Guilford Township

Guilford Township

mining and gave a prodigious impetus to the mining interests by advancing largely to miners and inciting them to new discoveries. In the competition in the purchase of mineral at the time, it was said that in traveling over the country in the pursuit of his object, he used to carry his money in the top of his hat, ready to advance to any miner who pretended to have a reasonable "show" of mineral.

In 1847 Capt. Gear was a member of the State Senate. He was one of the original projectors of the Illinois Central Railroad; also of the Pacific. He was three times married, and left five children: Charlotte Maria (now Mrs. Girdon), Alexander H., John C., Clarissa E. and William O. Impetuous and indomitable energy, undaunted courage, unyielding firmness, strictest honesty and great generosity were the prominent characteristics of Capt. H. H. Gear. In the days of his prosperity he contributed liberally to all public and charitable enterprises. He gave to Galena the lots on which its public school building stands, and established the Episcopal Church in Galena. He was and is a part of the history of Jo Daviess County.

James G. Soulard, now an aged man, still lives amid the scenes of his earlier life. Of him Hon. E. B. Washburne says: "He still holds that high place in the esteem, respect and affection of all our people which a long life of probity and honor have secured to him. Is probably the only man living who ascended the Mississippi River from St. Louis to Fort Snelling as early as 1821. What he has lived to see in the development of this country, surpasses all that which could have been conceived by the wildest imagination."

Early in 1827 the name of the Village of Fever River was changed to Galena, and became generally known by that name. It is said that to i)r. Samuel C. Muir belongs the honor of giving it this name, suggested by the name applied to lead ore, but this is doubtful. A public meeting was held to select a name, in the Winter of 1826-'7, and at that meeting Richard W. Chandler is said to have suggested the name "Galena," which was adopted. The first public religious services known to be held in the mines occurred in 1827, conducted, says Lorrain, by Rev. Revis Cormac. It is said, however, that an Episcopal clergyman, a chaplain of the Hudson Bay Company at York Factory; was here, weather bound, in 1826, and preached on Sunday in the log tavern then just built opposite the present site of the De Soto House.

In the Autumn of this year Hugh W. Shannon built a saw mill on Small Pox Creek, about one mile from its mouth, having received a permit dated July 17, 1827, from the superintendent of lead mines to occupy 80 acres of land there. This, says Mr. St. Cyr, is the first saw mill known to be built in this county. Mr. Seymour, in his "History of Galena," published in the first directory, 1847, says: "The first mill in this section of county, carried by water power, was a corn-cracker, erected on Spring Brook, near the northern limits of the city. The hopper held about a peck, and the building which sheltered it was a dry goods box." But singularly enough Mr. Seymour omitted to give the date of this primitive mill. It is now to be added, however, that this mill was put in operation by Hiram Imus in 1828. It was the corn-cracker of the pioneers, a cast iron mill, like a huge coffee mill. These mills were usually run by hand, but Imus contrived to run his machine by water.

trict. Dysentery, diarrhoea, or flux, prevailed as an epidemic to an alarming extent. The few doctors in the county were constantly engaged, but there was much suffering for the want of medical attendance and proper nursing, and many deaths occurred in consequence.

In the Winter of 1826-'7 occurred the famous dispute, graphically described in Lorrain's " Centennial History." In the Summer or Fall of 1826, two boys had discovered a" rich lead. Complying with the regulations to secure their claim, they concluded to let it rest for a while, and attend Mr. Lawrence's school. While doing this, an adventurer, who had lost, as the miners termed it, his " bottom dollar," came across their diggings, " jumped," and applied to the agent for a permit. Mr. McKnight, discovering that the boys made a prior claim, appointed J. Duncan and James Higley arbitrators in the case, who decided in favor of the boys. Lorrain says:

The defeated party, being a great athletic fellow, declared that he would not stand by the "'decision, but would resort to the law of might. Early the next morning the two lads, instead of going to school, armed themselves and went out to their claim. They had not been there long before their opponent also appeared, fully armed. The boys ordered him to stand, and told him that now was the time to try the case by his code, lie scanned their countenances for a few moments and then left, never disturbing them again. Both of these boys are now living, in the persons of Capt. D. S. Harris, of Galena, and his brother, R. S. Harris, of Dubuque, Iowa.

Better than any history compiled from the fragmentary statements of after years - better even than unaided memory, striving often in vain to recall the events of lit'ty years ago, are the letters and memoranda \vritten at that time by intelligent men, who lived here, and knew whereof they wrote. Dr. E. G. JS'ewhall has permitted the following copy of a letter, written by his honored father, Dr. Horatio Kewhali, to his brother Isaac Newhall, Esq., of Salem, Mass., to be taken expressly for this work. It will be valuable to the people of this county, both on account of the information it conveys, and because the writer, nowpassed away, is tenderly enshrined in their memories.

I received, by the last mail brought here by steamboat "Josephine," a newspaper from you, on the margin of which were endorsed the following words: "Write a full account.'' I was rejoiced to see once more a Massachusetts paper, and presume you meant by the endorsement, a full account of " Fever River." This would puzzle me or any other person on the River. It is a nondescript. It is such a place as no one could conceive of, without seeing it. Strangers hate it, and residents like it. The appearance of the country would convince any one it must be healthy; yet, last season, it was more sickly than Havana or New Orleans. There is no civil law here, nor has the Gospel been yet introduced; or, to make use of a common phrase here, " Neither law nor Gospel can pass the rapids of the Mississippi." The country is one immense prairie, from the Rock River on the south to the Ouisconsiu on the north, and from the Mississippi on the west, to Lake Michigan on the east. It is a hilly country and abounding with lead ore of that species called by mineralogists " galena," whence is derived the name of our town. The lead mines of the Upper Mississippi, as well as those ot Missouri, are under the control of the Secretary of War. Lieutenant Thomas is superintendent. He resides at St. Louis : a bub-agent resides at this place. Any person wishing to dig gets a permit of the agent to do so, by signing certain regulations, the principal of which is that he will sell his mineral to no one but a regularly licensed smelter. He has all the mineral he can raise, and sells it at $17.50 per thousand (pounds), delivered at the furnaces. Any person who gets a permit stakes off two hundred yards square. This is his lot so long as he works it, and no one can interfi-re with his discoveries. Any person who will give bond to government for $5,000 can have half a mile square, on condition that he employs 20 laborers, and pays government ten per cent of lead made from mineral raised on his survey, or sells his mineral to a public smelter. The pub- lie smelters, of which I am one, give bond for $20,000 to pay government one tenth of all lead manufactured. They buy mineral of any person who lias a permit to dig, manufacture it into lead, pay government one tenth, monthly, and are the great men of the country. The mineral, lead, and cash all go into their hands. H. Newhall & Co. got their furnace in operation 1st of Sept., 1827. I made, by the 15th, twenty tons of lead. My men became sick, and I made but 14,000 pounds until 1st of November, since which time I have manufactured about 17,000 pounds every week. I have a store of goods, in Galena, for the supply of those with whom I have dealings, and never sell anything for less than 50 per cent advance. My furnace is on the Sinsinawa River, three miles from Galena, a stream navigable for boats to my furnace. * * * The privilege of working these mines, you know, was first given by the government to Col. Johnson, of Kentucky, five years ago (in 1822). He did but little and sunk money. Not much lead was made here till last year. There were then four log buildings in Galena. Now there are one hundred and fifteen houses and stores in the place. It is the place of deposit for lead and provisions, etc., for all the mining country. There is no spot in America, of the same size, where there is one fourth of the capital, or where so much business is done. There was manufactured here, in the year ending September last, five million seven hundred and forty pounds of lead. The population consists mainly of Americans, Irish and French (that is, in the diggings). There are but comparatively few females. Hence, every female, unmarried, who lands on these shores, is immediately married. Little girls, fourteen and thirteen years old, are often married here. Three young ladies, who came, fellow passengers with me, in June, and the only ones on board, are all married months since. Du' Buque's Mines, on the opposite side of the Mississippi, are worked by the Fox Indians. They, however, merely skim the surface. The windlass and bucket are not known among them. Du' Buque's Mines is a delightful spot, particularly the Fox Village, on the bank of the Mississippi. But of all the places in the United States, which I have seen, Rock Island, at the lower rapids of the Mississippi, called the Rapids of the Des Moines, is by far the most beautiful. Fort Armstrong is on this island. At the mouth of Fever River is a trading house of the American Fur Company. Their trading houses are scattered up and down the Mississippi, on the River Des Moines, St. Peters, etc. Their capital is so large, and they gave such extensive credit to the Indians, that no private establishment can compete with them. An Indian debt is outlawed, by their own custom, in one year. The fur company credits each Indian hunter a certain amount from one to five hundred dollars, according to his industry and skill in hunting and trapping. If, when they return in the Spring, they have not furs and peltry enough to pay the debt, the trader loses it. But on the goods sold to the Indians there is a profit of two or three hundred per cent made, and a profit on the furs received in payment.

