Kingston Township

Kingston Township

In April, 18(32, Mr. George Magenety was killed by being shot by Asa Baldwin, a wealthy money-loaner of Belvidcre, while resisting Baldwin's attempt to take possession of some property conveyed to him by a chattel mortgage. Baldwin was arrested for murder, and lay in jail for many months ; but obtained a change of venue to Belvidere, and wras finally acquitted.

Among the dead of the war from this town were three sons of John Russell. They were : Wesley Dickson Eussell, of Company F, in the Thirteenth Infantry, R. W. Russell, of Company K, Forty-Second Illinois Infantry, who was wounded at Stone River, remained seven days on the battle-field, was then re-taken, and died of his wounds, and David F. Russell, of the Ninety-Fifth Infantry, who died at Yicksburg. Richard W. Atwood, of Company C, in the One Hundred and Fifth, lost an arm and leg at Dalton, Georgia, and after intense suffering, died two weeks after. Ira G. Burzell, of Company L, Eighth Cavalry, was drowned in the Mississippi. Arba Lankton, of the Ninety-Fifth, died in hospital at Vicksburg.

The names of a large portion of the enlisted men will be found in the roster of those regiments to which they belonged. Amoug the commissioned officers were : Colonel Lorenzo H. Whitney and Lieutenant William Whitney, of the Eighth Cavalry, Lieutenant William Hill, of the Ninety-Fifth Infantry, Lieutenant John Hickman, of the Ninety-Fifth, and Captain J. W. Foster, of the Forty-Second Infantry, who was desperately wounded and reported dead, but survived to suffer the horrors of a rebel prison. The story of his sufferings, escapes, re-captures, and final flight to the Union lines, is of thrilling interest.

A small hamlet, called Stewartville, consisting of a store, post-office, wagon and blacksmith shop, and a handsome Masonic hall, is the only village in the town.

Among the many wealthy farmers of the town, Messrs. N. Saum and John and James Russell have been long noted for the encouragement they have given to the Agricultural Societies, and for their noble herds of high-bred Devon cattle. There are three good churches in Kingston, at which public worship has for many years been regularly maintained by the Methodist denomination.

Source changes here: from Portrait and Biographical Album of DeKalb County, Illinois : Containing Full-page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County : Together with Portraits and Biographies of All the Governors of Illinois, and of the Presidents of the United States : Also Containing a History of the County, from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, published 1885; 1,276 words in this source stream.

Kingston Township

ITH the exception of Franklin Township, Kingston has the largest body of timber land in the county. The southern portion is prairie, and also the northeastern. The township is well watered by the Kishwaukee River and its tributaries. Kingston comprises township 42, range 4 east, and lies upon the north border of the county, adjoining Boone County, with Genoa Township upon the east, Mayfield upon the south, and Franklin upon the west.

The first settlement in Kingston was made in 1835. Thomas Robb is thought to have been the first to make a claim. Among those who came in that year were John Judd, Isaiah Fairclo, Lyman Judd, Joseph Collier, Nathan Billings, John Friel, Louis Driggs, George H. Hill, James Green, Benjamin Schoonover, Harmon and Wm. Miller, George Hill and Levi Lee.

Thomas Robb was from Indiana. He located on section 22. Mr. Robb was about 65 years old when he came to this county. He died on the homestead that he claimed in 1835.

John Judd, Isaiah Fairclo, Lyman Judd, Nathan Billings, John Friel and Louis Driggs were also from Indiana. John Judd lived in the township about 12 years and died here; Isaiah Fairclo died here also ; Lyman Judd moved away and has since died; Joseph Collier was one of the first Justices of the Peace ; was elected while the county was attached to La Salle ; he died here. Nathan Billings and John Friel returned to Indiana. Louis Driggs, after a few years' residence, moved to Iowa.

Harmon and Wm. Miller were from New York. Harmon subsequently moved to Prairie du Chien, where he since died. William, in 1873, moved into De Kalb, where he now resides.

x^x good natural and acquired ability, a Methodist - Episcopal minister, for some years a Justice of the -, Peace, and one of the first County Commissioners. Before the war he removed to Elkhorn, Wis. He is now dead.

Zalmon Young and Sarah Brown were united in marriage Oct. 5, 1837, by Geo. H. Hill, J. P. The license granted to these persons was the second ,«* obtained in De Kalb County.

'-^f A child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Driggs early in 1836. This child was probably the first born in the township. Wm. W. Hill, son of George H. Hill, was born Oct. 23, 1836, and was probably the second born.

