Mayfield Township

Mayfield Township

A distillery was built by Phineas Stevens and Rufus Colton in 1840, but it never was a source of much profit. The proprietors couldn't prevent their fattening swine from getting drunk ; and when Stevens finally barreled them up, took them one hundred and fifty miles north to the pinery for a market, and then obtained only two cents a pound for his pork, the distillery was abandoned.

The little village at Coltonville gradually declined, its buildings were removed, and now the entire town contains no village, nor even a post-office, being better accommodated for these purposes by the neighboring village of Sycamore.

Liberty was the name given to the town upon its organization in 1850. It was selected by the Townsends, Nichols', and Nickersons, - those earnest, active members of the Liberty party of those times, who were neither ashamed nor afraid to be known as station-agents on the underground railroads, - but the name had probably been previously given to other townships; for a few months after, it was changed to Mayfield.

Deer, wolves, and massasaugers (or the prairie rattlesnakes), were particularly numerous in the first years of its settlement. In the autumn of 1837, Mr. Godfrey Carnes killed twenty-five deer on his farm, and one new comer was startled, on finishing up the center furrow on a ten-acre "land" which he was breaking, to find twenty-five lively massasaugers hissing and rattling their warnings at him.

The town was kept in a broil for many years by claim jumpers; but when the claim wars were settled by the perfection of their titles through purchase from government, and the claims of the rival points for the seat of justice had been disposed of, the affairs of the town moved on the even tenor of their way. with perfect quiet. The old settlers gradually acquired the comforts of life, the outlying prairie became settled, and the country increased in population and wealth.

Mayfield sent 103 men to fight the slaveholders' rebellion, and scarcely any town in the County was more prompt in responding to the calls of the government.

The first religious meetings in the County were held in Mayfield, by the Methodists, and for a year or two they were held regularly at Mr. Ira Douglas' house. They were subsequently continued at the school houses ; and in 1860 a fine church was built at Pleasant Hill, by that denomination, the inhabitants contributing with unusual liberality for its construction.

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; 1,454 words in this source stream.

Mayfield Township

AYFIELD Township was one of the first settled in the county. The valuable timber lands that lie along the Kishwaukee River, which courses through the eastern part, attracted the attention of the pioneers of De Kalb County, and it was but a short time before every rod was claimed. Mayfield is bounded/on the east by Sycamore Township, on the north by Kingston, on the south by De Kalb and on the west by South Grove. As stated, along the Kishwaukee River are valuable timber lands, but west of this is a beautiful prairie, which is now dotted over with fine farm houses, and which has been placed under an excellent state of cultivation.

In the early day deer, wolves and game of all kinds abounded. Prairie chickens were in great numbers. Mrs. E. D. Walrod states that she has slipped up and caught them unawares, they being quite tame.

Who has the honor to be the first to locate in the township is unknown, but it is supposed that John Tower preceded all others. Among those who came in during the first two or three years - from 1835 to 1838 - were John Thorn, Morris and Erasmus D. Walrod, James and Samuel Gilbert, Ira Douglas, John Nichols, Lyman Judd, John Tifft, Robert Graham, James McCollum and Henry Madden. The latter was the first Representative in the Legislature, being elected while the county was part of La Salle, even before Kane was organized. Dr. Madden, as he was always called, was a well known man in the early history of the county, and is deserving of more than a passing notice. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and was held in high esteem by the pioneers. In the county-seat contests he favored Brush Point, near where he was located, and in securing the appointment of commissioners to locate the county seat, he selected, it is said, those whom he thought he could influence favorable to Brush Point. Dr. Madden died at Malta, in this county.

Erasmus D. Walrod is an old and highly respected citizen of Sycamore, at present owning a farm adjoining the city on the west. He served as Deputy Sheriff for eight years.

James McCollum was an eastern man, but came here fromAidiana in 1835, locating on section 15. About 1843^16 sold out and removed to Round Prairie, Boone County, where he has since died.

Robert Graham was a native of Kentucky. He made claim to a tract of land in the northeast part of the township and died there about 1850. A son yet resides on the old homestead.