Fever River was closed with ice on the 21st of November, and, of course, navigation is ended, and I have not sent my letter. I now have an opportunity to forward it by private conveyance to Vandalia. We are now shut out from all intercourse with the world until the river opens again in Spring. We have no mail as yet, but shall have a mail once in two weeRs to commence the 1st of January next. I have not received a letter from one of my friends since I have been in Fever River. I hope you will write me before 1st of January, or as soon as you receive this letter. Sincerely yours,

This letter was mailed at Vandalia Dec. 25, and by it is established the fact that although Fever River post-office was established in 1826, it was not regularly supplied, even once a fortnight, until the Spring of 1828. Mails were brought by steamboat in the Summer, and in the Winter the people had none.

In the Fall of 1827, Strader & Thompson brought a keel-boat load of general merchandise, including a quantity of flour and pork, from St. Louis. Mr. Bouthillier, whose trading house was on the east side of the river, near the present site of the railroad station, purchased the entire cargo to secure the flour, as that was scarce, even then. Winter set in without a sufficient supply of provisions to supply the wants of the miners. Nearly all the flour obtainable was held by Bouthillier. It was sour and hard. He chopped it out of the barrels with hatchets, pounded it, sifted it loosely into other barrels, filling two with the original contents of one, and then sold it for $30 per barrel. Even then, the settlers saw with alarm, that there was not enough to last until Spring. The Winter of 1827-'8 was mild and open until Jan. 6 ; the streets had been muddy, and " not freezing in the least, even at night " - but the river froze over then. Word had reached St. Louis that the people in the mines were destitute of provisions. The steamboat, "Josephine," Capt. Clark, was loaded with flour and started oif to take her chances of getting as near as possible to the mines. Slowly she made her way up the Mississippi, and when she reached the mouth of Fever River, the warm weather had weakened the ice, and she made her way, unheralded, to Galena. The date of her arrival is fixed by the following entry in a memorandum book, kept by Dr. H. Newhall: " Feb. 25, 1828, arrived steamboat ' Josephine ;' broke the ice to get up Fever Biver." Farther corroborated by a letter from Dr. Newhall to his brother, dated. March 1, 1828, in which he says: " To our astonishment, on Monday last, a steamboat arrived from St. Louis." The people rushed to the bank, rejoiced and amazed to see a steamboat loaded with flour, except Bouthillier. The day before, Mr. Gratiot had offered him $25 a barrel forall the flour he had, and the offer was refused. Mr. Gratiot now asked him what he would take for his flour, and Bouthillier, with a shrug, replied: "Dam! hell ! suppose, by g.ir ! what man tinks one steamboat come up Fever River in mid de Wint?" Feb. 27, the river froze over, and March 5 the boat was still detained by ice, but arrived at St. Louis about March 14.

The following extracts from a letter from Dr. H. Newhall to his brother, dated March 1, 1S28, will give some idea of social life in the mines 50 years ago:

We have had but two mails this Winter. It has been pleasantly warm here during Winter, and the 'Heavy rains caused the ice in the river to break. * * Ithas been extremely cold for four days ; the river is closed with ice, and the boat (the " Josephine," which an ived' on tne 25ih), consequently detained. We have been almost completely isolated from the rest of tlie world this Winter. We have received the President's Message and proceedings of Congress up to the 2Gth of December, since that time we have had nothing. We, in Galena, enjoyed ourselves well during the Winter. There have been ten or twelve balls, the last was on the 22d of February. At noon a salute was fired from the cannon received during the Winnebago War. In the evening a ball was given at the Cottage Hotel (the name applied by Dr. N. to the log tavern on the west side of Main Street, corner of Green), in a hall (building) sycty feet in length, ornamented with evergreens. * * There were sixty ladies and ninety gentlemen present. The ladies were elegantly dressed, and many of them were handsome. The ball was managed with a degree of propriety and decorum scarcely to be expected in this wild countiy. Had I been suddenly transported into the ball-room, I should have imagined myself in some eastern city, rather than in the wilds of the upper Mississippi. Little should I have dreamed that within five miles was the home of the savage, and that only twelve miles off is a large Fox village, where I have witnessed the Indian dance around a fresh taken scalp. .March 5. - The steamboat (" Josephine ") is still detained by ice. * * The Miners' Journal, a newspaper, will be commenced at Galena by 1st of May next. The proprietor, in his prospectus, calls it the Northern Herald. He altered the'name at my suggestion. * * " Old Buck," the Fox chief, who discovered (?) the famous " Buck Lead," has been encamped all Winter within a mile of my furnace (on the Sinsinawa, three miles from town). Himself and sons often visit me in town.

The Miner's Journal, to which allusion is made, was not started at the time fixed. The first number was issued July 8, 1828, by James Jones, proprietor, under the editorial supervision of Dr. Newhall. The first printing in the first printing office established at Galena, by Jones, is said to have been an invitation to a ball and excursion, of which the following is a fac simile as to style, orthography and punctuation: of your company is respectfully solicited to a Party to be given on board the Steam-Boat Indiana, on Friday the 4th day of July, at 8 o'clock, A. M.

The date of the highest water in the Mississippi within the period of the occupation of this county by the whites, lias been variously stated by historians, and men's memories differ. It has been fixed by Seymour, Lorrain and others as occurring in the Summer of 1826. Careful inquiry, however, seems to establish the fact that while the water in the river was high in 1826, it was still higher in 1827, and the highest flood occurred June, 1828. Capt. D. S. Harris, H. B. Hunt, Allan Tomlin, H. H. Gear, and others who were here at that time, agree on the statement that the highest water was in 1828, when, says Capt. H., " the Indians informed me that it was two feet higher' than they had ever known it." Steamboats crossed the Portage in ten feet of water, passed along over the bottom where Main Street now is located (the street has been raised considerable since then), took on lead at Meeker's Point, near the present Court House, ran up Meeker's Branch and loaded lead at Miller's tavern, etc. The water backed up to Hughlett's furnace. Capt. Harris states that in " 1826 there was a heavy freshet on the Wisconsin River, which submerged Prairie du Chien, but it did not extend to the upper Mississippi or to the other tributaries, hence was not felt here very much." lie also states that the water was always higher in the Mississippi, and, of course, in Fever River, in those earlier years than it is now.

