iu Canada, Jan. 23, 1846; came to this Co. in Sept., 1865; is Supervisor; has four daughters, Jennie M., Lizzie D., Lillie E.,aud Grace; \vifewa3 Miss Anna ]SIahaffey, born in Richmond Co., Canada, June 20, 1845; married March 9. 1867.

SAYRE J AS. P. Harness-Making; Cherry Valley ; born in Morris Co., N. J., June 80, 1813; left New York city Dec. 13, 183() ; arrived in Chicago Dec. 23d, and to this Co. Jan. 1, 1837; is one of the oldest settlers, and helped raise the first crop that was raised on Big Bottoms, on Rock river; raised the first crop of broom corn and made the first broom ever made in Northern Illinois, in 1837 ; has been followins his trade for the past 35 years; has one daughter, Mary A., now Mrs. Dale ; wife was Eunice C. Holden ; she was born in Batavia, N. Y., May 25, 1817 ; married May 13, 1849; has been Collector two terms, and Constable two; has lost one daughter, Clara, aged 6 years; two children, Helen M., born March 26,1852 ; Clara E., Sept 26, 1854.

SI.ATER ^VM. & SON, Dealers in Groceries, Crockery, Hats, Caps, Boots and Shoes, and Notions; Cherry Valley; Wm. Slater is a native of England; he came to the U. S. and located in Rockford in 1852 ; they have carried on the above mentioned business in Cherry Valley since 1872.

STRINGER liEWIS L. Blacksmith and Wagon-maker; Cherry Valley; born in Franklin Co., N.Y., in 1822; came to this Co. in 1851; he has been married twice; first wife was Miss Jane Seiger;

.she was born in the same place, Nov. 12, 1830; she died Aug. 8, 1856; was married again to Jane E. Nonhue; she was born in Ireland ; they were married April 22, 1859 ; has three children by first marriage : Mary J., Lewis A. and John T.

TAYI.OR JAMES, Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 3; P. O. Cherry Valley; born in Shropshire, Eng., Nov. 3, 1817; left there and came to the U. S. in 1850, and to Rockford in June, 1854; owns 470 acres land, valued at $23,500 ; he married Miss Elizabeth Rhoden ; she was born in the same place, in 1816; they were married July 29, 1847; no family living; lost three children.

TERRY G. E. Farmer; Cherry Valley; born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Nov. 14, 1830; came to this Co. in 1855; he was in the mercantile business from 1855 till 1870; has no children; wife was Miss Martha Brown ; she was born in Bridgewater, Oneida Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1828; they were married Dec. 14, 1856; was Post-master four years.

TRACY JOHN, Farmer; Sec. 17; P. O. Rockford; born in St. Joseph Co., Mich., April 25, 1847; came to this Co. in March, 1874; Tracy Brothers own 130 acres land, valued at $7,800; he married Miss Laura Willits; she was bo^n in Hillsdale Co., Mich., Nov. 21, 1846; they were married Oct. 16, 1872 ; have two children, one son and one daughter: David C. and Mary L.

TIJRLEY MICHAEI., Farmer; Sec. 22; P. O. Cherry Valley; born in Co. Roscommon, Ireland, Dec. 17, 1817; left there and came to the U. S. in 1840, and to this Co. in 1855; owns 160 acres land, valued at $9,600; he married Miss Anne Watson ; she was born in the same place, in May, 1815; they were married Jan. 25, 1839 ; they have four sons and one daughter living: Andrew, Julia, James,Michael, Jr. and Edward.

VAK'DERCOOK G. M. Grain Buyer ; Cherry Valley ; born in Rennsalaer Co., N. Y., Oct. 16, 1828; came to this Co. in the fall of 18-8; is one of the oldest settlers ; he married Miss Harriet E. Hilliard; she was born in Ohio; have seven children : Emma, Ella and Frank (twins), Carrie, Gertie, Elizabeth and Tillie.