Lyman Judd settled on section i. He was a native of York State, but came from Indiana in June, 1835. About 1858 he moved to Minnesota and settled in Rice County, where he has since died.

Ira Douglas was also a native of New York. He came to the county in 1835 and stopped about one year at Paw Paw Grove, and then came to Mayfield where he now lives.

Much trouble was had with claim jumpers by the early settlers, and it was some years after the land came into market before all claims were settled.

The first religious services in the township were conducted by the Methodists, and for some time services were held at the house of Ira Douglas. Being convenient to Sycamore and De Kalb, the citizens of the township generally worship in those places.

The first school is said by some to have been held in 1839, the teacher being Fanny Clark. Others claim Lucy Stewart was the first teacher, the school being held in a log cabin belonging to David Hodge on section n. This was also in 1839.

The County Superintendent of Public Schools in his report for the year ending June 30, 1884, gives the following items in relation to educational matters in the township : Number of persons under 21 years of age, 365 ; number of school age, 270; enrollment, >38. There were nine districts, each having a frame school-house.

rebellion, of whom the following named gave their lives to the country : Marvin Smith died at Smithland, Mo., Dec. 31, 1861; W. H. Decker, at Farmington, May 16, 1862; G. G. Farwell, at Shiloh, April 6, 1862: Turner Wing, at Mayfield, May, 1862; Joseph Piper, at Quincy, 111., April 23, 1862! Elias Goble, at Gallatin, Tenn., Dec. 21, 1862; William Kerr, on steamer City of Memphis, Jan. 5, t863; J. Patterson, at Camp Sherman, Miss., Aug. 25, 1863; Samuel Piper, at Young's Point, La., April i, 1863; J. P. Young, at Camp Nelson, March' 5,1864; Alonzo Houghton, in rebel prison, Cahaba Ala., September, 1864; William Stevenson, at Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 27,1864; Edward iiowe, at Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 15, 1864.

Mayfield Township, in 1884, had of improved land 22,270 acres, valued by the local assessor at $316,570. The personal property listed the same year amounted to $89,094 ; a total of $405,664. This was reduced by the State Board of Equalization to $361,319, on which the assessment was made. The personal property included at that time the following items: Horses, 781; cattle, 2,348; mules and asses, 4; sheep, 152; hogs, 2,049; steam engines, 2; safes, i ; carriages and wagons, 274; watches and clocks, 189; sewing and knitting machines, 115 ; pianos, 6 ; organs and melodeons, 35 .

ILAN is an exclusively prairie township, there being no natural grove within its borders. It is bounded on the south by Shabbona Township, on the east by Afton, on the north by Malta, and on the west by Lee County. The township was organized in 1857, and was taken off of Malta and Shabbona. It being so far from timber, the land was not taken up until quite late. The township comprises township 39 north, range 3 east, and was organized in 1857,

Lewis McEwen, now of the city of De Kalb, was the first white man to locate in the township. In 1852 he made claim to a tract of land, built a cabin and was for a ti;ne, like Robinson Crusoe, " monarch of all he surveyed." Benjamin Banfield and Reuben Dodd soon after moved into the township and Mr. McEwen then had company. In 1852, when he located here, not an acre of the land had been entered from the Government, but much of it was taken up the following year. Gurdon Hewitt entered nine sections in one day, with land warrants, worth eighty' cents per acre.

In the winter of 1853-4 more than 100 deer were seen from McEwen's cabin door, and wolves were extremely troublesome. The deer disappeared with the advent of the locomotive.

After the first settlement was made it was but a few years before every acre of land was taken up or purchased from speculators by actual settlers, and today the township of Milan is one of the most prosperous in the county. In the southern portion of the township a large colony from Norway located.

In the summer of 1868 a large two-story building was erected in the center of the township for school and town purposes. The lower part was used for school purposes, while the upper served as a tower hall and place of public worship.

The school section was sold in 1865 and produced a township school fund of over $8,000. The first school-house was built in the center of the township in 1855.

