Nunda Township (part 2 of 2)

Eugene F. Matthews was born in Nunda Township, Oct. 13, 1848, a son of Nathan E. and Elizabeth (West) Matthews, and grandson of Henry Matthews and Jerrod West. His father was born in New York, Feb. 6, 1825, and was married Feb. 26, 1845. He came West in an early day and located in McHenry Township, where he died Oct. 14, 1869. He reared a family of three children educated in his native county, remaining on the farm till 1881, when he 'moved to Barreville and built the cheese and butter factory. He was married in 1868 to Mary A., daughter of William Talbott. To them have been born eight children - Walter, Carrie, Charles, Fred, Raymond, Eugene, Robert and Florence. Mr. Matthewslis a member of the Masonic fraternity and has passed all the chairs of his lodge. Politically he is a Republican.

Andrew J. McMillan was born in Schenectady County, N. Y., Sept. 14, 1818, a son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (McDonnell) Mc- Millan, his father a native of New York, born in 1787, and his mother of Scotland, born in 1790 and came to America in 1802. His grandfather, Andrew McMillan, was a native of Scotland and in early life came to America. He died in Princeton, N. Y., in 1834, aged eighty-nine years. Ebenezer McMillan was a milly-.

wright by trade and also carried on a farm. He died in New York, Oct. 14; 1833, ased forty-five years. He left a family of six children - Mary A., born July 24, 1813, married John Robinson, of Kansas; Andrew J.; Elizabeth, born Dec. 27, 1821, married J. A, Eobinson; Ebenezer J., born Dec. 2, 1824; Walter M., born April 18, 1827, and Nancy, born March 24, 1833. Andrew J. McMillan was the eldest son and after the death of his father, although only fifteen years of age, assumed the care of his mother and family. In 1850 he came to Illinois and located in McHenry County, where he now owns 145 acres of good land. A few years later his mother and the rest of the family followed him to Illinois. His mother died in Nunda, June 12, 1869. Sept. 13, 1848, Mr. MiMillan married Mary A., daughter of John and Nancy Robinson, of New York, of Scotch descent. Mrs. McMillan was born March 29, 1819, and died April 17, 1884. Politically Mr. McMillan is a Republican. He has held several offices of trust in the township.

Webster P. Morse was born in Nnnda, 111., March 26, 1844, a son of Linus and Jane Morse, natives of New York. They came to Illinois about 1838, and in 1871 moved to Nebraska, where the father died in June, 1883, aged seventy-three years. He received a good education, attending school till 1862, when on his eighteenth birthday he enlisted in Company E, Fifth Iowa Infantry, as a private, under Captain D. S. Lee. He participated in the battles of Iuka^ Corinth, Jackson, Champion Hills (where he was wounded), Yicksburg, Chattanooga, and Mission Ridge, where he was taken prisoner and was taken to Belle Isle. While there he suffered untold agonies from cold and hunger, but was subsequently removed to Andersonville, where for eight months his sufferings were even more intense, and had it not been for friends, who were stronger than he and divided their portion with him, would have starved to death. As it was he became reduced to seventy-five pounds and for three months prior to his release was unable to walk. Jan. 1, 1865, he was exchanged, and went to Annapolis, where he received a furlough. He afterward returned to the regiment at Nashville, where he received orders to report at Clinton, Iowa, and was discharged July 5, 1865. After his return home he worked on the farm two years, and then went to Michigan and engaged in the mercantile business seven years. In 1874 he was employed as messenger in the, United States mail service, a year later was promoted to route agent, then to postal clerk, and then to clerk in charge, at a salary of $1,300 a year, which position he still holds. April 25, 1867, Mr. Morse was married to Ellen M., daughter of George Stickney. They have two children - Fred L. and Ida A. Politically Mr. Morse is a Republican. While in Michigan he was Collector of taxes in his town for four years.

John H. Mudgett, deceased, was born in Fletcher, Vt., in 1806, a son of John and Lorinda (H ill) Mudgett. His father was a native of Vermont, of Scotch descent, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His mother was the only child of Isaac Hill, a native of Vermont, and a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had three children - Jason, John H. and Polly. He was married in Vermont, to Polly , and in 1836 came West and settled in Kane

County, 111. In 1838 he came to McHenry County and settled in Nunda Township, where he died in the spring of 1881. He had a family of six children - Elizabeth, wife of William Hill; Charles H., deceased, enlisted in Company C, Thirty -seventh Illinois Infantry, and died when on his way home; John H., of Mason City, Iowa; Olive, wife of G. B. Combs, of Volo, 111., and W. H., of Nunda. Politically Mr. Mudgett was originally a Whig, but at the time of his death was a Republican. He held several offices of trust in the county and township.

