Dundee Township

Dundee Township

The village of Dundee is finely located upon both banks of Fox river, forty-seven miles northwest by rail from Chicago, and five miles north of the city of Elgin. The place was first settled in 1834 by Joseph Russell and J. H. Newman. Russell built a log cabin on the east side of the river, in the south part of the town, and Newman built one on the bluff in the north part of the town, and west of the river. The village was surveyed and platted on the west side in 1836, by the Oatmans, Deweese and Shields. M. W. Fletcher, surveyor. The east side was laid out by Thomas Deweese some years later.

In 1835 large additions were made to the settlers. Among those arriving in this year were Parker, Ashbaugh, Welch, Smith, McClure, Deweese, Green, and others. In 1836 Thompson, W^ilburn, the Perry family, Dempster,

The first postoffice was established in 1836, about one mile southeast of the present village of Dundee, at McClure's Grove, and General McClure was appointed postmaster. The first marriage in the place was that of Captain Jamison, of Chicago, and a daughter of General McClure; the first birth, a daughter of Dr. Parker; the first death, the aged father of Thomas Deweese, in 1835; the first settled physician, Dr. J. R. Goodnow, in 1836. The first religious discourse was given in the house of Jesse Oatman by Rev. J. E. Elmore, of St. Charles, in the fall of 1836. Mr. Elmore was a Baptist. He laid out the village of Asylum, in the township of St. Charles, where he resided for many years. The first school opened in Dundee was by Miss Amanda Cochran (now Mrs. Moses Wanser), in 1837. A bridge was built over the Fox river in 1838, where the present beautiful iron structure stands. The first store in the place was opened by J. & H. Oatman in the fall of 1836. Edwards and Bosworth succeeded them in 1838. A school building, 20 by 30 feet, was erected in 1839. It was used also for religious ser^-ices. lyceimis, etc. The present school buildings were erected, the west building of brick, in 1850, at a cost of about $1,300. Thomas H. Thompson was the contractor, and the east side building about 1856, at a cost of $800. An addition was built in 1864, costing about $400. The Congregationalists built a small frame building (still standing in the rear of the Baptist church) in 1840. Their present house, of brick, was erected in 1853, and cost about $8,000. The Baptist society built their first church in 1848. This was afterward sold to the Episcopalians, and a new and very fine frame building erected at an expense of $10,500 in 1864-65. The Methodist society built a cheap buildmg as early as 1844. The new one, a very substantial frame building, was built in 1856. The Episcopalians are occupying the brick church originally built by the Baptists. A German Lutheran society was organized and a church edifice erected in 1864. It is a neat and substantial building, of Dutidee brick. The first hotel was opened by Hardin Oatman in 1837. Wanton Parker was the first justice and Seth Green the first constable - both elected in 1836. In 1840 the land came into market, and I. C. Bosworth was chosen by the settlers to bid off their claims and deed to them according to the claim lines. The first attempt at establishing a printing press was made by a Mr. Farnham about 1855, who published the Dundee Advocate for a short time. The Dundee Weekly was commenced by P. Swick about the year 1866. The Dundee Hawkeye now furnishes news to the people.

The largest nianufacturing business of the village of Dundee is that of the Dundee Brick Company. It was started as early as 1852. The present company organized in 1867. They are employing about sixty hands and their annual sales amount to about three million brick. The clay from \\-hich the beautiful cream-colored brick is made is obtained in the high liluffs on the east side of the river. The deposit is an immense mass, some sixtv

This village has never been a rapid grower, but has continued steadily to advance, and has many elements of prosperity. The surrounding country is especially adapted to the dairy business. Grazing is of the best description, and the country abounds in fine springs of pure water. The mercantile business is respectable, and the town is remarkable for thoroughgoing and liberal men.

The village of Carpentersville is in the township of Dundee and situated sue mile north of the village of Dundee, on Fox river. It was first settled by Daniel G. and Charles V. Carpenter in 1837. The village was surveyed and plaited in 185 1. The same year J. A. Carpenter built the first bridge across the river at his own expense. A school building was erected about 1855, two stories in height. The upper story is occupied by the Sons of Temperance, whose organization dates back to 185 1 and, what is remarkable, has been in active operation ever since. They have about forty members and a fine library of four hundred or five hundred volumes. There is one religious organization (Congregational) but no church building. A flourishing Sabbath school is kept up, however. An elegant iron bridge was built in 1869-70 at a cost of $10,000. The village has grown up entirely in consequence of the location of heavy manufactories here. The water power is good and well improved. It is almost exclusively owned by Hon. J. A. Carpenter, one of the most extensive and enterprising manufacturers in the West.