Cherry Valley

AKERL.Y \V. F. Farmer and Carpenter; Sec. 35; P. O. Cherry Valley; born in Delaware Co., N. Y., Sept. 12,1832; came to this Co. in 18o6; owns 125 acres, valued at $7,500; married Miss Adeline Alexander; she was born in Otsego Co., N. Y. ; married Aug. 3, 1855; have tive children, Ella, Freddie, Frank,Jesse, Clark.

CARMA]^ OGO. W. Farmer; Sec 34; P. O. Cherry Valley; born in Canada, Jan. 4, 1828 ; came to this Co. June 19, 1840, and is one of the oldest settlers; has 180 acres, valued at $9,50(t; not married; is Overseer of the Highways.

CARMAN P. J. Farmer; Sec. 34; P.O. Cherry Valley; born in Canada, April 22, 1830 ; left there and came to the U. S. and to this Co. with his parents in 1840; is one of the oldest settlers ; has 80 acres, valued at $4,000; no children ; wife was Mary A. Pell, born in Elgin, Kane Co., Ill, April 17, 1851; married Dec. 25, 1876; he went to California in 1850, remained there 20 years, and has been here ever since.

CONVERSE WlLIvARD, Farmer; Sec. 16; P. O. Rockford; born in Bradford Co., Penn., Jan. 20, 1822 ; located in this Co. in Oct., 1839, and is one of the oldest settlers; married Matilda M. Beers; she was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., Jan. 22, 1831 ; married Aug. 23, 1855 ; Mrs C. came to this Co. in June, 1836; she has two children by a former marriage, Emily J., now Mrs. Leonard Marsh, and Amelia B. Whittle; has 133 acres, valued at $9,810.

CORL.ETT JAMES. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 28; P. O. Rockford; born in the Isle of Man, Sept. 28, 1823; left there when four years of age and went to Ohio with his parents, where he i-emaiued 16 years, then came to this Co. in 1844; owns' 600 acres, valued at $35,5(i0; has been married twice; tirst wife was Mary A. Vanalstine, of N. Y. ; married in March, 1847 ; she died Dec. 4, 1858, aged 34 years, 2 months and 9 days ; married again to Emma A. Wood, of Genessee Co., N. Y., Feb. 28, 1860 ; have twelve children living ; lost one ; five sons and seven daughters.

DAVIS D. A. Farmer and Stock Raiser ; Sec. 24 ; P.O. Cherry Valley ; born in Canada West, Aug. 26, 1821 ; located in this Co. July 6, 1839, and is one of the oldest settlers; owns 160 acres, valued at $9,- 600; has been twice married; first wife was Miss Nancy Horton, a native of the same place; born Nov. 25, 1825; married Nov. 24, 1850; she died in March, 1869; married again to Manda Leper; she was born in Unadilla, N. Y. ; married Jan. 11,

1871; has seven children living, and lost two by first wife ; Catherine E., Wm. H., Elexa J., Ella E., Susan, George, Thaddeus ; Cliarles and John deceased.

DAVIS I>A:^^^EI. H. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 11; P.O. Rockford; born in Southhold, Canada West, May 15, 1825 ; came to this Co. with his parents in June, 1839, and is one of the oldest settlers ; has 113^;^ acres, valued at $8,000; married Miss Agnes G. Patterson; she was born in Scotland, Feb. 9, 1834; married Feb. 9, 1858; have six children, three sons and three daughters; Catherine J., Abram W., D. Harry,' Archie A., Grace A., Susanna B.

DAVIS THADDEITS. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 24; P. O. Cherry Valley; born in Southhold, Canada West, London Dis't, June 17, 1829 ; came to this Co. with his parents, in June, 1839, and is one of the oldest settlers ; owns 193 acres, valued at $11,580; married Miss Mary A. McClary; she was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., April 26, 1834; married Dec. 10, 1857; have four children, two sons and two daughters; Alma, born Sept. 21, 1861; Thaddeus G., March 15, 1863; Mary E., Sept. 23, 1869; Frank, July 10, 1871.

