Dixon Township (part 4 of 4)

In August, 1849, manufacturing interests were reaching out and we find a i)etition made to the county connnissioners' conrt asking for a jury to settle on damages to lands upstream to result from the proj)osed building of a dam across Eock river. This was the first pi-oposal to harness the I'iver. In the fall of 1846 and winter of '47 a tall bridge was built across Rock river on Ottawa street. The March 20th freshet of 1847 took out the north half. During the suimner Lorenzo Wood and Luther I. Towner contracted for $2,000 to rebuild the bridge two feet higher than before; and tlie,y did. The directors of this Rock River Bridge and Dam Company were John Dement, Oliver Everett, John Dixon, Michael Fellows, Otis A. Eddy, J. B. Brooks, James P. Dixon and Horace Preston. In the spring of 1849 the ice took out the south half of the bridge. Once more the bridge was rebuilt and in 1855 it was taken out again by the ice. Immediately another was proposed and it was built by Contractoi- Zachariah Luckey on Galena street. In 1857 the two north spans of the lu'idge went out and in 1867 more damage was done by ice. Mai-cli 7, 1868, the entire bridge was taken out by ice and the two south si)ans of the Illinois Central Railroad bridge were swept away by ice. A temporary frame bridge was built an(', Jan. 21, 1859, the beautiful Truesdell iidu ))ridge was dedicated. On Sunday forenoon at just about tlie hour the churches had been closed after morning service, tliere occurred in Dixon a most fearful tragedy. While loaded with ])eo])le witnessing a iniblic baptism in th(> river, on its noi'th l)ank and to the wi'st of the lu-idge, this Truesdell bridge col]a])se(l and killed outright Miss Katie Sterling, Miss Melissa Wilhelm. INIiss Alnruaret O'Brien,

On July 27, 1848, Dixon Lodge, I. O. O. F., was organized in the attic of the Murphy building, and it is one of the many ]jrosperous lodges in the city. I have thought many times that Dixon was "lodged" to death. The Elks, however, seem to bo so strongly intrenched in the affections of the members that no rivalry can reduce its membership, now nearly 500. A club house costing $35,000 has been built of brick on the old Doctor Everett lot, the northeast corner of Second street and Ottawa avenne.

When the year 1850 is reached, we find the population of Lee couuty to have increased to 5,289. On Feb. 19, 1849, the Legislature had provided us with a township organization law and in 1850 Paw Paw or Wyoming, Brooklyn, Harmon, Lee Center, Bradford, Fremont (now China), Amboy, Hamilton. Dixon and Palmyra had been organized.

On May 1, 1851, The" Dixon Telegraph and Lee County Herald, the first printed paper in Lee county, appeared. Charles R. Fisk was the publisher, Benjamin F. Shaw was tlic editor and James C. Mead, Henry K. Strong and John Mo(U-e were compositors. Off and on f(»r varying periods, Mr. Shaw was with the paper until his death, and the same Telegraph, nndci' the ownership and management of Mrs. E. E. Shaw and the editorship of George Shaw, a grandson, is issued today, daily and semi-weekly. A great many papers have come and gone sincc^ that far away date ; suffice it to say, we have today The Telegraph,

The Daily News, both I'epubliean ; The Weekly Citizen, democratic ; aud but lately, The Daily Leader, a progressiA'e paper, has acquired a plant and very soon will issue a daily.

During tliis period lots in Dixon were selling at fabulous figures. A hrst-class boom was doing its work. A telegra})!! office had been establislied and I'eal railroads were promised. Tn 1859 a city charter was adopted.

On Jan. 10, 1S3G, the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Company was incorporated. To secure money the first meeting was held in Rockford Xov. 28, 1845. Then it was the design to run from Chicago to (ialena. In September, 1847, the engineers were put to work, and the eastern part of the new road was run along the Chicago and Dixon road to the Des Plaines. Strap rails were used between Elgin and Chicago. December 15, 1848, the road was finished to the Des Plaines, ten miles.

