Erin Township

Erin Township

Originally one of the largest townships in the county, Erin is now one of the smallest, owing to a division of its territory by order of the Board of Supervisors, which assigned its west half to Kent Township, at a meeting convened March 17, 1856, reducing its dimensions so as to comprehend but half the usual township limits. The division of the township caused intense feeling on the part of residents within the original survey, as they were not only deprived of the superior wood and water advantages previously enjoyed, but subjected to other inconveniences and hardships.

Notwithstanding this alleged inequity, Erin township is one of the more prosperous in the county, inhabited by a class of people notably efl&cient, industrious and enterprising and liberal in every undertaking calculated to promote the general welfare.

The surface of the ground is rolling, and a smaller proportion of prairie exists than in other towns. The openings are of an excellent quality of land, and peculiarly adapted to the growth of wheat, large quantities of which are raised during the year. The timber is not heavy, and the labor of clearing very trifling. A large number of springs are to be found in the town, also a limited number of stone quarries, furnishing material for building purposes.

A portion of the town was settled by a colony of Irish farmers at an early day, hence the name ; many of the descendants of these pioneers still live in a settlement known as "Dublin," and furnish abundant evidence of the success that attends industry and attention to the business of life.

The first settlers of Erin Township are those who, also identified with the settlement of that portion of Erin afterward apportioned to Kent, are mentioned in connection with the history of that township. They include 0. W. Kellogg, James Timms, Jesse Willet and others. Among those who settled in the section reserved to Erin proper when the division already cited was made, and that among the first, were Bartholomew Boyle and Michael Murphey, the former on the present site of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and the latter one mile distant therefrom. Valorus Thomas is said to have come in 1837, and settled on the line between Harlem and Erin. James Fowler John Fiddler, John B. Kauflfman, Peter Vansickle, George W. Babbitt, Jonas and Palmer Pickard, Lewis Grigsby, F. Rosenstiel and others came between that date and and located near the line in Harlem; Reuben Tower came in 1840, as also did William iSchermerhorn, John Lloyd, Frederick Gossmann and John Hammond, and many others came about that time and began farming in the territory now included in Erin Township; Nathan Ferry, Amos Davis (who settled at Scioto Mills in 1837), E. H. Woodbridge and many more came into the township at a later date, and have since been identified with its rise and progress.

In earlier times, before the railroad became part of the township as an agency for its success and appreciation in the value of property, both real and personal, the experience of settlers elsewhere was duplicated in Erin. Their flour was ground at Andrews' mill, on Yellow Creek, etc., and their products sold and supplies procured at Chicago, Galena and other points accessible only after long drives and a constant repetition of annoyances ; and, as was not unfrequently the case, the load, hauled to market over roads that to-day would be condemned, and through weather that would place an embargo on the movements of the least cautious, would be sold for a sum insufficient to meet the demands of necessaries for home consumption. When the sales of land by the Government were begun, settlers came in more rapidly, and of a character that encouraged those already in possession. They were composed of hornyhanded sons of toil, by whom the forests have been hewn down, the prairies broken up and transformed into fertile fields, and the wealth of the soil developed and increased, until to-day the West is not only the garden and the granary, but the treasury of the nation. When the railroad was surveyed, an additional impetus was given to immigration hitherward, greatly augmented when this connecting link between the West and East was finally cemented in 1854.

Since that event, the population of Erin Township has only been measured by its capacity to afford accommodation for the number who have annually endeavored to become citizens within its limits. The acres devoted to farming are under the control of husbandmen ripe in knowledge and experience, and pro. duce a yearly return entirely in harmony with the labor that has been employed in, and science directed toward, their cultivation ; and statistics establish the fact that in no township in the county have greater profits been derived from the S'ime area of territory appropriated to agricultural purposes.

In all respects, indeed, Erin Township has been blessed. Its schools are conducted by an efficient and intelligent class of instructors, the increase in the country's wealth enabling the people to properly reimburse such valuable services ; the opportunities for attending public worship are superior to those of many other sections, and the features of excellence visible in cultivated communities, are reproduced by the inhabitants, who have kept pace in science, morality and religion with the almost unexampled progress made in matters of a pecuniary character.

Dublin Settlement

This settlement embraces about four miles square of territory, partly in Kent and partly in Erin Township, from Willet's Grove to Callan's Corner, and is settled largely by Irish farmers, who came from the immediate vicinity of Dublin, on the Liffey.

The first settlers have already been mentioned, viz., Bartholomew Doyle and Michael Murphey, who made their several claims during the years 1839 and 1840, and became the neighbors of James Timms, Jesse Willet, John Hart, and the pioneers generally who had preceded their arrival in the country.

Doyle, who remained on his claim sufficiently long to enable him to complete a limited improvement and donate three acres thereof for the site of St. Mary's Church, sold out his domain to Robert Franey, and moved west about half a mile, where he again began the opening and improvement of a farm. Soon after these adventurous travelers from the Green Sod had made claims and established the beginning of a life in the West, free from the trammels and discouragements encountered at home, they were followed hither by brothers and kin from the land of their birth, through whose labors and intelligence the little spot of land known as Dublin has been made a veritable Paradise.

They began to come in quite numerously about 1842, and thence to 1850, scarcely a week passed that the arrival of an additional toiler from over the sea was not noted. ' Among these were Andrew and George Cavanaugh, Andrew Farrell, who settled on land now owned by C. H. Hughes ; Dennis Maher, on land in Section 29, now owned by Daniel Brown; the family of a man named Burns, who, with his son. was drowned at Dixon, by the breaking of a bridge across Rock River. His widow and family, unappalled by this calamity, which greeted her arrival to the confines of a new home, pressed on, and was warmly welcomed to the new settlement by her sympathetic country-folk. Others came also, including John McNamara, Patrick Brown, etc., until the settlement became established, having a church and school of their own, and many other auxiliaries to comfort, happiness and independence. Indulging a spirit of that fellow-feeling which is said to make the whole world kin, that encouragement to the industrious and deserving poor which lightens the burden and illuminates the pathway, the Irish settlers of Dublin to-day, numbering about fifty families, cultivating an average of not less than 8,000 acres of land, living in harmony, one with the other, faithful to the duties daily imposed, charitable to all, present

The first marriage solemnized was that of Robert Cavanagh to Bridget Maher, in 1844. A Mr. Gillis, died in December, 1845, the first death. He was taken sick during the autumn of that year, and, in spite of admonitions to care for himself, he continued to labor until about the date mentioned, when he "jumped the life to come," and was buried in the grove on Burns' Branch, when death and winter closed the autumn scene.

St. Maky S Church Of The Mound

Dublin settlement was projected and completed in the days when the groves were God's first temples throughout the wilderness of Illinois. It was built of logs, being 18x20, and claimed as the first Catholic Church erected in the diocese, between Galena and Chicago, though the same claim is made for the Catholic Church in Rock Run Township, erected by the Mullark.?y and Doyle families. St. Mary's was put up by the early settlers, eight logs high, but without furniture, i. e., pews or ornamentations, and occupied until 1857, when the present stone edifice, 35x75, was completed and consecrated. The first Pastors in the old church were the Rev. Fathers Schlaugenberg, Petitot, Brady, Keeney, Durvin, Cavanagh and McLaughlin. The present congregation numbers sixty families, under the pastorate of Father Michael Hogan.