Our sketch of the various manufactories, all of which are wholly, or in part owned by Mr. Carpenter, will show what a single mind can accomplish when governed by sound judgment and business enterprise. A dam was built in 1837 by the Oatmans, of Dundee, with the intention of taking the water down on the west side for use at the village of Dundee. A canal was constructed and a sawmill built between the two villages and operated for some years, but the entire water power eventually fell into the hands of J. A. Carpenter, who commenced and continued developing the manufacturing business of Carpentersville until nearly the whole power is absorbed at that point. The remains of the Oatman canal are still to be seen, but its bed is dry.

But the principal establishment, and one of the largest and most complete in the West is, par excellence, the works of the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company. This and the woolen company are both incorporated. The nucleus around which has grown up the present mammoth business was a small reaper factory started by George Marshall about 1855, and continued for seven or eight years, when he took in two partners and ran it as a hardware manufactory for about two years, at which time the present joint stock company was formed, the capital enlarged and the same business continued. In 1868

J. A. Carpenter and A. Edwards, of Dundee, bought up a majority of the stock. An endless variety of work is done, the leading articles manufactured, being thimble skeins, sad irons, pumps, copying presses, seat springs, garden or lawn vases, etc. The work produced is of the best description and much of it highly elaborate and ornamental. The goods are sold largely in Chicago, San Francisco, New Orleans, Utah. Louisville, Cincinnati. St. Louis, Pittsburg, and mostly all the large cities, and the business is constantly increasing. A most beautiful variety of copying presses is made here, and this branch of the business alone is immense. The demand for the productions of this company has increased so rapidly that extensive additions to the works have been made from time to time. Altogether the establishment is one of the most complete in the countrj- and a splendid monument of manufacturing enterprise.

An extensive deposit of peat is located east of Carpentersville, covering from loo to i6o acres. Attempts have been made to work it. but from some cause have not been successful. The bed averages six feet in thickness, and it is believed that a good quality of fuel might be prepared.

The Carpentersville Literary and Library Association - This association was organized in March, 1871. the late Hon. Julius Angelo Carpenter, of Carpentersville, being the prime mover, he, at that time, being a member of the state legislature. The charter members were George Marshall, William W. Norton, W. G. Sawyer, H. G. Sawyer, \\'illiam H. Webb, Delos Dunton, Oscar Diezman, George Robinson, George Plumleigh. John Donovan. Luther D. Wright and Swain Dahlbom. The reason for the non-appearance of ]Mr. Carpenter's name among the charter members is that he was at Springfield when the papers were made out. The three school districts, comprising the villages of East Dundee, West Dundee and Carpentersville. united and became one district about the year 1870 and a union school building was erected on the blufif in West Dundee about two years later. The district, as it was thought, having no further use for the old building at Carpentersville, which building, by the way, was owned and occupied jointly by the school district and a temperance organization known as "Hand in Hand Division Sons of Temperance No. 292," the interest of the school district was sold at auction to George Willard. of Dundee, and by him transferred to the L. & L. Association, a subscription paper for the purpose having been successfully circulated, the association thereby becoming the owner of the lower room of said building. It very soon became apparent that the building was too small to accommodate the needs of the growing village. Expansion having been decided upon, the building was sawed asunder in the middle, one end moved several feet away and the gap enclosed as a part of the building, thus doubling its size.

Li the purchase and enlarging of the structure an expense of about $1,400 was incurred which. was met and liquidated by subscriptions of money, material and labor, and funds were raised in giving entertainments by home talent and dancing parties, music for the latter being also supplied by home players. Sociables, festivals and lectures, managed and given by the ladies, earned no small portion of the sum required.

New Library Hall, Carpentersville

A reading room was opened in this building January, 1881, and for about six years the room was open six evenings in eacli week. In 1887 the open evenings were cut down to two each week, and the books were allowed to be circulated. A unique and interesting feature of this library and reading room is the fact that its entire support for many years has been met by the circulation of an annual subscription paper, Mrs. Carpenter, afterward Mrs. Mary E. C. Lord, duplicating the sum thus raised.