The Kingston postoffice was established about 1838, with Levi Lee as postmaster. In 1841 the receipts of the office were $4.31. Jonas Haight succeeded Lee and was in turn succeeded by George H. Hill, who had charge of the office for many years. The following named have since served as postmasters : Charles O'Connor, Dr. James Mc- ) Allister, L. J. Bliss and James Stuart. The office was removed to the village of Kingston on' the advent of the railroad.

I The first religious services were held in private houses in 1836. Revs. Woolsey, Arnold and Lee were the first to preach the word in this region of the country. A house of worship was some years after erected on the south line of the township, but has since been removed.

The first school now remembered by some of the old settlers was in in a log house on section 22, and was held in 1840. Harriet Russell was the first teacher. It was a subscription school. Public schools were introduced some years afterwards. From the report of George I. Talbott, County Superintendent of Public Schools, for the year ending June 30, 1884, the following items are gleaned: There were 526 persons under 21 years of age, of whom 342 were of school age. Each of the 10 districts had a frame school-house, the total value being $9,800. School was held in each of the districts, and there was a total enrollment of 311. During the year 18 teachers were employed, receiving as wages an average salary of $29.48 per month, the highest receiving $75 and the lowest $25. The tax levied for school purposes amounted to $4,575.

In 1853, and also in 1860, a fearful tornado swept through the township, destroying everything in its path. In 1860 Isaac McCoy had his house destroyed, not a single piece of timber being left to mark its location.

In the spring of 1876, Mr. Uplinger erected another building, which he rented to Dunbar Bros., who opened a stock of general merchandise. They are still in the trade.

Among others who began business during the first two or three years of the village's existence were : William Straub, who commenced the hardware business, now continued by Heckman & Cole; Orson Rogers, who opened a stock of general merchandise ; S. P. Hancock and Mr. Gritzbaugh, in shoe-making; I. C. Sherman, blacksmith ; Louis Lyon, harnessmaker.

Kingston Township, in 1884, had 22,053 acfes of land, which was assessed at $331,503. The lots were listed at $23,941; personal property, $83,995 ; total, $448,419. The State Board of Equalization reduced this to $395,967. In the list of personal property assessed may be found the following items : Horses, 875; cattle, 2,394; mules and asses, 20; sheep,

This village is located on the line of the C., M. & St. P. Railroad, in this township. It is a pleasant little village; was platted in May, 1876, by Lyman and James Stuart. In November, 1875, the first house was erected by James Stuart, who opened up a stock of groceries.

The village comprises a part of School District, No. 6. A school-house which stood about a half mile east of the village, was used until 1881, when the present two-story frame building was erected, at a cost of $3,304. J. G. Lucas was the first principal in the new house and yet occupies the position. Mrs. H. Hatch was his assistant in 1881 ; Maggie Lucas in the spring and Grace Harris in the fall of 1882; Allie Cole in 1883 and 1884-5.

There is one church edifice in the village, the property of the Methodist Episcopals. The building was erected in 1860, on the south line of the township and moved here in 1876. Rev. J. B. G. Shadford is the present pastor.

Kishwaukee Lodge, No. 402, A. F. & A. M., was organized Oct. 5, 1864, about three-fourths of a mile west of the present village. In 1877 the place of meeting was removed here. The officers for 1885 were : J. H. Fellows, W. M.; A. N. Wyllys, S. W.; A. H. Clark, J. W.; Sylvester Mead, Treas.; J. H. G. Lucas, Sec. The present membership is 35.

Gilbert Barnes Post, No. 395, G. A. R., was organized Jan. 19, 1884, with 12 charter members. For the first year meetings were held every two weeks, but now are held once a month. The present officers are : J. W. Foster, Com.; S. S. Russell, S. V. C.; J. Mackey, J. V. C.; S. D. Whitney, Q.; B. P. Penney, Chap.; H. M. Bacon, Surg.; O. H. Taplin, O. G.; A. J. Miller, S. ; A. H. Clark, Adj. The post is in good working condition, with a membership of 20.

The first grain-buyer was Lyman Stuart, in 1876. He erected a warehouse that year. J. H. Uplinger erected a warehouse in 1877 and also engaged in the trade.

Among the present industries, the creamery of Julius Chapman should be mentioned. It stands one-half mile east of the village, and does a good business. He has also a steam grist-mill, with four run of buhrs. James Stuart has a good steam saw-mill, erected in 1876. A planing-mill and a feed mill have since been added.