The realty of the church includes forty acres, five of which are appropriated to cemetery purposes. These are located opposite the church edifice, and contain quite a number of handsome monuments.

Knights Of St. Patrick Of New Dublin

In 1874, the society purchased an acre of ground adjoining the schoolhouse, on which was erected a frame hall one story high, 22x56 in dimensions. The labors of the association have been eminently successful ; the society at present enjoys a large membership, with the following officers, and owning property valued at $600 : Daniel Brown, President ; Bryan Dufiey, Vice President ; Michael McGurk, Treasurer, and Peter Doyle, Secretary.

a pleasant village of 100 inhabitants, , is located in the eastern portion of Erin Township, on the Illinois Central road, eight miles west of Freeport, and derives its importance from being the shipping-point for farmers in Erin, and certain portions of Kent and Harlem Townships. The location is beautiful ; being built in a grove, it possesses an abundance of shade trees, an ornament ordinarily wanting in prairie villages ; several springs of excellent water abound, and the ground upon which the village is built is sufficiently rolling to give the place a very picturesque appearance. The farming country in the vicinity is superior, and the business carried on considerable.

In 1853, after the Illinois Central road had been surveyed, and while work on the road-bed was in progress, it was decided to locate a station in the vicinity of the village, and considerable speculation was indulged as to its exact site. This speculation bred discussions which led to the manifestation of a spirit of rivalry between the owners of property contiguous to the proposed depot, notably among whom were D. S. Jones, A. Bacon, D. S. Pickard and G. D. Babbitt. Finally, the three last named appropriated twenty acres of ground, and, procuring the services of F. D. Bulkley, surveyed the present village, laying out eighty six lots and otherwise, which were readily sold at prices ranging from ^'25 to $50 each, to George Andrews, James Harwood, James De Nure, Daniel Reese and other purchasers. At this time there were but two houses in the village limits, those of A. Bacon and S. 0. Pickard.

Although lots sold without difficulty and at extravagant rates, improvements failed to keep pace with the expectations cultivated by lot-owners and would-be speculators, and it was not until the railroad was completed to Warren and trains began to run, that an impetus was given to building and business. In 1854, James F. Harwood put up the first store in the village. It was located on the present site of Huff's store, and after passing through several hands was burned under the proprietorship of Benjamin Merrill. The next houses were built by Samuel Mathews and E. H. Woodbridge, both being of frame, and other improvements followed in the wake of those mentioned. The following year Benjamin Merrill built another house, which met, in 1858, the fate of his previous enterprise. The schoolhouse, a one-story brick, was built that year also. William Harwood and David Stacks built, on Ridge street, in 1855, and Samuel Michaels on the same thoroughfare during 1857, the house now occupied by Mrs. Ansenberger. The panic of 1857 produced no visible effect upon the progress or decay of the village, which is to-day a quiet habitation of quiet people, with much in the beauty of its situation and surroundings to recommend it as a place of residence.

The first marriage, as near as can be ascertained, after the village was laid out, was that between Horace Perkins and Susan Lloyd, in June, 1854, Squire A. Bacon tying the knot. The ceremony was performed while an epidemic of cholera was at its height, and the Justice who responded to the couple's solicitations to unite them, left the bedside of a member of his family, almost in the last pangs of dissolution, to discharge a duty imposed upon him by law.

The first death was Mrs. Aseneth, wife of N. J. Churchill, who died August 17, 1858, and, there being no cemetery laid out at Eleroy, her body was interred at Lena. With regard to the first birth, the chronicles are silent.

To-day, as already stated, Eleroy is a village of 100 population, according to the enumerations for 1880, and a shipping-point for grain and live stock, appreciating yearly. During 1879, there were 500 car loads of wheat and hogs shipped from this station. Within the village proper there are an elevator attached to the depot and operated by horse-power, two stores, a blacksmithshop, school, church, and a number of private residences, which attract by their modest beauty and appearance of comfort. The "madding crowd" will scarcely ever run wild in the sunshine of Eleroy 's prosperity, but want and distress, the attendant concomitants of riches and pretentiousness, "will never be known within her bills of mortality.

The School - Was built in 1855, and is still in use. One teacher is employed, who directs the studies of an average daily attendance of sixty-five pupils, under the direction of a Board of Trustees, composed of David Ide, E. R. Prindle and John Winters.

The United Brethren Church - A handsome stone church, located at the further end of Bidge street, was erected in 1869, at the cost of $4,400, with a small membership under the pastorship of the Rev. 0. B. Phillips. Previous to that date, the congregation worshiped in the schoolhouse, but now the association, which consists of six communicants, hold services in the church on alternate Sundays, the Rev. J. F. Hallowell, officiating.

A few Baptists under the charge of Elder F. Bower, of Waddams Grove, and a Methodist class led by Mr. Hazlett, of Freeport, also a limited number of the Evangelical society, presided over by the Rev. Mr. Fair, alternate in their occupation of the church, Sundays, morning and evening.

Eleroy Lodge, No. 2Jf.7,'I. 0. 0. F. - Was organized on the 18th of December, 1857, with seven charter members, of whom N. J. Churchill was N. G. ; A. Bacon, V. G.; G. F. Anderson, Secretary, and A. C. Culver, Treasurer.

Meetings were first convened at the corner of Ridge and Coal streets, where they continued two years, and were attended with a gratifying degree of prosperity. Thence the lodge room was removed to Churchill's house, and after a brief period work was suspended, the lodge surrendering its charter. After remaining quiescent for a number of years, the lodge revived on October 9, 1873, and is still in active operation.

The present membership is stated at seventeen. Meetings are held weekly on Saturday night. The lodge property is valued at $275, and the officers are E. R. Prindle, N. G. ; John Hoff, V. G. ; John Winters, Treasurer, and H. Stocks, Secretary.

&alem Lutheran Church - Located one mile from Eleroy, was established in 1856, and has since grown steadily in wealth and influence. In that year, the congregation erected a small stone church, which answered the demand until 1869, when the present imposing edifice was completed and dedicated to worship. It is of stone, 55x32, located in the center of a six-acre lot, part of which is dedicated to burial purposes, and its steeple can be plainly seen for miles around. The church cost about $4,000, and is one of the most elaborate in the county.

The congregation, which numbers fifty-four members, support a school enjoying an average attendance of seventy pupils, taught by the Rev. William Wall, the Pastor, and an assistant.

one of the central tier of townships, the fourth settled in point of date in the county, is inferior to none as regards its location and agricultural advantages. The township is plentifully supplied with wood and water, and possesses other features of excellence indigenous to the country.

