Hahnaman Township

Hahnaman Township

AHNAMAN Township is in the extreme southeastern part of the county. Its boundaries were defined by the County Court in 1852, but the township was not fully organized until 1860. Hahnaman comprises all of township 19, range 7 east of the fourth principal meridian. It is largely made up of what is known as swamp lands, but they are being drained to a considerable extent. The remainder of the township is rolling prairie, excepting a few sand ridges. The county ditch commences about two miles west of the east line of the township, and from the west line enters Tampico.

The first settlement was made at Deer Grove, in 1841, by Wm. Renner and family, from Pennsylvania. Mr. Renner died in 1859, leaving a widow and eight children. Among the first settlers not mentioned in the biographical portion of the work are the following :

In 1854, Mrs. Ryder, a widow lady, and her family arrived in the township. During the following three or four years a number of families came in. Among the arrivals were James Chambers, W. M. Halsted, Benj. Ackley, Martin Clark, Wm. Humphrey, Wm. Johnson, John J. Van Valkenburg, Wm. Brakey, Geo. Brakey, Wm. McNickel, Thomas Langan, Peter Ford, Amos Reeves and Dr. Reuben Davis.

John J. Van Valkenlmrg was a native of New York. He located on section 18, spending his time either in working his farm or at his trade of carpenter. A few years ago he moved to Valley Center, Kansas, where he now resides.

William and George Brakey were from Pennsylvania. They came to this township in 1856. Some years ago they moved West, where William has since died.

The first school-house was built on section 4, in 1856, and subsequently moved to section 3. This is District No. i. The house, though a small one, was used for some years,when a larger and more convenient one was erected on section 3, a part of Dr. Reuben Davis' farm. It has since been moved to the original site on section 4. A house was built in District No. 2, in 1856.

For the year ending June 30, 1884, the County Superintendent of Public Schools gave the following items pertaining to educational matters in the township. There were six school districts and frame school-houses, with 369 persons under 23 years of age, of which number 274 were of school age and 233 enrolled in the public schools. The highest wages paid teachers was $50 and the lowest $25 per month. The tax levy for school purposes was $2,232.

probably at the school- houses in Districts No. i and No. 2. In 1876 regular services were established by the Methodists at Deer Grove. No church edifices have been built.

In the war for the Union Hahnaman Township did her part nobly, considering its limited resources. Every call was responded to but one, when a draft was ordered for thiee men, the only one in the county. The township had but few men able to go .that could be spared, but every effort was put forth to meet the demands of the General Government. At one time $500 was raised and placed in the hands of a committee to provide men in answer to a call. The committee expended the amount, but with little benefit to the township. The last «all made by the President was in December, 1864. Thirteen men were apportioned lo this township. Of the number six had been secured, when a meeting was called to devise means for securing the number. The county had offered a bounty of $500, and it was pressed to supplement this amount by $100 more to each volunteer. Nearly every voter in the township was present at the meeting, when Dr. Davis and some others agreed to advance the amount, provided those present would agree to vote the amount back to them from the township funds. On the 6th of February, 1865, this was done.

On the 3oth day of September, 1869, a special election was held for the purpose of voting on the question of the township subscribing $10,000 to the capital stock of the Illinois Grand Trunk Railway, now the Clinton & Mendota Branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The terms on which the township agreed to subscribe for the stock were that one-fifth should be paid in five years and onefifth annually thereafter until the whole amount was paid, the interest to be at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum. The company refused to accept the proposition, demanding that five per cent, should be paid down, and the balance when sufficient stock was subscribed to grade, bridge and tie that part of the road between Prophetstown and Mendota. Another special election was held June 25, 1870, to see if the township would accept the terms of the railroad company. The proposition was defeated, when the railroad company acceded to the proposition of the township. Accordingly, in i87r, the bonds were issued. The entire amount has since been paid.

honor of the founder of the homoeopathic school of medicine, the renowned Dr. Hahnemann. A mistake was made by the commissioners in the spelling, but as the name has been made a matter of record as spelled it was permitted to stand. The first election for township officers was held April 3, 1860, at the school-house in District No. 2. The following men were chosen : Wm. M. Halsted, Supervisor ; Amos Reeves, Clerk ; George S. Brakey, Assessor; Reuben Davis, Collector; George S. Brakey and Reuben Davis, Justices of the Peace.