W. 3. Mudgett was born in Nunda Township, on the farm he now owns, May 17, 1844, a son of J. H. and Polly Mudgett. He attended school till the breaking out of the war, and in the spring of 1861 enlisted in Company C, Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry, as a private; was afterward promoted to Corporal. He participated in the battles of Sugar Creek, Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, Red River campaign, Mobile. He was mustered out June 20, 1866, having served five years and fifteen days. Since his return home he has followed farming, and now owns 190 acres of land. He was married Oct. 28, 1867, to Emma, daughter of John and Maria Claxton. They have three children - Earl, Minnie and Victor. Politically Mr. Mudgett is a National Greenbacker. He is a member of Wauconda Post, G A. R.

Charles C. Patterson, son of Charles and Orrinda Patterson, was born in Ohio, Dec. 6, 1836. His parents were natives of New York, his father born in 1798, of Scotch-Irish descent, and his mother of German descent. In 1837 his parents moved to Illinois and settled near Silver Lake, in Nunda Township, McHenry County, where his father died in 1860. When a boy, Charles C. had but limited educational advantages, but by close attention to his studies and diligent reading of good books he acquired a fair education. When but a child he was obliged to do chores on the farm, and at one time when sent for the cows he lost his way and was in the woods two days and nights, without anything to eat. After he grew to manhood he gave his attention to farming, and with the exception of one year in the Sheriff's office, has always followed that vocation. He now owns 100 acres of fine land. He is an enterprising man, and although afflicted with deafness is one of the best farmers of the township. He drove the first seed drill in the county. He was married in 1863 to Eva A. "Williams, who died Oct. 6, 1881, aged thirty-seven years and ten months. To them were born three children - M. F., of Nebraska; Cornie E. and Neva A., at home. Politically Mr. Patterson is a Republican. He is a member of Nunda Lodge, No. 169, F. & A. M. July 29, 1881, while attempting to cross Fox River in a buggy, accompanied by a lady, they had a narrow escape for their lives, the river being higher than Mr. Patterson anticipated.

J. W. Salisbury was born in Gal way, Saratoga Co., N. Y., July 25, 1803, a son of John and Mary A. (Mead) Salisbury, natives of Connecticut. His great-grandfather and three sons came to the United States with Sir Walter Raleigh, and located in North Carolina, but being 'opposed to slavery removed to Rhode Island. The sons were all in the Revolutionary war. After the war John, the grandfather of J. W., settled in Columbia County, N. Y. , and the other sons in Vermont. John subsequently moved to Saratoga County, and then to Montgomery County, where he died in March, 1810, aged seventy-two years. His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1807. John, the father of J. W., died in January, 1839, aged fifty-one years. His mother died in 1844, aged fifty-five years. They had a family of seven children - J. W., Ezekiel, Philip, Nehemiah, Ann, wife of Hilo Byam; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Adams, and Diadama, wife of Charles Haynes. J. W. Salisbury attended school till twelve years of age, and then went into the blacksmith's shop with his father and remained seven years. He then began working on the farm and has since followed agricultural pursuits. He came West in 1841 and settled in Crystal Lake, 111., where he now resides. He was married May 16, 1827, to Eliza, daughter of David and Maria (Conrad) Cropsey, natives of New York. Her father died in 1859, aged seventy-three years, and her mother in January, 1865, aged seventy-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Salisbury have had nine children; eight are living - John C, born Nov. 25,

1828, now a builder in Omaha, Neb.; Esther, now the wife of Dr Beers; Eliza, born March 31, 1833, now the wife of Daniel Pond of St. Paul, Minn.; Hattie, born Nov. 6, 1836, wife of Charles' Shepherd; Mary, born Jan. 26, 1840, wife of George Beers, of Elgin, 111.; James H., born Dec. 22, 18±3; William, born April 14 1847; and Emma, born Feb. 27, 1856, wife of Hart. Wolaver' Politically Mr. Salisbury is a Democrat. He has served as Justice of the Peace four years. He is a member of the Congregational church, and has been a Deacon twenty years.