The first settler to visit the present township of Harlem with a view to locate permanently was Miller Preston, who came in 1835, and settled upon Section 22, near the Galena stage road. It is believed by members of his household who survive Mr. Preston, that he visited Stephenson County first m 1833, coming from Dixon on a prospecting tour, and, after a hasty survey of the country, selected the site whereon he subsequently settled. Having made his claim in that year, he returned to Gallipolis, Ohio, where he concluded the tanning of a batch of hides upon which he was employed when considering the policy of emigrating to the West, and, purchasing a drove of cattle, came once more to Illinois, arriving upon his claim in the spring of 1835, the original settler in the present township of Harlem, which was then Lancaster Township, and so continued until the eastern portion of that territory was set off and appropriated to the organization under which it is now known.

The country is represented as being peculiarly attractive at that date. The prairies were covered with flowers, dotted here and there with burr oak timber, the branches of which served as a shelter not only to the pioneers but to the dusky maiden and painted savage, from the dews of the nights in spring and the heat of the summer's sun. The soil was of surpassing richness, and streams, creeks, rivulets, brooks and springs were distributed about the territory as if with mathematical exactness. But Mr. Preston proceeded to work at once and confirmed his title to the claim entered by erecting a log hut at the point above mentioned. The ax was sent to the heai't of the surrounding trees by the muscular arms of the sturdy pioneer ; log after log was rolled to, and fixed in, its proper place, and while the deer browsed among the fallen tree foliage, and the howl of the wolf from the surrounding hill-tops was heard above the contest with the forest, the first house in Harlem Township attained its limited proportions.

In the succeeding fall, William Baker, Benjamin Goddard and others had settled in what was subsequently set off as Lancaster Township, where Mr. Preston enjoyed the society of neighbors, participating in the raising of Baker's cabin, and other social amenities calculated to promote the genial in a sparsely settled portion of the country.

During 1836, except Elias McComber, there is no record of any one settling permanently in Harlem, but a year later the population was materially augmented by the arrival of John Edwards, who came in May ; Rezin, Levi and Thompson Wilcoxon, Levi Lewis, John Lewis, and some others. The same season, Levi Wilcoxon erected a mill on Richland Creek, on the present site of Scioto Mills. Among those who were employed during its building, John Lewis put in the water-wheel, and the following persons assisted in the various work necessary : John Edwards, George Cockerell, William Goddard, Alpheus Goddard, Peter Smith, Wesley Bradford, Homer Graves and John Anscomb. The mill was completed and operated during the month of August of that year.

In the year 1838, P. L. Wright settled on a claim purchased of William Robey, who had come on a short time previous, as also had E. H. D. Sanborn, the latter owning a claim of half a section on the Lancaster line, which he subsequently sold to George Furst for |2,800; William Preston, who settled on the banks of the Pecatonica, Lewis Preston, Mathew Bridendall, and some others. Lewis Preston settled on Section 10, and, before he had put his house in order, an infant daughter was added to the family number, the first birth in the township. She grew to womanhood, and to-day, as Mrs. Benjamin Brown, has been enumerated in the census returns of the State of Iowa.

In 1839, Robert Young settled in the township near the mouth of Cedar Creek. Benjamin Bennett came the same year, and bought what is now known as the Putnam farm. In th6 month of February of this year, the first death in the township took place - Mrs. William Preston, who died at the residence of her husband in Section 15, and was buried in the vicinity.

Between 1839 and 1845, Thompson Cockerel settled on the" east side of the Pecatonica ; Charles W. and Robert Barber, and others became residents

CrEORGG M. AliVORD, telegraph operator, express agent and station agent, Eleroy ; born in Tonica, 111., Sept. 29, 1857 ; his father fell in the capture of Fort Donelson ; his mother now resides at Minonk, Woodford Co., 111., her present name being Morris, having married Mr. L. H. Morris ; the Alvord family consisted of three boys - Leroy, a farmer ; George M., here in Eleroy, and Charles, also a farmer ; George M. went to school in Winona in 1863, and from there went to Minonk, 111., and attended public school until 1874 ; he then acted as clerk in the Minonk Post OflBce to the time he went to commercial college in 1875, at Peoria ; on leaving there he entered his uncle's grocery, and in 1876 was engaged and sent to the Centennial by several Chicago houses as general advertising agent ; he returned and attended normal school in Indiana ; having learned telegraphy in 1873 with the Western Union Telegraph Co., he, in 1878, was employed by the I. C. R. R., and is now occupying the above-named positions. In politics, George M. is a Democrat.

O. D. BABBITT, farmer, Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Eleroy ; born in Goshen, Hampshire Co., Mass., Aug. 20, 1799 ; his father was born in Maine, and belonged to the Presbyterian ministry; the family moved to Otsego Co., N. Y., when Mr. Babbit was 3 years old ; his father engaged in farming, together with his brother ; his father and mother died the same year, in 1836. G. D. Babbit, left Otsego Co. and went to Susquehanna Co. in 1820, where he learned his trade - tinning - of Mr. Gibson ; went to Pike, Allegheny Co., and here, in the year 1825, married Liddie Johnson, of Vermont ; had a family of five children - Joshua, Isaac, Abbie J., Harvey C. and Calvin W.; he farmed in Centerville five years; went to Lewiston, Niagara Co.; he then crossed into Canada; came down to Detroit, Mich., farmed five years in Branch Co., Mich.; went then to Ogle Co., 111.; from there to Sugar River, Winnebago Co., and came here in 18-40, and squatted on Sec. 13, on a farm of 96 acres. Politics, Republican. Married to his second wife, Miss Mary Ann Flynn, in September, 1869; his son, Calvin W., belonged to the 92d I. V. I.; came home in 1865 all right.

A. BACON, farmer. Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Eleroy ; born in Hamilton, Oswego Co., N. Y., Sept. 6, 1812 ; his father, Nastiel Bacon, died when 65 years of age, having had a family of nine children - Frederick, 76 years of age, died in Ripon. Wis.; Hudson, aged 72, died in Green Bay, Wis.; Peter, aged 75, is living in Indiana ; Eunice B., aged 73, died in Ripon, Wis.; Caroline S., aged 72, lives at Union Grove, Wis.; Sally died is Michigan ; Polly died in New York. A. Bacon, the subject of this sketch, lives here on the farm, aged 68 ; James died at Palmyra, N. Y.; Lucius died aged 23. A. Bacon lived at home until 1829, engaged in farming ; he then walked into Cattaraugus Co. and bought a farm of 80 acres ; stayed ten years and cleared fifty acres ; about this time, in September, 1831, he married Miss Dorcas L. Stebbins, of New York; they had three children - Philo S., Lucinda and Mary ; his wife died in Kenosha in 1840 ; he had contracted the rheumatism, and was obliged to sell his farm, and for eight years he could not walk, and has never entirely recovered ; after selling, he went home to Hannibal and stayed there, an invalid; getting better, he took a claim of 160 acres, but was notable to work, so got 60 acres, and finally sold it; came here in March, 1846, and settled on Sec. 13 ; owns now 104 acres, valued at $50 per acre ; he worked throe years ; his lameness not letting him work, he went to making window-sash ; at this he made money, and when the railroad came through, he bossed the hands and made good wages ; in 1855, he went into the mercantile business, buying out George Andrews, of Eleroy; first year made SI, 000 clear; after carrying on the business nine years, sold on account of bad health and retired. Mr. Bacon is a Democrat, and served as Justice of the Peace fourteen years, Supervisor nine years in succession, and Assessor one year. In 1841, he married Ehzabeth Clark; they had two children - Lansing, in Dakota now, and Frederick, a traveling man.