The arrivals at the minea during 1828 were very numerous. The Sucker trails were full of teams, and steamboats and keel-boats were loaded with emigrants. Among the numerous throng may be mentioned George Ferguson, B. C. St. Cyr, W. Townsend, Jesse Morrison, and hundreds of others. Daniel Wann, Frederick Stahl, Emily C. Billon (who subsequently married John Atchison), C. S. Hempstend, and Rev. Aratus Kent, are among the arrivals of 1829. Mr. Wann has been intimately connected with the history of this region from that day to the present. He was formerly largely engaged in trade and in river navigation, but for the last 25 years has been Surveyor of the Port of Galena, and, says Mr. Washburne, " has always performed his duty with so much satisfaction to the Government and the people, through all administrations, that, in all the desire for office, no man has ever sought to displace him." Mr. Kent organized the first Presbyterian Church, Oct. 23, 1831, with six members, as follows: Abraham Hathaway, Abraham Miller, Eliza Barnes, Ann Crow, Susan Gratiot and

Isabella McKibbins. Mr. Stahl engaged in trade, and, so far as known, took the first lead by wagon to Chicago, in 1833, at the time the Potawattomie Treaty was made. He loaded two eight-ox teams, belonging to Hiram Edes, with 3,500 pounds of lead each. The route was via Dixon, and, says Mr. Stahl, these teams made the first heavy Wagon trail on that route, although some light government wagons had passed over the route in 1832.

Among those who came here prior to 1830, whose names'have not been mentioned, were James Jones, who established the Miners' Journal, Dr. Addison Philleo, John L. Bogardus (1826), Benj. Mills, one of the most brilliant lawyers of his time, Dr. A. T. Crow, Samuel Scales, Robert Graham, the' Gra^ brothers, Abneu\Field, Jthe Argent family, and *Gen. 4 Henry Dodge. yk*%*/Mv* yj*~< A>lliJ-/V (LAwX^ f^ I > A 7/^/^

In 1 829, David G. Bates built a small steamboat at Cincinnati and called her the " Galena," to run between Galena and St. Louis. In the Spring or Summer of that year, Robert S. Harris went to Cincinnati and came up on her first trip as engineer. She run only a short time and was lost./ /Cv> 0-*vW\v£W fw ftfo. ff%6**jfa

October 10, 1829,* hat sturdy pioneer, who had done so much for the infant settlement; who had made the first farm in Northern Illinois; who had seen the little hamlet on Fever River suddenly expand, in the short space of six years, into a town of no little commercial importance - JAMES HARRIS - died suddenly of cholera, the second victim, it is said, of that terrible scourge in the " mines," and the second to be borne to his final resting place under Masonic honors (Thomas H. January being the first, Dec. 1, 1828). Mr. Harris enjoyed the entire confidence of the. people among whom he lived and died. He was one' of the first commissioners of Jo Daviess County, and one of the first justices of the peace in the county. He was faithful to the interests confided to him by the people, and was the first man in the county who died in office. James Harris was born in Connecticut, October 14, 1777; married Abigail Barthrick, of Kinderhook, N. Y. (born March 24, 1782), November 9, 1797. Subsequently removed to Ohio, thence to Fever River. By the death of her husband Mrs. Harris was left with six children at home to rear and train, the eldest of whom was then but twenty years old. The brave women who accompanied their pioneer husbands to this wild country at that early day, of whom Mrs. Harris was one of the first, are entitled to a conspicuous place in history. They were indeed the mothers of the frontier, the worthy companions and counselors of those noble and fearless men - the advance guard of civilization destined ere long to occupy the whole country. Mrs. Harris was a woman of sterling worth, a consistent Christian, affable, charitable, and universally beloved and respected. She lived to see her children become useful and honored members of society, and died July 9, 1844.

In the Winter of 1832-'3, Captain D. S. Harris and his brother, R. S. Harris, built the first steamboat built on Fever River, at the Portage, and called her the " Jo Daviess." These men were among the earliest pioneers in Galena stearnboating. No men on the Upper Mississippi were ever better known or more highly esteemed and respected. They were perfect masters of their- profession, and as engineers, pilots and commanders, had no superiors. They run the "Jo Daviess " themselves, and prior to 1840 , bought out the " Heroine," the " Frontier," the " Smelter," the " Relief," the " Pizarro," the " Pre-emption," and the "Otter."

Negro slavery existed in the mines for some years. Many of the early miners were from slave-holding states, and brought their slaves with them. In 1823, when Captain Harris arrived, there were from 100 to 150 negroes here. Under the ordinance of 1787, slavery was forever prohibited in the Northwestern Territory, but Illinois sought to evade this organic law by the enactment of statutes by which these slaves could be held here as " indentured " or " registered servants," and these statutes were known as the Black Laws. As late as March 10, 1829, the commissioners of Jo Daviess County ordered a tax of one halt'per cent to be levied and collected on " town lots, slaves, indentured or registered servants" etc.* There is now living in Galena a venerable old colored man, Swanzy Adams, born a slave, in Virginia, in April, 1796, who moved to Kentucky, and thence, in April, 1827, to Fever River, as the slave of James A. Duncan, on the old steamer " Shamrock." His master "hired him " to Captain Comstock, for whom he worked as a miner. He subsequently bought himself for $1,500 (although he quaintly says, " good boys like me could be bought in Kentuck for $350 "), and discovered a lead on Sunday that paid it,. but he was compelled to serve five years longer as a slave, and was once kidnapped and taken to St. Louis. "Old Swanzy," as he is familiarly called, is the sole survivor of the slaves held under the Black Laws of Illinois, then in force, but which have long since been swept from her statute books. It is pleasant to add that, by hard labor, industry and economy, since he owned himself, " Swanzy " has secured a comfortable home and competence against want in his declining years.

For many years, and as late as 1856-'7, the only money current in the mines consisted of British sovereigns and French five-franc pieces. The former were rated at $4.90 - often passing for $5, and the latter were current at $1.00.

In 18.)2, just before the commencement of the Black Hawk "War (to be noticed more at length hereafter), the whole mining district was in a prosperous condition. In 1S29-'30, the price of lead went down, and for two or three years the miners labored under serious disadvantages, but in 1830 the government reduced the lead rent from 10 to 6 per cent, lead advanced until, in 1832, it commanded a fair price, and the condition of the county at that time is admirably summed up in an article published in the Miners' Journal of May 9, 1832, as follows :

The miner, the smelter and the merchant all transact a cash business. Fine farms are to b.j seen in every part of the country. Mills are built on almost every stream. Machines are in operation for the rolling of lead and for the manufacture of leaden pipes. A shot tower is being built at Helena.f "Laborers receive Irom $15 to $20 per month and their board. There are three churches in the town of Galena - a Catholic, a Methodist and a Presbyterian. There is a temperance society of seventy-five members, and a juvcni e temperance society of forty-five members. Education is encouraged and promoted. Justice is regularly administered'. Numerous crimes common in older settlements are here wholly unknown. Most persons sleep with unbarred doors, and sleep in safety. A jail has been finished three years, and during all that lime has not been occupied a single week. The people of Galena are generally well dressed, polite and so< iable, and if there is a place where a respectable stranger fin'ds pure, unalloyed hospitality, it is at the Upper Mississippi f This was on what was called January's Point. The tower was never built, but the foundations were commenced, and the location is now called " Shot Tower Hill." Sheet lead was manufactured a short time by Parker, at Ottawa, but the enterprise was soon abandoned.

lead mines. One hundred and two steamboats* and seventy-two keel-boats have arrived in a single year, and the annual product of lead has increased to 13,343,150 pounds.