Source changes here: from Past and Present of DeKalb County, Illinois, by Gross, Lewis M, published 1907; 5,837 words in this source stream.

Kingston Township

Kingston, one of the first settled townships in the county, was the home of a considerable portion of the tribe of Pottawattomie Indians until 1835. Here they had erected their wigwams in the timberland along the Kishwaukee, and obtaining fish from this stream and game from the fields and forests, the meat question was easily settled. The fertile land bordering the Kishwaukee was made by the squaws into most productive corn fields and in the contentment, of their barbarous customs they existed in this township until the command came from the Finited States government for them to move west. The land they vacated was quickly usurped by the white people who had come from the east in search of a desirable location for future homes. They found their way to this beautiful piece of natural woodland by following a trail which a detachment of General Scott's army had made when it crossed the northern part of the country during Black Hawk's war. The road for many years was known as "Scott's trail." and it now is called the "State road." This detachment of Scott's army camped over night near the northern boundary of Kingston, and while there some of their number died. They were buried under a burr oak tree just north of the county limits not far from the Davis church.

Kingston, offering the natural advantages of timber and water, was early selected as a most desirable spot by many of the first residents of the county. Thomas Eobb is thought to have been the first to make a settlement and he took up a claim in 1835. Mr. Eobb was a soldier of the Black Hawk war and it was during his service in this conflict that he saw the possibilities of this part of the country. He was soon after followed by Harmon and William Miller, John Judd, Isaiah Fairclo, Lyman Judd, Joseph Collier, Nathan Billings, John Friel, Louis Driggs, George H. Hill, James Green, Benjamin Schoonover, Levi Lee and others. These stanch pioneers had come to make De Kalb county their home, and they made the best of the hardships of all kinds that attended the lives of the early settlers.

George Hill was an early justice of the peace and performed the ceremony that united in marriage Zalmon Young and Sarah Brown, October 5, 1837. Theirs was the second license issued in De Kalb county. In the same year William Miller raised ten acres of corn, the largest crop in the county. Mr. Miller continued to live on his farm until 1873, when he removed to De Kalb, and the

George H. Hill's home was on the hank of the Kishwaukee, north of the residence where he lived at the time of his death. Finding a knoll suitable for the location of Ins home, he erected a log cottage, but in 1836 it was burned down by Indians and it was then learned that the house was located on an Indian cemetery. The Kingston postoffice was established in lS.'il at tin- residence of Hon. Levi Lee, who lived near the mouth of Lee's urn. Eere 1m- had built a mill, and a store had been erected, and for a tunc this bid fair to make a good inland village. Other mills were located along the si nam in this tow nship, one on tin1 farm now owned h\ <;. W. Ault. known as SI mill, and one on the Hill farm, known as Gaultfs mill, ami one at the big bend of tin- river in the edge of Genoa township, known as Gleason's mill. They were all sawmills and the timber suitable for lumber was soon cut oil' and one by one these mills ceased to operate. A village sprung up known as Stuartsville about a mile wesl of the present village el' Kingston, ami continued its existence until the building of the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad in 1876.

The firs! religious services held in the township of Kingston were in private residences, and Rev. Levi Lee was the drsl to conducl that service, and it i~ now supposed that the first service was held in the home of Thomas Robh. These services continued to he held in private houses until the erection of a schoolhouse in the early '40s, near the present site of the graded school. The firsi school was taught by Harriet Russell and was a private institution, being supported by the citizens of the community and was what was known in that time as a "subscription school."' King-ton being well supplied with timber and water, the settlers soon began to come in and it became one of the most populous townships in the county. The sawmills gave work to a large number of men. Aside from this there were many springs along the river, and here the early pioneers made their hone-. When the settlers first arrived in this township 1 1 1< \ found that the Indians had an encampment on the low land of the farm now owned by G. W. Ault and a cemetery on the site of Judge Hill's first cabin and one on the farm owned by Ed Stuait. The cemetery em Stuart's farm has been one of considerable interest, and many Indian graves have been opened and skeletons and Indian relics have been taken therefrom. Some of these are now in possession of Dr. Hill, of Genoa. Tradition say- that the Indian councils, from which Shabbona retired to notify the settlers ol an intended attack, was held in Kingston township. Levi Lee was for many years one of the prominent citizens of He Kalh county, lie was a man that «;i> highly respected and regarded by every one. He was one of the first three county commissioners elected in js:i? and held various official po- -n ions in the county. The land which he had taken up became the subject of dispute and finalh cost Mr. Lee nearly his whole fortune. He moved t" Elkhorn, Wisconsin, in the later '50s. dying there some fifteen years later.