The Pioneer had been purchased March 5, 1849. On Sept. 1, 1853, forty-five miles of the Dixon & Iowa Central had been built. On Dee. 4, 1854, the Dixon Air Line had been built into Dixon, sixty-eight miles from Tui'uer .Tiniction. At api^roximately the same time the Illinois Central was h\\\\t into Dixon. In 1880 this road forwarded 3,668 cai's and received 1,208. Its ticket sales were $33,170.10. For the year just past over $100,000 were collected here foi' passenger tickets and oxor $400,000 for freight charges; the best record on the road. The freight collections show in the year an increase of $100,000 for the year.

It would be insufferably tedious to go back and insert tlie many little items which showed onr efforts to build up manufacturing plants. Col. John Dement, one of the most enterprising men Dixon ever had, began in the early '50s tlie manufacture of ])lows. He also joined Moses Jerome in the manufacture of flax bagging and until Congress removed the tariff on jute hundreds of boys and girls were given ('mplo;\anent l)y the flax mills. Maj. O. J. Downing was the pioneer in flax bagging, entering a partnershi]> with Jerome as Jerome &: Downing: then the firm became Jerome & Dement and then John Dement. FTenry D. Dement aud Jacob S]uelman opened another ou the uortli si<le of tlie race. ^Voud Brothers operated for a long- time a \V(Mileu mi]] and then a flouring mill. The mills <»f Beelcer & Underwood turned out flour that sold from coast to coast, ])ut an explosion put them out of Jjusiness two or three times, the last time forever. William Uhl was an old-time miller, too.

Now we have no flouring mills, Init over on the north side, in Swissville, we have the greatest milk factory in the world, owned by the Bordeus. This splendid plant was Iniilt by George H. Page in 1888 for the Auglo-Swiss condensed milk factory. He Iniilt the best plant in the world then, fully expecting to return to his boyhood home to spend the rest of his life; liut pneumonia took him oft' and later when the two l3ig companies made their trades of certain interests, this plant went to the Bordeus. Condensed milk and candy are made here for the general trade. Ralph W. Clnirch is superintendent. Two hundred and flfty people are employed here. The milk of 5,500 cows is consumed every day and the amount of mone.v paid out approximately in Dixon every year is $400,000. Thirty thousand tin boxes are used to box this product. From three to four million pounds of caramels are shipped annually. The Central Machine Shops here make all the machinery for all other plants and the Central (^an Shops make all the cans for the other shops.

The cement plant occupies the ])iggest place in oui' aff'aii's. W. E. Wuerth is the superintendent and there is not a single ingi'edient or a single cog-wheel needed in the manufactui'e of his product l)ut he knows all alxnit it the instant his attention is called to the same. It is reported that he is the best cement man in the world, and in all his vast plant, if called upon to g(^ in the dark to repair a lu'eak, he can do it. The name of this concern is the Sandusky Portland Cement Co. (of Sandusky, Ohio). I Ijelieve the ^ledusa bi'and is the specialty of this plant. About 300 men are ke^jt working here all the time. The i)lant runs twenty-four hoiirs per day and 365 days in the year. During the past year 1.730 cars of coal were Inirned, which will approximate 86,000 tons. Four thousand nine hundred and forty cars of products were shipped last year to Iowa, Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota. But most of it goes to Illinois. To give an idea of the enormous business which this great concei'u does, let me state that it paid our two railroads last year the enormous sum of $89,000 for freight on coal alone. The total coal bill was $165,000. The annual pay roll is $310,000. In 1906 the company started to build. In the fall of 1907 it started it'^ furnaces. Fur the large tract of land owned by the company $300 per acre was paid. It lies along the east bank of Rock river and only a few days ago F'uller's Cave, known far and wide, was blasted. To load the stone upon trains, live steam shovels, monsters, are used and five locomotives are used to pull those trains ; - all outside work.

The buildings occupy at least 1,000 feet square of ground. They are the most modern in the world. During the year past the company increased its capacity 25 per cent and its output more. Another vast expenditure is for plaster. Over 5,000 tons per year are used at a cost of $13,000. It is a beautiful sight at night, when the dozen or more stacks are spouting fire. Asked if the company had enough rock in sight to feed such vast appetites, Mr. Wuerth gave the assurance, "for five hundred years."