William Salisbury was born in Bennington, Vt., Oct. 3, 1815 a son of William and Huldah (Thomas) Salisbury', his father a native of Rhode Island of English descent, and his mother of Connecticut of Welsh descent. His grandfather, William Thomas, came from Wales with the British soldiers, and after reaching America deserted them and joined the American forces. After the war he settled in Connecticut. William and Huldah Salisbury had a family of seven children, four of whom are living, viz. : William; Arthur, of Dodge County, Wis.; Ambrose, of Chenango County, N. Y.;and Harriet, wife of Samuel Baardsley. William, Jr., received a good education, attending school when not needed on the farm till twenty years of age. He has always followed agricultural pursuits, and now owns a fine farm of 353 acres. He has one of the best farms in the township. It is well located, and his farm buildings are large and comfortable. He has a good dairy, milking eighteen cows. He was married in 1844 to E. J., daughter of Samuel and Laura Terwilliger, of Nunda Township. To them were born four children; but three are living - Charles A.; Laura, widow of Henry Salisbury, and Bertha. Emma J. is deceased. Mrs. Salisbury died June 3, 1877. Politically Mr. Salisbury was originally a Whig, but is now a Republican. He was the first Supervisor of the township, and was afterward elected to the same office, and assisted in the initial measures for building the court-house. He was several times Highway Commissioner and helped locate some important thoroughfares.. He was the first Treasurer to the Trustees of Schools, and as the law then was, ex officio Inspector of the teachers of the township. He is said to have been the first male school teacher in the town, having taught in district No. 2 in the winter of 1842. He afterward taught in the same district in 1845. Always taking a deep interest in schools, he was for many years a Director in the district in which he lived.

C. Shales was born in Luzerne County, Pa., Dec. 7, 1809, a son of John and Mary Shales, his father a native of Germany and his mother of Pennsylvania, of French descent. His father died in 1857, aged eighty-three years, and his mother in 1847, aged sixty-five years. His ancestors were brave soldiers, and the heroes of many hard-fought battles. When fifteen years of age he went into the woolen mills and served as an apprentice six years. He then worked at his trade till 1846, when he came West and landed in McHenry County, 111., Oct. 22. He has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning a fine farm of eighty acres. He helped to build the first railroad in the United States. He was married in 1837 to Eliza Goodwin. They have ten children - Sarah, wife of Henry Keller; Monroe, William, David, John, Yictor P., Emma and Henry. Politically Mr. Shales is a Democrat. He has held several offices of trust, among them Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Highways, Trustee and School Director.

Prof. J. A. Sheldon was born near Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1849, a son of Henry S. and Achsah (Hicks) Sheldon, his father a native of Connecticut, and his mother of Massachusetts. His parents moved to Lake County, 111., in 1854, and to McHenry County in 1860. His father died in Kansas in 1872, aged fifty-six years. He attended the public schools till twenty years of age, and then entered Beloit College, and remained a year. In 1870 he began teaching in the graded schools, and in 1873 was appointed Principal of the Nunda schools. He held this position three years, and then taught in Ridgefield four years. In 1880 again took charge of the Nunda schools; in 1882 was appointed to the same position in McHenry. He was married Oct. 30, 1873, to Effa, daughter of John and Mary Nelson. She was born in Pennsylvania, June 25, 1854, and came with her parents to Illinois in 1856. Politically Mr. Sheldon is a Republican. He has been President of the Village Board several years. He is a member of Nunda Lodge, No. 169, F. & A. M., and Woodstock Chapter, No. 36, E. A. M.

S. S. Shepard was born in Mercer County, Pa., Aug. 7. 1S37, a son of Lyman W. and Mary (Rowley) Shepard, natives of Cattaraugus County, N. Y. His grandfather, Aaron Rowley, served in the Revolution under General Sullivan. After the war he moved to Fulton County, 111., where he died aged nearly 100 years. Lymon Shepard was born July 21, 1796, and was married Feb. 26, 1820, to Mary Rowley. They had a family of ten children - Sarah

James Smith was born in Northern Vermont, Jan. 22, 1813, and when seven years of age went with his father to Canada, remaining there till nineteen years of age. He then went to Franklin County, N. Y., and five years later to Upper Canada. In 1846 he came to Illinois, and located near Crystal Lake, where he lived until 1878, when he moved to Nunda, and has since lived a retired life. He owns a fine farm of 240 acres, in Algonquin Township. His par ents, David and Phema (Sherman) Smith, were natives of Yermont. His mother died in 1819, and his father in 1835. He was married in December, 1842, to Cynthia, daughter of Henry and Permelia Edict, natives of Mexico, Oswego Co., N. Y. They came to Illinois in 1848, and settled in Algonquin Township, where the mother died in 1877, and the father is living, aged ninety-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had but one child, a son, who died in infancy. In politics Mr. Smith is liberal in his views.