The postoffice was established in north Kingston in the later 30s, and Charles \V. Branch, for ears a prominent citizen of Kingston, was the firsi postmaster. In the list, of old postoffices given by John Wentworth, we find that the ineome of this office was in 1853 si\ dollars and eighty-four cents and the salary of the Kingston postoffice at the home of Hon. Levi Lee in 1841 was the magnificent sum of four dollars and thirtvone cent-.

Among tin- earl] settlers who came were the Fosters. Captain .1. W. Poster enlisted in the Forty-second Illinois Infantry and at the time of bag the wound which caused his retirement from the service was holding the position of captain ol ' ' Mm. ( . When he came to Kingston he remembers well tin' Indian burial places and -tates that the bodies of about a half dozen pai ses were wrapped in bark and suspended in trees. The settlers of this community were compelled to go to Ottawa to mill and to take their produce to Chicago, and during the early history of the county many were the hardships endured by these pioneers. A little incident occurred in early '40s which illustrates to what straits the early inhabitants were reduced and what hardships the early pioneers were compelled to endure. The neighborhood in which Mr. Joseph Arbuekle lived ran short of flour and some of the neighbors, with Mr. and Mrs. Foster, held a counsel and talked the situation over, and as the nearest mill was at St. Charles and Mr. Arbuekle was the onlv one that had a team, it was decided that he should take the grist to mill for the neighborhood, but they found he had no pants suitable to wear, as the weather was decidedly cold. Mrs. Foster had some wool, and the women of the neighborhood gathered and picked and carded it, and as fast as it was carded there neighbors brought it to Mrs. Arbucklc to spin, which was in the neighborhood of a mile from the Foster residence. After the cloth had been spun into rolls it was again rein rued to Mrs. Foster to do the weaving, and they began in the early morning to cut the cloth and sew the pieces together for the garment, and when early morning came, Mr. Arbuckle, equipped with a warm pair of trousers, made his way to St. Charles, waited lor his grist and returned after an absence of over three days, but the neighborhood had plenty of flour from that time on till spring.

On another occasion George Hill and the Fosters were visiting at the home of Arbuckles, and as was the custom of the early settlers when visiting, they started to get supper for the guests, but finding that the corn meal had run low and that some dried com was in the oven ready to be shelled and taken to mill, the men resolved to prepare the meal necessary for the Johnny cake at once, so one party shelled the corn, another turned the coffee mill, and in about thirty minutes enough corn meal flour was had for the necessary Johnny cake, and those who partook of that repast state that they never enjoyed an evening meal better.

The winter of 1842 caused considerable suffering among the early inhabitants of Kingston. Snow came early in the fall and remained until spring, except the period of the January thaw. The people had plenty of provision, as game was driven to the barnyard for food, and during that year many of the deer, that were then so plentiful in thai section of the country, were killed, and from that time on deer was a rare game in this locality.

The timber along the stream furnished many sites for the early camp meeting and for the Sunday-school picnics. In that early day before churches were numerous the camp meeting was a necessity, and they would last sometimes for over four weeks, at which time thousands of people would come from different parts of the country.

Many of the early settlers were converted at these meetings and allied themselves with the different churches. The writer well remembers the Sunday-school picnics held in Poust's woods in the later '60s and early "IDs, and remembers the great numbers who were present on those occasions.

George H. Hill, aside from being one of the early justices, served his town as supervisor for many years previous to the organization of the board of supervisors, was one of the county commissioners and was elected county judge in 1852 and served two terms. He also served a term as county treasurer. He was elected a delegate to the constitutional convention of 1848. Judge Hill was a man of splendid ability, was a stalwart republican, was known through the county for his candor, intelligence and integrity, and at the time that he was in the full strength of his manhood no citizen of Dc Kail) county would wield a wider influence in her political councils. He was very patriotic and during the war made great efforts for the enlistment of troops and was one of the organizers of the Home Guard. He died at an advanced age, in 1890, on the farm he had taken from the government in 1835.