From the report of the County Superintendent for the year ending June 30, 1884, the following items are gleaned as to the schools of this township : Number of persons under 21 years of age, 450; number between the ages of 6 and 21,330; number enrolled, 263 ; number of districts, 9. In each district was a frame school-house, the total value being estimated at $6,000. There was a tax levied of $1,944 for school purposes. During the year 18 teachers were employed, receiving an average salary of $31.46, the highest being $42.50, and the lowest $25.

land, according to the-assessment of 1 884. This was valued by the local assessor at $309,410. Of personal property there was assessed $52,715. Total, $362,125! This was reduced by the State Board of equalization to $3 1 5, 36 1. Among the items of personal property assessed there were the following: Horses, 670; cattle 1,880; mules and asses, 4; sheep, 131 ; hogs, 2,208 ; melodeons and organs, 35 ; carriages and wagons, 203; watches and clocks, 123; sewing and knitting machines, 86.

The following have served the township as members of the Board o'f Supervisors : Lewis McEwen, 1857-60; John Banfield, 1861 ; Lewis McEwen, 1862-8; A. L. Wells, 1869-72; Edwin R. Colby, 1873-84.

Source changes here: from Past and Present of DeKalb County, Illinois, by Gross, Lewis M, published 1907; 3,079 words in this source stream.

Mayfield Township

The township of Mayfield, while not the first one permanently settled in our county, is antedated by but few townships, notably Squaw Grove, Somonauk, Kingston, Sycamore and perhaps Shabbona. The early history of this township is full of interest, and while the last of the first settlers who located here previous to 1837 have passed away, still it was from the lips of these hardy pioneers who did so much for the prosperity of their descendants and gave those who follow them a rich legacy of good deeds and sterling attributes of character, we have many interesting anecdotes. The settlements in Mayfield were made in the woods and along the streams, and the first settler was without doubt Ira Douglas. Others came in the same year, namely : John Tower, John Thorn, Morris and Erasmus D. Walrod, Robert Graham, Samuel Gilbert, James McCollum and Hon. Henry Madden. These settlers found that Mayfield had been occupied by the Indians previous to their coming but at that time no Indians were residing permanently in the township. The village of Coltonville in DeKalb township, immediately south of the Mayfield line, was the permanent residence of the Indians and when the settlers came they found in the neighborhood one hundred Indians residing in the grove near the present Adee farm. Near the south line of the township was buried the old Indian chief, Capas. Capas had been slain in an encounter with the Indians and his remains were buried in a stockade covered with timber. He was found in a sitting posture with pipe, arms and everything necessary for life on the happy hunting ground. Sometime in the early '40s his remains, with the bullet that caused his death, were taken by Dr. Richards of the old St. Charles Medical School. Along the banks of the Kishwaukee many implements used by the Indians in warfare and domestic life have been found and thinly scattered over the prairie the plowman found arrow and spear heads. About thirty years ago Wallace Bacon found on the farm now owned by John Dick a large arrow head firmly imbedded in a largo bone. Later research and knowledge leads us to believe Unit it was the bone of a buffalo. Near the Mayfield town hall the writer in I87'i picked up a portion of an elk's horn, which tells us definitely of the fauna of the earlier davs. Mayfield in the days of her early settlement wns covered by al t five thousand acres of timber. The remainder was gently undulating. unbroken prairie, tinted during the spring, summer and early autumn with the various shades of the wild flower. In the early springtime it was covered with yellow buttercups; then came the lady slippers; later it was flecked with the deep scarlel prairie lily. In summer il was a purple sea of wild flos : then came the prairie flowers of autumn, yellow and sombre.