It is now necessary to return to a review of the early history and management of the lead mines under United States authority. Prior to the appointment of Lieut. Martin Thomas, as superintendent of United States lead mines, in August, 1824, there does not appear to have been an agent of the government here authorized to grant leases and permits to operate on United States lands. Leases of large tracts were obtained from the government, and on these lands, small miners were permitted to enter and dig under the lessees. But their numbers were few. In 1823 the principal leads worked were all old Indian and French mines struck anew. There were diggings on January's Point, about six hundred yards above January's warehouse. On the school section just above were two leads. Next north was the "Hog" lead, beyond which were the "Doe" and " Buck " leads, the latter of which had been worked by French miners under Dubuque. Then there was the " Old Cave Diggings," on Cave Branch, in what is now Vinegar Hill Township, that had a]so been worked by Dubuque, and the old "Indian lead," west of the "Buck lead." On the east side of the river was the "Back-bone lead," about half a mile east of January's Point, and Yanmatre's lead, on the east side of Apple River, near the present Village of Elizabeth. On the west, near Anderson's (now Harris') Slough, were two old French leads, one of which was worked by - McLanahan, and the old " Indian Diggings," west of Galena two miles. In 1824, John and Cuyler Armstrong struck a lead on the middle fork of Miller's Branch (now Meeker's), above the old Indian leads. North of this another lead was struck, near where the Comstock lead was afterward discovered. Mr. Vanderslice had made a discovery about two miles northwest - of the settlement, and two new leads east of Vinegar Hill, were worked by J. Bruner, Michael Byrne and John Furlong. On Cave Branch, one and one quarter miles southeast of " Cave Diggings," John Armstrong had found a good lead, and " the only one," says Captain Harris, " where I ever saw native lead sticking to mineral." These were all the principal diggings known in what is now Jo Daviess County when Lieut. Thomas arrived, and they had all, or nearly all, been previously worked by the Indians and French.

Up to that time it is probable that the local agent, Major Anderson, had not been authorized to grant leases and permits. Johnson and others had obtained their leases at Washington. But the Fever River lead deposits were found to be richer than those of Missouri, and the greater facility with which the mines or " leads " were worked attracted a large number of miners from Missouri. The government of the United States had, by advertisements in the leading papers of the Union, called the attention of the people to these lead mines, and invited miners and settlers to the region. They were flocking hither, and it became indispensable to station a resident superintendent here, clothed with authority to grant permits and leases, issue regulations, settle disputes, etc. There was no other law at that time,

* It was nothing remarkable to see fifteen or twenty large Mississippi steamboats in the river at a time, and Captain Harris is sufficient authority for the statement that steamboats have arrived or departed in every month in the year. The channel of the river, which has very little current, has become filled up now, so that steamers can come up to Galena only in high water, but the people think, not without reason, that if the government would improve the channel by dredging - with the construction of a narrow guage railroad now in operation from this point into the mining districts of Wisconsin - some, at least, of the old prestige of Galena would return.

Elias P. Avery first made claim, on section 33 of this township, in 1827. In April or May of the year following, he moved there with his sons, William, Azel, David and Elias, Jr., of whom the two former took claims ; the latter, being a young man, lived with his father, while David took a claim across the present township line, in Elizabeth Township. Elias P. and Azel Avery continued to reside there until the time of their death. Elias, Jr., and William, who married in 1834, still reside in the vicinity, although William resides in Elizabeth Township.

Mr. E. T. Isbell came from Missouri in 1832, and mined at New Diggings and other places until the Spring of 1834, when he settled at his present location on section 25, in Guilford Township.

At that time, the following persons are remembered as residents there : John W. Taylor, on section 20, who afterwards moved to Clay County, Kansas, where he died. His remains were brought back in the Fall of 1877 for interment. His son, Obadiah, still lives on the old place ; another son, Thomas, is dead; and two others, John and 'Henry, reside in Kansas. S. W. Hathaway, who is still a resident, settled on section 17, and married a daughter of Mr. Taylor. William Johnson, or "Uncle Billy," as he was called, settled on section 35, and furnished the only religious direction that the settlers received for some time. He had two sons and a daughter, all of whom are now gone.

Henry Williard settled in the township, on section 13, a short time before Mr. Isbell, and still lives there with his family. James D. Rawli s, father of John A., settled near the claim of Mr. Isbell, and built his housn a little before him, where he still lives. Further mention is made of John e A. Rawlins in another portion of this work.

School was taught in the house of William Avery, in 1837, by Mr. Swinburn. Abner Hodgins taught a school in the same year, near Mr. Isbell's farm, and soon after, a school-house was built on the south part of section 25, by Mr. Isbell. A school-house is believed to have been built a short time before this one, on the farm now owned by Robert Carson. Another school-house was built in 1851, in which Mrs. Phoebe Wait first taught. The school-house on section 25 was afterwards torn down, when a new and larger one was erected on section 26. There are now school-houses on sections 8, n, 17, 26 and 32.

Preaching was first held in the school-houses. The first regular preacher was David Matlock, Baptist. There is now a Methodist Episcopal Church, on the line between sections 10 and n. The first Methodist Church was on the southwest corner of section 6.

The first post-office, called "Avery," was established on section'33, October 30, 1850, by William Avery, postmaster. The present postmaster is George S. Avery. A post-office was once kept at the house of J. D. Rawlins, called " Guilford," but it is now discontinued.

At the time of township organization, in 1853, the name of the township was given in as " Gilford " ; it is now spelled " Guilford/' Among the first township officers were : John W. Taylor, Supervisor ; John A. Rawlins, Clerk ; Wm. Avery and Samuel W. Hathaway also held offices.

The first election was held at the Taylor school-house. E. T. Isbell was elected the second Supervisor, at which election about 150 votes were polled.

The pre-ent officers are : Supervisor - Wm. T. Gear ; Town Clerk - Wm. Sinclair; Assessor - John Baus; Collector - James Henry; Commissioners of Highways - Simon Singer, H. Belden and James Sheean ; Justices of Peace - Francis Varing and E. Schoenhardt ; Constables - Philip Bausman and Frank Ehler.

Considerable mineral has been raised in this township. On the land of H. Bartell, J. W. Taylor and J. Hellman, in the western part of the township, valuable mines have been worked. C. A. Monnier and others have rich leads in the southwestern corner of the township, the principal part of which, however, lies across the line, in Elizabeth Township.

