Elgin Township (part 3 of 3)

Uni Vers Alist Church By Rev. W. S. Balch

In the years 1847-8, some of the liberal people, mostly Unitarians and Universalists, joined together and built the little church on Center street, now occupied by the Free Methodists, and employed Rev. Mr. Conant for their pastor. The church was afterward sold and occasional preaching was held in Masonic hall, by Rev's. S. P. Skinner and L. B. Mason. Afterwards serv¬ ices were held in the Free Will Baptist church, corner of Spring and Division streets, now occupied by the German Lutherans, and Rev. O. A. Skinner was engaged as pastor. After his removal to the presidency of Lombard University, no meetings were held until Rev. H. Slade gathered a regular society in 1865, which proceeded to erect the church now occupied, on the corner of Center and DuPage streets. At the end of 1870, Mr. Slade resigned his pastorate, and not lone after, Rev. W. S. Balch was invited to fill the vacant pulpit, which he has done until the present time. The society now numbers about 100 members, and the Sabbath school about 120.

By J. A. Spill Ard

The first priest who visited Elgin (a missionary) was Rev. M. He St. Palais, a zealous Frenchman, and at present Bishop of Vincennes. He officiated here, perhaps, once in three months, for over four years. Then came Father Hoyle, after whom came Rev. Wm. Feely, who was priest from 1845 to 1852. It was during his mission that James T. Gifford donated a lot on Gifford street, and Father Feely at once commenced the erection of the present church on the same. From 1852 to 1857, Rev. Jas. Gallagher, and from 1857 to 1859 Rev. M. Carroll ministered to the wants of the Catholics in this vicinity. After Father Carroll came Rev. A. Eustace, who remained from 1859 to 1868, which brings us down to the advent among us of Rev. T. Fitzsimmons, whom every one knows as an earnest worker in the temperance cause, and who has accomplished very much good in Elgin. In addition to this Father Fitzsimmons, with the Catholic congregation, is erecting an academy or seminary on Center street, at a cost of about $15,000, to be managed by a religions community of sisters. He donates a beautiful building on Gifford street to the sisters, where they expect to accommodate thirty or forty young lady students (boarders), and also educate some of the younger children of the parish. The Catholic community here, although not very numerous, is as intelli¬ gent and enterprising as any in the state.

The German Evangelical Church By Rev. Mr. Alberdestg

This church was started in 1855 by Rev. Mr. Schnacke, who was the first German missionary here, and preached the first sermon in German in Elgin. He wTas followed by Rev's. Anthes, Vetter, Lechler and Ragatz, who preached in private houses. In 1859, Rev. Mr. Hintze was appointed to the charge, who labored with great success. In this year the society purchased from B. W. Raymond and H. Hewitt, a small meeting-house on Center street, nearly opposite the Congregational church. This meeting-house wras built at an early day by the Unitarians, then occupied for a while by the Presby¬ terians, and finally became private property.

Since the time of Mr. Hintze, the pastors have been Rev's Schneider, Gackly, Keist, Vorkel, Sindlinger, Miller, Hummel, Stamm, Fear, Alberding and Busse.

In 1869, under the pastorship of Rev. Mr. Hummel, the society exchanged their small house of worship with the Free Methodists for a larger one, which the latter had erected on the corner of Center and Milwaukee streets. The membership is now about 130, with a good house of worship paid for, and the church is in a prosperous condition. The Sabbath school numbers about 100. Public services are held every Sunday at 10:30 a. m. and 7:30 p. m.

By Rev. F. Tv. Richmann

The Evangelical Lutheran St. John's congregation (German) was organ¬ ized the first of October, 1859, and soon after purchased what was formerly the Free Will Baptist church, corner of Spring and Division streets, which they still occupy. The following have been the pastors, in the order named : Rev. R. Dulon, Rev. Mr. Israel, Rev. R. Buhler and Rev. F. W. Richmann. The last named has been in charge since the first of August, 1869. Under his care the congregation has increased from 20 to 80 families. They have good prospects of future growth, but stand very much in need of a larger edifice.

Swedish Evangelical Church

This church was organized January, 1870, with about 45 members. There are now about 110. They have a Sabbath school numbering about 50. In September, 1871, they purchased, for $3,000, the church formerly owned by the Presbyterians, near the corner of Center street and Dexter avenue. Rev. M. C. Ranseen became the pastor in 1873, and still continues. The Scandina¬ vian population of Elgin now numbers some 400 or 500.

The Insane Asylum

The Illinois Northern Hospital for the Insane, one of the best institu¬ tions of its class west of the Alleghany mountains, is situated on the west bank of Fox river, about a mile southwest of Elgin. The view of Fox river, the railroads and the surrounding country, from the upper portico in front of the hospital, though not so extensive nor so striking as similar scenery in a mountainous or hilly country, is yet full of quiet beauty and never fails to impress the visitor.

The hospital farm contains about 480 acres, of which 150 were donated to the institution by the citizens of Elgin, and the remainder was purchased by the state. The ground slopes gradually upward from the river, and the buildings stand on an elevated plateau, 3,000 feet from the river bank and 70 feet above the water level. The main river-road passes through the farm in front of the hospital. The grounds immediately surrounding the build¬ ing, are to be laid out in walks and drives and handsomely ornamented with shrubbery and forest trees.

The general plan of the edifice includes a center building with two irreg¬ ularly-shaped wings, and a rear building for the domestic department and machinery. The center building is occupied by the officers and employes, the north wing by female patients, and the south wing by inale patients. The frontage of the main or center building is 62 feet, and that of each wing 512 feet, making an entire frontage of 1,036 feet. The central structure is four stories, and the wings three stories in height, built of Dundee brick, with stone caps and sills from the quarries near Joliet, giving the whole a very substantial and imposing appearance.

The hospital boasts a full equipment of modern improvements in the way of speaking tubes, dust flues, hot and foul-air ducts, fire apparatus, railways and dumb waiters for distributing food, double-bladed iron fans for forced ventilation, rotary washing machines, a centrifugal wringer, appliances for steam cooking, library, chapel, amusement hall, etc., etc. The wards, of which there are twelve in each wing, or twenty-four in all, are light and airy, with bay-windows and conservatories for flowering plants. The exterior outline and internal arrangement are substantially the same as in the Government Hospital for the Insane, at Washington, D. C., which is acknowledged to be one of the best in the world.

It was originally supposed that only 300 patients could be accommodated in this building when completed. The last report of the trustees shows, however, that it will accommodate 460. The institution is under the imme¬ diate management of Dr. Edwin A. Kilbourne, its medical superintendent and chief executive officer. He is assisted in the medical department by Dr. ft. S. Dewey and Dr. Henry S. Brooks, the patients receiving all needed care and attention at their hands.

The first movement for the establishment of the Northern Insane Hos¬ pital was in 1869, when the legislature enacted two laws, one making an appropriation for this institution and the other for the Southern Insane Hos¬ pital, at Anna, near Cairo.

In accordance with the law, Governor John M. Palmer appointed a com¬ mission of nine persons to select a location for the proposed Northern Hospital. The following gentlemen constituted the commission : Samuel D. Lockwood, of Kane county ; John II. Bryant, of Bureau ; D. S. Ham¬ mond, of Cook ; Merritt L. Joslyn, of McHenry ; Augustus Adams, of DeKalb ; Benjamin F. Shaw, of Lee ; William Adams, of Will ; William R. Brown, of Massac, and A. J. Matteson, of Whiteside.

These gentlemen visited various towns in the northern counties of the state, and carefully considered the advantages of each site offered for their acceptance, but finally decided that the city of Elgin offered the best induce¬ ments, and fixed the hospital permanently at this point. The offer made by our citizens included 160 acres of land, valued at $16,000 ; a spring, valued at $2,500 ; and railroad freights on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad to the amount of $3,000.

When the commissioners had determined upon the location, their con¬ nexion with the institution ceased. The adoption of plans for the building and the responsibility of its erection devolved upon a board of three trustees ap¬ pointed by the governor. The original board consisted of Messrs. C. N. Holden, of Chicago; Henry Sherman, of Elgin, and Oliver Everett, M. D., of Dixon. In 1873, the Hon. C. W. Marsh, of Sycamore, was substituted for Dr. Everett ; and in 1875, Mr. Edwin H. Sheldon, of Chicago, was appointed to succeed Mr. Holden.

The north wing was first built, then the rear building, and finally the cen¬ ter building and south wing. The north wing was opened for the reception of patients on the third day of April, 1872. The formal inspection by com¬ mittees of the legislature, preparatory to the opening, occurred on the 2d day of February. The governor of the state and many other distin¬ guished gentlemen were present upon that occasion, when the honor of a complimentary dinner was bestowed upon them by the ladies of the city.

The center building was completed and occupied in April, 1874. The south wing was ready for occupancy on the 30th day of July, 1874 ; but in consequence of the lack of an appropriation for the maintenance of the patients therein, the wing was not opened until April, 1875.