DOOLITTL.E HARRY, Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 11; P. O. Cherry Valley ; born in Erie Co., N. Y., Oct. 24, 1815; located in this Co. in Feb., 1836, and is one of the oldest settlers; owns 372 acres, valued at $18,500; married Miss Catherine Stedman ; she was born in Mass., June 10, 1820; married in Nov., 1838; she came to the Co. in 1837 ; have seven children, four sons and three daughters; Julia, P. W"., Clarinda, Amzi, Edward, Elizabeth and Austin.

GARRETT THOS. Farmer; Sec. 22; P. O. Rockford; born in the Isle of Man, Feb. 11, 1827 ; came to the U. S. and to Ohio with his parents, when nine weeks of age; remained there ten years; came to Winnebago Co. in Aug., 1838, and is one of the oldest settlers ; owns 100 acres, valued at $6,000 ; married Miss Mary A. Radcliife ; she was born in Ohio ; married June 6, 1852; have one son, William N.

GILBERT CHAS. E. Farmer; Sec. 35; P. O. Cherry Valley; son of the late Neziah D. Gilbert, who was born in Troy, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1819 ; he came to the State and to Galesburg in 1837, and to this Co. in 1839, and was one of the oldest settlers ; he died April 25, 1876; Mrs. Celinda Gilbert, mother ot Chas., was born in Pownei, Vt., Nov. 24, 1819; she died Oct. 19, 1866; her maiden name was Jewett; they were married Feb. 27, 1850 ; left but one son, Charles; he owns 120 acres, valued at $6,000.

GEEASOX. S W. Post-Master; Cherry Valley; born in Pownel, Bennington Co., Vt., April 20, 1823 ; came to this Co. in Sept., 1837, and is one of the oldest settlers ; has one son, Herbert ; wife was Miss Louisa Stetson; she was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y. ; married Jan. 8, 1858 ; has been Post Master two years.

GORHAM EDWARD, Farmer; Sec. 8; P. O. Rockford; born in N. Y., March 1, 1814; came to this Co. in May, 1837, and is one of the oldest settlers now living ; owns 160 acres, valued at $8,000 ; he married Miss Rhoda Marsh ; she was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., June 25, 1812; they were married Feb. 9, 1854; have five children, three sons and two daughters, living: George, Murray, Adelbert, Lucy and Mary; lost one son, Charles; killed in the late rebellion, near Atlanta; he belonged to the 74th I. V. I.

living; owns 160 acres land, valued at $11,200; married Harriet Clark ; she was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., Dec. 29, 1817; they were married Sept. 12, 18i38; have two sons and one daughter : J. C, George ;ind Arabelle E. ; was Associate Judge and Coroner of the Co., and has been Commissioner of Highwaj's about 12 years ; run the fcny across Rock river, at Rockford, about 4 years, commencing in 1839; he also opened the first mail ever received in Rockford.

HORTO:9l O. I^. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 21; P.O. Cherry Valley; born in Charleston, Montgomery Co., N. Y., Nov. 24, 1813; came to this Co. in Nov., 1837, and is one of the oldest settlers now livins; owns 125 acres land, valued at $6,250; married Miss Jane McBride, a native of Allegheny Co., N. Y. ; she was born July 17, 1811; they were married March 2, 1837; have two sons living; Ambrose A. and Robert A., both living in Iowa; lost three sons and one daughter: Mary J., Wilbur, Roger S. (killed in the late Rebellion), and Frank G.