A VERY ELI AS C. Farmer; Sec. 82; P. O. Avery; born in Tazewell Co., 111., Sept. 20, 1823 ; came to this Co. with his father in 1828, who was one of the first settlers in this Co.; he can remember scenes and occurrences connected with the Black Hawk War, although not nine years old ; his father was captain of a company of Light Horse ; was too old to go into active service, but sent one or two of his sons, while he assisted in defending the home settlements; owns 90 acres land; married Mrs. Julia Wilson (maiden name Denio) in 1858 ; she was born in Buffalo, N. Y.. March 1, 1834; they have six children living : Albert I., George G., Carrie, Mary A., Phoebe and Cyrus B. ; lost three : John C., Emma I. and an infant; Mrs. Avery has one son by first marriage, William H. Wilson ; Mr. A. crossed the plains to California in 1850; remained there till 1857; returned ma Panama; attend the M. E. Church.

BALBACK CONRAD, Farmer; Sec. 33; P. O. Avery; born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, Jan. 1, 1831 ; came to this Co. in 1851 ; owns 214 acres land ; married Elizabeth Menzemer Sept. 14, 1856 ; she was born in Baden, Germany, Sept. 30, 18:39 ; they have seven children living: Henry, Caroline, Lizzie, Minnie, Louisa, Amelia and Josie; lost four: Louisa, died in 1859 ; Conrad, Aug. 6. 1872 ; Charles, Oct. 12, 1876, and Frederic, Oct. 21, 1876; Mr. B. was Commissioner of Highways three years, and School Director ; family belong to Lutheran Church.

BALBACK GEO. Farmer; Sec. 33; P. O. Avery; born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Sept. 14, 1841 ; came to this Co. in 1853 ; settled on this farm ; owns 130 acres land ; was married Nov. 4, 1868, to Mary Riter; she was born in Germany in March, 1844; they have four children: John, Emma, Lizzie and Henry; Mr. B. was only 12 years old when he came here, and had his share of the hardships incident to the life of an early settler; he is Catholic ; Mrs. B. is a Lutheran.

born in England in 1819 ; they have fourteen children: Elizabeth J., Mary, Sophia, Henry, John, Joseph, Caroline, Lavinia, William, Francis J., Thomas C., Benjamin A., Sarah A. and Jasper A. ; Mr. B. was School Director and Overseer of Highways 14 years each ; family belong to the M. E. Church.

BASTIAN HEKTRY, Farmer; Sec. 6; P.O. Council Hill Station; born in Cornwall, Eng., Jan. 5, 1825; came to this Co. in 1841 ; married Elizabeth Prisk Dec. 19, 18~>9: she was born in Cornwall, Oct. 22, 1836; they have six children living: Alfred H., Mary E., Carrie, Wilbur J., Laura J. and Ada S. ; lost one, Sarah Jane, died Jan. 6, 1865 ; owns 93 acres land ; Mr. B. has three brothers and three sisters all living in this Co., and a sister in Lafayette Co.; all came over in the "Cornwall" in 1841 ; were eight weeks making the voyage ; Mr. B. is at present Town Treasurer, and was Collector three years.

BASTIAN JO UK, Farmer; Sec. 6; P. O. Council Hill Station ; born in Cornwall, Eng., Sept. 9, 1809 ; was married in 1838 to Ann Holman ; she was born in Cornwall in 1818 ; came to this Co. in 1841 ; came in the " Cornwall " with his father's family; owns 140 acres land ; they have ten children living: John, Mary, Sampson, Thomas, Francis, Hester A., Elizabeth, William H., Annie M. and Orlando ; lost one, Jane, died aged two years ; has been School Director several terms, and Overseer of Highways one year; belong to the M. E. Church.

BAITS GEORGE, Farmer; Sec. 10; P.O. Scales Mound ; born in Hesse, Germany, in 1815; came to this Co. in 1838; owns 120 acres land ; married Miss Mary Wise in 1851 ; she was born in Baden, Germany, in 1825 ; they have two children : Mary, born in 1853, and John William, in April, 1859; the family attend the Lutheran Church.

BAITS JOHW, Farmer; Sec. 9; P. O. Scales Mound ; born in Hesse, Germany, July 10, 1823 ; came to this Co. in 1838 ; lived in Galena till 1842, when he moved on this farm, where he has ever since resided; owns 200 acres land; is serving his fourth term as Assessor; was jCollector two terms ; was School Trustee one term ; was School Director, with the exception of two or three years, since the Tp. organization ; nyxrried Mary A. Haas in li she was born in Germany Sept. 4, 1829 ; have six children : Catherine, Elizabeth, George C., Joseph H., Mary A. and Phoebe

BOIJSEMANN PHIL.LIP. Farmer and Deputy Sheriff; Sec. 2; P. O. Scales Mound; born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, July 8, 1817 ; came to this Co. in 1846 ; owns 259 acres land ; has been Deputy Sheriff 11 years and Constable 16 years ; married Julia Stoft in April, 1845 ; she was born in Germany Jan. 8, 1822; have five children living : Philip, aged 27 ; Nicholas, 24; William, 22; Henry, 18, and Julia, 14; the eldest daughter, Catherine, wife of Conrad Schneider, of Dodge Co., Neb., died there Aug. 4, 1874 ; the eldest son is in Story Co., Nev., engaged in mining; family belong to the Lutheran Church.

CHARLES, Farmer; Sec. ^/ 24 ; P. O. Houghton ; born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1825 ; came to this Co. in 1849; owns 200 acres land; "was School Director four years, and Overseer of Highways one year ; married Eva Burn in 1850 ; she was born in Bavaria in 1823; they have five children living: Lena, Nettie, Charles, Katie and Eva; lost one, Mary, died in 1855 ; family belong to' Presbyterian Church.

CALLAHAN JAS. Farmer; Sec. 29; P.O. Galena; born in Ireland in 1820; came to this Co. in 1848; owns 360 acres land; married Rosa Reynolds; she was born in Ireland; have one son, Edward; family belong to the Catholic Church.

CARSON ROBT. Farmer; Sec. 23; P. O. Scales Mound ; born in Ireland in 1814 ; came to the U. S. in 1838 ; lived in N. Y. till 1841, when he came to this Tp. and settled within three miles of where he now resides ; owns 80 acres land ; married Eliza Kelin in 1840 ; she was born in N. Y. City March 30, 1819; they have five children living: William J., Samuel, Robert and John (twins), and Rosamond; William and Samuel were in the army, the former in the 45th 111., from the time of its organization till the close of the war; was in 17 battles; the latter was in the 96th, in the service one year.

CASPER THOS. Farmer; Sec. 1; P. O. Scales Mound ; born in Switzerland in 1823; came to this Co. in 1841; owns 160 acres land; married Julia Frick in 1849 ; she was born in this Co. in 1827 ; had three children: Joseph, John and Julia; she died in March, 1854; married again, in 1855, to Maria Getz ; she was born in Germany in 1835; they have seven children : George, Emma, Elizabeth, Thomas, Barbara, Henry and Peter; lost one, Christian, died March 23, 1871 ; Mr. C. is serving his second term as School Director ; was Overseer of Highways four years; they are members of the Lutheran Church.

CLARK EDW. Farmer; Sec. 21 ; P.O. Galena; born in Ireland Feb. 1, 1845; came to N. Y. City when two years old, with his uncle, Jas. Clark ; came to this Co. in 1857 ; enlisted in 1862, in Co. B, 90th I. V. I.; served until the close of the war ; was in 20 general engagements ; he and one other were the only men in his company that came through without a wound; was with Sherman from Chattanooga to Savannah,and thence to Washing- . ton; owns 120 acres land; married Sarah F. Sale in 1867; she was born on this farm Dec. 6, 1851 : have four children : John E., Louis S., Philip H. and Geneva F. ; Democrat.