Prof. L. L. Smith was born in the village of Brookfield, in the county of Orange, in the State of New York, on the 22d day of May, A. D. 1809. He was the son of Joseph and Sarah (Hallock) Smith, and grandson of Moses and Mary (Yail) Smith and Deacon

John and Mahetable(A]dridge)Hallock. His father was born May 17 1776, and died Nov. 14, 1846. His mother was born Feb. 22, 1779, and died Feb. 18, 1841. He (the Professor) had the advantages of a fair education in early life, both at home and at the University of Mendham, Norris Co., N. J. He commenced the study of medicine under the instructions of Dr. Wm. Newkirk, of Onionville, Orange Co., N. Y., and remained with him nearly one year, after which he engaged his services as druggist's clerk to Dr. Lewis Dunning Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y., at the same time continuing to prosecute the study of medicine. From this place he went to the city of New York, where he continued the study as above under the supervision of Dr. Hiram Upson, for some eighteen months. Suffering from weak eyes, he left the study of medicine and turned his attention to teaching. Having pursued this business, also that of supervising schools for some thirty years, and having succeeded in securing a fair reputation as an educator of some note,advancing from $10 to $80 per mouth, he exchanged the pedagogical rostrum for a more quiet position in his advanced years. In September, 1851, he came to Illinois; settled at Crystal Lake, subsequently residing at Chicago, Kavenswood and Englewood. He was m arried Aug. 27, 1835, to Mary F. Bartlit, daughter of Timothy andHnldah (Flower) Bartlit. She was born June 5, 1817, and died Jan. 4, 1847. To them were born four children ; all died iu infancy or quite young. Names - Dorliska Coralinn, Frances Eudora, Clarence Jerome and Geo. Mortine. July 15, 1847, Prof. Smith married Harriet, daughter of Thomas and Deborah (Smith) Buck, natives of Pennsylvania. She was the granddaughter of Judge Elijah Buck, an eminent jurist in the early days of Pennsylvania. Prof, and Mrs. Smith have had seven children. Only three are living - Thos. B., born May 29, 1848, an engineer in Ohio; Henry O, born March 16, 1851, buyer for Marshall Field & Co., and resident of New York City, married April 5, 1884, to Miss Edith Lowell, daughter of Dr. L. D. Lowell, of Crystal Lake, 111.; Ella, born Dec. 12, 1863. Irene, born Aug. 23, 1853, died Aug. 1, 1854; Gabriella, born Aug. 16, 1855, died March 13, 1856; Myrta May, born Jan. 17, 1857, died Sept. 7, 1860; Adoniram J., born June 13, 1860, died March 3, 1861. Prof. Smith has been a member of the Baptist church over forty years, and has held all the church offices, from Clerk to Deacon. Politically he is a Republican.

parents to Lisle, Broome Co., N. Y. , in the fall of 1817. Was brought up on a farm until he was nineteen years of age, when he bought his time for $100. He then worked on a farm one season for $10 per month, finishing his schooling the following winter, and the next spring went to Binghamton and engaged in the lumbering business. He continued in that business until 1835, then made up his mind to make for himself a home in the Western country. He made a small round trunk (yet in his possession) in which he packed his clothes, and in June of the same year started for Buffalo on the Erie Canal. At that point he took the steamer Daniel Webster, for Detroit . He then strapped his trunk to his back and started on foot to prospect in Michigan for a farm, the oldest settlement having been commenced about three years before. Failing to suit himself after traveling two weeks in that country, he took a schooner at the mouth of the St. Joe Kiver for Chicago, where he landed June 25, 1835, which was then a very small town, and from which there were no roads visible except Indian trails. He bought a pocket compass and was shown a point of timber nine miles distant, called Berry's Point, and was told that he would find a track that would lead to Brush Hill, and from there to Naperville, two small settlements two and three years old. After viewing the country in the vicinity of Fox Elver was well pleased, and made up his mind to stop in this paradise of the West. He was at the " raising" of the first log house in Elgin, built by its founder, James Gifford, who surveyed a line from Chicago to Galena and located Elgin where the line crossed Fox Kiver. He made a claim three miles east of Elgin, on which he built a cabin, fenced in twenty acres, and leased ten acres to be broken and put into wheat that fall. He remained here until December, then went up Fox River prospecting, and stopped in what is now the town of Nunda, in McHenry County, 111., then occupied by Indians, in which township he was the first white settler, having made his claim and settlement on the 10th day of December, 1835, this being three years before the northern counties of Illinois were surveyed by the Government.