JO^fES J. P. Sec. 35; P. O. Cherry Valley ; born in Chester, Warren Co., N. Y., Jan. 13, 1823; he received a good common school education, at Ball's Academy, Hoosick Falls, Rennssalaer Co., N. Y. ; at the age of 21 he commenced the study of law; he graduated at the State and National Law School, at Ballston Spa, Saratoga Co., N. Y. ; at tlie age of 25 he commenced the practice of law in Troy, N. Y., where he continued until the age of 32 ; he then went to Belvidere, Boone Co., 111., where he bought what is called the Newburgh Farm, of 660 acres ; up to five years ago he had made a specialty of stock raising and dairying; then removed to Rockford, where he followed his profession for three years, and since that time I has been engaged in the grain business in Chicago; he married Miss Armenia, daughter of Peter Brimmer, of Petersburgh, Rennssalaer Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1851 ; they have one son and one daughter: J. P. B., born June 0, 1854; Mary A., now Mrs. C. H. Fisher, living at Monroe, Ogle Co., 111.; she was born Dec. 3, 1851.

KEZAB DE:N'SI.AY, Farmer; Sec. 24; P. O. Cherry Valley; born in Middlesex Co., Mass., June "22, 1813; came to this Co. Nov. 29, 1836, and is one of the oldest settlers now living; has 100 acres land, valued at $4,000; has been married twice; first wife was Catharine Bartell ; she was born in N. Y. ; married Jan. 5, 1844; she died April 9, 1845 ; he was married again to Amanda A. Holcomb, widow of Roman P. ; she was born in Henrietta, Monroe Co., N. Y., Jan. 11, 1821; they were married Jan. 30, 1849 ; she came to the Co. in June, 1841 ; has one son by first marriage; seven children by second marriage, six living: Chas. H., Jerome M., Hosea B., Harriet M., Chas. F., Walter P., and Helen A. ; Hope, deceased.

KIRK J. H. Farmer; Sec. 3; P.O. Rockford; born in Chester Co., Penn., Aug. 31, 1817; located in this Co. in Mch., 1837, and is one of the oldest settlers; wife was Miss Marcilla Dennis ; she was born in Canada, March 18, 1819; they were married July 3, 1844; owns 150 acres land, valued at S7,500; has five children, two sons and three daughters : Mary E., Ella M., Henry F., Wm. H. and Emma M. ; is Supervisor and has been for 19 years; took the U. S. census in 1870.

K:SrOUD THOS. Farmer; Sec. 28; P.O. Rockford; born in the County of Donegal, Ireland, Oct., 1801 ; left there and came to New York city in 1832; remained there till 1870, and then came here; owns 19794: acres land, valued at $14,000; married Miss Fanny Huggans; she was born in County Cavin, Ireland ; they were married in 1842; have five sons and one daughter: Robert, Joshua, Thomas, Harry, Elmer E. and Catharine.

shire, Eng., July 4, 1806; came to the U. S. in 1833, and located in Cleveland, O. ; remained there till Oct. 1, 1835, and then came to Chicago ; came to Rockford March 1, 1836, and built the first house in the city; he entered 160 acres at the land sale of 1839,and now owns 288 acres,valued at $14,400; married Miss Lavina Atkins; she was born in England, in 1806; they - were marrierl in 1831 ; Mr. L. and his wife are among the oldest settlers now living; have two children living, one son and one daughter : Robt. W. and Eliza J. I^AMB O. E. Farmer; Sec. 35; P.O. Cherry Valley; born in Renssalaer Co., N. Y., March 12, 1817 ; located in this Co. in Nov., 1839, and is one of the oldest settlers ; owns 90 acres laud, valued at $6,750; has been married twice; first wife was Miss Phoebe Lowrj^; she was born in Burlington, Vt. ; they were married in June, 1841 ; married again, to Irene Morse; she was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., Aug. 29, 1822; married Oct. 4,1865; have three children living; Ruth, Florence and Alice M.