Some time in the '50s a large distillery was built by the Ball brothers in the east part of the township, north of the creek, in heavy timber. For a time this institution employed a large number of men and manufactured considerable liquor and fed hundreds of cattle, but in the early '60s it was presumed that a murder was committed there and trouble was made for the authorities. Some were arrested, but upon examination no guilt was proven, the institution was closed and stood for many years until lorn down lately. In 1863 Kishwaukee lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 402, was instituted and held forth in the Wyllys building in Stuartville until Kingston was started, when the building was moved to that town. This lodge had for many years jurisdiction of all the township of Kingston and the township of Franklin, part of South Grove and May field, and was exceedingly prosperous and had about eighty members, when in 1891 the Kirkland lodge was organized, which took away more than half of its jurisdiction. In 1884 Gilbert Barnes post, No. 395, G. A. E., was organized, with twelve members. The charter members were J. W. Foster, S. S. Eussell, James Mackey, S. D. Whitney, B. P.

Penney, H. M. Stark, Eenry Bacon, 0. II. Taplin, A. .1. .Miller and A. II. Clark. While the number of members has dei ceased at the present time, still this is one of the mosl enthusiastic posts in the county and exercises a patriotic influence over the rising generation. Kingston sent one hundred and five men to the Civil war. Among those who attained prominence in the service were Colonel Lorenzo II. Whitney, Lieutenant William Whitney, both id' the Eighth Illinois Cavalry: Lieutenant William Hill, of the Ninety-fifth Infantry; Lieutenant John Eeckman, of the Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry; Captain .1. W. Foster, of the Forty-second Infantry. He was desperately wounded and reported dead, hut survived to suffer the horrors of a rebel prison. Stories of his imprisonment, escape, recapture and final flight to the Union line- is of thrilling interest. Lieutenant Gilbert Barnes, of the Forty-second Illinois. lost his life early in the service, lie was a young man of considerable prominence, well educated, and had a brigb.1 future. Eis death occurring early in the war created a deep impression. Barnes post i- Darned in his honor, of the one hundred and five who entered lie 3ervice twentynine lost thru' lives. Three of them were sons of John Russell, namely: Wesley D., of the Thirteenth Infantry: Richard W., id' the Forty-second Illinois, ami I 'avid F.. of the Ninety-fifth [nfantry. John Russell furnished five son- to the Union cause, losing three on the field of battle, while one was desperatebj wounded. The loss of three brighi young men in the flower of young manh I caused the premature death id' their patriotic mother. Richard W. Atwood, of the One Hundred and Fifth, lost an arm and leg at Dalton, Georgia, dying two weeks later. Ira G. Burzell, of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, Ma- drowned in the Mississippi, and Aiba Lankton, of the Ninety-fifth, died in the hospital at Vicksburg. The other- from this township who lost their lives in the . re John Swanson.

In 1860 the Pleasant Hill church was built on the south line of the township, which has been mentioned in the history of Mayfield. In 1876, upon the platting of the village of Kingston, Lyman ami James Stuart paid for the removal of the church to its present site in Kingston. In the later '80s a Baptist church was organized and an edifice erected. In 1881 the Kingston grade school building \\a- erected at a cost of three thousand three hundred dollars. J. G. Lucas, now county superintendent of Boone county, was its first principal. The schoolhouse was burned in 1895 ami the present beautiful edifice erected. The Kingston school has an alumni that has furnished many teachers, professional and business men to tin- pail of the country.