The old Grand Detour Plow Company, organized in 1837, is one of the reliable institutions of Dixon. Col. W. B. Brinton,. the ijresident, runs sununer and winter and during many of the years of drought that plow company was the only thing in Dixon besides the milk and cement plants that gave any emplo}anent to labor.

Four years ago Dixon began to mend. Something like a dozen beautiful brick buildings were erected. The present year the Dixon National Bank is finishing its beautiful five-story pressed brick building. In March they expect to occupy it.

The greatest prize that ever came to Dixon, however, was the location recently of th(> State Colony for Epileptics, which the Board of Administration located on the north side of Rock river, beginning with the F. E. Stevens ti'act ujistream and coming down to include the A. C. Warnei- tract. The first expenditure is to be $1,500,000. For this piece of rare good fortiuie we may thank our present mayor, Col. W. B. Brinton. On Thursday night, February 19, 1914, a banquet was tendered hiui in the Elks club by over five hundred citizens and friends. The beautiful homes of Dixon have been sung in story ever since 1837, when William Cullen Bryant came over to visit Gov. Charters. S]iace cannot be spared to enumerate them. But the beauty spot of all b(>autiful Roek river was the river fi'ont tract just obtained by the State and how fortunate it is that the poor sufferers may enjoy the l)righest charms nature ever 2,'ave t<~i man.

The Churches

The history of the progress of the Lee county religious bodies is interesting. The earliest settlers of the county held strong religious convictions and it needed l)ut the presence of the church and the pulpit to attract tliem to church services, many times at tremendous sacrifices. Ministers of the Gospel in the early day received ahnost nothing for their services, yet it was expected of them to support themselves and the family.

When Peter Cartwright received fifty dollars for his second year's stated salary, he remarked that he considered he had made quite a rise in the world. If percentages were used to form an infallible judginent on the question of salary raises, then Mr. Cartwright got au enormous raise, one hundred i:)er cent. But when considered from fact instead of figure, he only received a raise of $25, as $25 was his first year's emolmnent for the first year of Illinois service.

The early preachers came and went; they were on the move all the time. lu fair and in fold weather, it w^as all the same; they traveled the circuit, sometimes on foot, sometimes ou horseback. Sometimes they had food and shelter and more times they had not, yet in the face of hardships almost unendurable those pioneer men of God pushed forward with an enthusiasm almost inconceivable at this distance.

Sometimes exposure prostrated them wath long sicknesses and instances like the one noticed in Lee Center are remembered where death cruelly snatched them away, in a strange land, far from friends and family; so very far that it was found impossible to secure the presence of relatives at the funeral. Hardship l)ut increased the fervor of those men. At first it was the cust<im for two or more communities to group themselves together, as for instance the first religious services for Dixon were held at Buffalo Grove by residents of Dixon's Ferry and Buffalo Grove. By resolution adopted at the first meeting, held in Buffalo Grove May 28, 1838, the name of this first church was named "The Regular Baptist Church of Dixon and Buffalo Grove."

At that meeting, Elder Thomas Powell Avas chosen moderator and Howland H. Bicknell was chosen clerk pro tern. Those who formed themselves into that chnrch society were Rebecca Dixiin, Sarah Kellogg, Elizabeth Bellows, Martha Parks, Jerusha Hammond, Ann Carley and H. H. Bicknell. Sixteen articles of faith were submitted and adopted and Mv. Bicknell was ajopointed clerk of the church. Rev. Thomas Powell preached for the chui'ch, holding meetings in Dixon and Buffalo Grove imtil ]May,

1840, and during that time he liaittized about fifty members. On June 28, 1840, Barton B. Carpenter was appointed clerk, caused by removal of Bicknell, and on the same day he was presented to the elnirch by a council consisting of Eldei'S Powell of Vermillionville, Headly of Greenfield and B. Carpenter of Lyndon, and Brethren Andrew Moft'att of Greenfield, Zenas Aplington of Buffalo Grove, John W. Dixon and Elizabeth Dixon, both of Dixon, for ordination. He was examined, approved and ordained, and I'equested to serve the church as pastor, commencing his lal^m-s from the first of May. He served this congregation until its separation into two distinct bodies, Dixon and Bi^ffalo Grove, by nnitual consent on April 16, 1842. On the separation, Mr. Carl)enter continued to serve the Dixon church as pastor. By 1841, Dixon having gained on Buffalo Grove very rapidly, on Jan. 13,

1841, the Dixon church had become known as the "First Baptist Church of Dixon." The last surviving member of the original chm'ch was Mrs. Martha Parks of Palmyra to"nmship, who died Sept. 2, 1898.