MAlfXIXtJ JOSIAH, Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 25; P. O. Cherry Valley; born in town of Westminster, Middlesex Co., Can., April 19, 1833 ; located in this Co. April, 1844 ; owns 260 acres, valued at $13,000 ; married MissJulia A.Hale, born in New Port, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Sept. 23, 1838 ; they were married Oct. 24, 1858 ; she died Aug. 3, 1876; has one daughter, Eleanor ; was Assessor two terms, and Road Commissioner a number of years.

City of Troy, N. Y., May 15, 1831 ; came to this Co. in spring of 1871 ; wife was Miss Margaret L. Dunn, born in Nova Scotia, May 13, 1841; married in fall of 1862; has 160 acres, valued at $14,000; have four children, three daughters and one son : Sarah J., Louisa, Charles and Gertrude.

MORTEX J. E. Farmer; Sec. 19; P.O. Rockford ; born in Hamilton Co., O., May 11,1851; came to this Co. April 6, 1868; married Miss Ettie A. Sawtell, born in Belvidere, Boone Co., 111., June 22, 1853; married March 13, 1873 ; have one son and one daughter, Florence M., Clarence Z.

MORSE S. M. Farmer; Sec. 32; P. O. Rockford; born in Chatauqua Co., N. Y., Feb. 18, 1837; came to this State, to Kane Co., in 1840, and to this Co. in 1861 ; owns house and one acre, valued at $1,000; married Miss Elizabeth I. Thoday, born in Canada, March 7, 1859 ; married March 14, 1877 ; he served three years in the late rebellion, Co. A, 74th I. V. I. ; wounded four different times.

MUEFORD MRS. EUCY, Farming; Sec. 33; P. O. Cherry Valley; widow of Wm. M., who was born on Long Island, June 10, 1799; he came to this Co. in 1836; was one of the first settlers; Mrs. M.'s maiden name was Stuart; born in town of Venice, Cayuga Co., N. Y., April 5, 1817 ; married June 6, 1841 ; he died March 2, 1862 ; left family six children, five sons and one daughter: JEli H., Edward, John H., Wm. D., Chas. L. and Mary E. ; they have 640 acres, valued at $44,800.

PARKER BRAY, Farmer; Sec. 24; P. O. Cherry Valley; born in Canada, March 15, 1832; came to this Co. in fixll of 1837, with his parents, and is one of the first settlers ; has 150 acres, valued at $7,500 ; has been married twice; first wife was Miss Elizabeth Kelley, born in State N. Y., married in March, 1867 ; she died April 36, 1872; he married again to Sarah A. Mc- Lain, born in Waukesha Co., Wis., Dec, 1850, married April 15, 1875 ; has one son

PRATT SENECA, Retired Farmer; Sec. 38; P. O. Rockford; born in Washington Co., N. Y., March' 13, 1803 ; came to this Co. Nov. 1, 1837 ; is one of the oldest settlers; has been married twice ; first time to Jane Woodward, born in Renssalaer Co., N. Y. ; married in 1829 ; she died in 1831 ; married again to Martha Clary, born in N. H., Jan. 12, 1809; married Aug. 13, 1846 ; she came to this Co. in 1836 ; two children, Hiram and Hattie.

PRICE DAVID, Farmer; Sec. 15; P. O. Rockford ; born in Wales, May 14, 1830; came to this Co. in 1855 ; owns 220 acres, valued at $11,000; married Miss Fannie Jones, born in Wales, 1880; married in 1853 ; have six children : Richard, Elnor, Margaret, Mary, Fannie and Frank ; served 3 years in late war, in Co. D, 74th I. V. I.

ROWI^EY ISAAC H. Farmer; Sec. 31 ; P. O. Rockford ; born in Monroe Co., N. Y., June 25, 1818 ; located in this Co. 1841 ; one of oldest settlers ; has 120 acres, valued at $7,200 ; wife was Miss Harriet A.Monroe, born in Troy, N. Y. ; married in Oct., 1843 ; have three sons living: Edwin R., Milton C, Harry H. ; lost one, Walter, deceased.