COMIC REN NY, Farmer; Sec. 14; P. O. Scales Mound ; born in France Jan. 6, 1806 ; came over in 1830 ; traveled in different parts of the U. S. for ten years ; went back to France ; stai^l five years ; returned in 1847, and settled on this farm ; owns 342 acres land ; married Mary A. Gabrois April 21, 1840; had three children : Edward J., Julius and Chas. H. ; she died May 16, 1851 ; married again, Nov. 21, 1851, to Judith Ellsworth (maiden name Maloy) ; she was born in Ireland ; has four children; three by first marriage; Mary, Alice and Annie; one by second, Josephine ; has served two terms as Asses-

DURRSTEIN HEJTRY, Farmer; Sec. 16; P. O. Scales Mound; born in this Tp. April 6, 1842 ; owns 120 acres land ; married Louisa K. Wilhelmi Sept. 6,lb70; she was born in Prussia in 1851 ; came to this Co. Sept. 20, 1869 ; they have two children living: Mary, born Sept. 20, 1872; Christian, Jan. 16, 1874; lost one, Lena, born Aug. 11, 1871, died Aug. 25, 1871 ; Mr. D. was Constable four years, and Overseer of Highways one year ; his father, Michael Durrstein, came to this Co. in 1840 ; took up the land now owned by his son, and remained here until March 19, 1875, when he died, at the age of 75; his mother resides with him ; is 73 years old ; family attend the Presbyterian Church.

DUERR JXO. Farmer; Sec. 15; P. O. Scales Mound ; born in Alsace, Germany, March 18, 1814; came to St. Louis in 1842, and to this Co. in 1843; married Lena Gerhardt June 30, 1860 ; she was born in Alsace May 14, 1824; she was first married to John Leux ; he was killed in the mines near Galena in 1858; had two children : Lena and John ; by second marriage have two: Philip and Frederick; owns 80 acres land ; are members of the M. E. Church.

EHRLER MRS. MARY. Farming; Sec. 17; P. O. Galena; Widow of Michael Ehrler, who was killed July 4, 1877, by a pistol shot from the hands of John Hub, for which offense the said Hub is now serving a term in the penitentiary ; Mr. Ehrler was married to Mary Basler April 29, 1849 ; she was born in Baden, Germany, May 18, 1825 ; came to this Co. in 1847; owns 360 acres land; has seven children living : Frank, Catherine, Michael, John, Willie, Mary and an inffint; Mr. C. was Commissioner of Highways one term, Trustee one term, and School Director 13 years ; belong to the Lutheran Church.

FAHRIG WM. Farmer; Sec. 34; P.O. Avery; born in Alton, 111., July 3, 1845; came to this Co. in 1852 ; was driving team in Galena until 1868; then bought and moved on this farm ; owns 90 acres land ; married Emma Wencicker Mny 28, 1874; she was born in East Galena May 26,1856; they have two children: William, born May 12, 1875; Josephine, July 12, 1877; are memberg of the M. E. Church, Galena.

FORD WILMAM X. Farmer; Sec. 5; P.O. Council Hill Station; born in Cornwall, Eng., June 20, 1831; came to this Co. in 1842; owns 360 acres land; married Elizabeth Cornbelick March 13, 1856 ; she was born in Cornwall June 9, 1837 ; they have six children living: Amos J., Cornelia A., Wallace M., Jesse W., Matthew and Samuel F. ; lost three : Adaline J., Walter T. and one in infancy ; Mr. Ford was Assessor three years, and is serving his third term as School Director; are members of the M. E. Church.

FRICK JOSEPH, Farmer; Sec. 15; P. O. Scales Mound ; born in Selkirk Settlement, Red River of the North, in 1824; came to Galena with his father in 1826; was eight years old at the time of the Black Hawk War ; has an indistinct recollection of the Indians, who were here at that time in great numbers; moved to this farm in 1833; owns 167 acres land; married Margaret Durrstein in 1854 : she was born in Germany Dec. 15, 1833 ; they have six children: Elizabeth, Julia, Louisa, Mary, Emma aud Joseph ; family belong to Lutheran Church.

Gaueshart Valentine

Farmer; Sec 4; P. O. Scales Mound; born in Baden. Germany, in 1835; came to this Co. in 1854; was married in 1860 to Elizabeth Heuberger; she was born in Switzerland in 1839; died in 1867; was married again to Margaret Sherr in 1871 ; she was born in Germany in 1851 ; have an adopted daughter, Kate Slyer; she was born in Cassville, Grant Co., Wis., May 20, 1870.

GEAR WM. T. Farmer; Sec. 9; P. O. Scales Mound ; born in Cleveland, O., in 1816 ; caine to this Co. with his father in 1826 ; settled on Fever River, near New Diggings, Wis. ; moved to this farm in 1839; has followed farming and mining alternately ever since ; owns 810 acres land ; married Eliza Day Dec. 29, 1836; she was born in N. H. in 1818; they have nine children living: Charles E., James W., Hannah, John C., Sophronia A., Holland' F., Sarah C., George L. and Eliza V. ; lost one, Francis C. ; Mr. G. was Register of Deeds in Wis. two years ; is serving his ninth term as Supervisor of this Tp. ; was School Trustee 16 years; family attend the M. E. Church.

<, KI I \ CHARITY, Farming; Sec. 32; P. O. Galena; widow; maiden name was Springer ; born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., March 5, 1800 ; was married to John Green, of Ontario Co., Aug. 23, 1824 ; he was born in Westchester Co. April 27, 1790 ; they came to this Co. in 1835 ; settled within two miles of here ; have lived on this farm since 1846; owns 100 acres land; they have eight children : Noah, William H., James, Jeremiah, Jacob, Sarah, Maria and Barney ; Mr. G. had four by a former marriage : Moses, Andrew, Amasa and John ; lost one, George ; Mr. G. died May 24, 1876.

CJIfiHHX JEREMIAH, Farmer; Sec. 32 ; P. O. Galena ; in partnership with his brother, Barney, farming their mother's place ; younger sons of Charity Green.

Farmer; Sec. 18; P.O. Galena; born in Otsego Co., N. Y., Aug. 25, 1M3 ; came to this state with his parents in 1818; settled in St. Clair Co.; his mother died here in 1822 ; his father moved to Sangamon Co. near where Springfield now stands, in

1822 ; died same year ; in 1829 he came to the Galena Lead Mines; worked several years at any thing that offered, principally mining; was a private in Captain Allenwrath's company during the Black Hawk War; took up this claim in 1834; lived on it till 1847 ; when the land came into market, entered it at government price ; owns 418 acres land; was Tp. Treasurer from time of Tp. organization up to March, 1877; was Town Clerk six years, Supervisor one term, and Justice of the Peace 16 years; married Sophronia J. Taylor, Oct. 18, 1845; she was born in Sangamon Co., 111., Jan. 5, 1825 ; came to Galena in 1827, with her father, the first settler in Guilford Tp. ; he built the first house, plowed the first furrow, and sowed the first wheat ever sown in Guilford; they have seven children: Mary J. Gear, of Clay Center,Kas. ; Samuel W.,GuilfordTp. ; Sarah T., Eleazer J., Laura S., Abram L. and Margie L. ; lost four children : Wm. H., died at the age of 22, and three died in infancy; the family attend the M. E. Church.