After the organization of the township it was called Liberty, but owing to its exuberance of wild flowers in the spring her first supervisor, Mulford Nlckerson, following the suggestion of his daughter, Eunice, who was a teacher of the earlier days, named the township Mayfield. The early settlers of Mayfield were at Pleasant II ill. Ilrush Poinl and mi the south side of the town near Coltonville. The early settlers Eound an abundance of game and during the winter season were never without sufficient food. The winter of 1810 had destroyed the buffalo and elk. so that it was a great exception if any ill' these animals were seen east nf the Mississippi river after that time. Deer was found in great abundance. John Mullen, the pioneer of the town, said that one morning during the winter nf the earl] '40s he killed seven deer before breakfast, ami as late as November I. 1856, Eouton Graham appeared at the old Brush Point schoolhouse ami with his rifle on his shoulder to east his vote for "Buck," as be called Buchanan, said be would kill a buck before supper, which boast he successfully carried out. A quarter of a century ago there were no name laws in force and quail ami prairie chicken were trapped during the winter season by the thousands. When the snow was deep and the winter severe the wild fowl would frequent barnyards ami grain stacks, for during those early years the bum of the thresher was heard all winter. Prairie wolves were heard every night and hunger often drove them to the haunts of man lor food. In the autumn the wild fowl covered every pond and stream and in those times the tiller's spade had not destroyed their marshy hiding places, and on the farm now owned by William Wike, two of the pioneers in the fall of 1865 hid in some willow bushes and without changing position killed enough water fowl to fill a. bushel basket. Wild pigeons at this season came in such numbers that in their southward flight they would keep up their continuous procession for days and were so thick that they would darken the sun. Pigeon potpie was very common at this time, for the person who could point a gun heavenward was sure of a game dinner. The sand bill crane was a gamy fowl ami nf delicious flavor, but tiny tlew at greal heights and when on the ground were hard to approach and the aspiring hunter alter shunting one was a mighty Nimrod.

Eowever, this beautiful prairie was not free from the primal curse. The beneficent sun. which kindle- into being so many forms of life, fails not to engender venom and death from the slime of the pestilential swamp and marsh and mam were the ague and fever stricken victims of early days. On the prairie and along the streams the rattlesnake ran- out his sharp warning, winch no man would dare to contemn. Roderick Carnes, while breaking a piece of prairie sod about sixty years ago. in finishing bis field dispatched about twenty-live rattlers, .lames Robert (irahain and David Tower, settlers who came to Mayfield in 18:36 and 1838, respectively, have told that rattle snakes were as common in their boy- I I a- -arti r snakes of today.

Before Mayfield was known as a township Dr. Henry Madden, of Brush Point, had been elected first representative of this district to the legislature, which was during the lime the portion now De Kalb county was a part of Kane ami the measure of setting apart the territory now Do Kalb was presented and passed through his efforts. Dr. Madden was a great reader, a man well educated for those times, ami seems to have been well known throughout northern Illinois. lie served his county and his locality in many different positions, lie later moved h> Malta, dying there in 1867. The town was kept in a broil for many years by claim jumpers, but when the claim wars wrre settled by the perfection of their titles through purchase from the government and the claims of the rival point for the seat of justice had been disposed of, the settlers of the town moved on the even tenor of their way with perfect quiet. The old settlers gradually acquired the comforts of life, the outlying territory became settled and the township increased in wealth and population.