Deer Grove

Iii 1873, W. H. Wheeler opened a store on the line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Deer Grove, and soon after secured the appointment of Postmaster for a new office to be established at this point, to be known as Deer Grove. Mr. Wheeler continued the store about two years, when he sold out to Charles L. Dewey. Several families soon after located here, and a village of about a dozen houses was built up. In 1875 an elevator was erected. For some cause the town has never thrived, and to-day has no more inhabitants than it had ten years ago. There is one store, owned by Martin Coleman, a blacksmith shop, school-house, postoffice, and some 12 or 15 houses.

Source changes here: from History of Whiteside County, Illinois from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908 : Illustrated, with Biographical Sketches of Some Prominent Citizens of the County, by Davis, William W, published 1908; 3,004 words in this source stream.

Hahnaman Township

If our early friend, Reuben Davis, or Doc Davis as he was familiarly called, had been the first settler, the supposition might be that he named the township after Hahnemann, the celebrated German physician, who died in 1843. But as he was the founder of homeopathy, and Reuben may not have believed in that method of treatment, we give up the conundrum. William

Dying In The Last Ditch

Although much of the land is swampy, the settlers knew that thorough drainage, as in Holland, would bring rich returns from the deep black soil, and from the first have spared no labor or expense to improve the situation. Never say die. Winnebago Swamp on the north and Green river on the south surround a large area, and form what is known as Paddy's Island, from the number of Milesian emigrants who were gathered there. These ditches have done excellent service, but are not yet complete. Heavy rainfalls or gorges of snow and ice still occasionally inundate fertile fields. A contract has been made for a new ditch, perhaps the largest yet constructed. The drainage district begins on the Lee county line, and continues westward to Prophetstown. The ditch when completed will be one of the largest in Whiteside county and will be a small river. It will be twenty feet wide on the bottom with a slope of one to one. Even now through what was once a sluggish marsh, a strong current flows along like a creek. For the new ditch there were twelve bidders, prices ranging from twelve and one-half cents per cubic yard to six and four-tenths, the lowest. In February, 1908, the necessity for better defense against the elements was signally shown. The levee on Green river broke under pressure of heavy snow following rain, submerging hundreds of acres. Only the summer before Green river was dredged and widened and a bank built to protect the farm lands in that country. The work on the river and on Winnebago ditch was done at a cost of $100,000. The only safety is in enlarging and strengthening these levees.

Deer Grove is the largest cluster of houses in the township. Besides the railroad station, there is an elevator, two stores, school, a few dwellings, an inn for the entertainment of travelers, and a blacksmith shop. Occasional preaching by Methodist ministers from Walnut. The postoffice was established in 1873, W. H. Wheeler as postmaster. He had come that year and built a house. Other settlers were Harvey Durr, M. Patterson, Cady Burgess. Fred Wahl bought his land in 1868, paying $18 per acre, living there until his removal to Sterling. Dr. Wahl, the leading physician in Tampico, is his son. Henry Flock and Henry Pott, Germans, were also settlers about 1872. Both in the army.

On the hill south of Deer Grove is the residence of William McCormick, born in Ireland, 1825, who sailed from Cork in 1854, landing in New York. A fearful trip. A thousand emigrants and at sea for months. He bought his farm in 1855, but lived awhile in Sterling.

William Renner built the first log cabin in 1841 at Deer Grove, and the first schoolhouse, sixteen feet square and seven feet high, was erected at the Brakey settlement in 1857, with Amos Reeves as teacher, afterwards Supervisor and a prominent citizen.