The Elgin Watch Factory By Hon. S. Wilcox And G. P. Lord, Esq

In 1864 several enterprising men of Chicago determining that watches should be manufactured in the west, organized, for that purpose, under an act of the legislature of this state, a company called then the " National Watch Company," since changed to " Elgin National Watch Company." B. W. Raymond, Esq., a former resident and firm friend of Elgin, was chosen president of the company.

This project became known early here through John Adams and George B. Adams, jewelers in Elgin, and the location of the factory in this city at once engaged the attention of the business men. A committee was appointed to ascertain the inducements necessary to this end. This com¬ mittee confered upon the subject with the president of the company and its leading artisans from Waltham. An examination of the grounds in and about Elgin ensued, which resulted in the conclusion that the present site of the factory buildings would be satisfactory to the company. This was upon the premises then known as the Dexter farm, which was owned by persons living in Oneida county, New York. These persons would sell all (171 acres), but not part, of the farm - price $50 per acre, cash. The com¬ pany then (fall of 1864) proposed to locate the factory on this site, provided thirty-five acres (the most valuable part per acre of the farm) were donated to it and $25,000 of its stock was taken in Elgin. This proposition involved the purchase of the Dexter farm, as well as the donation of the thirty-five acres and subscription of stock. Efforts to raise the money ($8,577.48) to purchase the farm and secure the $25,000 subscription of stock were imme¬ diately commenced, but were found likely to be unavailing.

In this emergency, on the 24th of December, Henry Sherman, Benjamin E. Lawrence, Walter L. Pease and Silvanus Wilcox, determined to secure the factory here. They bought the farm, each furnishing one-quarter of the $8,577.48 - laid off that part situated in Kane county into lots, calling it "Sherman's addition," donated blocks one, two and three of said addition (thirty-five acres) to the company, subscribed for the balance of the $25,000 of the stock, and thus settled the location of the watch factory in Elgin.

The organization of the Elgin National Watch company was completed Feb. 15, 1865. During several months after, they occupied a three-story wooden building on the alley west of Market Square for the manufacture of watchmakers' machinery.

In 1866 they moved into their new buildings, which consisted of a central three-story building, with basement 40x40 ; a two-story and basement west wing 28x100 ; a two-story and basement south wing 28x87 ; a one-story west wing, extending from south wing, 25x35 for dial room, and a one-story wing on the west, and opposite dial room, 3Cx65, for engine and boiler room.

In August, 1873 they commenced their new front buildings, con¬ sisting of a center building, 62x62, three stories and basement, with the two front wings, each 30x114, and a rear and connecting wing, 28x90. All these are two stories and basement.

In 1874, the company rebuilt their engine house, making it 30x65, with a boiler house 40x65, one story, and replaced the old chimney by a new one 27x27 at base, 11.6x11.6 at cap, and 144 feet high.

In five years and ten months from the date of their charter the company had erected their buildings, manufactured their machinery, and made and placed on the market more than 42,000 watches. In five years from the pro¬ duction of their first watch the company had established the reputation of their watch, and made and placed on the market more than 125,000 watches; and all this in less than seven and one-half years from the date of their charter. It is believed that no other watch manufacturing establishment ever achieved a like result in the same length of time.

The Elgin Agricultural Society

This is a stock company organized under statute provisions, with a capi¬ tal of $10,000. The organization was perfected in November, 1869. The society at once purchased forty-two acres of land within the city limits, and inclosed the same with an eight-foot fence, and other extensive improve¬ ments were undertaken and speedily completed. One of the finest floral halls in the state has been erected on these grounds, as well as a spacious amphitheater, splendid track, and ample stalls and pens for the stock which may attend.

The fairs held by this society have always proved successful, both to stockholders and exhibitors, as high as twenty per cent, dividends have

The society is composed of about 300 members, including the most promi¬ nent business men of the city, as well as the principal farmers and stockgrowers of Fox river valley. Elgin owes a portion of her prosperity and notoriety to this society, and her citizens should not be backward in render¬ ing aid to its maintenance and support.

The following is the list of officers elected at the last annual election : President - Geo. P. Harvey. Vice-President - C. C. Church. Secretary - M. H. Thompson. Treasurer - E. D. Waldron. Directors - S. W. Chap¬ man, Z. C. Hoagland, John S. Wilcox, S. W. Kingsley, R. M. Martin.

The Dairy Business Of Elgin And Vicinity

The rise and progress of the dairy interest in the town of Elgin and vicinity has been so rapid and wonderful that it seems as if its present gigantic proportions had been reached by a sort of magic, and so strangely does it sound when the truth is told to a stranger, that he looks upon us as he does upon those whom he knows are in the habit of exaggerating. But where in the history of this branch of agriculture do we find its parallel ? Think of it. Twenty years ago we could find in Elgin and the adjacent country around for six miles, only 800 cows, where now we have 13,000. Then in all this range, only about 1,000 pounds of cheese were made annually, and about four times as much butter, above what was used in home consump¬ tion. Now we find that upon the same belt of country there are 2,000,000 pounds of cheese made annually, and 550,000 pounds of butter. As these products have increased in quantity and quality, year by year, so has their reputation, until Elgin butter and cheese can be found in the store of the fancy grocer of San Francisco and New York, and upon the wharves of Liverpool. Beside the milk required to manufacture this vast quantity of butter and cheese, three car-loads are sent daily to Chicago ; and last, but not least, the condensing factory condenses daily the milk from 1,000 cows, and sends its products forth to the entire known world. Yes, every out¬ going ship from our seaboards, in every army, whether in fort or field, with the traveler and mountaineer, can be found the condensed milk bearing the name of our beloved city - Elgin.

As the early history of this great business will interest strangers, as well as those in our midst who have been engaged in other vocations and conse¬ quently have not watched its growth, it may be well to take a retrospective view of it from its infancy to the present time. In 1852 Mr. P. II. Smith, by the help of Father Brewster, made arrangements to furnish the Adams House, of Chicago, with milk direct from his farm and to be sent daily by rail. The first can was sent on the 12th day of February, 1852. Mr. Smith was then living upon the farm of Dr. Tefift, one mile east of Elgin. The milk was brought to the depot upon an ox cart, drawn by a yoke of oxen. A portion of the cart, and the identical can in which the first milk was sent to Chicago by rail, are now in the possession of the writer. The next to try this experiment was Deacon Luther Herrick, who commenced six months later. The price of milk at this time was only six cents per gallon, free of freight, and had to be sent twice a day, the morning's milk at 6 a. m. The deacon and his wife still live, in their eightieth year, and often tell us how that, long before day, they commenced the work of milking, and in cold weather placed their feet in the warm bed the cows had just risen from, to keep them from freezing. Soon after others commenced, among whom were O. B. Jenne, John Cook, F. W. Wright, A. D. Gifford, Samuel P. Bur¬ dick, Jarvis Smith, Ballard, Sherman, McLean, Larkin, Padelford and others, until the Chicago trade was really overdone. A surplus of milk was thus found upon the hands of the producers, which was manufactured into cheese, made in the old-fashioned way. Among the first to commence cheese making were Frank Webster, upon Henry Sherman's farm, C. W. Gould and I. H. Wanzer. We made our cheese as best we could and car¬ ried them to Chicago loose in wagons, for we had no boxes to ship by rail. The writer has spent two days in peddling a one-horse load of cheese, get¬ ting on an average, six cents per pound, one-half money and one-half trade, and yet contented, because it was the best business going.

Thus we toiled and struggled on until 1864, when the condensing factory commenced operations, giving a new impetus to the business, by taking the then surplus milk and making a market for more. But soon this new demand was satisfied and the business began to droop for want of means to utilize the milk. Then there began to be talk of building cheese factories to use the surplus milk, which increased year by year. The first cheese factory in this section to be run upon the associated plan, was built by Henry Sherman. The next was by A. D. Gifford, M. A. Devine and I. H. Wanzer ; then came Gould's factory, Hanover factory (B), Udina factory, others following as the increase of milk demanded.

The first butter factory built west of the lakes, was the Elgin butter factory, now managed by the Elgin Butter company. Other factories have followed in rapid succession as they seemed to be needed. And thus we have traveled 011, battling with the difficulties incident to our climate and soil, until we have proven the ill-prediction of the east to be ill-founded, and now place our dairy products in the markets of the world at the very highest prices.

fact that the cash paid to the farmers within five miles of Elgin, for butter and cheese alone, amounts to $560,000 annually. This is exclusive of the milk sent to Chicago and that which is consumed at the condensing factory.

The Board of Trade, established for the sale of dairy products, brings large amounts from other parts to Elgin for sale. During the year 1874, 2,955,202 pounds of cheese were sold on the board, and 186,426 pounds of creamery butter, for which wras paid $368,528.58. This amount of butter and cheese includes that produced outside of the limit mentioned in the first part of this article. The dairymen take great interest in the Board of Trade, and its weekly meetings are generally well attended by those engaged in the manufacture of butter and cheese.