HEXRY JAMES, Farmer; Sec. 34; P.O. Avery ; born in Co. Antrim, Ireland, April 14, 1838 ; came with his parents to this Co. in 1842; enlisted in the 17thI.V.C. in 1864, at Dixon ; went from there to Chicago, remained four days, and while there married Susan J. Isbell, Sept. 26; she was born in this Co. Dec. 15, 1841 ; he went immediately to his regiment atRolla, Mo. ; was with them in their scout and skirmishes until mustered out in July, 1865 ; they have six children: Ernest C., James W., David E., Robert F., Annie D/and Jennie B. ; Mr. H. is Collector, School Director and Clerk of the Board.

HEUUIAtf JOHX, Farmer; Sec. 18; P. O. Galena; born in Hanover, Germany, in 1824; came to this Co. in 1850; settled in West Galena; moved to this farm in 1857 ; owns 94 acres of land ; married Mary A. Warborg in 1850; she was born in Hanover in 1826; they have five children living: Mary A. (now Mrs. Karle), Ann M., John M., Julia B. and Henry A;

I Sit I I.I, ELLIOTT T. Farmer; Sec. 25 ; P. O. Hough ton; born in Warren Co., Kentucky, Aug. 24, 1813 ; came to this Co. in 1832; was a member of Col. Dodge's Squadron from the beginning of the Black Hawk War till its close ; followed mining exclusively till 1835 ; married Dorcas B. Steely, Nov. 11, 1835; she was born in Ky. in 1818 ; they had six children, five living; first wife died in 1849 ; married again in 1850 to Mrs. Annie Avery ; maiden name, Cook ; she had one child, Julia Cook; have eight children by second marriage, three boys and five girls. Mr. Isbell has been Supervisor, Town Treasurer, Trustee, School Director and Commissioner of Highways at various times since long before the Tp. organization.

JELLY WM. H. Farmer; Sec. 27; P. O. Galena; born in this township, Nov. 2, 1840; enlisted in the 15th I. V. I., in 1861 ; went with his Regt. to Mo. ; was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, and five or six other general engagements; was with Sherman as far south as Resaca, Georgia ; was sent north from there for muster out, his time (three years) having expired ; owns 80 acres of land ; married Mary Bartell, July 4, 1865 ; she was born in Guilford Tp., Dec. 11, 1843; they attend the M. E. Church ; is a Republican.

KELLER CHAS. Farmer; Sec. 16; P. O. Scales Mound ; born in Baden, Germany, Sept. 17, 1834 ; came to this Co. in 1866; owns 120 acres of land; married Julia Keller in 1868; she was born iu Galena, May 22, 1843; they have one child living : Herman, born Oct. 5, 18*75 ; lost two : Albert and Edgar : Mr. K. was appointed School Director, Sept. 29, 1877, to fill vacancy ; they have an adopted daughter, Elemeter Baker ; are members of the Lutheran Church.

MEFFLEY IS YIJMI Yi:i». Farmer; Sec. 36; P. O.Elizabeth; born in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1810; came to the U. S. in 1817 ; settled in Pa. ; lived there as bound boy 12 years ; came to this Co. in 1835 ; commenced work at once for old Capt. Gear, in mines near Buncombe; next year went to furnace at White Oak Springs, Wis. ; worked there until 1847; then married Eve Weaver ; she was born in Germany, in 1824 ; had nine children, three girls and six boys - Elizabeth, Harriet, John, Franklin, Jacob, Charles, James, Julia, and Barnhard; owns 120 acres of land.

CHARLES A. Farmer; Sec. 36 ; P. O. Elizabeth ; born in Switzerland, Dec. 22, 1806 ; came with his parents to the U. S. in 1822 ; settled in St. Louis Co., Mo. ; he came to Hazel Green, Wis., in 1827; was engaged in mining at intervals there for seven or eight years; married Christine Rendisbacker in 1834; she was born in Switzerland, Feb. 20, 1811; they came to this farm in 1836; owns 256 acres of land ; have seven chil- , dren living : Emily, Elizabeth, Charles, Julia, Christine, Philip S., and Edward W. ; lost three : Frederic, Frederic P., and David; the oldest son, Charles, enlisted in the 39th I. V. I., in 1864; was in the army of the Potomac ; at Petersburg, etc. ; was under fire for 25 consecutive days, and was present at the surrender of Gen. Lee ; family attend the M. E. Church.

MUMM GOTTFRIED, Farmer; Sec. 20; P. O. Galena; born in Prussia, Feb. 18, 1845; he was 14 years old when his father emigrated to this Co. ; settled in Galena; was married, March 31, 1861, to Grace Gruber; she was born in Birne, Germany, in 1845; they have four children living: Mary, Grace, Lena, and Celia; lost one, Valentine, died March 5, 1875 ; Mr. Mumm's mother died in Prussia in 1847 ; his father, aged 62, is living with him.

XADIG 4 51 V EC I IS. Farmer; Sec. 16; P. O. Galena; born in Germany in lS52;his father died there in 1853; he came to this Co. with his mother the same year; in 1854 she was married to Anton Pilz ; she has six children ; Peter, Leonard, Jacob, Caroline, and Mary; her eldest daughter, Katherine, died in 1854; she owns 120 acres of land ; her father, Mr. Eisenhauer, was a soldier with the First Napoleon in all his campaigns; died in 1876, aged 96; they are members of the Lutheran Church.

Uinlen John

15 A \VIJ\S JAMES D. Farmer; Sec. 22; P. O. Scales Mound; born in Clark Co., Ky., Feb. 28, 1801 ; emigrated with his father to Mo.; lived there ten years ; came to Galena Sept. 14, 1827 ; there were but few houses, two taverns and two or three groceries in the place ; returned to Mo. and was married Oct. 5, 1828, to Lovisa Collier, of Howard Co. ; she was born near Crab Orchard, Ky., May 2, 1803 ; her father was an old Indian fighter; he lived nine years in a fort, not daring to go out unless armed for defense ; he returned in Nov., 1828, to this Co. ; was here during the Black Hawk War; was not actively engaged fighting Indians, but was fully as much exposed, being engaged in hauling supplies from Galena to Dodgeville and Mineral Point, Wis., often within hearing of the guns of the combatants, not knowing at what moment he would fall into an ambush ; has an inexhaustible fund of reminiscences of those early days ; moved to this farm in 1834; owns 320 acres of land ; have six children living: Mortimer C., residing in California, Lemon P., living on the farm here, Robert J., in TJ. S. Mint, California, Mary L., living in Iowa, Jas. S., in Custom House, Baltimore, Md., and Wm. D., Supt. Registry Dept., P. O. Chicago; Benjamin F. died in 1857, Jarrard O. in Dec., 1869, and John A. died in Washington, D. C., Sept. 6, 1869, an event that threw the whole nation into mourning, and was indeed a sad bereavement to to his aged parents, family and friends.