January 2, 1897, the present quarters of the library were dedicated and a few days thereafter the books were installed in their new racks. The rooms are the gift of Mrs. Lord to the association, and the furnishing and equipment are without doubt the most elegant and complete to be found in any similar rooms outside of the larger cities. By the terms of the will of Mrs. Lord, whose death occurred April 27, 1905, an endowment fund, the income from which will be ample to insure the maintenance of this institution, was provided. Views of the old building and of the new are herein given.

That Dundee township should be aiuong the first settled by the incoming pioneers is not to be wondered at. Its high, beautiful bluffs and fine water power make it an ideal place for residence or industry. It is not surprising that when Jesse H. Xewiuan and Joseph Russell, the first settlers, stood in October, 1834, on the bluff and looked across the fine land in sight, they decided to locate. Although they were but prospecting they did not hesitate, but at once staked a claim, and in April, 1835, (meantime having gone to Indiana to get their family) they took possession and were the first of as fine a class of pioneers as has honored any localitv by their settlement.

The Newman cabin was soon built on the west bluff and all lived in it until Russell's cabin was built on the east side. It stood until 1875, just below the brickyard grounds.

One of Russell's sons early married one of Newman's daughters. Jesse Oatman came soon after, and during his life said of the Indians who lived here, that they were located "about eighty rods below the brickyard'' in six huts, or wigwams, and in all comprised about twenty-five persons. The Black Hawk war had opened the eyes of easterners to northern Illinois, and they came in flocks after 1834. A. R. Dempster came in May, 1835. and "staked" on the east side; the farm afterward belonging to George Giddings. He later published in the Dundee Record an account of early experiences. He stated that at the time he came in the settlers were Russell and Newman, John Jackson, Dr. Parker, a Mr. Moore, Burbank and George Taylor, mostly along the west side of the river. On the east side were Benjamin Miller, Irick Van Asdell, Jesse Miller and the Hawley family. Soon after this came Thomas Deweese and General George McClure, afterward well-known in Elgin, where he died. This Deweese claimed all land not appropriated, and was the cause of much trouble. On another page of this book appears a judgment rendered against him in a controversy he had with James C. Hanks over land southeast of Dundee. He also had a contest with Eaton Walker, wlio located just southeast of Dundee about 1838. Walker went on land that was part of Deweese's "universal" claim and began building a cabin. :\Ieantinie Deweese had sold to David Hammer (whose son still owns property in the same vicinity). Threats not prevailing, some of Deweese's men appeared. Walker went to Elgin, and securing John Lovell, constable, returned. The result was a general fight in which clubs were freelv used and heads bruised. Walker in the end drove Deweese out and held the land. Most of the land controversies were peaceably adjusted before the justices of the peace. Dr. Goodnow or T. H. Thompson. Captain T. H. Thompson came to Dundee in 1835 and located on the west side. He was long prominent as county commissioner, and was the first supervisor and the first justice of the peace.

Henry Smith and Freeman came in 1835. as did the Ashbaughs. In 1836 came a ^^Ir. Welch. John Allison, ^\'illianl \Mlburn. George W. Browning and George Hall. In 1837 arrived William Hale and G. Hoxie. In 1838 C. V. Carpenter, Daniel Carpenter and W. R. Hemenway arrived.

The first election appears to have been held in 1835. at the home of Captain Thompson, for state senator and county officers. James Kimball was elected justice of the peace in 1835, the total vote being eighteen.

A bridge building committee, comprising I. C. Bosworth, Jesse Oatman, Seth Green. Thomas Deweese and E. W. Austin, was named in 1838 and made a contract for a bridge of timber to be completed by March, 1839. The acceptance of the completed bridge is dated February 27, 1839. It cost about $1,500, in subscriptions of $1 and upward.

In 1839 came G. W. Bullard from Massachusetts and located on the east side. Charles B. W'ells arrived from ilassachusetts in 1840. He was elected circuit clerk of the county in 1848 and removed to Geneva.

The first birth in the settlement is in controversy as between a daughter of Dr. Parker and W. R. Dempster. Catherine Dempster was born June 28.