The Physicians Of Elgin By Dr. Joseph Tefft

In the fall of 1835, Dr's Nathan Collins and Joseph Tefft arrived at and crossed the Fox river at or near the place where now stands the city of Am rora, but where then stood the plain domicile of one lone family. From this they wended their way up the valley of the Fox river to where now stands the city of Elgin. At this early day, the county of Kane included DeKalb and a part of Kendall, but contained only about 500 inhabitants, and the whole country was but sparsely settled, excepting by the red men, who used to wander up and down the river in search of fish and game. Elgin at this early day was only known as an old psalm tune, and did not receive its name proper until the spring of 1836.

In the fall of 1833, Joseph Tefft, M. D., of Madison county, New York, located in the town of Elgin, or rather took up a claim in said town, for in this early day there was but little more use for physicians than for musquito bars in the month of January. The first dose of medicine ever prescribed by a regular located physician in the county of Kane, was dispensed in El¬ gin by said Dr. Tefft in the fall of 1835.

In the fall of 1835, Nathan Collins, M. D., who was also from Madison county, New York, settled on a claim on the west side of the river, where the village of Clintonville is located. His only son now resides on a portion of said claim. In 1836, the Dr. removed to St. Charles, where he died of typhoid fever in 1841.

In the year 1836, L. S. Tyler, M. D., formerly of the state of Vermont, but later from western New York, settled on a claim in the western part of the town, but subsequently moved into the city of Elgin, where he now resides.

In the summer of 1838, Dr. Elmore, of Massachusetts, located in Elgin, and a few months after hired a public house; and opened the same for the accommodation of travelers, and thereafter devoted but little attention to the practice of his profession. He left Elgin in the summer or fall of 1839, and died soon after.

In 1839, Dr. Anson Root, formerly of New Hampshire, but later of western New York, settled in Elgin and followed his profession for a short time, but soon abandoned it or nearly so for other business. In the early days of Elgin, he was one of the principal proprietors and builders here, having purchased a portion of Mr. Gifford's interest in the fall of 1838. In the spring of 1839, he came with his family and occupied a log house which stood near the present residence of Hon. J. A. Carpenter, until he built a brick house on the site of that residence, in 1842. He also built, at an early day, a woolen mill, where Hawthorne & Bosworth's store now stands, and the stone doming mill on the east side, which is still standing. He died at his residence in Elgin, of disease of the lungs, in February, 1866, leaving several children and grand-children, who are now among our prominent citizens.

In 1842, Dr. Frame, nativity unknown, located in Elgin, where he followed his profession until 1843, when that fell destroyer, phthisis pulmonalis, removed him from his earthly associations.

In 1842, Dr. Reuben S. Brown, of western New York, settled on a farm in the town of Elgin, about two miles west of the city, but attented to the calls of his profession up to the 1st of January, 1847, at which time he was appar¬ ently enjoying good health, but on the 7th day of January, 1847, he fell with apoplexy, and died in a few moments.

In 1843, Dr. Erastus Tefft, of Madison county, New York, commenced the practice of medicine in Elgin, which he followed for a few years, but subsequently changed for the dry goods business, and in 1856, removed to Topeka, Kansas, where he is now following his profession.

In 1S44, Dr. C. Torry, of the state of New York, commenced the practice of medicine in Elgin, and in 1849, moved to California, where he died in 1852.

Also in 1844, Dr. J. Daggett, of the state of Vermont, but latterly of Lockport, Illinois, commenced practicing medicine in Elgin, but remained here only about two years, returning to Lockport in 1856, where he now resides.

In 1845, Dr. E. Sanford, of the state of New York, located here and com¬ menced the practice of his profession. His exposures soon increased a local difficulty in his lungs, and he died in 1851 of phthisis pulmonalis.

In 1S48, Dr. V. C. McClure, from western New York, moved into Elgin and commenced the practice of his profession. Elgin being too small a town for him, in 1S61, he removed tmChicago, where he now lives in the full enjoy¬ ment of his profession.

In 1849, Dr. O. Harvey, from New York, commenced the practice of medicine in Elgin, but tarried only one year. Having crossed the continent to California in 1850, he subsequently sailed the Pacific and swam the Atlantic (at least for a time), he having been on the ill-fated Atlantic ship which was burned on the Atlantic ocean a few years ago. He now resides in California.

In 1851, Dr. T. Kerr, of Scotland, located in Elgin, but subsequently abandoned his profession for that of the ministry, thinking it more congenial to his nature to make an elfort to save the soul than the body. He is now engaged in the latter profession, at Rockford, Illinois.

In 1854, Dr. E. Winchester, of Canada, located in Elgin, and followed his profession until the commencement of the civil war, wiien he enlisted as surgeon, and only returned to his practice in Elgin after the close of the war. In 1872 he was attacked with that kind of yellow fever which has caused many a man to cross the Rocky and Sierra Nevada mountains for a specific. He is now practicing his profession in San Bernardino, California.

In 1854, Dr. Peebles, of Pennsylvania, commenced the practice of his profession in our city, but tarried only a short time, removing in 1856 to Iowa. He is now a minister as well as a physician.

In 1854, Dr. B. P. Hubbard, of New York, located in Elgin and minis¬ tered to the wants of the afflicted for about six years. In 1860, he removed to Washington, D. C., where he was engaged in an office of one of the departments of the government.

In 1854, Dr. E. A. Merrifield, of Vermont, moved to Elgin and com¬ menced the practice of his profession. On the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, he enlisted, and served in his professional capacity to min¬ ister to the wants of the sick and wounded soldiers until the close of the same, after which he changed his location to parts unknown to the writer.

In 1860, Dr. D. O. B. Adams, of New York, read, and commenced the prac¬ tice of his profession in Elgin. In 1862 he removed to Shanghse, China, but on account of sickness, soon left there and spent a few years as surgeon on vessels between San Francisco, Cal., the Isthmus and Japan. He subse¬ quently abandoned his travels for a location in Crescent City, Cal., where he is now practicing his profession.

In 1863, Dr. N. F. Burdick, of Vermont, settled in Elgin, and commenced the practice of his profession, but soon after returned to one of the New England states, where he now resides.

In 1870, Dr. Paulaskie, of Prussia, took an office in Elgin, and posted his shingle in a conspicuous place, where it remained only a short time, he changing his location for another place in a few months thereafter.

We have brought this list of physicians down to 1870, but have not included any now in active practice in Elgin, presuming that their names would appear in another place in the directory.

The Lawyers Of Elgin

The following outline of the history of the legal profession in Elgin, has been written from facts and data, in regard to the early lawyers, furnished by Hon. Silvanus Wilcox and others.

The legal profession was first represented in Elgin by Edward E. Harvey, brother of George P. Harvey, of this city. Mr. Harvey came here in 1840, having previously read law in the office of Joseph Churchill, Esq., of Batavia, Ill. He practiced in Elgin until 1847, when he obtained a com¬ mission as captain of volunteers, and raised a company for service in the war with Mexico. He died during the following year near Cerro Gordo, Mexico, in the 32d year of his age. In person Mr. Harvey was tall, spare and bony, but commanding in appearance. In his profession he was a tal¬ ented and successful practitioner.

Isaac G. Wilson was the second lawyer who settled in Elgin, coming here in 1841 from McHenry, Illinois, where he had held the office of clerk of the circuit court of McHenry county. Mr. Wilson had the advantage of being a thoroughly educated lawyer, being the son of Judge Isaac Wilson, of Batavia, N. Y., and a graduate of the Cambridge, Mass., law school. He practiced in Elgin till 1849, when he was elected judge of the county court. In 1850 he removed to Geneva, Ill., and in 1852 was elected judge of the circuit court of Kane county, which office he held until 1867. Since then he has removed to Chicago, and is still practicing his profession. Judge Wilson witnessed the day of small things in Elgin. The little frame structure now standing next door west of Richard Keogh's meat market, is the identical edifice that once served the dignified purposes of the post office and the largest law office in Elgin. Judge Wilson and Silvanus Wilcox were law partners in this office from 1846 to 1850.

Edmund Gifford came with his family from Massachusetts in 1845, and brought the first good law library ever owned in Elgin. Mr. Gifford, though not thoroughly educated, possessed ability as a lawyer and was a successful practitioner. As a citizen he always took an active part in educational matters, and for a time was superintendent of public schools. In 1861 he obtained the position of paymaster in the volunteer service, and after the close of the war settled somewhere in the south.

Mr. Wright entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, Edward E. Harvey, and practiced law until he was elected clerk of the circuit court in 1856, when he removed to Geneva to attend to the duties of that office. He possessed a good general as well as law education, and though not a brilliant advocate, was a sound, reliable counselor, and won the respect of all classes as an exemplary citizen. In 1860, Mr. Wright removed to Cobden, Illinois, where he still resides.

A. J. Waldron practiced law for a few years in connection with Edmund Gifford, and afterwards by himself. He was a man of excellent financial ability. On the organization of the Fox River Valley railroad, he was chosen its secretary and aided largely in securing the success of that enter¬ prise. He was elected justice of the peace and held the office for eight years. Mr. Waldron died in 1865, leaving behind him substantial evidences of his activity as a business man and his taste and culture as a private gentleman.