CHARLES BOEKE, farmer and carpenter, Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Eleroy ; born in Germany June 27, 1826; came to this country in 1854, and lived with his brother in Waddams Township, Stephenson Co., TU.; his father's family consisted of eight children - Louisa and Herman, both decease 1 ; Greorge, Charles, Francis, now dead ; William was killed in the army ; Wilhemina lives in Wisconsin, and Caroline (now Mrs. Brigna); after living at Waddams ten years, Charles moved to his present home in 1864; he owns 90 acres of land, valued at $50 an acre. In politics he is a Democrat, and belongs to the Lutheran Church, at Lena. In September, 1864, he married Miss Wilhelmina Meiser, of G-ermany ; they had five children - Charles is the only one alive. He married again in 1864, and his second wife's family consisted of Henry, Mina, Louisa, Frederick, Sophia, Charles, Paulina, Herman and William.

9IRN. MARY E. BOEKE, widow, Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Lena ; Francis Boeke, her husband, was born in Germany, June 27, 1827 ; served as a soldier in the fatherland for five years; came from Chicago here in 1850, and engaged in making briek. Dec. 26, 1860, he married Mary E. Hammond, now his widow; he bought this home for his family, where they now live. Mr. Boeke enlisted in 1863, in the 14th, I. V. I. Co. I. as Lieutenant, and on May 25, 1864, was promoted to captaincy ; he came home in August, 1865, and, his health being shattered, he died Dec, 31, 1874, leaving her a life pension and the property of 10 acres of land and a fine residence. Mrs. Boeke has six children - John F., now in Kansas, Visente A., Edna E., Willie D., George A. and Lotta E.

NATHANIEL J.CHURCHlLIi, Eleroy ; born in Wasco, Cayuga Co., N. Y., March 3, 1823 ; here during the early years of his life he went to school, and later learned carriage painting; at this trade he worked as he traveled from place to place ; he served his apprenticeship with Hall & Porter, Skaneateles ; went to Auburn and worked under instructions at ornamental work ; he traveled through Genoa, Kelicksville, Truxton, Cortland Co., De Ruyter, De Granville, to Grneva, then to Havana, Ithaca, Towano, Bradford, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh to Boston, New York City and Newark, then to Moravia, Cayugo Co., where he attended school in 1842; went to Wisconsin but came back and attended school in 1844, then went away again, to Pike Lake. Washington Co., where he bought 160 acres of land, and in September, 1844, he married Miss Ascenette Denure, of Canada ; by this marriage she had four children, only two now alive ; soon after he sold out and moved into Stephenson Co., 111., and settled on the old Helms farm. Sec. 19 ; in 1852, he sold this farm to Alfred Dan and went to railroading ; then started for St. Louis and on to the Sioux River, through Nebraska to the Ishabotany and back again, locating a mile south of Beloit, in Winnebago Co., 111.; he was engaged on the I. C. R. R. till 1855, and after this returned to his trade, for awhile working for Clapp & Co., in Freeport ; he then was engaged by Leightheart, Meigs & Philips, as foreman of the railroad constructing corps ; about this time he purchased his present home in Eleroy ; in the year 1857, went back to his trade again till 1861, where h« was engaged on the Freeport & Savannah R. R. and worked up till 1866. Dec. 5, 1865, he married a second time, to a Miss Johanna A. Alberts, of Utrecht, Holland, and has a family of four children - Frank H., Nathan J., Henry A. and Erl. Mr. Churchill is a Republican and has served as Justice of the Peace since 1871, in the town of Erin; two of his sons were soldiers in the Union army ; George enrolled in the 92d I. V. I., Co. A, and Scott enlisted when only 15 years of age.

DR. F. A. DARLING, Eleroy; born in Spafi^ord, Onondaga Co., N. Y., April 10, 1832; received his preparatory reading under Dr. Kneeland, of Livingston Co. ; when through there he attended lectures in Geneva, N. Y., and in 1856 received his certificate of Geneva College, David Hall, President ; after leaving there he went to Michigan, and right on to Eleroy, where he stayed, and has since established himself in a very fine practice ; no o her physician but Dr. Shepherd having been here ; the Dr, farms some, and in 1864 enlisted as 1st Lieutenant in the 142d I. V. I.; he came home and went our again as Captain in the 147th I. V. I., and finally came back in 1866; he has held township offices, and is a Republican. In 1862, he married Miss C. J. Putnam, of Warren, Jo Daviess Co., 111.; they have one boy - D. J. W.; his mother, now 79 years of age, is living with him.

COM'RAD FAUTZMEIER, farmer and mason. Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Gleroy ; born in G-ermany Jan. 10, 1817 ; he left his native land in 1854, for the shores of America, where he landed, and proceeded at once to Freeport; before this time he had learned the trade of stonemason ; finding here plenty of work, settled down, and by economy and perseverance amassed enough to purchase his farm on Sec. 27, of A. Vansloter, embracing 120 acres; this was in 1873. He had, in 1847, married Miss Catharine Slater ; his first family was Christian, Sophia, Conrad, Mary, Anna, Lidia, George, Frederick. In 1865, he married again. Miss Charlotte Picking ; this family consisted of three - Caroline, Charles and Mina.

ADAM FINKBINDER, farmer. Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Eleroy ; born in Germany in August 1850, and is one of a family of twelve children - Jacob, Rose and Dorothea, in Germ;iny ; Adam and Mary here on the farm ; Gotleib, Agnes and Caroline, at Hickory Grove ; Richlain, Christopher and George in Kansas, and Lena, now Mrs. Mathias. When Adam was in the old country, he was engaged in various occupations, is an A 1 hand in the flax factory ; he now farms 80 acres of fine land ; his father is now 66 years of age, and his mother 65 ; her name was Rosina A. Bernhardt. Adam is a Republican in politics.

CONRAD FYE, farmer and carpenter, Eleroy; born in Bedford Co., Penn., on Aug. 2, 1800 ; his father moved to Cambria Co., in 1805, and there during the winter lost all their animals ; but they persevered and made a home there in the woods. In 1824, March 24, he married Miss Temperance Plummer ; they had two children - Susanna and Jacob ; he helped clear his father's timber land, with the promise of 100 acres, but, being taken ill, giving up hopes of recovering, his father reclaimed his son Conrad's farm, who on recovering his health moved to Stephenson Co., in 1846, and rented a farm of Tom Gatlifi", for two years, and bought 160 acres on Sec. 1, Loran Township ; lived there 27 years, then moved to his present home in Eleroy. He married Miss Sarah Rumbarger, of Pennsylvania, Feb. 13, 1834; their children were, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Rees; John, deceased ; Josiah, in Nebraska ; Benjamin, Daniel, David, Lewis, Sarah, Jeremiah, Jerome. He is a Republican, and belongs to the United Brethren in Christ Church, Eleroy.