The first religious service in Mayfield was held in the log cabin of Ira Douglas some time about the year 1837, and for years afterward until the Pleasant schoolhouse was built in the early '40s. In 1844 the Wesleyan Methodist church separated from the Methodist Episcopal and a society of that denomination was organized. For a time it had its class meetings and religious services in private residences until the building of the Brush Point schoolhouse, when their services were held there until 1862, when the Wesleyan Methodist church was erected. One of the foundation principles of this church was opposition to slavery and in the earlier days previous to the war this religious organization was the strongest in this township and it was the members of this religious organization was the strongest in this township and it was the members of this religious organization that conducted the workings of the underground railway. Those who were now known to have been active in assisting slaves to Canada and freedom were Joshua Townsend and his sons, Stephen and Charles ; Mulford Nickerson and his son, William A. Nickerson; Peter, John and Ira Nichols. At the time these men were active in this work they were regarded by many as lawbreakers, but in the line of all that has happened we are proud of the fact that these men had the courage of their convictions and did so much for the freedom of humanity. William A. Nickerson, who still lives in Grand Traverse county, Michigan, at the age of ninety-seven years, was one of the foremost citizens of Mayfield. He represented his town several years as supervisor, was prominent in county affairs generally, and for years a locaT preacher. The Townsends came into Mayfield in 1840 with the exception of Charles, who came in 1837. Joshua Townsend was a man beyond middle life when he came here, but his son Stephen wag a very active and public-spirited man, one of the foremost organizers of the freesoil and afterward one of the republican party of this county. He was a man of more than average intelligence, genial and pleasant and was a man of almost boyish enthusiasm. Very few men have exerted a larger influence over the community in which he lived than Stephen Townsend. The Nichols moved to Mayfield in 1837, John Nichols having moved here two years previous. They were active in the organization of the Wesleyan church, were prominent in underground railroad circles and contributed a great deal to the social and religious life of the community. In the early '40s among the many that came to Mayfield were the Smith brothers, Spafford and Curtis. Spafford became a wealthy landholder, later retired from active business and lived in Sycamore until the time of his death. Curtis Smith served the town and county faithfully, was supervisor for many years and in the early days was a prominent leader in whig politics. He afterward became allied with the republican party and was active in its councils. He was a ready debater, a man very well read and of great intelligence. Harrison Mackey came to Mayfield in 1839, was a successful financier and died on the farm he bought from Uncle Sam, at an advanced age. Joseph Collier came in 1835 and first settled in Kingston. He afterward took up a claim in Mayfield and was living there at the time of his death in 1837. Mr. Collier had been a captain of militia in the state of Ohio and he. with Stephen Moury, of Coltonville, was elected justice of the peace when this county was still a part of La Salle. He was one of the first of the early settlers who died in De Kalb county.

The Methodists held religious services in the Partridge schoolhouse, Pleasant Hill schoolhouse and the Vandeburg schoolhouse for many years,

Webster, who was pastor of the Kingston circuit, which then included the Methodist appointments in Mayfield and Kingston, two churches were built. One known as the Pleasant Hill church on the Kingston side of the base line on land now owned by Charles Nichols, section 35, Kingston. Another known as Bethel church was built on the north side of section 1, Mayfield. When Rev. Webster announced his first service on the site of what later became Bethel church, he stated that he would preach on the devil's pre-emption on a certain Sunday. On the day appointed hundreds of people came to hear the sermon and he announced to them that he would build a church on this spot. He was a man of great energy, doing considerable of the work himself. His son afterward became a candidate for United States senator and is iii present contemplating entering the race in opposition to A. J. Hopkins. The Vandeburg schoolhouse was for years one of the points of the township, where many public meetings were held, the Methodist, Adventist and Baptist deni nations having services there at different times, and it was the scene of the old Durgeon sinking schools, which were held there in the winter of L854, people attending from miles around. Some men and women approaching the three score and ten of life slide how they walked five or six miles weekly to attend these singing schools. The Brush Point schoolhouse was until 1860 the election precinct of Mayfield. Political meetings were held here ill the early days. The whigs. I'reesoilers and democrats had political meetings there until 1848. In 1856 a great republican rally was held there, hundreds attending from Sycamore, De Kalh and other places. In I860 the township elections were held at Partridge schoolhouse and that was the scene of political meetings and elections from I860 until iS", I. when Mayfield built the present town hall. The Wesleyan society mentioned previously has since been converted into a Congregational organization, and at present a minister of that denomination holds regular services there. In 1864 or L865 a sectarian spirit ran high and religious dissensions were the order of the day. An Adventist preacher - Harry McCullock, and debate which lasted for ii period of a week. As is usual, both sides of the contest thought their speakers were victorious, for years these denominations held services in the We&leyan church, and as is the ease with union churches generally, a collision came and the Adventist and Christian denominations built what was known as Christian chapel a mile west of the present Wesleyan church. In about 1878 the two denominations. Adventist and Christian, no longer continued their sen ices and the church was moved away and is now used as a farm building. The denominational bitterness engendered at this time was injurious to the religious and social life of Mayfield. Tf we were to discuss the matter with members of the various denominations we would hear three sides of the question. Whatever the merits of the case might have been it is safe to say that on the whole the results were injurious. Some families embittered by religious dissensions moved away from the town and so far as we are able to observe the spirit of ( 'hristian fellowship w as never so strong after these days of rancorous religious dissension.