Silvanus Wilcox studied three years as a cadet at West Point military school, but left that institution on account of injury to his health from hard study and the routine of red-tape medical mal-practice. He came to this city with his family in 1844. In 1845 he was appointed postmaster of Elgin, and held that position until 1849. After the close of his partnership with Isaac G. Wilson in 1850, he continued the practice of law until 1867, when he was elected judge of the circuit court, succeeding Judge Wilson, who had held the office for fifteen years. In 1873, he was re-elected by a very large popular vote, but during the next year was obliged, on account of failing health, to resign the position and retire from active professional labor. Judge Wilcox still resides in this city. His career is an example of the success due to persevering industry and strict integrity.

Charles H. Morgan came to Elgin about 1847, and commenced the practice of law at first by himself and afterwards with E. S. Joslyn. On the establishment of the Elgin City Court of Common Pleas, Mr. Morgan was elected its first judge. Possessing all the qualities of a fine judicial physique, rotund person, and majestic bearing, he looked u every inch a judge," qualities which, backed by fair ability, good humor and a moderate education, rendered him ever after fully entitled to the sobriquet of the quondam judge." In 1863, he went to Colorado, where, in 1865, he was

E. S. Joslyn studied law in the office of Charles H. Morgan, was admitted to practice, and went into partnership with that gentleman in 1852. His rare ability as an advocate has won him a wide popularity, especially in criminal cases. Col. Joslyn took an active part in raising volunteers in the com¬ mencement of the late civil war, having led a company from this county, was the first one mustered into the service from this state. He after¬ wards served as colonel in the 36th Illinois Infantry.

John S. Riddle commenced the practice of law in Elgin in 1857, in the office of Silvanus Wilcox, and afterwards with E. S. Joslyn, and won a good reputation as a lawyer. In 1862, he took the captaincy of a company in the 128th Regiment of Ill. Vols. In the battle of Vicksburg, in 1863, he was severely wounded in the arm, rendering amputation necessary. He was brought home to his family, in Elgin, only to die there from the effects of the wound. He leaves behind him the memory of an honorable life, and his death attests the fact that patriotism pervades the ranks of all professions and parties in this country.

Thomas W. Grosvenor came from the state of New York to this city in 1856. He studied law with Morgan & Joslyn, and was admitted to practice in 1858. On the breaking out of the war in 1861, he enlisted in the 12th Regiment of Ill. Cavalry. He subsequently held a position, with the rank of major, on the staff of General McClellan in the Army of the Potomac. In one of the battles in Virginia, in 1863, he was shot through the shoulder, causing a complete paralysis of the right arm. At the close of the war he resumed the practice of his profession in Chicago, and was elected to the office of corporation attorney, which office he held at the time of his death. During the excitement which followed the great fire in Chicago, October 8, 1870, he was shot by a patrol while returning to his house at night, resulting in his death a few days afterwards. He was a gentleman of genial temper¬ ament, possessing fine talents as a writer, a good soldier and a true patriot.

Joseph Healy studied law in the office of Silvanus Wilcox, graduated from the law department of Michigan University, and practiced law, in con¬ nection with Mr. Wilcox, until the latter was elected judge, in 1867. He then entered into a partnership with R. N. Botsford, afterwards Botsford, Barry & Healy, and this firm continued until his death, which occurred September 14, 1872, in the 27th year of his age. Mr. Healy was a young man of excellent promise, having been born and bred in this city, receiving a liberal education at the college of Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana, and in all the relations of social and business life he was a highly estimable, exemplary and cultured gentleman. His early death was felt as a loss to the profession and to the community.

E. W. Vining finished his law studies in the office of C. B. Wells, in Dundee, Ill., where he practiced law until 1863. In this year he came to

Elgin, where he afterwards held the office of police magistrate, master-in¬ chancery, and the position of mail route agent on the Eox River railroad. His death occurred on the 2d of November, 1873. From the proximity of Dundee, Mr. Yining was often engaged in practice with the early Elgin lawyers, and by his energy, humor and spirit, often gave zest to the encounters of legal wit and warfare.

Joseph T. Brown was captain of Co. I, 52d Reg. Ill. Vols., but resigned on account of ill health, in 1864. In the fall of 1845, he was elected judge of the county court of Kane county, and held the office until his death in 1868.

Any extended notice of the lawyers of Elgin who are still living and in active practice among us, is deemed unnecessary in this brief history. Their names and date of admission to practice, are as follows :

A. H. Barry was admitted to practice in the town of St. Charles, Ill., in 1852. He held the rank of major in the 36th Ill. Vols., during the late war. In 1870, he came to Elgin and entered the firm of Botsford & Healy.

R. N. Botsford commenced the practice of law in the state of Wis¬ consin, in 1857. Came to St. Charles, Ill., in 1858. Was elected judge of the county court in 1861, which office he held four years. In 1867 he opened an office in this city, and in 1868 removed here with his family.

John W. Ranstead was admitted to practice in 1866, and opened a law office in this city the next year. He was elected judge of the county court in the fall of 1873, which office he still holds.

William H. Wing was admitted in 1866, and has practiced continuously in this city since then, having held the office of city attorney in 1870.

Wm. H. Wilcox was captain of Co. G. in tie 52d Regiment of Ill. Vols., and served three years and four months. Was admitted to practice law in June, 1871, and went to Utah the same year. In November, 1873, he opened an office in this city, and is now one of the firm of Botsford, Barry tfe Wilcox.

Wm. F. Lynch has also a military record commencing previous to his admission to the bar, which was in the same year, 1871. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the 23d Ill. Vols., and in the fall of the same year was mustered out to aid in raising the 58th Regiment Ill. Vols., in which he took the rank of lieutenant colonel and afterwards of colonel and brigadier general by brevet. He was severely wounded in the right leg during the last year of the war. In July, 1866, he received the appointment of captain in the LT. S. Regulars. In December, 1870, in consequence of his wounds, he wras retired upon the full rank and pay of brigadier general.

The following are the names of gentlemen who have been identified with the legal profession in Elgin, but who have either retired, gone into other business, removed, or are absent from the place :

John S. Wilcox commenced the practice of law in 1856. He is now retired, except that he still holds the position of general solicitor for the C. & P. railroad, of which he is a director. Col. Wilcox went into the volun¬ teer service as lieutenant colonel of the 52d Ill. Vols., in June, 1861, and afterwards served as colonel in the same regiment until February, 1864, having since received the rank of brigadier general for meritorious conduct while in the service.

Like most other industrial towns, Elgin has never been noted for extra litigation. Hence the arts of petty practice or legal shystering have found little encouragement among us, and even the nobler talents of forensic eloquence have been forced to find other fields for their employment. The labors of our lawyers have been mostly confined to the ordinary legal demands common to every well-regulated business community. Their success, therefore, has depended largely upon their talents as counselors and financiers. The conditions among us have been such as to produce a class of sound, well-read, thoroughly-posted lawyers, rather than brilliant orators or subtle pleaders, -"qualities more demanded in communities of less enter¬ prise and looser morals.

That the legal profession is as ready to fight as to plead, the records of Elgin lawyers in the role of military men and patriots, abundantly prove.

Two-thirds of the number named in the foregoing history, that were not too young to enlist, have seen service, viz. : one in the Mexican war, and nineteen in the late unpleasantness. Eighteen of the latter were, of course, in the Union ranks, and one, to give variety, in the Confederate army. But now that the wars are over, our census points to a very pacific period indeed. Less than a dozen lawyers now attend to the legal wants of as many thousand people in this city and the surrounding country.

Verily the millenium cannot be very far off, when there is only one legal wolf to lie down with a thousand lambs. " And a little child shall lead them."

The Merchants Of Elgin

The first attempt to supply the mercantile wants of the people of Elgin and vicinity, was made by a Mr. Storrs, in 1836 or 1837, who opened a small store in the building now occupied by J. B. Newcomb on Center street. He was succeeded in the same building by V. S. Lovell, John S. Calvert, Wm. C. Kimball and others.

Mr. Kimball brought on his first general stock of merchandise about 1838, and soon after removed to his new store on the west side of the river, which is still standing directly north of Lasher's hotel, and continued his mercan¬ tile business until 1858. In 1847 he built the stone mill on the west side of the river ; in 1852 the Waverly house, and in 1872 his late residence, all of them monuments of his enterprise.

A new, and for that time extensive, store was opened about 1838 by 8. N. Dexter, of Whitesboro, N. Y., and B. W. Raymond, of Chicago, under the firm of B. W. Raymond & Co. It was under the direction of Harvey Ray¬ mond (a brother of G.. B.), who died instantly in the store in 1842. The building occupied by this firm was on the southwest corner of DuPage and Center streets, being the house which still stands on that corner. In the fall of 1842 they removed to their new brick store on Chicago street, now occupied by Stewart Brothers as a bakery, where they remained until they closed business in 1851.

In the early days of Elgin, most of the firms kept general assortments, consisting of dry goods, groceries, crockery, hardware, boots and shoes, drugs and medicines, etc., etc., but within a few years after its settlement, they commenced making specialties of certain classes. Some of the prin¬ cipal merchants in the several departments, since 1843, have been as fol¬ lows :

Demarcus Clark & Co. commenced about 1844, in a small building which stood on the now vacant lot on Chicago street, owned by L. H. Yarwood. They afterwards moved to Hubbard's corner, and then to the south side of the street, where they continued business until about 1854.