VALENTINE GILHAN, farmer, Sec. 15 ; P.O. Eleroy: born in Union Co., Penn., Aug. 7, 1829 ; his father, Daniel G-ilman, brought his family to Stephenson Co. in 1840 ; they were Elizabeth, Phoebe (now Mrs. Strong), Jacob (deceased), Catharine (now Mrs. Rosenstiel) ; Valentine, the subject of this sketch, living on the old homestead, where some of the old buildings still stand ; Andrew, living in Eleroy ; Ellen, in Kent ; Esther, a widow, in Lanark. Daniel died in 1857, and his wife in 1853 ; they were natives of Pennsylvania. Valentine, at the age of 22, went (»n to an 80 acre farm of his own, and in 1855, March 15, married Miss Elmira Ruthraufi", of Pennsylvania ; the ceremony took place in Eleroy ; they have a family of seven children - Alta v., now Mrs. F. Jones ; Emma I., married Rev. Rowel Harwood, M. E. minister in Orangeville. Mr. Gilman is a Republican, and belongs to the M. E. Church at Lena. He now owns 210 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre. Mrs. Gilman's mother is now living with her at the advanced age of 73.

CHARLES GOSSMANN, farmer, Sec. 11 ; P. O. Eleroy ; born in 18-tO ; came to America in 1842, with his father's family of three children - Charles, Louisa, and Hermena ; his father was married again to Wilhemina Henke, and his second family was Henry, William, Matilda, Paulina, Edward, Anna and Amelia ; his second marriage was in 1847 ; he is now living, aged 66. This family was one of the first to leave for America from that part of Germany, and, on arriving in Stephenson Co., settled on a rented place near Bobbtown, afterward on Sec. 12, Erin, and finally bought on Sec. 1. Charles farmed until 1862, when he enlisted in the 92d I. V. I., Co. A; he came out of the army with impaired health. In 1866, he married Miss Louisa Miller, of Germany ; they had one child - Alfred. He was married again in 1870, Feb. 14, to Miss Mary Lesemann, and had a family of five - Josephine, Alvine, Flora, Daniel and Menetta. Mr. Charles Gossmann has been Commissioner and Assessor. He is a Republican, and belongs to the United Evangelical Church of Erin ; he bought

Ia, M. CjtRICjJSBY, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Lena; born in Kentucky April 20, 1820. Aaron, his father, was born in Virginia, canae to Kentucky, and finally moved into Indiana, from there to Edgar Co., 111., in 1829 ; then to Iroquois in 1835 ; he left and came to Stephenson Co. in the spring of 1836 ; of the family, there was William, killed at Prairie Grove, Ark. ; Matilda, deceased ; Lewis M., living on the homestead ; Nancy, now Mrs. DeGraff ; Jeremiah, and Aaron, Jr., now in Kansas. Lewis M. struck out for himself when 18 years old, and in 1839 or 1840, plowed where part of the city of Freeport now stands. In coming to the county in 1836, he met with an accident ; one of the wagon-wheels run over his leg ; if not for this, he could have jumped over the only house in Freeport, it was so small. There was Mr. Denyos and another family by the name of Bloss, accompaaied them to Freeport ; those parties went over the river, while the Grigsbys passed up on this side ; saw Preston's cabin, and Martin's, and settled on a school section, and had to move when his father took one on Sec. 36, in Waddams, on which he died in 1860. In 1840, Lewis M. rafted lumber down the river, and had, in 1835, brought a boat down with 100,000 pounds of lead on board, from Hamilton's diggings, in Wisconsin. In 1843, he married Miss Harriet Pickard, who died in 1849, leaving one child, Sarah J., now in Kansas; he remained in Waddams until 1846, and then moved to Sec. 1, Erie; he owns 260 acres ; he has been Justice of the Peace, and held other township offices. He is a Republican ; was Abolition in 1841, on the principle that slavery should be confined within certain limits. He belongs to the M. E. Church. In 1852, March 10, he married Miss Livina M. Chaddock, of Genesee Co., N. Y ; the children are Frank, Harriet M., William S. and Lewis A. Frank is married and now in Waddams ; Hattie married, and is now at Mt. Morris.

HOFF BROTHFRIS, merchants, Eleroy ; their father has been engaged in mercantile pursuits since coming with his family to Stephenson Co., 111., and John and Charles have grown right up in the business, and since coming to the county in 1856, have been successful ; the store in Buena Vista has just been closed, and William H HoflPhas now retired from active Hfe ; his family consists of four - John, Lewis J ., William H., Jr., and Charles M. John, the oldest, and Charles represent the house now in Eleroy, which is the leading store of that busy and flourishing village. The Hoff" Brothers carry a stock of $5,500, all new and of latest patterns, and, although just starting, are doing a paying business, with increasing sales every day, and their trade spreading out through a section of the finest agricultural country in the county, John Hofi^ is married and has one child

HENRY HOIiLIlS, farmer, Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Eleroy ; born in Englan d June 6, 1811, now 67 years old; when he was 32 years of age he came to the United States, having labored up to that time with his father ; he is one of a family of twelve children, and che only one now alive. Mr. Hollis bought the farm which he now owns, in 1846, and consists of 120 acres, on Sees. 34 and 35 ; being a man without a family, he got a partner named Richard Clark, who stayed with him some seven or eight years, but went West in 1872 and married, and in 1879 he died; his widow now lives in Miami, Kan. Mr. Hollis is a Democrat.

REV. M. J. HOR^AN ; P. 0. Lena ; now presiding over the Dublin Circuit; he was born in Ireland, in 1850, and came to America in 1851 ; while a boy, attended school in Rockford, 111.; commenced studying for the ministry in 1864; attended college in Indiana, and after three years in Chicago, went to the Suspation Seminary of Baltimore, and then was ordained in 1876 ; he was assigned to his present mission in 1879; this church building was erected in 1849; it is a stone structure 60x30 feet on the ground, and 20 feet high ; it is nicely finished, and furnished with an organ, and has a seating capacity of 300 ; the membership now numbers sixty families. This organization of the Dublin Church is the oldest in the county. In 1841, a log church was erected by some twenty persons, and the first priest was Father Devlin ; the congregation growing, a second building under Father John Cavanaugh was erected in 1846, but, not proving sufficient for their growing settlement, the present building was commenced under Father McLaughlin, and was finished under Father McO'Gara, costing in the neighborhood of $4,000. Mr. Doyle gave 2 acres on which the church buildings stand.

D'. H. IDE, farmer, Sec. 13; P. 0. Eleroy ; born in Ripley Co., Ind., Aug. 23, 1844; he went to Onondaga Co. and worked for Mr. Anthony, and went to school winters ; worked for one man from 14 to 22 years of age; left Onandaga Co. in 1866 with Mr. Anthony, and came West to Stephenson Co. ; worked till 1867 with him ; in 1868, Mr. Anthony died. Mr. Ide then worked the place for two years, and then went into the mercantile business, which he carried on for three months, and then moved on to his present farm in November, 1871 ; he owns a fine residence and 26 acres of land ; raises stock and grain, which he markets in Eleroy. He is a Republican and has been Township Clerk, and held school offices. In November, 1871, he married Mrs. Anthony ; their family is Ruhama, Ferry and four children - Jennie, Abbie, WilHe and Emma ; of his father's family two sisters live in Michigan, two brothers and one sister live in the East.