SUSAN, Widow; farming; Sec. 4; P. O. Scales Mound; maiden name Nye; born in JST. Y., April 10, 1805; emigrated to 111. in 1817; settled in Carmi, on the Wabash River,thence to Peoria in 1820 ; was only one house in the place when they came there ; was married to Thomas Ross, July 1, 1823 ; came to this Co., in 1827 ; Mr" Ross died Dec. 21, 1841 ; she was married to John Wilson, March 5, 1844; afterward married George Rouse Nov. 13, 1849 ; have five children by first marriage, Catherine M., John E., Isabella, Mary A. and Arabella; one by second marriage, Edmund Wilson; Mr. Rouse died May 10, 1865 ; she owns 160 acres of land ; belongs to the M. E. Church.

SCHMIDT JOSEPHINE, Widow, maiden name Fahrig ; farming ; S. 33 ; P. O. Avery ; born in Afford, Prussia, in 1833 ; came to Alton, 111., in 1844; moved to this Co. in 1851 ; was married same year to Adam Schmidt; he died June 15, 1869; had nine children, George, Henry and Cora are living ; Adam, Charles, Conrad, Katie, John, and Mary died in childhood ; her mother died Dec. 31, 1851 ; her father, Wm. Fahrig, makes her house his home most of the time; family belong to the German Methodist Church.

Farmer; Sec. 10; P. O. Scales Mound; born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Nov. 1,1808; came to St. Louis in 1840; afterward to this Co. in 1843 ; married Mrs Elizabeth M. Bell (maiden name, Young) in May, 1843 ; she was born in Germany in 1809; had five children by first husband: John. Jacob, Phillip, Katherine and Geo. P.; John is the only one now living; by second marriage : Ernest, born March 11, 1849 ; he was married to Elizabeth Baus, April 2, 1872 ; she was born in this Co ; have three children : George C., Lilly and John V. ; owns 160 acres ; Mr. S., Sr., owns 360 acres; was Justice of the Peace, School Director and Overseer of Highways several years each; belong to the Catholic Church.

SCHUK JOHN, Farmer; Renter; Sec. 33 ; P. O. Avery ; born in Germany, July 26, 1844; came to the U. S. with his father's family in 1852 ; stopped in Sandusky, Ohio, where his mother died of cholera; came the following year to Galena, where his father died in 1856; came to this farm in 1867 ; married Mary Fahrig, Feb. 17, 1870; she was born in Prussia, Aug. 12, 1841 ; they have two children : John W., born Dec. 1, 1870, and Mary, April 29, 1873 ; Mr. Schuk is a member of Steuben Lodge 321, I. O. O. F., of Galena; they belong to the M. E. Church.

SHUI/TZ JOHN, Deceased; born in Hesse-Cassel, Dec. 13, 1816; came to this Co. in 1847; settled in Guilford, and has lived within two miles of this farm ever since; lived 15 years where Henry Glick now resides ; moved to this farm in 1870 ; owns 410 acres of laud; was married in 1847 to Dorathea M. Schrump; she was born in Germany, Feb. 7, 1816 ; they have three children living: William, John A. and Sarah S. ; Henry died in.infancy ; Mr.

SINCOCK WILLIAM C. Farmer; Sec. 6; P. O. Council Hill Station; born in this Tp. June 1, 1852 ; came to this farm in 1862 ; was married to Elizabeth Bastian, Dec. 10, 1874 ; she was born in Guilford, Dec. 8, 1854 ; they have two children : Casper W., born Nov. 22, 1875, and Francis, June 2, 1877 ; Mr. S.'s mother resides on the old homestead, consisting of 145 acres ; she was born in Cornwall, Eng., in 1830; married William G. Sincock, Jan. 31, 1851, who died July 6, 1872; they had eight children : Wm. C., David, Annie, Thomas A., Sarah G. and Henry G. are living; John H. died at the age of 10 years and Thomas A. at 2 years ; family attend the M. E. Church.

SINGER HENRY, Farmer; Sec.; 9; P. O. Scales Mound; born in Bavaria, Germany, May 11, 1814; came to this Co. in 1840; settled on the farm where they now reside ; owns 158 acres of land ; married- Margaret Saam in 1842 ; she was born in Bavaria in 1812; they have four children : Mary, Simon, Margaret and Theresa ; lost two : Caroline and John ; Mr. S. was School Director eight years and Overseer of Highways four years; Simon was married Jan. 25, 1870, to Ernestine E. Elbarth ; they have three children : Bertha, Charles W. and Clara C. ; bimon was in Co. D, 8th I. V. C.; enlisted in Oct., 1864; was in Shenandoah Valley; was in several skirmishes ; mustered out at Benton Barracks, Mo., in July, 1865 ; are members of German Catholic Church.

TATCHIO SIMON, Farmer; Sec. 1; P. O. Scales Mound; born in Selkirk Settlement, Red River of the North, in 1823 ; came to Galena in 1826 ; went to Gratiot Grove, Wis., where they remained till 1835, when they came to this Tp. ; owns 140 acres land ; was Commissioner of High- ways three years, School Director two terms; remembers many incidents connected with the Black Hawk War ; was in old Fort Graliot most of the time; married Christiana Casper in 1847 ; she was born in Switzerland in 1820; they have five children: Simon, Peter, Frederick, Emma and Christiana; Mrs. T. died June 16, 1857; family are Presbyterians.

TAYLOR JOHN W. (Deceased). Died at his home in Clay Co., Kas., Nov. 29, 1877, aged 79 years. The fact that this good and noble man was one of the earliest settlers of Jo Daviess Co., and was for many years a leading citizen and a member of the Board of Supervisors, renders his biography one of peculiar interest to our readers. John W. Taylor was born in Luzerne Co., Pa., in June, 1798. In 1819, when 21 years old, he started West, going to W. Va., then to Ohio and Ind. In the Spring of 1824 he settled in Sangamon Co., 111., where he became acquainted with Miss Temperance Stringfield, and married her in March, 1825. In 1827 he moved to Galena, settling first at Pilot Knob, but living afterwards in that part of the city now known as Oldtown. In 1829 he moved to Guilford, six miles from Galena, where he resided until 1870, when he removed to Kas. Mr. Taylor was the first Supervisor ever elected from the Town of Guilford, and was eight times re-elected, filling the office till he refused to hold it longer. His wife died April 10, 1849, after which he went to Cal., where he remained two years, returning to his home and family in Guilford in 1852. His sons, Henry H. and John R. Taylor, having settled in Kas., Mr. Taylor followed them there in 1870, where he remained till the time of his death. The remains were brought to this Co. for interment, accompanied by his son, Henry H. Taylor, and his daughter, Mrs. S. K. Troxell. The funeral, which was largely attended, took place from the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. S. W. Hathaway, in the Town of Guilford, on Wednesday, Dec. 5, Rev. James Baume, of Galena, preaching the funeral sermon. This is but a hasty sketch of the life of one of the noblest and best of the early pioneers of Jo Daviess Co. John W. Taylor was a good man in the very best sense of that term. He lost no opportunity to visit and minister to the comforts of the sick and afiiicted, and to aid the destitute. Although he never attended a medical college, he was skilled in medicine and surgery, having read much on these subjects to the end that he might relieve the distress of his fellow beings at times when a physician could not be procured. In several cases he reduced the fracture of bones with such skill that the patients speedily recovered, some of whom are now living, with sound limbs. For all these deeds of kindness he invariably refused to receive the slightest recompense. Notwithstanding his well known liberality he amassed a fortune, and was enabled to leave each of his six children a good farm. He finished his wo