About 1846 Dr. Erastus Tefilt erected the building now occupied by the Star Market, on the south side of Chicago street, where he sold goods for several years. On closing business here he removed to Clintonville, and subsequently to Topeka, Kansas, where he still resides.

Cornell & Wilder commenced business in 1850 in Mehan's building, near the City hotel ; removed in 1852 to a wooden building, which stood where Bruckman's block now is, and afterward, until 1861, sold dry goods in one of the blocks on the south side of Chicago street, part of the time in con¬ nection with F. L. McClure. They are now in the furniture business on Market Square.

Hanson & Ransom were in business from February, 1846 to February, 1847, in the building then standing on the northeast corner of Chicago street and Douglas avenue. They were succeeded in the same building by M. C. Town, who, after two years, removed to his new store opposite. Mr. Town engaged in the banking business in 1851, in which he continued until 1858, and embarked in it again in 1862.

In connection with this reference to banking, it may be proper to say that in 1855 Mr. O. Davidson opened a banking office in Mehan's wooden building, near the Fox River R. R. He afterward purchased the comer where the Home National bank now is, and for a time did business in a wooden building on that site. In 1860 he built the Bank block ; in October, 1861, the Home bank wTas organized, and in August, 1872, it was changed to Home National bank.

After Mr. Town changed his business, his store was occupied by Harvey & Dearbon, Henry Brooks, Huntley & Hamilton, Calvert & McAuleys, Adler, Schults & Todson, and perhaps others, until it was burned in the spring of 1874.

Timothy Lynch commenced business, in a small way, on the west side, in 1848, which in a few years became quite extensive, and continued so until his death in 1873. He erected the block of three large brick stores just west of the bridge.

In 1858 Todd & McNeil erected a store on the corner of Chicago and River streets, wThere Weld's drug store now stands. It was built over the mill-race, as that formerly continued across Chicago street, and united with the river again at a point near where the DuBois block now stands. This store was occupied by them for six years and then sold to Calvin Tyler, who used it for a drug store until it was burned a few years after. Todd and the McNeils sold groceries and dry goods in various buildings for several years, and then went into business in Chicago.

Wm. G. Hubbard commenced business on the northeast corner of Chi¬ cago street and Douglas avenue in 1851 and closed in 1861. He wras suc¬ ceeded soon after by Newman & Innes, afterward John Newman, who occupied the store until the great fire, March 23, 1874, and now occupies the rebuilt one on the same lot.

In the earlier days of Elgin business was done for several years by R. L. Yarwood, deceased, in a building known as the factory store, a part of which is now occupied by Mr. Eakin as a grocery. He was succeeded for a short time by his son, J. R. Yarwood.

The first hardware store in Elgin was opened by J. B. Smith, about 1847. He had previously done something in a small way in the tin and sheet iron business. Before this no tin ware or stove pipe cpuld be procured nearer than Chicago. The firm was subsequently Smith & Clark (both of whom are now dead), -who sold to James A. Carlisle and Geo. Bowers.

E. A. Kimball commenced the hardware trade on the west side in 1849. He was succeeded, in 1861, by Barclay & Holmes, they selling to M. Mallery & Co. After a residence in California, E. A. Kimball again commenced business in the same store, and in 1869 again sold out to N. & H. C. Rogers, and they to Hawthorne & Bosworth, in 1872. After another vacation, Mr. Kimball resumed business at the old place, in 1874, in connection with John Nish.

The first drug store in Elgin was opened by O. E. Parmerlee about 1845, succeeded by A. C. Lewis and Lewis by L. H. Yarwood and others, and finally by Kelley & Hart.

St. A. D. Balcomb (now of Omaha, Neb.,) commenced the drug business at an early day in the building now owned by Wm. Barker, afterward removing to Sherman block. He was succeeded by Henry Sherman, and Mr. Sherman by R. & S. E. Weld.

James Knott was probably the pioneer in the exclusive grocery trade. He did a successful business on the northwest corner of Chicago and River streets, from which he retired a few years ago, and died in 1874.

W. C. Attix and Gardner & Harris were also in the grocery business at an early day, and occupied the building now owned by Dr. Tyrrell, on Chicago street.

The first merchant tailor and clothing store was established by S. McOs* ker, in 1855, who, after conducting a successful business for many years, died in 1874.

Geo. B. Raymond opened his hat, cap and crockery store in 1852. He had previously been one of the firm of B. W. Raymond & Co., and is now in the lumber business. The first lumber yard was opened by his brother, Augustine Raymond, deceased, in 1850, and after two years this was con¬ tinued by G. B. for nine years, in connection with his hat and crockery business.

With the exception of Calvin Hall, who worked both at carpentering and watch repairing, Wm. Barker is the oldest jeweler in the city, commencing in 1845, and still continuing.

The first regular and permanent book store was established in 1861, by Howe & Clark, succeeded by Rev. N. C. Clark, I. S. Bartlett, and Denison & Burdick, the present proprietors. Smith & Kelsey were in the same business for a year or two, and closed in 1873.

History Of Elgent

Edgar Wait and G. W. Kimball were among the earliest furniture deal¬ ers, succeeded by Tichenor & Phelps, P. VanNostrand, E. S. Wilcox and S. D. Wilder. G. W. Kimball was in this business longer than any one else.

Bernard Healy opened a harness shop in 1842, and still continues it. He has been in business longer than any other man in Elgin. Next to him is Wm. Barker, and the third is Geo. B. Raymond, who was a partner in the firm of S. N. Dexter & Co., as early as August, 1846. The fourth in point of time of those who are still in business, is Geo. B. Adams. He opened a grocery in a wooden building, where his brick store now stands, in 1849, and changed to his present occupation in 1855.

The limits of this article forbid more than a mere mention of other old merchants of Elgin. Among them were J. Parker, R. M. Martin, S. A. French, Swan & Bailey, E. W. Cook, L. S. Stowe, John Shanks, C. H. Coffee, Mrs. Clifford, Fay, Ward & Eaton, Eugene Lynch, James Christie, C. Bachrack, Adler Brothers, F. Ferhman, Fred Stolt, Hemmens & Jones, Lynn & Cassidy, M. B. Baldwin, G. H. Merrill, W. W. Merrill, Eakin & Co., Lewis & Westerman, J. M. Peyton, W. H. Batchelor, Fred Seitz, P. J. Kimball, R. S. Tickner & Son, James H. Gifford, J. J. White, and others, whose names do not occur to us.

The present merchants of Elgin are honorable and energetic men, and as they are patronized, not only by the citizens of the place but by those of surrounding townships, most of them are doing well and securing a compe¬ tence. We do not even mention their names, except those referred to as among the older ones, but trust that some future historian will preserve a memory of them, as we have endeavored to do of their predecessors.

The Mechanics Of Elgin

Our special article in relation to the most numerous class of our popula¬ tion will be one of the briefest, partly from the difficulty of obtaining accu¬ rate information, and partly because where there are so many we can not even name all of them. But although unnamed by us the monuments of their industry and skill are seen on every street of the city, and to no class is Elgin more indebted for its growth and prosperity than to its mechanics. We can only allude to a few who were first on the ground and who aided in the erection of some of the first buildings, a part of which remain, while others have given place to more costly and imposing structures.

The first carpenter who wielded the hammer and shoved the plane in Elgin, so far as we are informed, was a man named Barnum, who, in 1836, built a store for Storrs & Bean - the first framed building in the city - on the

Wm. S. Shaw came in the fall of 1836, and was the first carpenter who made Elgin his permanent residence. His first work was to build a store for Vincent Lovell, being the house now occupied by J. B. Newcomb. He also made the first coffin ever required in Elgin, being for the body of Mary Ann Kimball, sister of P. J. Kimball, Jr. In 1837 Mr. J. T. Gifford donated to Mr. Shaw a lot on the northeast corner of Chicago and Center streets, on condition that he would build a house thereon, and he soon after commenced the erection of the "Elgin House," which is still standing on that lot, though very much altered and improved. He also purchased the three lots next east of this, and on one of them erected the first framed barn on the Galena road, west of Chicago. In 1838 Mr. Shaw built for Jason House the dwelling on Center street, now owned by Joseph Hemmens. It was finished off for a store and occupied as such for a year or two by a Mr. Campbell from Aurora.

In this year Abel Walker and Lewis Ray made their appearance here as carpenters, and L. C. Stiles in 1839. After a few years Mr. Walker changed his occupation to that of undertaker, and for some time was the principal, if not the only one, in the place. Mr. Stiles has probably spent more years in the business than any other person here. Some of .his first work was on the house now occupied by Geo. B. Raymond, which was built in 1839 for James T. Gifford, who, until that time, had occupied a log house, which stood in Prairie street, near the west end of the small triangular park, nearly opposite, and the cellar of which was visible until it was filled up in 1874.