H. S. JONES and Elizabeth Gr. Jones settled in Eleroy, Stephenson Co., in June, 1846 ; he was the first Postmaster, appointed in 1847, and gave the place its name ; bought a stock of goods in 1846, and continued the hotel and mercantile business eighteen years ; he built a large stone hotel in 1848. Hiram S. Jones was born in Vermont Dec. 24, 1804 ; EHzabeth Gr. Jones was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., March 31, 1826 ; they were both raised in New York, and came from there to Illinois. H. S. Jones' father's name was John Jones ; Elizabeth G-. Jones' father's name was Isaac Evans. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had six children, all born at Eleroy ; the eldest, Edwin Eugene, is now living at Lena, 111. ; the next that is living is Florin, L., a merchant at, Freeport ; the third, a daughter, Mrs. Carrie B. Hoff, whose husband is a merchant at Eleroy; the other three are dead. H. S. Jones moved to Lena in 1864, and practiced law there until his death, in April, 1865.

HERMANN KliAAS, farmer and carpenter, Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Eleroy ; born in Germany on Sept. 27, 1836 ; came to America in 1859 ; his brother, who is now in Kansas, came over in 1857, and when Hermann arrived here he at once went to his brother's farm, with whom he stayed ten years; he has a brother ( William) on the same section ; Hermann bought, in 1862, about 22 acres to begin with, and now has 102 acres, valued at $50|an acre, on Sees. 10 and 15. He belongs to the Evangelical Synod, and married, in 1862, Miss Rech, of Glermany ; they have .six children - Henry, Hermann, Lewis, Mina, Clara and Paul.

CARD liEVICA, farmer and stone-mason, S^c. 15 ; P. O. Eleroy; born in Lippe-Detmold, Germany, Jan. 14, 1830 ; came to Stephenson Co. in November, 1854 ; came to Freeport and worked for a man named Hincklemeyer ; was taken sick, and intended going home in the spring, but is here yet ; in 1855, he went to work on Gilman's House, and when he had $300 bought his first 20 acres ; he now owns, in Sees. 10 and 15, about 200 acres, valued at $50 an acre, which he now farms, having given up his trade. In 1856, he married Miss Frederica Tegles, of Germany, and they have a family of five children - Mina (born April 6, 1861), Louisa (born 9th of July, 1862;, Card H. (born Nov. 3, 1864), William (born March 20, 1868;, and Henry (born March 26, 1871).

JOHN MANJLOVE, farmer, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Eleroy ; born in Montgomery Co., England, fifteen miles from Saulsbury, May 24, 1820 ; left his native land in 1841 and went to Canada, where he was engaged in cutting wood for Umekilns for two or three years, near Moulton ; in 1845, he came down to Chicago, which was a small place then, and then to Stephenson Co. ; at this time the country here was infested with horse-thieves, and the farm that he now owns he bought of Thomas Hotchkiss, who, at thai time, was connected with the gang, and Mr. Manlove was obHged to keep a shotgun ready to protect his rights ; his first house was of logs, and built entirely of oak ; the one he now lives in was put up in 1848 ; he owns 380 acres, valued at $40 an acre , on Sec. 34. He is a Democrat, and in May, 1841, married Miss Mary Pritchard ; they have four children - John W. (now in Lincoln, Neb.), Edward (at home, Pathmaster), Thomas (deceased) and Mary A. (at home). Mr. Manlove has a brother (Thomas) now living in merry England.

L.UDWW;} NEAMIER, farmer. Sec 10 ; P. 0. Lena; born in Germany in 1823 ; served as a soldier in the old country for one and one-half years, and was engaged as a farmer before coming here ; left Germany in 1855, when 32 years of age, and came to Stephenson Co. and bought this farm of 120 acres on Sec. 10, valued at $50 an acre. In 1858, married Miss Wilhemina Hoffmeister, of Rock Grove ; they have five children - Frederick (deceased), Henry, Anna, Pauline, Charles (deceased), Mina and John.

DR. E. H. PliASCH, Eleroy ; born in Germany 23d of June, 1832; he lived in his native country until 1854, when revolutionary struggles drove him to America ; while at home he was engaged in the study of medicine, living in Goethinggen, Hanover, and attending the university of that place ; on coming to this country he went almost immediately to Wisconsin, where he practiced medicine for ten years, and, having cultivated a fine ear for music, gave instruction in that art. In 1867, moved to Jo Daviess Co., where he taught and practiced until coming to this county, and located in Eleroy ; he is now engaged solely with his practice, and is increasing in favor. In 1858, April 21, married Miss Georgeanna Wurm, of Germany; they have eight children - Anna, Jennie, Oscar, Ida, Herman, Emil, Lillie, Delia ; Anna is married to Mr. Joseph Lersch.

WIIiLIAM KADER8, farmer. Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Yellow Creek ; born in Prussia, Germany, March 10, 1854 ; came to America when 14 years of age with his father, August Raders. who was born in 1818, and had a family of eleven children - Mary, Charlie, August, Louise, Tracy, Joseph, Lizzie,William (the subject of this sketch ), Pauline (deceased), Mina, Tillie. William farms 182 acres, valued at $35 per acre. He married, in 1878, Miss Sophia Rees, of Illinois, and has one child ; he is a Democrat and belongs to the Catholic Church. August was a soldier and served in France when that nation and Prussia adjusted their difficulties.

ABEL J. REES, farmer, Sec. 10 ; P.O.Lena; his father was born in Pennsylvania in 1802, and died on the farm here in Erin in 1855 ; he visited La Salle Co. as early as 1835 ; in 1836, he came to Stephenson Co. and brought his family out in 1837 ; they were Daniel J., now in Kansas ; Abel J , here on the farm ; Lucinda, now Mrs. Kaufman ; George W., in St. Paul ; John, now in Kent, and Martha Jane, deceased ; the family settled at Rock Run, and Abel's father worked at the cooper's trade; sold his quarter-section there and came here in 1847; he bought of J. D. Hinckley; in 1855, Abel took the farm and now owns 160 acres on Sec. 10. Mr. Rees was born in Pennsylvania, Sept. 12, 1834; received an education at district schools; has held township and school offices; is a Republican. In 1864, he married Miss Phoebe Denure, of Canada, and has four children - U. Grant, George E., Flora M., Abel M. and one deceased; he had three brothers in the service - Daniel J. belonged to the 15th I. V. ; George E., to the 92d I. V. I., Co. G; John, to the 146th I. V.l.

JOHX M. REES, farmer, Sec. 24 ; P. 0. Eleroy ; born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 13, 1834 ; came to Stephenson Co. in 1850, with his father, Simeon Rees, and family of seven children - Catherine A., deceased ; John M., here; James M.,a minister of Freeport ; Enos S., also a preacher out in Kansas ; W. H. Ludwick, deceased; Abbot G., farming on Sec. 36 ; Joshua F., deceased, and Eleanor L., now Mrs. Lemon, of Monticello, Iowa. The family lived in Loran, and then moved on an 80-acre piece which was the first part of what is now called the Rees estate, consisting of 227 acres ; his father had this all purchased by 1857, and in 1863, he died; Abbot G. now holds part of the old estate together with W. H. Ludwick's widow, he having died in 1870. John M. moved to his present home in 1861 ; he owns 160 acres on Sec. 24 ; has held township and school offices ; is now serving as Road Commissioner ; is a Democrat. In 1858, he married Miss Elizabeth Fye, of Pennsylvania ; they have seven children - Eleanor ; Charles W., deceased ; Daniel F., James M., Herbert V., William H. and Sydney J.