SCOTT DA:SfIEL, Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 19; iP. O. Rockford; born in Cattaraugus Co.; N. Y.. Jan. 26, 1830; came to this Co. in the fall of 1837, with his parents, and is one of the oldest settlers; has 199 acres, valued at $13,930; married Miss Nancy J. Hayes, July 9, 1848; she was born in Canada, Oct. 19, 1831 ; have one son and one daughter, Luther and Annie L.

SMITH DA:SfIEE, Farmer; Sec. 2; P.O. Rockforrt; owns 82 acres, valued at $4,920 ; came to the Co. in 1842. and is one of the oldest settlers.

S^WEZEY A. J. Farmer; Sec. 16; P. O. Rockford; born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1836 ; came to this Co. and settled on the place he now lives, in April, 1851; owns 70 acres, valued at $3,500; married Miss Malinda Bruner; born in Gossfield, Canada West, Oct. 10, 1843; married June 28, 1866; have four children, Esther, Otto, Royal and Annie.

Hompson Calvin

13, 1804 ; located in this Co. in June, 1835, and is one of the oldest settlers now living ; Mr. T. was the first regular Ferryman on Rock river, at Rockford, has remained here ever since, and has seen Winnebago Co. grow to be one of the finest in the state of Illinois; has 140 acres, valued at $8,400 married Jane Sovereign, April 13, 1843 she was born in Canada, Jan. 2, 1821 she died Oct. 18, 1864 ; they have four chil dren living, and lost four.

TURXER M. H. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 29; P. (3. Rockford; born in Riga, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 3, 1818; came to this Co. June 25, 1838, and is one of the oldest settlers; has 174 acres, valued at 112,180; married Miss Julia Kelley, May 10, 1838; she was born in Irehmd, Dec. 22, 1814; have one daughter living, Mary, now Mrs. Nathaniel Watkins; lost one son, Wm. H., aged 12 years, 6 mouths, and 5 days.

TAJfDERCOOK WM. C. Farmer; Sec. 35; P. O. Cherry Valley; born in Cherry Valley Tp., this Co., Feb. 14, 1840, and has lived here ever since; owns 80 acres, valued at $4,000; married Miss Addie, daughter of A. E. Hale, April 7, 1870 ; she was born in Guilford Tp., this Co., Jan. 28, 1841 ; have one daughter, Lou, born Sept. 25, 1874; is Town Collector, and was Notary Public four years ; served one year in the late rebellion, in Co. E, 74th

New Milfoed T0Wn8Hip New Milford

New Milford; born Dec. 29, 1806; married John Baxter in 1832 ; came to this Co. in Nov., 1843; has had eight children, Johanna, Lafayette, George, Levi H., Rosetta Aain, Francis Asbury, Chas. Merrit, Edgar H. ; some of her children continue to reside in this Co., others have moved to other States.

BETTS E, B. South Bend Mill, situated at the mouth of Kill Buck creek; General Custom Grinding; making "New Process Flour" on all grists ground; P.O. New Milford; owns a half interest in the above mill, value $6,000; 2>^ miles south of New Milford; Republican; Baptist; born in Jenner Tp., Somerset Co., Pa., Jan. 15, 1824; came to this State in 1846, and settled in Dupage Co., where he lived until 1855; came to Winnebago Co. in 1855, where he has since resided, except three years at Elgin ; married Harriet Sterns, May 7, 1857, born in Bloomingdale, Dupage Co., 111., Sept. 22, 1837; have four children; Mary Emma, born April 13, 1859 ; Fred. Grant, March 2, 1865 ; Lloyd F., March 29, 1868 ; Henry Sterns, Dec. 4, 1871.