Horace Benham and L. S. Eaton, carpenters, came about 1840 or 1841, but although still residents of the place, neither of them have worked at the business for several years past.

Elgin's first mason was Benjamin Burritt, who arrived here Feb. 12, 1838, and is still a resident of the place, vigorous and active in his eightieth year. One of his first jobs was to build for G. W. Renwick the brick blacksmith shop, which stood on the present site of the Universalist church, and said to be the first of its kind in the county. In 1839 he built a brick residence for Burgess Truesdell, which is still standing on the grounds of Henry Sher¬ man, and so propitious was the weather that he commenced on the 10th of March, and did not lose but two or three days until it was finished, in July following. In 1844 he laid down the trowel and engaged in other business, and for nearly twenty years next previous to 1874 was an acting justice of the peace.

Other early masons were Ralph Grow, Artemas Hewitt, C. Stevens and Artemas Grow. But the man who has laid more bricks and stones in Elgin than any other is Thomas Martin. He came here in 1843, and with the exception of a year or two spent in Montana, has worked at his trade ever since.

wick and Samuel Hunting. Mr. House is thought to have had the priority in point of time, though it is possible that one was employed for a short time by the late Samuel J. Kimball before he arrived. At first Mr. House worked in a log shop on the present site of Bank block, so low that he could not stand erect in it at the sides. Subsequently he built a small framed shop on or near the site of Bosworth & Pierce's block, which he occupied until it was burned in 1840, and then erected a brick shop on the property now owned by B. W. Staniforth on Chicago street.

G. W. Renwick built, as early as 1838, the brick blacksmith shop on Center street, before alluded to, which he occupied until about 1843, when he removed to his new stone building on River street, in which the postoffice is now located. For many years he carried on a very extensive business in blacksmithing, wagon and carriage making, etc.

Alfred Hadlock, the first millwright, came in 1839, and worked on some of the first mills erected in Elgin. He afterward engaged quite extensively in the manufacture of threshing machines.

Philo Sylla was not properly a mechanic, but an inventor. His inven¬ tions naturally connected him with mechanical employments, and we notice him here. He invented an improvement in reaping and mowing machines, by which they could be adapted to uneven ground, and by which the sicklebar could be raised and lowered. It is said that the first reaping machine in the United States, on the platform of which grain could be bound, was built in Elgin by him. Mr. Sylla came to the vicinity in 1838, to the village in 1842, and died a few years ago respected by all.

We are not sure whether Hon. Augustus Adams was a regular mechanic, but he engaged in mechanical pursuits, and with Hadlock, Sylla and others, made the west side of Fountain Square, where now are some of our best business blocks, a busy place. In their foundries and shops, the hum of industry was heard all day long, and the water of the race, which then passed through their grounds, propelled a great amount of labor-saving machinery. For several years Mr. Adams has been at the head of a large manufacturing establishment at Sandwich, Illinois, and has probably been of greater value to the business interests of that place than any other man.

P. J. Kimball, Jr., the first tailor of Elgin, was here as early as 1837, and worked in a log house near his present residence. This residence, a store on Chicago street and the Kimball house, are mementoes of his labor and enterprise.

Edgar Wait, the first cabinet maker, came about 1838, and built a shop on River street, nearly opposite the woolen factory. In 1840 he removed to Waukegan.

G. W. Kimball came to this place in 1840, and opened on the west side. With the exception of a short time, he has made or sold furniture ever since.

It has already been intimated that many of the first buildings in Elgin were of brick, and of course there must have been a brick-maker. The honor of being the first manufacturer of these useful materials belongs to a man named E. A. Miltimore, whose yard was near the corner of River and Eulton streets. The gold of California attracted him thither at an early day, but he was killed by the Indians before reaching the Eldorado.

We should be glad to notice scores of other mechanics and the monu¬ ments of their skill, but want of space forbids. " Their works do praise them."

The Solid Men Of Elgin Eleven Years Ago

Below we give, as a matter of curiosity and interest, the incomes for 1864, on which the five per cent, special war tax was paid by such of our citizens as were supposed to be liable to it. It will be remembered that $600 of income were exempt from taxation, as well as sundry payments for repairs, taxes, etc., so that the amount set opposite the names is only the excess above exemptions. There were undoubtedly many others wdiose income rendered them liable to taxation, but who escaped by the neglect of the assessor, or the evasions of ttemselves :

Twenty Years Ago

In 1855, when the population of Elgin was about 3,000, a map of the city was published by Thomas Doran, to which the names and employments of those subscribing for it were appended. The list embraces a large share of the then prominent business men of Elgin, and we republish it for the grat¬ ification of our older citizens, who will remember them. The list shows how rapidly the business men of a place are changed by death, removal, or retire¬ ment. It contains 140 names, of whom only about fifty now reside here, and of these only about fifteen are in the same business that they were twenty years ago.

The map is embellished with cuts of six of the best buildings then in the place, viz. : the Elgin Academy, or College, as it was called, the Waverly house, the Kimball house, the woolen factory, the old Baptist church, and one of the old three-story blocks on the south side of Chicago street, in which was the store of J. J. White and the daguerrean rooms of R. W. Padelford. The city was then quite circumscribed, compared with its present dimensions, and much of what is now occupied by beautiful resi¬ dences, was then farming or pasture land. This was especially the case with the region around the watch factory and fair grounds, the farm of L. Mudge (since John Webb's), and the Lovell farm on the east side, and those since owned by the heirs of S. J. Kimball and Homer Hendee, on the west side.

H. B. Annis, produce merchant ; Hon. A. Adams, farmer and merchant ; Thomas Avery, miller; Dr. G. S. Abbott ; D. W. Bangs, nurseryman ; I. N. Buck, auctioneer ; D. F. Barclay, tinsmith ; B. Burritt, street commissioner ; A. Barrows, architect and builder ; Peter Burritt, farmer, Hanover, Cook county; J. W. Brewster, farmer ; John Bowlin, farmer; Lyman Black ; H. A. Chase, Waverly House ; City Council ; Cornell, Wilder & Co., City Gem ; Alvah Chandler, machinist ; C. A. Clark, cloth fiuisher ; S. A. Call, archi¬ tect; James H. Crawford, carpenter and joiner; Geo. Clarkson; E. K. W. Cornell, City Gem ; D. M. Cole, boot and shoe store ; John Connor, black¬ smith ; Charles S. Clark, hardware merchant ; Martin Coney, millwright ; Demarcus Clark, merchant; E. F. Colby, attorney-at-law and vender of real estate ; S. Newton Dexter, proprietor woolen factory ; Dexter & Co., leather manufacturers ; Alex. Denis, carpenter and joiner ; Michael Dougherty, farmer and produce merchant ; L. S. Eaton ; A. B. Fish & Co., merchants ; J. Force, machinist; G. W. French, farmer; John Forlarcher, carpenter and joiner ; Miss Harriet E. Gifford ; S. A. Gregory, carriage and wagon manufacturer ; James H. Gilford, produce merchant; P. H. Graves, saleratus and baking powder manufacturer ; Daniel Gahan, tanner; Joseph

Gardner, sea captain ; Edm'd Gifford, Esq., attorney and solicitor, general land agent, notary public, commissioner for Iowa, etc. ; Geo. P. Harvey, produce merchant; W. Holloway, merchant; John H. Harris, merchant; George Hassan, drayman and carrier ; A. S. Harpending, livery stables ; A. Hadlock, threshing machine manufacturer ; Wm. G. Hubbard, merchant ; .A. Hoagland, lumber merchant ; J. W. Hoagland, lumber merchant ; Joseph Hutchinson, mason and builder; A. Hewitt, mason and builder; C. S. Hadlock, machinist ; S. H. Hamilton, merchant ; A. B. Hinsdell, farmer ; Ezra Hanson, farmer; Rev. A. J. Joslyn, pastor Baptist church; E. S. Joslyn, attorney at law ; Wm. C. Kimball, merchant and vender of real estate ; P. J. Kimball, Jr., vender of real estate ; P. J. Kimball, Sr., farmer ; S. J. Kimball, farmer ; G. W. Kimball, cabinet and chair manufacturer ; J. C. Kennedy, hardware merchant ; Dr. Thos. Kerr, physician and surgeon ; James Knott, merchant; B. P. Lawrence, distiller; Seth Lobdell, machinist ; Timothy Lynch, merchant and leather manufacturer ; J. Lyman, printer and publisher Kane County Journal; G. W. Morse, machinist; Wm. F. Munay, cloth finisher ; R. G. Morgan, civil engineer ; John Mann, car¬ penter and joiner; A. J. Messenger, wagon and plow shop ; G. H. Merrill, agent Galena & Chicago Union railroad ; Wm. W. Merrill, butcher ; John McDowell, blacksmith ; T. McBride, produce and lumber merchant ; S. Mc- Osker, merchant tailor ; John D. Meehan, merchant tailor ; Manning & Barnum, merchants ; R. O. Old, book and news depot, east end bridge ; Daniel O'Brien ; E. Owen, editor ; R. W. Padelford, daguerrean artist ; Phelps & Tichenor, furniture warerooms ; John J. Paris, miller ; C. K. Patterson, fruit gardener ; J. E. Phelps, proprietor livery stables ; L. T. Pembec, mechanic ; E. F. Reeves, mason and builder; Milo Smith, chief engineer and superintendent Fox River Valley railroad ; L. C. Stiles, machinist ; J. B. Smith, hardware merchant ; George Smith, weaver ; John

B. Smith, engineer ; Philo Sylla, manufacturer reapers and mowers ; T. Schoonhoven, farmer; S. B. Sexton, proprietor livery and sale stable ; M. Strausell, proprietor Fox River House ; Isaac Stoddard, carriage and black¬ smith shop ; C. C. Stiles, farmer and builder ; Fred. Seitz, merchant tailor ; M. D. Seward; Wm. Saunders, grocer and provision dealer; R. Smith, merchant; James S. Taylor, Esq., justice of the peace; J. F. Taylor, boot and shoe dealer, east end bridge ; B. Truesdell, proprietor Elgin nursery and garden; Dr. A. Turner, physician and surgeon; Charles Tazewell, brewer ; M. C. Town, banker ; James Todd, lumber merchant and farmer ; Wm. G. Todd, merchant and proprietor planing mill and sash factory ; C.