Mr. Rees belongs to the Lutheran Church, called Babb's, in charge of Rev. Peter (xheen ; theit- Sunday school numbers 60 members, of which Mr. Rees is the Superintendent ; the church building is 45x60, and 65 feet high to top of steeple ; it was erected in 1861.

HEXRY ROSEWSTEIL, farmer, Sec. 12; P. 0. Lena; born in Germany Aug. 22, 1827; his father's family was Louisa, now Mrs. Gossman ; Charles, Christian, Henry and Frederick ; Charles was in Stephenson Co., in 1840, and the rest of the family came in 1842 and settled on Sec. 12, northwest half, and entered nine forties ; of this, Henry owns 160 acres, valued at $50 per acre. In fall of 1848, he married Miss Jane Picard, of New york, and has seven children - Lorenzo, now living on part of the old farm ; Loran, deceased ; Lewis, now in Kansas ; Harlow, at home ; Herman, Josephine and Charles 0., now at home. Mr. H. Rosensteil is a Republican ; belongs to the M. E. Church of Lena. His brother Fred lives on east half of Sec. 12 ; John has been here since 1840, and is in the sugar-factory south of the city of Freeport.

J. V. SNOW, P. 0. Freeport; grain and stock dealer at Eleroy ; was born in Loran, Mass., June, 1837 ; the family moved to Stephenson Co. in November, 1837, when he was but 5 months old; his father kept Silver Creek House, just east of Freeport, in 1840, and farmed; had 640 acres on Sec. 1 ; in 1859, being tired of farming, he rented the farm and moved into Freeport, where he died, in 1866 ; his wife, J. V. Snow's mother, died previously, in the year 1856, on the farm ; his father lived on his income till death ; the old family consisted of nine children - Malvina, married to Mr. Taylor, now living in Freeport; Oscar, died on the farm, in 1859 ; Marion, now in Freeport ; Nicholas Mortimer, died 7 years of age in Freeport; two died without names ; then Charles, who now lives in Freeport, engaged as a traveling man, and Ellen, who was married to Mr. Babcock, and died in 1854. Mr. Snow, in early life, commenced by learning his a b c's of his brother-in-law, Mr. Taylor, who also taught his brother Charles and sister Ellen ; he attended school when 8 years old, and lived at home with his father and farmed until he was 22 years of age, when the farm was rented to Green and Edmund.-, and the family came to Freeport. J. V. Snow at this period of his life engaged in the lightning rod business, and, in June, 1879, went into his present occupation, buying grain and stock at Eleroy,which has developed by his energy into as busy a grain point as any in the county. Mr. Snow is a Republican, and, in April, 1865, married Miss Julia E. Hitchcock, of Glen's Falls, N. Y.

JOHN STOUT, farmer. Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Eleroy ; born near Reading, Berk& Co., Penn., Sept. 23, 1805 ; he worked on the farm and went to school ; in 1818, moved to Union Co. ; at 18 years of age learned tanning, but afterward went to distilling; his health then failing, he returned to school and then clerked until 1832, when he married Miss Sarah Kryder, of Pennsylvania ; in June, the 15th, he engaged in tanning until 1848. having run a tannery of his own fourteen years ; he came West and bought land of James Murphy; he still holds his farm of 200 acres, valued at $50 an acre; has held the office of Justice, Clerk, Assessor and Commissioner ; is a Democrat and has belonged to church since 16 years of age ; now attends the Lutheran. His family consists of three sons - R. G. is now on the old homestead farming, and is Supervisor of Erin ; H. E. is now in Iowa, and Robert C. is a pharmacist and now teaching school. Of his father's family, there were Susan, Jacob, David, Samuel, Catherine and John, being the elder.

FRANK R. TOWER, farmer, Sec. 2 ; P. O. Lena; born Aug. 4, 1845, on the homestead ; Frank's father, Reuben Tower, was born in Massachusetts in 1796 ; came to Stephenson Co., in 1844 with his family, and took up a claim of 160 acres on Sec. 2 ; his children were Marcus, now in Warren ; Amasa, in Richland, Wis.; Cornelia deceased ; An^eline, deceased ; Catherine, now Mrs. Brewster ; Mary, deceased ; Frank R., Sarah N. and Dorothea D. Frank R., on Dec. 12, 1859, married Miss Mary L. Bacon, of Wisconsin, and has one child - Rose E., born Sept. 29, 1870 ; he has held township and school offices. Is a Republican ; owns 40 acres of the homestead ; his father, Capt. Reuben Tower, died April 3, 1880, at home ; during his eventful life he had lived in Vermont in 1815, in Norwalk, Ohio, 1818, in La Porte, Ind., 1824, in

McHenry Co., 111., in 1843, and, among other things, ground twenty bushels of buckwheat in a coffee-mill ; in 1867, he joined the Baptist Church of Lena, and was a stanch Republican.

JJIRN. CATHERINE WEISEN; P. 0. Eleroy ; born in Ireland ; in 1836 ; came to Stephenson Co. in 1856 ; she here met aod married Mr. Kennedy, in August, and then moved out to his farm on Sec. 22 ; he was a good scholar, having taught in Cork College, in Ireland, and being Notary Public, also, School District Treasurer ; her maiden name was Catherine Monogue, of Calvin, County Kilkenny ; she now owns 160 acres, valued at $50 an acre. The Kennedy family consisted of four children - James, at home; John, near Savannah ; Catherine, now Mrs. F. Maha, and Mary Ann. In 1867 she married again, Mr. J. Weisen ; they were married on the farm ; by the second marriage she had one child, named Joseph E.; Mr. Weisen was born in Germany, and worked in this country on his father's place till his father's death, when he fell heir to some 20 acres ; by trade he was a blacksmith.

JOHN WINTERS, blacksmith, Eleroy ; born in Lebanon Co., Penn., Dec. 29, 1834; came to Stephenson Co. in 1847, with his father's family, and stayed in Oneco for two years, then moved on to Sec. 35, Erin, where his father, Christopher Winters, died Feb. 28, 1878 ; his mother is now 78 years of age. The old family consisted of some fourteen or fifteen children ; his brother Cyrus now lives on the old homestead, which he now owns ; and John, who was 13 years of age on coming to the county, farmed until 1855, then learned the trade of blacksmith, and had his shop on Sec. 35, from 1859 to 1863 ; then came here in Eleroy, and has by his skill and strict attention to business established himself. On Sept. 24, 1857, he married Miss Cornelia Johnson, of Ohio, and has seven children - John A., Flora P., Ida B., Christopher, Archie, Grertrude and Maude. Mr. Winters was a soldier in the war of the rebellion ; he belonged to the 42d I. V. I., Co. G ; five of his brothers were serving during the entire war.