Ii has been stated that the first school in Mayfield was taught by Lucy Stewart in Hodge's house, known later as the Carlisle place, about ii mile south of the Ira Douglas farm on the. Pleasant Hill road. Others state that the first school was taught by Fanny Clark, in the log cabin located on the farm afterward owned by Mason McClelland.

Mayfield furnished two soldiers for the war with Mexico - one George Dennis, who still lives in Iowa. Thi' name of the other we have been unable to ascertain. In the breaking out of the rebellion, Mayfield furnished troops regularly at each call and during the war furnished one hundred and three men. It raised over twelve thou- -iiiul dollars in bounties for the soldiers. Those who died in the service of their country were J. P. Young. W. 11. Decker. G. G. Farwell. J. Patter-on. Turner Wing, Alonzo Houghton. William Stevenson, Joseph Piper, Samuel Piper, Edward Howe, Elias Gobel, Marvin Dennis and William Kerr. About twenty others were seriously wounded and some crippled for life. Tints of the one hundred and three men furnished more than a third n lie killed or disabled.

Tn tlie early days of the pioneers of Mayfield prairie fires were common. Beginning in the township of South Grove they would generally sweep over the prairie, much of which was uninhabitable. On one occasion while Mr. J. IT. Dick, a pioneer of the early 'Hi-, was lying ill and unconscious with typhoid fever, being attended alone at night by his wife, a prairie tire broke out. which threatened to destroy their home. This being sometime after midnight we can easily realize the terror felt by the lone woman in the care of her sick husband. A catastrophe was only evaded by the prompt assistance of the neighbors, who, knowing of her helpless condition, responded and thus saved their lives and property.

was afterward a prominent citizen of Sycamore. .lames Sivwright, Sr., came to Mayfield in 1842, took up his land from the government, served his township for years as supervisor, was prominent in county and religious affairs, and at the time of his death was serving as coroner of De Kalh county.

In 1887 the Great Western was built through the township of Mayfield and the village of Clare subsequently sprung up. While of no great proportions the village does a large shipping business and is a great convenience to the farmers of that locality. Three years ago the C. I. & M. passed through Mayfield and the station known as Wilkinson was established. In 185G a settlement .if Pennsylvania Germans was established in the north part of the town. They purchased homes ami afterward became thrifty fanners. Among the number were if. Ault, William Younkin, William Remala. J. K. and William Cross and the Eotes. As soon as the prairie became settled and people began to realize that the prairie land was much better than timber land for general farming purposes and after the timber was cut off main Swedish families settled in the timber belt of Mayfield, at first buying little patches, building homes, clearing the land ami adding continually to their holdings until they have become prosperous citizens. Among the number of Swedish- Americans in Mayfield who have become prosperous and useful citizens are Frank Gronberg, John Johnson, Frank Peterson and John Israelson. The supervisors of Mayfield were: Mulford Nickerson, 1850; Willis Lott, 1851; James Sivwright, 1852; Agrippa Dow, 1853-51: James Parker, 1855: Henry Madden, 1856; W. A. Nickerson, 1S57-58; A. B.Crippen, 1859-60; .lames Sivwright, 1801-62; T. Wynkoop, 1803-04: Curtis Smith. 1865-72; E. P. Safford, 1873-1 G; Nelson Sivwright, 1817-79; Nelson Sivwright, l.ssl ; E. P. Safford, 1882; H. 0. Whittemore, 1883-84; Nelson Sivwright, 1885: H. O. Whittemore, 1886; Oscar Smult, 1886-89 ; James Sivwright, 1890-94; Edwin Townsen. I. 1895-1901; F. S. Ault, 1901-05; George Dick, 1906-07.