Twenty-Four Years Ago

The following letter, written by one of the publishers of this history, for the Kenosha Telegraph, in 1851, will give some idea of Elgin as it appeared to a visitor when it was sixteen years old :

" Mr. Editor : The river which rises a few miles northwest of Mil¬ waukee, and flows so tardily to the state line, and through McHenry county, Illinois, begins, as it approaches the line of Kane county, to move more rapidly onward. Its haste to reach its destination continues through nearly the entire length of the county, affording water power which already pro¬ pels a large amount of machinery, and may be made to propel much more. The river passes in nearly a straight course from north to south through the eastern part of the county, lined on each side by a narrow strip of woods, beyond which the high, rolling prairie, dotted as it is by well cultivated farms and comfortable dwellings, presents an appearance which beauty's self might envy. Six of the numerous mill-seats on the river are the nuclei of as many villages, distant from each other, on an average, less than five miles. With such a water power within them, and such a beautiful and fertile country around them, it is not strange that Kane county has reason to be proud of its villages. All of them are within about thirty-five miles of Chicago. All but one are connected with that city by railroad, and thus have daily or semi-daily communication with it. Four of them have news¬ papers - a larger number, probably, than are issued in any other county in the state, with the exception of the one embracing Chicago.

"The most northern of the Kane county villages, on Fox river, is Dundee, which, as its name would indicate, has a large sprinkling of Scotch inhabitants in and around it. It lacks that appearance of thrift and enter¬ prise which mark its sister villages further south - and as the iron horse is not to visit it, its future prospects are not the brightest. Its present popula¬ tion is about 800, with the usual proportion of churches, schools, etc.

" Five miles further down is Elgin, containing about 2,000 inhabitants. One of the first settlers and principal founders of this place was James T. Gifford, whose lamented death occurred last summer. To no man is Elgin more indebted, and long will her citizens regret their loss. Mr. Gifford lived to see a beautiful village of 2,000 inhabitants on a spot which, when first visited by him, some fifteen years since, had just been vacated by the wild Indian. He also lived to realize that much depends upon the influence exerted on an embryo village, and to have cause for gratulation that the influence which he and his co-pioneers brought to bear on Elgin while society was in its forming state there, was Christian. Few places can boast of better society than this village. The number and strength of its evan¬ gelical churches - the number of houses erected for the worship of Jehovah, and the interest felt in the subject of education which, whatever may be said to the contrary, are the true indices of the state of society, speak an unequivocal language in favor of Elgin. The scarcity of grog-shops pro¬ claim as unequivocally that here King Alcohol is not an absolute monarch.

" The Congregationalists, Calvanistic Baptists, Free Will Baptists, Meth¬ odists and Unitarians, each have church edifices - all of them respectable in appearance, and some of them large and attractive.

"For several years there was published at this place a religious paper called The Western Christian, and designed to be the organ of the anti-slavery Baptists. This has recently been removed to Utica, New York, where it is now published. It is succeeded by The Elgin Gazette, a paper not denomina¬ tional nor exclusively religious, but which, nevertheless, exerts a good moral influence.

" A large two-story brick school house indicates the interest taken in the subject of education here. In addition to this an effort was made some two years since, by the Free Will Baptists, to establish a college at this place, and some $5,000 was subscribed by the citizens toward the erection of a building. A noble structure has been commenced, but the work has been suspended in consequence of a lack of funds, and the building seems likely for the present to remain in statu quo.

" The Elgin woolen factory is a large establishment of the kind, which adds materially to the business and to the appearance of the place. Near this establishment a splendid brick store 75 or 100 feet long, has been erected during the past season, and during the coming season a block containing eight or ten others of like dimensions is to be erected in proximity to it. Some idea maybe formed from these facts of the growth of the place. The rapidity of its present growth may be attributed in a great measure to the passage through it of the Chicage & Galena railroad.

" Elgin, like other Fox river villages in the county, is divided by the stream, and each of its sections is striving for the ascendant. The railroad was at first constructed to east Elgin, with the expectation that if it did not cross there it would cross at some point above. The directors have, however, since decided to leave the present track some distance east of the village and cross two or three miles below. The road will then be con¬ structed to the section of the village lying west of the river, where a depot will be erected. This will probably cause the road between east Elgin and the Junction to be unused, and will transfer much of the business of the place from the east to the west side of the stream. A natural consequence of the location of the depot, is an increase in the value of village lots on the west side."

We are indebted to J. B. Newcomb, Esq. (who spent about ten days in procuring the information), for the following list of residents of our city and township who died while in military service during the war of the rebel¬ lion. The list embraces the names of sixty-six persons, who, but for this unjustifiable rebellion, might now be honored and useful citizens ; and the loss of these men is only part of our sacrifice. God grant that we may never have another civil war, or, indeed, any other one :

The Fox River

In Waukesha county, Wisconsin, a few miles southwest of Milwaukee, one may step across a rivulet, which unites with others, and flowing south¬ ward the blended streams become known as Fox river. Continuing its southward course, the river unites with the Illinois at Ottawa, and the latter with the Mississippi a few miles above Alton ; so that the rivulets and rivers referred to finally mingle with the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, while those rising but a few miles from their source find their way to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. But our noble Fox river is able to perform much valuable serv¬ ice before it reaches the Illinois, and this is the reason why its banks are so thickly studded with beautiful villages and thriving cities - the reason why Elgin is where it is and the reason why our readers are where they are, if citizens of the place. The beautiful Fox meanders but a few miles from Waukesha county before it is compelled to u work its passage," and thence¬ forward, almost to its mouth, it encounters mill-dams and water-wheels in rapid succession. Wherever these have been erected a village or city has sprung up, in which are heard the hum of machinery and the voices of busy people. In each of these places are one or more flouring mills, and in some of them woolen factories, paper mills, foundries, machine shops, etc., etc. We can only name them in the order in which they are found in passing southward, viz. : Waterford, Rochester, Burlington, McHenry, Algonquin, Carpenterville, Dundee, Elgin, Clintonville or South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Aurora, Montgomery, Oswego, Bristol and Yorkville (on opposite side of the river), and Millington.

Nearly, or quite all, of these places have railroads - some of them two or three - and as the Fox river valley is one of the most delightful and fertile in the world, it is not surprising that the people who inhabit it are wealthy, and the villages which they support flourishing. But without the beneficent river, which we have hastily noticed, this splendid region would be like the play of Hamlet, with the part of Hamlet left out.

The county of Kane, although among those last settled in Illinois, is now one of the most populous and wealthy in the State. It derives its name from Hon. Elias K. Kane, one of the early and prominent citizens and poli¬ ticians of southern Illinois. Prior to 1836, the territory from the present north line of LaSalle county to the Wisconsin line, and from what was then Cook county, on the east, to what was Jo Daviess county, on the west, was a part of LaSalle county. In the winter of 183,5-36, the legislature passed an act by which the present territory of Kane and DeKalb counties, and the three north townships of Kendall, were laid off into a county and denom¬ inated Kane. In the winter of 1836-7, the west half of Kane was appropri- ated to an organization denominated DeKalb county, and subsequently the three southern townships were allotted to Kendall county, leaving Kane with its present area - eighteen miles wide by thirty long, and embracing fifteen townships. It contains 540 square miles or 345,000 acres. The present population of the county is about 45,000.

The government surveys of Kane county took place in 1839 and '40, and the lands came into market in 1842. In the early days of Illinois, the local government was mainly by counties, though they were divided into election precincts for the convenience of voting, etc. In 1850, this precinct arrange¬ ment was abandoned in Kane county, and township organization and gov¬ ernment took their place.