BROWX SAM'L, (Deceased); came Nevv Milford in 1836, and claimed the north 1-2 of Sec. 24, just north of the present village; married Angelina Hill, Sept. 8, 1839; she was born Dec. 17, 1815, in Sweden, Monroe Co., N. Y., and came to this State with her father, Henry Hill, Esq., in 1838, settling lu Ogle Co.; has three children; Jonathan Eden, born Aug. 2, 1840, graduated at LomV>ard University, Galesburg, in 1860, believed to have been the tirst native graduate; Alice M.,May 17, 1842; Sarah E., Feb. 24, 1848; Samuel Brown was born in Decatur, Otsego Co., N. Y., Oct. 11, 1809; died Aug. 2, 1866.

CAREY WALTER, Miller; P. O. New Milford ; born at Stratford-on-Avon, England, March 10, 1846 ; settled in this State in 1852 ; learned his trade at Dixon, 111., married Mary Wornick, Jan. 25, 1871 ; born Jan. 16, 1854; have three children, Wm. L., Josephine and Ruth; was a member of Co. D, 42d I. V. I.; wounded at Franklin, Tenn.; discharged Oct. 23, 1865.

CLOTHIER CYRUS, Farmer; Sec. 31; P.O. Kishwaukee; born in Oxford, Gr'enville Co., Ontario, May 13, 1833; came to this Co. with his father, Freeman Clothier, in the fall of 1838; lived here until he enlisted in the 74th I. V. I. ; married Louisa Van Doren. Jan. 14, 1859; have four children ; Wilford R., born July 22, 1860; Elmer, July 19, 1862; AddaM., May 8, 1866 ; Nellie M., April 3, 1870 ; is Constable at the present time; owns 88 acres, worth $3,500.

tist preferred; owns 48 acres, valued at $3,000; born at Oxford Mills, Canada East, Jan. 18, 1837 ; came to this Co. when quite young, and returned again after an absence of a few years, in 1855, living about here ever since; enlisted in 14th Iowa V. I.; served three years; married Miss Emma C. Miller, Dec. 5, 1867 ; have three children, Curtis, born March 5, 1869; Alma, March 33, 1873 ; Mabel, April 14, 1876 ; Mrs. Clothier holds the office of Post-mistress of Kishwauee.

COONEY J^O., St., Harness-maker; New Milford ; Independent ; Episcopalian ; born in Co. Meath, Ireland, in May, 1827 ; came to this country in Oct., 1849 ; married, Aug. 1849, in Ireland, to Margaret Reynolds ; born in her husband's native county, in 1829 ; have seven children, Sarah Ann, John, Elle, William, Emma, Carrie and Eva; Mr. Cooney was in the 11th I. V. C. one year, and was honorably discharged.

HARRIS R. H. Farmer; P. O. Kishwaukee; Republican; Coogregatioualist ; Mr. Harris was born at Brattleboro, Vt., Aug. 35, 1817, where he married Mary F. Harris, born Aug. 30, 1817; Mrs. Harris died Feb. 16, 1877 : he came to this Co. in the fall of 1839, having lived for 29 years on Sec. 31, his present residence ; have had seven children ; those living are : Wm. H., born Nov. 25, 18-10 ; Sarah, Jan. 19, 1842; Mary F., Sept. 30, 1844; Olive E., July 26, 1848. Mr. Harris owns 124 acres land, valued at $7,500; has been Supervisor 2 years. Assessor 7, and Justice of Peace 13.

HOTELL.IXO H. Farmer; Sec. 30; P.O.New Milford; Republican; Methodist; born at Bethlehem, Albany Co., N. ' Y., Feb. 16, 1813; married March 12, 1835, Mary C. Zimmer, born in Schoharrie Co.,

JOHNSON F. Farmer and Manufacturer of Pure Cider Vinegar; Sec. 34; P. O. Kishwaukee; born in this Co., April 21, 1843, where he has always lived ; March 17, 1869, married Miss Carrie E. Adams, of Beloit, Wis.; have one child living, Chandler.