Early pastors occupying the pul])it have been, first of course, Mr. Carpenter, June, 1840, to October, 1844; Barton Carpenter, from Deceml^er, 1844, to March, 1845 ; William Gates occupied the jmlpit occasionally and William Walker about four months between March, 1844, and A]iril, 1847, when E. T. Planning became pastor for a year; S. S. Martin liecame pastor in 1849 for a year; G. W. Benton supplied the pulpit for about six months lietween Martin's pastorate and Au,gust, 1851, when John E. Ball became pastor for about foui' years; Anson Tucker took charge in INIay.

1856, and served over four years; William G. Pratt followed in March. 1861, for a year; W. S. Goodnow followed in September, 1862, for two years; J. H. Pratt Ix'came pastor in October, 1S64,

The lirst record of a Baptist ehureli I)uildiug is .May 5, 1849: "The Baptist Meeting House was this day dedicated to Almighty God; sermon bv Rev. Jacob Kuall, of Rock ford."

This building stood on the west side of Ottawa avenue, facing east, between F^irst street aud the alley luniung through the block. It was used by the Baptists until 187U, when the new and present structure on Second street was built aud dedicated.

In the summer of 1845 a correspondent, wiiting for a Rockford paper, made the statement that at that time there were four congregations in Dixon, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal and (_'ongregatioual, and one church structure, that of the ^lethodists. In the summer of 1843 this first Methodist chur('h l)uilding was dedicated by Rev. John T. Mitchell, presiding elder. Its cost was $4,000 and the lioard of trustees were O. F. Ayres, J. P. Dixon, C. Edson, L. 0. Wynkoo]). Thomas MeCabe, J. Brierton and Samuel J\I. Bowman.

The building is standing to this day upon its original site on Second street between Galena and Ottawa avenues, and is occupied as the residence of Dr. ]\larian White.

For many years after the Methodists had mo\ed to their second church building on Peoria avenue, the old first church building was used as the high and grammai' schools, the high school above and the grammar school in the basement.

Soon after the dedication of this ]Methodist church in 1843, a Union Sunday school was organized in the church, July 15, 1843, which had a memliership of eight teachers and sixty scholars. A library of ninety volumes was collected. Of this Sunday school O. F. Ayres was superintendent, Thaddeus D. Boardman was secretary and J. W. Clute w^as librarian.

The original cost of the second church was $15,000. AVheu finished in 1857 it was dedicated by Bishop Bowman. In 1870. '71 and '76 unprovemeuts were made costing $2,700.

Among the old-time elerg\^nen have been in the order named, Robert Dunlap, Barton Cartwright, Isaac Pool, Riley Hill, Euke Hitchcock, Richard Blanchard and Philo Judson. In 1842. Aug. 3d, Melugin's Grove and Inlet were added to the Dixon circuit, which already embraced Washington Grove, Light House Point, Jeii'erson drove, Daysville and Paine 's Point. Pliilo Judson and W. H. Cooley were appointed circuit riders. Then came W. Wilcox, David Brooks, S. P. Keys, Milton Haney, R. W. H. Brent, R. P. Lawton, William Palmer, Thomas North, James Baume, J. W. Agard, Wilbur McKaig, N. P. Heath, L. A. Sanford, S. G. Lathrop, O. B. Thayer, W. H. Smith, G. L. S. Stubb, T. C Clenniug, George E. Strowl)ridge, J. H. Brown, John Williamson, Isaac Liuebarger, G. R. Van Home and A. W. Patton. Rev. F. D. Stone is the present pastor.