The first actual settler in Kane county was Christopher Payne, from North Carolina, who arrived with his family in October, 1833, and located one mile east of Batavia. He made his journey from Carolina with an oxteam. Col. Nathaniel Lyon and Oapt. C. B. Dodson settled near Batavia in the spring of 1834, there being only five other families in the county at that time. During the summer and fall, some forty families located along Fox river, among whom were Messrs. Haight, Joseph and Samuel McCarty, Aldrich, Yarule venter, How, McKee, Town, Churchill, Miles, Wm. and John Van Nortwick, Ira Minard, and James Herrington. At this time the country now embraced by Kane county was in possession of the Pottawat¬ tamie Indians - the wigwam of Waubansie, their chief, being a little north of Aurora, but most of them were soon after removed beyond the Mississippi. The first store and saw-mill in the county were built by C. B. Dodson, in the summer of 1834, at Clybourneville, one mile south of Batavia. The first flouring-mill was erected in Batavia in 1837 by Mr. M. Boardman, and was followed the same year by another at Aurora, built by the Messrs. McCarty. Up to this time the nearest flouring mills were at Ottawa. The first school in the county was held in a log cabin on Col. Lyon's claim, one mile east of Batavia, and was taught by a Mr. Knowles, from Vermont, with an average attendance of nine scholars. The first church was organized in Batavia in

1835. The first post office was established at Geneva, or Herrington's Ford, in 1835, and called La Fox, James Herrington being postmaster. The first celebration of the Fourth of July is said to have taken place in Elgin in

1836. The year following, S. S. Jones, Esq., delivered his celebrated ora¬ tion on the Fourth of July, to eleven hearers. The first white child of Kane county was Dodson Vandeventer, born in the "Big Woods," October 10, 1834. The first sermon preached in the county was by the Rev. N. C. Clark, at the residence of Christopher Payne, the first settler, as early as August, 1834. Indeed, Mr. Clark might well have been styled the pastor of the entire Kane county settlement for several years, and was truly one of the pioneer preachers of this region. The first newspaper in Kane county, was pub¬ lished at St. Charles in the fall of 1841, by John Thomas. It was styled the "St. Charles Patriot ," afterwards the Fox River Advocate and Kane County

Herald. The paper was burned out in 1842, but Ira Minard went to Hen¬ nepin, on the Illinois river, with two teams, and purchased a press and material, so that the paper was continued as the Fox River Advocate , edited by D. D. Waite.

The following extract from a letter to the Genesee Evangelist, in 1848, will give the impressions of a traveler with regard to Kane county twenty-seven years ago, and also the population of some of the villages of the county at that time :

" This county lies north of Kendall and west of DuPage, and if any preference can be given among so many counties, all of which are so beau¬ tiful and so fertile, that preference must be given to Kane. I think, after taking all things into consideration, that I may safely pronounce it the best county in the state. Although the prairie land predominates, it is inter¬ spersed with valuable groves, containing timber sufficient for fuel, fencing and building for years to come.

" Most of the county is within a day's drive of the lake, thus enjoying a proximity to market not possessed by counties further west. The new rail¬ road from Chicago to Galena passes directly through it and affords a ready communication at all times with Chicago. But its magnificent river, which supplies so much water power and propels so much machinery, adds mate¬ rially to the wealth and business of the county. This is Fox river, which rises in Wisconsin, a few miles west of Milwaukee, and empties into the Illinois at Ottawa. After running twenty or thirty miles from its source, and before entering the state of Illinois it becomes sluggish, and for most of the way has too little fall to propel machinery with much power. By the time, however, that it reaches the north part of Kane county, its descent is more rapid and it rolls on in a broad channel and nearly a straight course through the whole length of the county (about thirty miles), affording many valuable mill sites. On ascending or descending the river, the traveler passes, once in every five miles, on an average, a thriving village, divided by the stream, until he reaches the sixth before leaving the county. Each of these villages contains one or more flouring mills. A short distance north of the south line of the county is Aurora, containing some 1,000 or 1,200 inhabitants. Seven miles north of here is Batavia, a place somewhat smaller than Aurora. Like its sister villages, it is separated by the channel of water which propels its machinery. A small island divides the river as it passes through the village. Two miles north of Batavia is Geneva, the shire town of Kane county, although it is the smallest of its villages. Two miles fur¬ ther on is St. Charles, containing some 1,200 or 1,500 inhabitants. A paper mill has been erected here and is now in operation, being the only one in northern Illinois. Ten miles north of St. Charles is Elgin, the largest and prettiest village in Kane county. The state of society here is good and the country around beautiful and fertile, thus making Elgin one of the most delightful places in the world for a residence. Proceeding five miles northio8 ward we reached Dundee, the last of the Kane county villages. The place contains some 600 inhabitants, and as its Scotch name would indicate, has several Scotch families in and around it. L."

The State Of Illinois

" Illinois the magnificent," was the expression of Horace Greeley, many years ago, as he gazed on the beautiful landscape of the prairie state, and penned a letter in relation to it for the Tribune . " Illinois the magnificent " has been the spontaneous expression of many others, as they have ridden over its broad prairies and through its charming groves and crossed its noble rivers and visited its thriving villages. It was settled by the French at Cahokia and Kaskaskia, nearly 200 years ago, but its principal development has been within the present century, and that of the northern half within the last fifty years. It is the empire state of the great west. It is larger than England and seven times as large as Massachusetts. Its popula¬ tion is about 3,500,000, which is rapidly increasing. It has about 4,000 miles of navigable rivers in and around it, and about the same number of miles of railroad, crossing the state in every direction. This is one mile of railroad to about fourteen square miles of territory, while France has one mile to about twenty-six square miles of territory. Illinois has about five times as much railroad as France in proportion to population, and three times as much as Great Britain. The coal fields of Illinois are three or four times as extensive as those of Great Britain, and its lead and other mines, as well as its arable lands, are sources of great wealth. About 150,000,000 bushels of corn are produced annually, and its other agricultural products are enor¬ mous. Its principal city has probably become the greatest grain and stock market in the world. More stock was received at her yards diming a recent year than in the three cities of St. Louis, Cincinnati and Milwaukee com¬ bined.

In the state are about thirty colleges, with 4,000 students. It has about 1,200 schools, with 21,000 teachers and 800,000 pupils, and a school revenue of about $8,000,000 per annum.

Its eleemosynary institutions are an honor to the state, and in them the insane, the blind, the dumb and others are well cared for. The benevo¬ lence of the people of Illinois is honorable to their heads and their hearts, and compares well with that of the people of surrounding states. In*the reports of the national benevolent societies, Illinois is almost always far ahead. Indeed, for several years the remittances from this state to one of these national societies were about equal to those from the six surrounding states combined. Such is a bird's-eye view of the state in which we live and of which we may well be proud. And yet it is only in its infancy. It is capable of sustaining a population of 50,000,000, and when the hum of busy industry shall fully develop its capabilities, our descendants may be part of that number who shall then inhabit it.

Frank W. Raymond

Elgin Hook and Laddr Company - Thirty-five members. - Foreman - E. W. King. First Assistant Foreman - A. Gustason. Second Assistant Foreman - E. K. Allen. Secretary - Edward U. Taylor. Treasurer - John L. Kee. Truck Keeper - James Mallett. Meets at Truck House on Spring street.

George S. Bowen Extinguisher Company - Fourteen members. - Foreman - Del. W. Rogers. Assistant Foreman - John V. Schaller. Secre¬ tary and Treasurer - W. McComb. Truck Keeper - George Schaller. Meet at Truck House on Spring street.

Public Square - East side Chapel, between DuPage and Fulton streets. Also triangular parks at the intersection of Prairie and Villa streets, and of Dundee and Center streets.

Public Schools

High School - Northwest corner of Kimball and Center streets, - Miss A. A. Clement, principal : Miss Flora Pennell, assistant intermediate depart¬ ment; Miss E. M. Sprague, teacher of primary department; Miss Nellie Browning and Miss N. M. Duhy, teachers.

Old Brick School - Northeast comer of DuPage and Chapel streets. - Grammar Department - Miss A. J. Kendall, principal, Miss C. B. Seaman, assistant ; Intermediate department - Miss Fannie Hunt, teacher ; Prima¬ ry department - Miss Cecil C. Harvey, teacher.

DuPage Street School - Northeast corner of DuPage and Geneva streets. - Grammar department - Miss S. F. Lawrence, principal, Miss Kate Frazer, assistant ; Intermediate department - Miss S. E. Murphy, teacher; Primary department - Miss M. B. Kimball, teacher.

North School - Northwest corner of Brook and Cherry streets. - Intermediate department - Mrs. R. T. Greene, teacher ; Primary department - Miss Julia Allen, teacher.

Northwest School - Northeast corner of Mill and Jackson streets. - Intermediate department - Miss DeEtta Perron, teacher ; Primary departmeet - Mrs. Sarah J. Smith, teacher.

Southwest School - South side of Locust street, between Moseley and State streets. - Intermediate department - Mrs. C. M. Jennings, teacher; Primary department - Mrs. H. M. O'Neil, teacher.

Elgin Agricultural Society

Fair Grounds - North side of Enterprise street, east of Dundee road. George P. Harvey, president ; C. C. Church, vice president ; M. H. Thompson, secretary ; E. D. Waldron, treasurer.