In 1836, with Samuel Terwilliger, he broke ten acres on section 1 and built a house on section 6 (afterward occupied by Benjamin McOmber). This was the first ground broken and the first house built in township 44, north of range 8, east of the third principal meridian, in the State of Illinois - now the town of Nunda. Having disposed of his first claim, he has since made Nunda his per- manent home. When the town was first organized he had the honor of being appointed by the court its first Supervisor. He also served as Eoad Commissioner three years, and as School Director sixteen years, and the trust imposed in him was satisfactorily performed. He, with G. L. Beckley and William Holcombe, as School Directors, built the first log school-house in that township on section 18, in 1838, Armenda McOmber being the first teacher. He was married, Oct. 27, 1839, to Miss Sylvea M. Beckley, who was born in Granby, Conn., Feb. 24, 1819, and died Sept. 21, 1879. She, with a resolution born of her ancestors, helped her husband beard the lion in his den in their pioneer settlement, and lived to enjoy some of the fruits of her labor. Their union continued some forty years in which ten loving children were born, of which only three remain to bless his declining years. His second marriage was with Miss Lavina Congdon, Sept. 30, 1881. She was born in Kutland, Vt, March 12, 1812. Whilst yet an infant her parents moved to Broome County, 1ST. Y., where she remained until January, 1854, when she came to Illinois to live with her brother Elias. Then, with him, moved to Bremer County, Iowa, in 1861, and nineteen years later came back to Nunda, 111., where her name was changed to Mrs. Lavina Stickney. Here they now both reside in their pleasant home, with health and freshness in their green old age, surrounded by relatives and friends on this 13th day of November, 1884. Mr. Stickney tells of early experiences in the following:

An Old Pioneer'S Biographical Romance

I in the year eighteen-nine in New Hampshire was born, In seventeen, with my parents, to York State did come ; My noble, brave father, with honors was seen As Captain of cavalry, in the war of thirteen.

Some folks called this town Chenangpoinl at that time, Long back in the ages, in the year twenty-nine, When telephones and railroads were not in our history, And the " raging canal" somewhat of a mystery.

There six years I tarried with varied success, Then a yearning there came for a home in the West ; Then farewells were exchanged with friends that were dear, Then away, far away, to the Western frontier.

With the Indians I squatted and their camp-fires did share, And their true, noble bearing in my heart did inspire A love for their virtues, a curse on their foes, For their inhuman trea ment which the world ready knows.

Three years d d I rough it in this fair Illinois Before it was surveyed by Uncle Sam's boys; My object accomplished, once more must I roam For my Bingham ton lassie to share my new home.

Nine years had now passed since our first happy meeting, And naught had transpired to mar our kind greeting ; She was a star in my sky, that dark clouds now obscured, And a sad disappointment I then there endured.

Their counsel prevailed, with her firm resolution, That no other man should receive her devotion ; The sequel doth show how either waking or sleeping For forty -two years her resolve she's been keeping.

When efforts are futile, disappointment the end, Let fate solve the problem and harmony blend; When the future looks dark, go ahead, never fear, You will surely succeed if you but persevere.

To home friends I came without counting my losses ; T bought a new wagon and a fine span of horses ; For the West then I started, all troubles did wave, For a soil that was free and a home for to save.

[n the arcana of nature there is nothing too late, For a family arrived in the year thirty- ight; A relative and friend soon gave them good quarters, Father, mother, three sons and two lovely daughters.

She was a worthy companion, a dutiful wife, The kindest of mothers, the pride of my life ; There were ten loving children to our fireside came, Seven have passed and the mother, but three yet remain.

They have passed from my sight to that flower fadeless land, Where the powers of the mind shall progress and expand; "Where wisdom etei nal shall hold full control, And love that's supernal shall enter the soul.