A Unitarian church or society was organized in 1850. In 1855 through the efforts of Jndge John V. Eiistace, Dr. Oliver Everett, George L. Heriick and the pastor. Rev. Kelse)^ built a handsome frame building in 1855. The congregation did not grow and very soon tlie building was torn down.

On Sept. 29, 1854, the ( Vmgregationalists organized a church society in Exchange Hall. There were the following members: Mr. and Mrs. S. K. Uphani, G. W. Bartlett, B. J. Bartlett, Noah Brooks, (Jeorge D. Cox, ]\fr. and INIrs. Benjamin Gilman and Mr. and Mrs. ^V. AV. ^'urtis. Rev. S. D. Peet was the tirst minister and remained uriil April, 1855. Others who served were D. Temple and H. Hesley. B. D. Gay, S. K. ITpham and Benjamin Gilman were deacons. The congregation worshiped in Exchange Hall until 185G, when they removed to a brick church abandoned by the Methodists when the latter occupied thei]- new church building. The Congregational Society did not sui'vive long, disbanding in 1858, when most of its members joined the Presbyterian church.

In the year 1854 the Catholic church was organized in Dixon by Father Mai'k Antony, with about t\\'enty-five members. Foi' the first few months church services were held in the courthouse, but later in the same year in the first church, a frame building, still standing on Fifth street. The pastors in this church, beginning with Father Antony, have been Fathers Fitzgerald, Tierncy, Ford, Dr. Lightner, Kennedy, IMcDermott, Thomas P. Hodnott. Rev. Michael Foley is the present priest and Father Donohue is the assistant.

From the cougregatiun of twenty-tive of the year ISoi, St. Patrick's cliureh, Dixou, under the spiritual guidance of T'ather Michael Foley, has grown to be by far the largest congregation in Lee county.

This new building, built on vSeveuth street on a lot donated by John Reill}', cost over thirt}' thousand dollars. The bell, weighing 2,500 23ounds, cost .^900.

St. Paul's Lutheran church of Dixon was organized August 20, ISiS. Rev. J. H. Burket was the first pastor and the lirst meeting was held in his barn in Dixon township. The following is the roll of pastors and their term of ser\T.ce to date:

The second church was erected ou present location in 1868 under Pastor Rev. A. A. Trimix'r, and dedicated in Jamiary, 1869. The cost of the building was about fifteen thousand dollars.

The present parsonage was erected in 1876, during the ministry of Rev. S. S. Waltz, D. D. Improvements were made to the church building in 1898 undei- the direction of Rev. T. F. Dornblaser, D. D., pastor. The semi-centennial jul^ilee was held December 16-19, 1898. The Sixteenth Biennial Convention of tlie Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the General Synod in the United States was held in the church Mav 25- 28, 1909.

The present confirmed membership is 635. - The enrollment of the Sunday school the past 3^ear (1913) including Home Department and Cradle Roll was 580. Total contributions of the church for all objects during the year over four thousand seven hundred dollars. The business affairs of the congregation are administered by a church council of ten men elected hy the membership.

beautiful of all our scenic si^ots.Tliis they converted into a Chautauqua or assembly grounds which Dr. Altman has told about herewith. I have included it with our church life.

Rock River Assembly

This institution had its beginning' in the summer of 1887 at an annual picnic of Lutherans at Hazel wood, about three miles northeast of Dixon. Rev. J. M. Ruthrauff, at that time pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran C'hurch of Dixon, may properly be termed the father of the movement wdiich has developed into the present annual Rock River Assenil)ly.

^yith the cooperation of others on this territory a stock company was formed. Capital stock of $10,000 was subscribed in shares of $25.00 each, and in 1890 a charter was secured from the state. Later the capital stock was increased to $20,000. Threefourths of the shares must Ix^ held ])y members of, or persons afdliating with the Lutheran (Uiurch. The management of the association is vested in a board of nine directors elected by the stockholders at the annual meeting. The object of the Assembly corporation is to maintain and conduct annually on the premises of the assembly a (^'hautauqua, consisting more particularly of lectures, concerts, Bible conferences, round tables, religious services, and such other entertainments and exercises for the mental, moral and spiritual iml)ro^-ement of the conmumity, also to afford prt)per recreation and other advantages for its people. It is not for financial profit. Its officers and board of directors serve without compensation, and any excess of receipts al>ove exl^enses is used in making imi)rovenients u])on the grounds and keei)ing u]) tlie standard of the talent employed.