Brave Record In The War

For a small, thinly inhabited town, the men of Hahnaman rallied nobly around the flag in 1861. Ten enlisted with the Yates Sharpshooters: Mc- Mckle, Hinman, Harvey, Reeves, William and Mahlon Humphrey, Crosby and H. D. Ryder, Henry May. The latter was killed at Atlanta in 1864. Mahlon Humphrey died at Cairo in 1862. Hinman was wounded at Atlanta. John Renner was four months in Andersonville. J. C. Reeves joined the 9th N. Y. Cavalry. James Renner, Walter Johnson, T. B. Davis, John Chambers, Albert McNickle, H. S. Humphrey, enlisted in various Illinois regiments.

Henry Pott, Veteran

In his cozy cottage in Sterling, the writer had a delightful visit with Mr. Pott, who, with his family retired from his Deer Grove farm in 1901. His war experience fresh and thrilling as of yesterday. His regiment, 75th Illinois, had only thirteen rounds of ammunition until they clamored for sixty to go into that disastrous battle at Perryville, and when they retreated into the cornfield the rebel bullets rattled on the shocks and stones like hail. He was in all the battles to Atlanta. At Lovejoy station a ball destroyed an eye. After discharge from the hospital, he was sent with others to Mound City near Cairo, where they received bounty and pay, and came home. He bought 120 acres at Deer Grove in 1872 of improved land for $30 per acre.

Peter Ford, Centenarian

In January, 1908, it was the privilege of the writer to stand by the grave of the oldest man who ever lived in Whiteside. He was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery at Tampico. It is a regret never to have met the veteran, and hear from his own lips the incidents of a career that started with the last century. Some of his younger neighbors who knew the old gentleman well, have given the writer various reminiscenes of their intimacy.

Henry Pott and his brother-in-law, Henry Flock, ran a threshing machine, and frequently did work for Peter, on his farm. It was in the days when horse power was used. They had a pair of fine horses which they attached to the machine, the farmer furnishing the others. Henry did the driving with a long whip. Peter was lying barefoot by the stack, watching operations. The fat horses of the threshers were not pulling, and his own were doing most of the work, so Peter called out, "Henry, touch up your team wid your lash, the whiffletrees are dangling against their legs." Peter was a close observer and saw everything.

On another threshing occasion, the men started before breakfast to set the machine firmly to be ready to begin work early. But a blind horse balked, refusing to pull, and while the men rode back to the barn, on the way they had to pass a pond where a flock of geese were sleeping. The blind horse stumbled over the birds, bruising an old gander, and the whole troupe set up a furious screaming. Peter's kitchen door was ajar, and a face peered in the direction of the clamor. At breakfast, they told Peter of the catastrophe, claiming that a wolf had killed one of the flock during the night. "Wolf!" exclaimed Peter, "it was your horse, your blind wolf, that spoiled my fowl." To make the best of the disaster, Peter got the goose, and the two Henrys had the fat bird for dinner.

Several years ago Peter had a sore leg with an inflammation that refused to yield to repeated medical treatment, until a Spiritualist doctor was summoned from Polo, and the limb was restored whole as the other. This is not an advertisement, but belongs to our narrative.

His house had low ceilings, and on Mr. Pott telling him that he had to be continually dodging as he passed through the house, Peter said he didn't build the cottage for anybody taller than he was. Peter was a small man ; of light frame, and until recent years of active habits, laboring regularly on his farm.

At one time, he had a large plantation of several hundred acres, lying northeast of Deer Grove, on the borders of Whiteside and Lee counties. Various misfortunes, however, rendered it necessary to sell parts, and at his death, he was in moderate circumstances. His son took charge of the farm in later years, and Peter with his wife retired to a home in Tampico, where he remained to her death. Since that time, he lived with his daughter, Mrs. Coleman, in Deer Grove, where he breathed his last.