KEWISH W. D. Blacksmith; New Milford; born Aug. 18, 1832, at Paynsville, O. ; came to this Co. 1850 ; married, Dec. 5, 1865, Louisa G. Pease, born Dec, 1841; have four children: Ida O., Hattie J., Carrie A., Charley D. ; was in Co. A, 74th I. V. I. ; discharged at close of war ; owns a homestead worth $500.

March 10, 1848; Cornelius E., May 4, 1856; married Addison Kingsbury, Sept. 15, 1857 ; Mrs. Kingsbury is among tlie early settlers, coming here with her father 184B..

miLLER HOKACE, (Deceased); born in 1798, in Berkshire Co., Mass.; married Hannah Clark, of Montgomery Co., N. Y., in 1817 ; moved to Livingston Co., N. Y., then to New Milford, in March, 1839 ; extensive Farmer and Stock Raiser ; Republican; Methodist; member of Legislature 1851-2 ; their home was knownfor its liberal hospitality for many miles ; Mr Miller died Aug, 5, 1864; Mrs. Miller, Sept. 14, 1877 ; they left six children ; G. Clark, Sarah A., N. Eliza, Horace G., Caroline H., and Wm. H., all residents of this Co.

XORTOX A. K., M. ». Physician and Surgeon ; New Milford ; born at Byron, Ogle Co., Aug. 13, 1850 ; his parents were early settlers of that Co., and descended from Revolutionary ancestry, of Bennington, Vt. ; graduated, at Chicago Medical College, 1872; was on the stafl' of Mercy Hospital, Chicago, one year; Assistant Physician of Sanitary Department of Relief Paid Society, and for the winter of 1873 Superintendent of the Department.

PARNEEE J. Farmer; Sees. 32 and 29; P. O. Kishwaukee; Republican; Protestant; born in August, 1824, at St. Winnow Parish, Cornwall Co., England; emigrated to America June 19, 1854; married Feb. 13, 1864, to Winifred Larkin, born in Kings Co., Ireland, Dec. 25, 1836, and came to America when 19 .years old ; settled where they now live, in March, 1867 ; have had six children, those living are James, born August, 1860, son of Mrs. Parnell; Louisa, May 5, 1866; Matilda, Feb. 24, 1869; Charles H., Sept. 30, 1870; owns 140 acres land, worth $7,000.

PREIfTICE JOHX, Farmer; P. O. Kishwaukee; Republican; Methodist preferred ; owns 160 acres of land in Ogle Co., value $9,600, and 49 acres on gee. 30 in this Tp., value $3,500; Mr. Prentice is a native of Allegheny Co., N. Y. ; came to this Co. in Sept., 1842, and settled at the mouth of the Kishwaukee, living there 15 years ; he moved to Ogle Co. ; returned to this Co. in fall of 1877; married Anna

RAMSEY ADDISON, Farmer; Sec. 34; P. O. New Mdford; Rep; Ind; came to this Co. -with his father, Samuel Ramsey, in the fall of 1840, and has lived in this township ever since ; married Miss A. E. Munger, Oct., 1855, born Jan. 16, 1834, died June 19, 1858; one child, Louilla,

ROTHWEL.1. ROBERT, Farmer; Sec. 32; P. O. Kishwaukee; born in Lancashire, Eng., June 2, 1803 ; came to U. S. 1820 ; married, in spring of 1829, Susan Andrus, daughter of a revolutionary soldier; she was born Jan. 13, 1797, at Berkley, Mass. ; they lived in Ohio five years ; came to this Co. April, 1837; have lived here ever since ; have one son, William, born Feb. 19, 1838.

SA:^^BORX OEO. C. Teacher; New Milford; Rep; Univ; born in Dubuque, Iowa, June 7, 1853; came to this Co. 1863; married, March 28, 1876, CoraE. Allen, of Shabbona Grove, where she was born, Sept. 10, 1857, her father, Capt. M. V. Allen, being an old settler in that vicinity.