1836. his being the first death in the township. The first marriage was that of Captain Jamison to a daughter of General McClure. in 1837. Alex. Gardiner and Sallie Miller married soon after that date.

The first school was taught by Amanda Cochrane, who married Moses Wanzer. He arrived in 1836 with ^Marshall Sherman and Cyrus Larkin. the latter afterward a prominent citizen of Elgin, where his daughter. Mrs. Hombeek, still resides.

The first church in the township, outside of the village, was built i)y a sect of Mormons who located near Carpentersville in 1856. The building cost $1,000. The sect did not last long.

Dundee township being especially adapted for stock raising, it early became the location of cheese and butter factories and has continued to increase in that regard. The Borden Condensed Milk Company now have a plant there, and every hill is dotted with cattle as fine as are raised anywhere.' Sidney Wanzer built the first factory in 1877 and did a good business at once. J. T. ^lason erected a building the same year, as did also Jesse Oatman and his

An idea of the hardships and privations suffered hy the early settlers who journeyed here from the East may be had from the experience of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Sawyer, who came from \"ermont to Kane county in 1837. The means of conveyance for the trip was a wagon drawn by a single horse, and occupied from April to October. Shortly after their arrival a farm, or "claim," was purchased in Dundee township, in which was invested their entire fortune, about $300, brought with them from the East. During the winter was begun the erection of a log cabin, and while engaged in this Mr. Sawyer injured his back, and for several months was unable to do any work. There they were, he helpless, without money, an uncompleted log cabin, and among strangers, better off than themselves in but one particular, they were able to work. By the help of these good neighbors they were enabled to complete the cabin, which provided them a shelter, and wood being plentiful, they could at least keep warm, but how were they to live. Here the neighbors once more rallied to their assistance, and when springtime came they managed to get about twenty acres cleared, broke and planted to corn. Some time during the season Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer one day drove several miles to a neighbor's, at whose cabin a doctor from St. Charles was making occasional' visits to see a patient, the purpose of the trip being that i\Ir. Sawyer, who was still laid up, might consult a doctor without incurring the not-to-be-thought-of expense of a visit from him. When they were away on this trip, a herd of cattle, belonging to neighbors, got jnto and destroyed the entire field of corn. Here was a dilemma. It was this twenty acres of growing corn upon which their depejidence had been placed to carry them through the winter. They had nothing now left but a cjuantity of hay, cut from their prairie land. A trip was made to Pingree Grove to the home of a relative of Mrs. Sawyer, and through his influence, some cattle Avere taken to be fed during the winter on this hay, the pay for which was advanced, and thus they were tided over.

In common with all other settlers, the first habitation of Charles V. Carpenter was a log cabin, erected within what is now the village of Carpentersville. These cabins, or log houses, as they were called, were built of logs cut from the woods, the trees being selected of as nearly as possible a unifomi size, and to get the required length with as little variation in dimension at top and bottom as could be found. The logs were slightly flattened on two sides, then laid up crib-fashion one upon another, breaking joints at the corners so as to interlock and hold the corners firmly. Rafters of smaller timbers were put in place to receive the roof boards or flattened small timbers, on which the split or shaved shingles or shakes were laid. Floors consisted of slabs laid on log joists. The spaces between the logs were filled with wet clay, plastered or otherwise rendered weather-proof. The more pretentious of these cabins were of dimensions to admit of a partition dividing it into two rooms below and with a "loft" above, where the younger members of the familv could sleep, and that, too, without fear of suffering from want of fresh air.

Early in the '40s, following the attainment of some degree of material prosperity, came also a longing for better and more comfortable quarters, more like that which had been given up when they left their homes in Massachusetts, and so, in exchange for wheat and wool, hauled by team to Chicago, lumber for a frame house was obtained and transported on the same wagons on the return trip. The frame timbers of oak were hewn from logs cut in the home woods, and some of the t^oors were of oak plank sawed from logs at the local sawmill. The roof boards were also of oak, and the lath were of the same material, the boards being first sawed to the required thickness and then split and spread apart as they were nailed onto the studding, thus forming what were known as "split" lath. This house was built by a carpenter who had come from Massachusetts, and he worked out by hand all the inside finish and moldings. The building w-as completed about the year 1846, and is still standing. It is now occupied by the grand-daughter of the first owner, she having been born and also married in this same house.