His son Dominick lives in Sterling, and tells the writer his father at his death had a head of snow white hair, the color originally black. He had no full beard, simply whiskers on the chin.

His death occurred on Friday, May 17, 1907. Mr. Ford was born at Killala in county Mayo, Ireland, June 22, 1802. He was married to Miss Mary A. Muldoon on Jan. 24, 1834, and came to this country in 1840, locating near Utica, N. Y., where he worked on the Erie canal. Three years later his wife and two children came over and the family then went to Canada and made their home near Smith's Falls until 1857. They came to Illinois that year and stayed in Dixon for a short time. Mr. Ford then purchased a farm in Hahnaman and engaged in farming. In 1887 he removed to Tampico, where he resided until his wife's death in 1895, since which time he has lived with his daughter, Mrs. Coleman, in Deer Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Ford had nine children, seven of whom are now living.

Mr. Ford retained his faculties well until his death. He was strictly temperate in his habits and never used tobacco nor intoxicating liquors although at one time he was employed for several years in a distillery. He had a retentive memory and easily recalled the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk and Mexican wars. He had a distinct memory of the death of every president of the United States except Washington.

Mr. Ford came of a long lived race. All of his brothers and sisters lived to be over 80 ; one aunt lived to be 115 years of age and his grandmother also passed the century mark.

The highway commissioners of Hahnaman township are making arrangements to install two new steel bridges over Green river near Deer Grove. The structures spanning the river near Deer Grove have been in a dangerous condition for some time and these will be replaced with two good steel structures. The township of Hahnaman is one of the most costly townships of the county to be bridged, due to the many ditches and the Green river which crosses it.

His daughter, Mrs. Coleman, says her father had no faith in doctors, would not take medicine, and when sick, would often fast four days. He lost his last teeth ten years before his death. Although for the last four years, he sat much in his chair, he was not helpless. Appetite so good that he regularly took three meals a day. Took great interest in current affairs, and followed the operations of the Boer struggle and our Spanish-American war. He never wore glasses.

A Pioneer'S Widow

In her white frame cottage on Sixth avenue, Sterling, the writer found Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, quietly enjoying the sunset of life. Her maiden name was Work, and she was married to Reuben Davis in Ohio in 1849. They came to Como, where they kept the Rock Island House, at which the stage travelers took meals. At the same time, her husband practiced his profession, as he had attended medical lectures in Cincinnati. In 1860 they moved to the farm in Hahnaman, where .they lived till his death in 1887. Although busy with his farm, he had constant calls from the sick which he always obeyed. A ready speaker, and fond of debate. When able to go out, Mrs. Davis is a regular attendant at the Lutheran church. She is nearly 77. Doc was 68.

Two Golden Weddings

Ponce de Leon looked for the fountain of perpetual youth in Florida, but never found it, because it was not there. It is in Hahnaman. People die even in California, but seldom in this favored township. Just think of two golden weddings within a week! On Sunday, Feb. 16, 1908, Mr. and Mrs. John McGuire celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage at their home, surrounded by their children, grandchildren and a host of relatives. They were married in Dixon, and after three years in Sterling, removed to Hahnaman, where they have since resided. They are both hale and hearty, and will now prepare for the diamond jubilee.

On Saturday, Feb. 22, by a freak of the almanac, the fiftieth anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wahl coincided with the birthday of the illustrious George. They really belong to Hahnaman, as their active years were spent there, but farming becoming too strenuous, in 1890 they took their abode in a new home on Ninth avenue, Sterling. This was the scene of the festivities.

All of their family were present except a daughter, Ethel, in California. Both are in the discharge of daily duties, and ready to greet friends with a smile.

Including the family of nine children, sixteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, thirty-six relatives sat down to a banquet that only Mrs. Wahl, a cook of the old school, could prepare. She was Miss Anna Kirgis. Besides words of congratulation, the occasion was made memorable by marks of substantial appreciation. Mr. Wahl was brought to time with a solid gold wateh, and his estimable partner will hereafter make her toilet with a diamond brooch.