A beautiful tract of land containing about forty acres was secured. The location is along the north l)ank of Rock river adjoining the city of Dixon on the east. Here the river banks are high and extend in a great retiring curve for half a mile. For camping pur])oses the grounds are ideal. Nature has done its best in furnishing an attractive and restful |)lace. The singing of liirds lends enchantment to the scene, while families of squirrels frolic fearlessly about the walks and drives and upon the branches oA^erhead.

ill the iiuiiiber of interesting and essential features presented. Some of tlie most famoiis lecturers and singers and characters of America and other lauds across the sea have appeared on the assembly platform. The aim of the management has been to bring within the vision and hearing of the people of this part of the state, the best talent along dift'ereut lines that could be procured within reasoiuihle limitations.

The effort has been appreciated, and the assembly has developed beyond all expectations until it has become a permanent institution of the city of Dixou. Thousands come every year t<> enjoy the splendid programs rendered and have an outing iu nature's quiet and refreshing abode. Improvements have been made gradually and extensively. On these grounds are a large circular auditorium capable of seating 5,000 persons, numerous school and administration l^uildings and comf(:)rta))le c()ttages; the Assembly Hotel, on the river front, with magnificent view, good accommodations at moderate expense. Electric lights are installed tliroughout the premises. Electric cars bring the visitors to the gates. An abundant water supply, furnished in sanitary perfection from artesian wells, is distributed ui)on the grounds for public use. The outdoor sports, boating, tennis, croquet, base l)all, fishing, swimming, can he enjoyed to the extent of one's capacity. For sixteen days each year, beginning the last Saturday in July, the assembly affords a rich feast of good things for the people, the best which education, art and science have to offer. Rock River Assembly probably ranks thii'd among the Chautauquas of America. The following are the members of the board of directors at this time, 1914 : A. E. Thununel, president ; Theo. Troutli, vice-president; H. M. Rasch, secretary; W. E. Trein, treasurer; A. A. Krape, C. E. Derr, A. L. Geisenheimer, Geo. W. Bruner. F. D. Altman.

The first services in Dixon were held by Right Reverend Philander Chase, D. D., Bishop of Illinois iu 1837, soon after his consecration. He had made a visit to Grand Detour, at that time a prosperous village, and finding a few people at what was then called Dixon's Ferry he stopped over for a sei'A'ice. Soon after a

In 1845 Rev. Abraham J. Warner was appointed missionary at Grand Detour and parts adjacent. He hekl regular services in Dixon, Sterling, Elkhorn Crrove and other places.

In 1858 a jiarish organization was effected by the election of the following wardens and vestrymen. A small frame church was erected on Peoria avenue, near Third street. In 1871 the new stone church was built, and consecrated on October 18, 1872. The rectors of the church have been as follows : The Reverends John Wilkinson, Abraham J. Warner, George C. Street, James W. Coe, H. H. De Garno, D. W. Dresser, D. D., William A. Williams, Marison Byllesby, Samuel Edson, W. Henry Jones, William W. Steele, John Wilkinson, Henry 0. Granger, John 0. Sage, John M. Ericcson, Albert B. Wliitcombe.

Source changes here: from War History of Lee County, Illinois, 1917-'18-'19 : a History of the Part Taken by the People of Lee County, Illinois, in the World War, 1917-1918-1919, by State Council of Defense of Illinois, published 1920; 90 words in this source stream.

Dixon Township

Lee County's I'ccord in war acti\-ities is one of which her citizens may well be jiroud. Li no instance did the County fail to raise its proportionate share of the Stat(> and Federal quotas of Bonds, War Savings, Red Cross and kindred activities.

The next duty to that of taking our places in the ranks of those who offered their lives in the cause of liumanily was to hack them up with our moral and financial aid. This duty the people of Lee County performed in a hiiihiv creditable manner.