The follow'ing extracts are from a letter dated at Uxbridge, ^tlassachusetts, October 2, 1839, and were written by I\Irs. Jemima Paine to her sister Esther, the wife of Charles V. Carpenter, Carpentersville, Illinois :

"The boys send their love to Angelo. John sends 25 cents to him. . . . Esther, I send you a little dried apple, it is all I have, and a few berries that I have dried this week. You must put them out in the sun as quick as you receive them, for I am afraid that they will spoil before they reach you."

The "Angelo," to whom was sent the 25 cents, was at that time a lad of twelve years of age, and was Julius Angelo Carpenter, founder of the Illinois Iron & Bolt Company, and other enterprises at Carpentersville. He was the first husband of the late Mrs. Mary E. Carpenter Lord, and it was he who accumulated the large estate, which, after making some minor bequests, was left to his widow, and which made it possible for her to distribute with a bountiful hand during her lifetime to so many and various purposes in Kane county, and especially at Elgin and Carpentersville, and at her death to endow some of the institutions and public benefactions established by her. Nobly did she carry out that which had been in the heart and mind of Mr. Carpenter to do, but of the pleasure of which he was deprived through having been stricken down in the prime of his manhood, and that quite suddenly, at the age of fifty-two years.

Here is a letter relating to matters that may be of especial interest to the women. It was addressed to "Carpenter Grove," Illinois (now Carpentersville) :

Brother Joseph gave me $11 yesterday, and I went down street and bought jaconet cambric for the wedding dresses, the gloves, handkerchiefs and belts for the brides. My dressmaker told me twelve yards would be enough without capes; they make them here, bodice w^aist, small bishop sleeves, with a little wristband, the sleeves gathered and set in at the top with three gatlv erings about an inch apart below sewed on to some tape ur cord inside the sleeve to fasten it, and three gatherings the same above the wristband. I send also a couple of snoods for the brides' heads, made, as you will see, of white satin ribbon braided. 1 send you some calico for Waity and Esther and the little Maria. I got twenty-one yards yesterday. Mr. Chapin thinks that is ndt enough, he will get some more today, so you will understand why it is in two pieces. I send you each two spools of cotton, six skeins of silk, six piece of tape, two boxes of hooks and eyes, all the colored thread I have. The spool of thread and hooks and eyes in the white dresses is for Mary and Helen (the brides to be). The colored spool, in the calico, is the only one I could tinil, perhaps you can run up the breadths with white, and divide the spool l)etween you."

The village (_)f Elburn (formerly Blackberry) is situated on the C. & N. W. R. R., forty-four miles from Chicago, nearly due west, and nine miles from Geneva, in the midst of a rich and highly cultivated farming region.

The original plot was laid out by Jacob Johnson in the fall of 1854, about one year after the completion of the railroad, and contained forty acres. The surveying was done by Samuel Bethell, of St. Charles. Additions have been made at various times by Andrew Johnson, Horace W'illis, Jemuel Gates, L. R. Read, and one called the Asses.sor's Addition. The place has had a steady and healthy growth, and is doing a large amount of business in grain, lumber, stock and merchandise.

Among the prominent men who have lived here may be mentioned Noah B. Spalding, John and Elisha Warne, Horace Willis, Dr. S. McNair, E. S. Runyon, C. H. White, Esquire, F. G. Garfield, Esquire, Jacob Johnson, L. R. Read and others. N. B. Spalding came into the county in 1836, and was the first man married in the county after its organization. The marriage took place July 17th, 1836. Mr. Spalding was elected sheriff in 1842 and served until 1848. In 1852 he was again elected and served one term. The Free Will Baptists built a church in 1857: Methodist Episcopal built in 1862; Christians built in 1857, and Catholics built in 1868. All built edifices neat and commodious, costing on an average from $3,000 to $4,000 each. A very large and flourishing school is maintained, and the district built a schoolhouse in i860, which cost about $3,000. The people pride themselves upon their excellent school. There is a good hotel here.

The village contains the usual amount of stores and shops, and for a jirairie town is decidedly a thriving and enterprising one. The business men are, many of them, very wealthy, and the stocks of dry goods in particular compare favoral)ly with those of nincli 1,-irger towns.