With a lingering disease three yeais she did suffer, Whilst help by kind friends oft to us was proffered ; Four decades had passed since our hearts were united, How fate had decreed for a time we be parted.

O'er life's retrospect view many land-marks were noted, And I resolved that one year to reflection be devoted ; Part of that time was spent with my Eastern relations, And part was spent West to gain information.

Of years past and gone my reflections remind me That a change has occurred with the girt left behind me; New marital relations with brother John, the pious, Caused her to come to Illinois to stop with brother Elias.

Now in a negotiation that he thought would well pay His eflects were exchanged for a home in Iowa ; Brother Elias deceased and her nephew got married, In her sixty-eighth year here this lady now tarried.

In the fore part of June, I think 'twas in eighty, Among Iowa friends visited was this elderly lady ; Our meeting was mutual, there was no regret, It being forty-two years since together we'd met.

You would have smiled to have seen two grey heads together Conversing of friends and the change in the weather; I said : In three States you now have resided, And your preference to one I wish now decided."

Then asking her kindly how she liked Illinois, She frankly acknowledged that would be her choice; . Now to make a short story that we all may remember, Our bonds were un ted on the thirtieth of September.

Four years have now passed, with all grades of weather, Since we entered our boat on life's ocean together; Though the waves have been angry, and the sun failed to shine, Yet she has sailed like a feather o'er the billows of time.

Now we've an old-fashioned home in a pleasant location, And lots of kind friends and honored relation ; "We've a park, which an evergreen grove doth incumber, With our rose, mountain ash, and one big oleander;

And a three-foot trunk cottonwood with a swing to its branches, How its wide-spreading foliage our admiration enhances ; Croquet ground, stave hammock and an arbor, rustic-seated, Where we cherish our friends, who with welcome are greeted.

To our relatives East, in the year eighty-four, "We have paid our last visit and viewed past scenes o'er; And those grand, crested hills, and their val eys betwsen, No more wilh these eyes will their beauty be seen.

Samuel Terwilliger was born in Broome County, JST. Y., June 25, 1788, the second of five sons of Barney and Dolly Terwilliger natives of Holland. He was married Aug. 29, 1823, to Laura Chamberlain, who was born March 9, 1805, a daughter of Joseph and Abigail Chamberlain. To them were born seven children - Sarah, born Jan. 7, 1824, died the age of

Mrs. Clark Jacobs, born Aug. 17, 1841. Mrs. Terwilliger died Nov. 4, 1869. Sept. 18, 1879, Mr. Terwilliger married Maggie, daughter of William and Anna Cjnley. Mr. Terwilliger is one of the oldest pioneers of the county, and has lived on his present farm about a half a century. His son Jerome was the first white child born in Nanda Township. He is a Eepublican in politics. Has been a member of the School Board many years.

Anson Thompson was born in Allegany County, N. Y., Dec. 15, 1825, a son of George and Elizabeth (Gearhart) Thompson, his father a native of Vermont and his mother of New York. His grandfather, Aaron Thompson, was of "Welsh descent and moved to Western New York in an early day, where he died about 1829. He reared a family of seven children - Susan, Elizabeth, Jemima, Schuyler, George, Aaron and Moses. The maternal grandfather of our subject, George Gearhart, was a native of the Mohawk Valley, N. Y., and afterward moved to Western New York, where he died in 1846, aged nearly ninety years. He reared a family of twelve children - Diantha, Annie, Betsey E., Polly, Margaret, Sally, Henrietta, Harriet, Emeline, John, Frederick and George. Our subject's parents came West in 1841 and settled near Crystal Lake, 111., where the father died in 1876, aged eighty-two years. His mother is living, aged eighty-five years. They reared a family of nine children - Anson, Edwin, George; William, died in 1871; Adoniram J.; Frederick; Lodema, wife of Franklin Griffing; Martha, wife of Wm. St. Clair; Mary E., wife of Moses Battenshall, of Nebraska. Edwin, George, Adoniram J., and Frederick were heroes of the Rebellion and participated in many of the most prominent battles. Anson Thompson received a fair education and then taught school two winters. In the sprint of 1841 he, with three others, drove a team from Pennsylvania to Crystal Lake. He worked with his father till 1845, and then began farming for himself. He now owns 160 acres of fine land. ^He was married Oct. 13, 1847, to Henrietta, daughter of Phineas and Anna Palmer, her father a native of New York and her mother of Massachusetts. They came to Crystal Lake in 1843. The father died in 1875, aged seventy-four years, and the mother Aug. 6, 1884, aged eighty-five years. Mrs. Thompson was born March 18,' 1829. Politically Mr. Thompson is a National Greenbacker. He has served as Highway Commissioner five years. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church. JohnB. Walkup was born in Greenbrier County, Va., Aug. 11,