"In the year 1852 a catastrophe occurred in this township, which cosl the lives of three young men. Rue! Layton, William Hicks and Doras Hollenbeck, at Stuart's mill. Kingston. When the river was high there was a heavy flow of water over the top of the dam. and at such times there was a swirling movement of the waters, where the overflow struck the water below the dam that made it impossible for a small boat to cross the disturbed part of the water without being swamped. Such were the conditions on the 3d of February. 18.V.'. when the young men undertook to cross the river in a small boat and were drowned. Rue! Layton was in the employ of 1 1 nam Stuart in the mill, and a part of his duty wa- to lake people across the liver in the time of high water, a- there wa- no bridge near and that was the only means id crossing at such times. His parents lived near, and with them boarded Seymour Eicks, a brother of William Hicks. Hiram Stuart resided mi the south side of the river, maker by trade, who in the previous year had built a shop a mile south of the mill, and with his brother, Seymour links, working with him. began business there, lie had been away for a few dayon a visit to an uncle, who lived near Waukegan, and had just returned befotv William was drowned. William had gone almost immediately to hi- shop and Seymour had stopped at his fathers over night in order to acquaint his people with the incidents of his visit. Doras Eollenbeck lived with his parents one mile west and threequarters of a mile north of the mill and had been at the shoe shop to see about a pair of boots and was on his way home, accompanied by William Hicks as far as Mt. Stuart's, where, finding Mr. Stuart's people absent it is presumed he went along with Layton to ferry Hollenbeck across the river. Mr. Stuart's people not being at home at just that time, no one heard the talk of the young men or knew of their plans. All three were seen by Layton's mother on the way from Stuart's house to the boat. No one saw them in the boat and their absence was not noted until the next morning, when Seymour Hicks went from his father's house to the shop, some three miles away, and found the door locked. His fears were aroused and he went to Stuart and found him very angry on account of the absence of Layton and the morning's work not done. Then lie went to Mr. Layton's, but he learned nothing more than that Mrs. Layton had seen the three going toward the boat the evening before. The boat was gone and it was also reported that the three young men were missing. Then came the report that a boat had been found three-quarters of a mile down the river turned bottom side up. By this time there was quite a gathering of people, a general alarm was given, and soon many from miles away hurried to the place, all anxious to aid in the recovery of the bodies. By the next morning there were hundreds of people lining the banks of each side of the river, searching for the bodies. That day, February 5, the body of William Hicks was found some forty rods below the dam at a bend in the river, caught in some brush and one boot showing partly above the surface. The water had been slowly falling, which had exposed a portion of the foot. On the 6th the body of Hollenbeck was found some distance farther down the river, and it was not until the 7th that the body id' Ruel Layton was recovered about a mile below the dam. The prevailing opinion seemed to be that Layton in managing the boat steered across, or too close to, a portion of the swirling water and that the boat was capsized, throwing them into the most dangerous part, where, hampered by their heavy wilder clothing, their bodies were hurled and tossed until life was extinct. Layton had taken several people across the river during the day and had said to some of them that he could take the boat across the swirling water safely, but had been prevented from doing so. It was from the talk he bad with those whom he had taken across during the high water that the opinion was formed that the dreadful accident had happened as given above. The young men were good swimmers and had the boat been overturned below the swirl of the water if would seem as though they would have been able to save themselves by swimming ashore. The sad ending of the lives of these three young men east a heavy gloom over the community and the bereaved families had the sincere sympathy of all.''

In 1853 a tornado passed over the townships of Franklin and Kingston, doing an immense amount of damage. This tornado caused a severe loss of property to the settlers, who had just built their new homes. In 1860 a tornado of much greater Eorce swept over the town. It wa.-s first seen as a black cloud in funnel shape sweeping along at the rate of a mile a minute. Huge trees were taken up in the air and carried off like straws. A house belonging to Isaac McCoy was torn in fragments and not a stick of it was left in its former position. Even the stones of its cellar were carried off. It had been occupied by a Mr. Weaver, but fortunately was not occupied at that time. The earth in the course of (he tornado was swept and hollowed out so that it resembled the bed of a rapid river. Large stumps were torn out by the roots. Mr. Luke Penwell, seeing its approach, ran to avoid it, but being caught seized a sapling, to which he clung with the energy of despair, while the wind whipped his legs around his head with great violence.

Some time in the later '8Cte the Illinois Central passed through this township, and along its line is the little village of Colvin Park, which makes an excellent shipping station for the farmers in the northern part of this township. The Stuart family came to this township in 1S39, bringing with them some property, and became some of the most substantial business men of that section. James and Lyman Stuart platted the village of Kingston in 1876 and built the first house there and organized the lirst business enterprise. Their competing point was started at Chaplinville and a splendid two-story brick building and a large mill with four buhrs were erected, this costing forty thousand dollars.

Kingston had its depot about a half mile west and Genoa being two and a half miles east, its business enterprise soon died out and at present nothing remains but the buildings to tell of its past glory. "William Miller, one of the pioneers of the county, camp in is3i;, Jlarman Miller preceding him one year. He became the owner of about thirteen hundred acres of land, which is now in possession of Mrs. J. L. Ellwood, his daughter. In 183? Mr. Miller planted ten acres of corn, which up to that time was the largesl field in com. He was prominent in political affairs of Kingston and on his farm was held the firsi election in the township. The stump which served as a table in this precinct was pointed out until about twenty-five years ago. Since that time the land has been cleared. He built a mill known as Millers sawmill south of his residence and for years did a thriving lumber business. The following named persons have served as supervisors of this township: John Sheeley, one year: C. W. Branch, one year; William Miller, one year; Judge HOI, four years; George Ellwood, one year; Dr. .lame- McAllister, two years; Philip Heckman. two years; Judge Hill, one year: Charles W. Branch, six years; John L. Hoag. two years; Sylvester Mead, two years; Leroy Benson, two years; Aaron Clark, four years; II. EL Miller, seven years; J. D. Brown, two years; M. W. Cole, four years; Hiram Branch, four years, and D. B. Arbuckle, who is serving at the present time. Nearly all of the old settlers and their descendants have died or moved to other localities, and the majority of the farms are now owned by those who came at a later day. In the later '70s the Germans began to settle the timbered portion in the north part of the county and now form a progressive part of that population. In 1888 they built the German Evangelical church. Of those who have been quite prominent in local affairs of this community are Michael Schandelmeier, William Aves, William Puis, George Sexauer. L. A. Koeller.