Perhaps the only murder in the township occurred June 26, 1901, when Thomas Brunton killed Thomas McDonald, at Deer Grove, by knocking him down. Both were tramps, and at the time were carousing at a shed or corn crib.

Drainage In Whiteside By John D. Arey, Civil Engineer

The history of the drainage of the swamp lands of Whiteside county will at the present time cover a period of over fifty years. The south half of the county is mostly level land with here and there a few sand hills, and contains about four-fifths of the swamp lands. The north half is more broken and hilly, and most of the low lands are in the western part along the Mississippi bottoms.

In 1850 congress passed an act to enable the states to reclaim and improve the swamp lands within their limits, and in 1852 the general assembly of the state of Illinois passed an act giving each county the authority to select, and sell the swamp lands and devote the proceeds, to the drainage or reclaiming said lands.

The act also provided for the appointment of a drainage commissioner who was to select the lands, and under the directions of the board of supervisors see that the provisions of the act were carried to completion.

The total number of acres selected and sold by the county was a little over seventy thousand, of which about one-fourth was in the townships of Tampico and Hahnaman, the rest being in the other twenty townships except Genesee and Jordan, both high and rolling land. The lands were appraised and sold at different prices, three dollars, one dollar and fifty cents, and fifty cents per acre, the terms of sale were one-fourth cash, with the balance in notes with interest. Forty acres was the smallest subdivision of land sold, and some tracts would be partially dry land, others entirely in deep swamps, the total receipts from the swamp land sales was over $175,000.

Three-fourths of the proceeds of the sale of lands were loaned at a high rate of interest, and a large sum of money having accumulated it was turned over to the school fund, and distributed among the townships in the same ratio with other school moneys. The townships of Tampico and Hahnaman protested against it, but were overruled. The amount turned over was about $175,000, about the amount for which the lands were sold.

After the first land sale the drainage commissioner began the construction of ditches through the channels of the largest sloughs, the longest being the

Coon creek ditch about twenty miles in length, running from the east line of the county in the township of Montmorency, in a southwesterly course through the townships of Montmorency, Hume and Tampico, emptying into the creek east of Prophetstown village. This ditch has several branches that would make the total length over forty miles.

Over one hundred miles of ditches were made at a cost of nearly $90,000. This amount was all the county of Whiteside spent in the drainage of the lands donated by the government for that purpose.

In 1879 an act was passed by the general assembly enabling the owners of adjoining tracts of land to form drainage districts for the purpose of raising money by assessment on the lands improved, to pay the cost of building levees, and digging ditches. The law proved to be a cumbersome piece of machinery to effect its purpose, and until it was amended in 1885 making the commissioners of highways ex-officio drainage commissioners, there was very little done. Since then there has been spent a large amount of money for reclaiming wet lands.

The land now improved under the drainage law is more than twice the amount selected and sold by the county, and about one-half of the wet land is now under cultivation. The old ditches have been enlarged, new ones dug, and ditching machines are continually at work. It will take much labor aad time to make all of the low lands tillable every year, but as they increase in value, a greater expenditure will be warranted for their improvement.

The boundary line between the counties of Whiteside and Rock Island is the channel of a swamp through the low lands between the Mississippi and Rock rivers, a distance of about fifteen miles, called the Meredosia slough, the name being a corruption of "Marais D' Ogee", given the swamp by the early French explorers. About half way between the two rivers the channel is hard to find, the ground being very lever for about two miles in all directions, and for some time there was a dispute about the line, each county claiming jurisdiction over about a thousand acres. The land in question is on a higher level than the swamp north and south, and forms a divide between the rivers over which the water from either river when high would flow to the other. A few years ago a dyke was built across the divide over which the water has never been high enough to pass.