E. H. WOODBRIDCJE, Eleroy ; born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Nov. 11, 1821 ; he stayed with the family till 1835 ; and, having learned the carpenter's trade at 14 years of age, went to Ohio, and worked at his trade in Franklin, Portage Co. ; from there he moved to Wisconsin in 1843, and engaged in making brick, teaming and other things ; he then moved to Eleroy, in Erin Township, in the month of June, 1847 ; here he lives on his own property, and when not engaged in farming is serving the public in different offices ; he is now Assessor of Erin ; has been Township Clerk, Collector and Constable. He is a Democrat; and on Sept. 1, 1844, married Miss Eliza Denure, of New York ; they have three children - the eldest is dead - the next is Cora A., and the last child Fannie May.

Source changes here: from History of Stephenson County, Illinois : a Record of Its Settlement, Organization, and Three-quarters of a Century of Progress, by Fulwider, Addison L, published 1910; 1,270 words in this source stream.

Erin Township

Erin township originally comprised not only its present area but, in addition, the township of Kent, to the west, which was subdivided from Erin on March 17, 1856. It was a strange freak of the logic of events that the blow which severed Kent from Erin and left the latter deprived of the superior wood and water advantages formerly enjoyed, should have fallen at a meeting of the board of supervisors which was convened on St. Patrick's day. For Erin township, as its name implies, was settled largely by Irish farmers, and the village of Dublin in the western part of the township contains one of the two country Catholic churches of the county.

About 1835 the first settlements were made in that part of the county which is at present Erin Township. The settlers were Hibernians from the "ould sod," by name Bartholomew Doyle and Michael Murphey. Both of them settled in the range at present known as "Dublin Settlement," the former on the site of St. Mary's Church of the Mound, and the latter about a mile away from that spot. Their nearest neighbors were the settlers in the western part of the town- ship, which has since become Kent. Among these were the Timms family, the Willets and various others who are mentioned in the history of Kent township.

For about two years the settlers were few and far between. In 1837 Valorus Thomas arrived and settled about four miles away from Dublin settlement, on the line between Harlem and Erin townships. In the same year came Ebenezer Mulnix, and a Mr. Helm, who settled near Thomas. Bartholomew Doyle remained on his farm long enough to improve the land and donate three acres for the erection of St. Mary's Church. Then he moved west about half a mile, into Kent township, sold his old farm to one Robert Franey, and began the opening and improvement of a new grange.

Between 1837 and 1840, a goodly number of emigrants came to Erin township, with a large preponderence of the Irish element among them. The large part of Dublin settlement did not come until about 1842, but some of the forerunners came earlier. Among the newcomers, about 1839, were James Fowler, John Fiddler, John B. Kaufmann, Peter Van Sickle, George W. Babbitt, Jonas Pickard, Palmer Pickard, Lewis Grigsby, F. Rosenstiel, and their families.

In 1840, there was another large inroad, including, among others, Reuben Tower, William Schermerhorn, John Lloyd, Frederick Gossmann, John Hammond, Nathan Ferry, E. H. Woodbridge and a number of people whose names are lost to us. Amos Davis, who had settled at Scioto Hills in 1837. moved west into Erin township about 1840 or a little later.

In 1842, Dublin settlement began to grow very rapidly. Andrew and George Cavanaugh came in that year, also Andrew Farrell, Dennis Maher, who settled in section 29, John McNamara, Patrick Brown and many more. None of the newcomers were more warmly welcomed than the wife and family of a man named Burns. They had come by wagon train, and when crossing the Rock River at Dixon, the bridge collapsed, and all were hurled to the depths below. In the havoc which ensued, a number of the unfortunates were drowned, among them Mr. Burns and his son. Mrs. Burns and the rest of her family were fortunate enough to escape, and instead of remaining about the spot where the calamity had occurred and spending her time in vain lamentations, she pushed on to the destination at which her husband had been aiming. Here she arrived safely some time later and was warmly welcomed by the settlers.

The first birth in the Irish settlement occurred in 1843, when a son was born to George Cavanaugh. In the next year, the first marriage was solemnized by the Catholic priest. Robert Cavanaugh and Bridget Maher were the happy couple. In December, 1845, the first known death is said to have taken place. One Mr. Gillis, who was taken sick in the autumn of that year, died, according to tradition, from lack of proper care and treatment. He was buried in the grove on Burns' Branch, the first recorded burial of the township.

St. Mary's Church of the Mound, the first Catholic church built in the county, according to some, was put up by the Dublin settlers in 1836. This seems highly improbable, but such is the tradition. There has always been more or less of a controversy between the Catholic parishioners of Dublin and Irish Grove, each parish asserting that its church was the earliest of the county. It is quite impossible to decide the controversy, for records have been so meagerly preserved. The "Golden Jubilee" souvenir, issued by the congregation of St.

Mary's of Freeport during the Golden Jubilee Celebration of 1896, does not attempt to take part in the dispute, but merely states the dates of the founding of the parishes with resident priests. According to this, Dublin settlement has the advantage of a few years. It was attended by priests from Galena until 1843, when Father Derwin, appointed by the bishop of St. Louis, became the first resident priest, also doing service at the Irish Grove settlement in Rock Run township.

-. The Irish Grove church was certainly erected in 1838, the Dublin church within a year of that time. Consequently we can approximate the time of building and find that it was very early in the annals of Stephenson county. Once the church was built, there was something to draw Irish settlers to the vicinity, and to this day, Erin and Dublin settlements have maintained their full quota of Hibernians.

Erin township is quite as fertile as any in the county, and contains quite as good land. It has an area of about eighteen square miles, being one of the three smallest townships of the county in company with Jefferson and Dakota. There is no large creek or stream of any importance nor are there any groves or timbered sections of appreciable extent. The township is crossed by the Illinois Central Railroad (main line) with its one station at the village of Eleroy. This line, formerly a part of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad came through in 1852, and was later purchased by the Illinois Central, which now controls the -line from Freeport to Galena.

Dublin, or New Dublin settlement as it is familiarly called, embraces four square miles of territory, partly in Kent and partly in Erin townships, from Willet's Grove to Callan's corners, and is largely settled by Irish farmers who came from the immediate vicinity of Dublin, on the Liffey.

The first settlers were Bartholomew Doyle and Michael Murphey, who came about 1835 or 1836. New arrivals were not numerous until 1842, when a large number of emigrants, including Andrew Cavanaugh, George Cavanaugh, Andrew Farrell, Dennis Maher, a Mrs. Burns, John McNamara, Patrick Brown, etc.

Soon after the coming of Doyle and Murphey, St. Mary's Church of the Mound, one of the two rural churches of Stephenson county which adhere to the Catholic faith, was established by a Galena priest. Recently a new and handsome structure was erected, which does great credit to Dublin settlement, and is an unusually attractive church edifice for a country congregation.

The present parish of Dublin comprises a territory about eight thousand acres in extent, and numbers fifty or more families. The settlement is unique in that it has clung together for a period of nearly eighty years without much change in its character except the natural improvements that have come to all the farm lands of the middle west.