Sandwicb And Somonauk

The history of Somonauk township is in some respects the earliest historj of the county. Old settler- who rely largely upon memory do not agree as to the first settlement of the county, but preponderance of evidence is in favor of the fad that the first temporary abode by white man m what is now De Kail) county was on Somonauk creek near the site of the present U. P. church, while the firsi permanent settlement, was in Squaw Grove township. Reuben Eoot was the first permanent settler in what is now Somonauk township and he lived in the shack built by a Mr. Bobinson in 1834. The early history of the township of Sandwich and Somonauk especially the earlier half century is given in the reminiscences of the Eon. M. B. Castle, which we give here. The iscences are not given verbatim, as Mr. Castle touches frequently upon the story of other town- 5, hut all matter pertaining to Somonauk township and its early settlers is given verbatim. \- frequently happens, when two cities are near eai b oth< r so thai they become rivals in trade, they watch each other with jealous eyes. Especially is this true when the two cities belong to the same political unit. Two of the townships of this countj which are thus situated have not always had harmonious internal political relations. The 1 1. Millie in Franklin between Fairdale and Kirkam 1 was settled by giving Fairdale a separate election precinci. Somonauk had maintained its election precinct for years, but the strife grew out of the division of the political fund of the township, and the distribution of the funds raised by taxation. After numerous petitions and counter petitions and legal entanglements, out of the township of Somonauk were carved two political townships, in Somonauk retaining the old name, while the new was given the name of Sandwich, county which are thus situated have not always The early history of these two townships is indentical up to the period of division. After the building of the C, B. & Q. railroad, Somonauk was established and grew rapidly. The organization of the churches has been given in a previous chapter, but in the early '90s the Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist churches consolidated under the name of the Union Congregational church, and built a beautiful and commodious church edifice. The Lutheran and Evangelical societies were organized and maintain church services to the present time. A Catholic society was organized in the later '50s by a priest from Naperville, who held services in private houses or in the hotel of the village, where the Catholics would assemble to do their daily duty, have their children baptized and receive the sacrament of the church. In 1863 they purchased a hall and in 1866 built a frame church forty by eighty. This building was destroyed by fire in 1S68. This was replaced by a building of brick of the same dimensions, and at a later period an addition was built to the church. Rev. C. J. Huth was the first resideni priest of Somonauk, and remained there for sixteen years. Father 11 uih was popular not only with the members of his congregation, but with the whole community, and when he was transferred from this appointment the Protestants had a public meeting and made him a valuable present.

The schools of Somonauk were established shortly after the building up of the village and the Somonauk graded school building was one of the first erected in the county. About four years ago the present new brick structure was completed. Warren Hubbard has been superintendent of the Somonauk schools for a period of seventeen years. Aside from A. J. Rlanchard he ha- served continuously at one point in the county Longer than any other individual. Mr. Hubbard is a Hue type of the Christian gentleman, genial, active, brighi and one of the excellent school men of northern Illinois. Somonauk maintains two excellent financial institutions: One known as the Somonauk Bank, managed by Wright & Stevens. and the other the State Bank, of which Joseph Antoine is president and C. White cashier. Franklin Dale erected the first store building in the village and opened a stock of general merchandise and became the pioneer merchant of the place. Mr. Hess was the second and opened a store, which is at present managed by his two sons, Henry and George. The Somonauk Reveille first made its appearance in 1875 and is in existence at the present time.

Since 1872, since Somonauk has been a separate voting precinct, she has furnished the assistant supervisor of the township. The first was Edward Hoxey. next Thomas J. Wright. John Clark, Charles Merwin, Charles S. Lewis, Carter Wright, Peter McClelland, who served for a period of twelve years. He was followed by Isaac Hay and he by Henry Hess, who was serving at the time of the division of the township. The supervisors for the old town of Somonauk have been Lyman Bacon, William Patten. J. H. Furinan, H. Latham, Dr. C. Winne, E. W. Lewis, W. W. Sedgwick, W. L. Simmons, Hiram Loucks and

Dr. Winne, who has now served longer than any other supervisor from this township. He was serving at the time of the town-hip division and ably opposed the separation. Since that time he has represented the town of Sandwich.

The graded schools of Sandwich have had W. W. Woodbury for city superintendent during a period of fourteen years. He was connected with the schools previous to this time and was principal of the grammar school. Sandwich maintains a four-year high school course and is regarded as one of the strong schools of the county.

The Sandwich Manufacturing Company is known over the civilized world and sends its finished product to South America, Europe and Asia. This was one of the first strong establishments built up in the count)'. It. stands as a monument to August Adams, its founder. Its employees arc well paid and are capable men, who have served their town and county in responsible positions. The Enterprise Manufacturing Company was established at a later date and is at presenl in a prosperous condition. The old township of Somonauk has a splendid war record, furnished three hundred and eleven men for the suppression of the rebellion and raised nearly twenty-eight thousand dollars to meet war expenses. Captain L. II. Carr was among the first Hoops of Illinois to occupy the strategic position of Cairo, and was one of the first companies raised in the state under the first call of the president. The gallant officer who responded so readily to the call of the nation in danger met his death from a bullet of a sharpshooter at the siege of Island No. 10. Frederick W. Partridge, a native of Vermont, and a student in the law office of Franklin Pierce, postmaster of Sandwich in 1860, raised a company in Sandwich, became its captain, was twice wounded, rose to the command of the regiment and at the close of the war was breveted brigadier general. He was elected circuit clerk and recorder and became a resident of Sycamore. After his return as minister to Siam he was appointed to several positions of honor and trust by Presidents Hayes and Garfield. Colonel Isaac Rutishowser, of Somonauk, a native of Poland, ami his brother Carl, did gallant service in the Civil war. The latter attained the rank of colonel. The Beveridges were residents of Somonauk and came to this county in a very early day. They were Scotch Presbyterians and of strong antislavery faith. They maintained a station on the underground railway here and assisted many a negro to freedom. As stated in another part of this work, dames H. and John L. became prominent in affairs of state, the former serving as state treasurer and the latter as governor. Their father, George Beveridge, and their noble mother, were among the organizers of the United Presbyterian church.

One of the churches of this county which deserves special mention is the United Presbyterian church in the township of Somonauk, about three miles north of the village of Somonauk. It may be of intei'e.-i to know that in L858 the Associate Presbyterian and Associate Reformed Presbyterian churches formed a union. Since that time the organization to which this church belonged has been known as the United Presbyterian church. About the year 1831 Mr. George Beveridge of Washington county. New York, came to this place, and after some time and in. i .i few privations secured a home. In 1842 lie broughl his family to Ins new home. About the same time other families came from the same place and settled in the neighbor! I. These people wishing to enjoy church privileges, began to arrange the establishment of their church home. In August, 1842, Rev. James Templeton visited and preached for them. Also Rev. dames Smith and Rev. George Vincent preached for them during the fall and winter. In 1843 Rev. R. Pollock, Rev. [saa< Law, Rev. !>'. W. French were sent by the board of home missions to preach for them.

On March 18, 1846. the Associate Congregation of Somonauk, 1 >e Kalh county, Illinois, was organized h\ Rev. R. W. French, in the home of Mr. George Beveridge, near where the church building is located. Messrs. William Patten and David M. Dobbin were elected ruling elders. There were twenty-one charter members, of whom only one is now living - Mr. John Walker of Sandwich, Illinois. Rev. R. W. I-" tench was pa-tor of the congregation from 1848 until June. I860; Rev. W. T. Moffett, D. D., from April 2. 1861, until Xovember 27, I8?"i : Rev. D. S. Kennedy. D. D., from September 5, 1878, until November 14. lSrt.T; Rev. A. G. Bastings, from January 27. 1895. until

All the former pastors and members were invited to return ami join in the celebration of the semi-centennial anniversary of the organization ot the congregation. All the pastors were present except Rev. W. T. Moffett, I). D., who had removed io a distant field of labor in Kansas.

Rev. Alexander Gilchrist, D. D., a son of the congregation, was present and gave an address. A paper was read by Rev. A. (.. Hastings. gi\in<; a hi-ton of the "congregation and review of its growth from the time of its organization. Membership at that time was two hundred and twentyfive. The closing exercises were in charge of the Young IVoph/- Society. Rev. Jesse Johnson of Muskingum College, Ohio, gave the address of the