1811, a son of Christopher and SabrinaWalkup. He was reared and educated in his native county, and at'ter reaching maturity came West as far as La Porte, Ind., where he taught school two years. He then, in company with several others, came to Illinois and laid a claim in Algonquin Township, but subsequently settled on the farm in the town of Nunda where the family now reside and where he died June 9, 1856. When lie first came to the county he boarded with Mrs. Gilliland, now the oldest settler in the county. He was married Oct. 20, 1840, to Mary J., daughter of Kobert G. and Esther White. To them were born three children - Leonidas W., born May 16, 1842; Eva M., Nov. 17, 1844; and Alfred C, May 18, 1849. Alfred has been for four years a missionary of the Congregational church to the South Sea Islands. Politically Mr. Walkup was a Republican. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Walkup's grandfather, Isaac White, was born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 1, 1757, and Jan. 17, 1782, married Jane Givens, a native of North Carolina, born Jan. 17, 1762. They had a family of seven children - Robert G., born Dec. 29,1782; Peggie, Oct. 15, 1784; Lucy, Oct. 23, 1786; Sarah, April 2, 1789; Polly, Oct. 30, 1791; John, Feb. 19, 1791; Rebecca, July 19, 1796. Robert G. went to Indiana, and thence, in 1818, to Illinois and located in Bond County. In 1836 he came to McHenry County and settled near Marengo, where he died in 1871. Of his six children, four are living - Mary J., born Oct. 18, 1815; John, now in Minnesota; Alfred, of Marengo, and Esther L., wife of William P. Walkup. Isaac and Benjamin are deceased. Charles E. Warner was born in Cheshire County, N. H. Feb. 4, 1812, a son of Jerry and Phosbe (How) Warner, his father a native of New Hampshire born Sept. 22, 1786, and his mother of Vermont, born Feb. 19, 1788. His parents were married in Vermont, and in 1808 moved to Cheshire County, N. H. ; from there in 1818 to Washington County, N. Y., and in 1831 to Erie County, N. Y. In 1836 they moved to Cattaraugus County. N. Y., where the father carried on the wool-carding and cloth-dressing business eleven years. In 1867 they moved to McHenry County, 111., where his mother died May 4, 1868, and his father Jan. 16,, 1873. His paternal grandfather, John Warner, was a native of New Hampshire, of English descent. His maternal grandfather, Nehemiah How, was a veteran of the Revolution, and died in 1829, aged seventy years. "When sixteen years of age our subject began working at the clothier's trade with his father. In 1855 he came to Illinois and located in McHenry County, where he has since resided. In 1869 he built the Hyatt House, Nunda, and ran it four years. He then sold it and bought a farm on which he lived till the spring of 1882, when he moved to the village and retired from the arduous duties of farm life. Mr. Warner was married April 25, 1841, to Martha Johnson, who was born in (Jtica, N. Y., March 24, 1816, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Whitcomb) Johnson. They have three sons - Dwight B., born Aug. 30, 1842; Lnzern E., born March 7, 1846, and Clarence B., born Oct. 5, 1852. Politically Mr. Warner is a Republican. Mrs. Warner's grandfather, Christopher Johnson, was a hero of the Eevolution and died in 1828, aged sixty years. Her parents moved to Illinois, but subsequently went to Rhode Island where her father died in 1860, aged seventy-two years. Her mother died in the fall of 1840.

Dwight B. Warner was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., Aug. 30; 1842, the eldest son of Charles E. Warner, of Nunda Township. His boyhood days were spent on the farm, where he assisted in the work in summer and attended school in the winter. When thirteen years of age his father moved to Illinois and settled two miles east of Nunda. Here he lived till 1862, when, Aug. 14, he enlisted in Company D, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, under Captain Beckley. They first went to Camp Fuller, Rockford, where they were mustered in Sept. 4. From there they went to Cairo, Columbus, Ky., Grand Junction, Tenn., Oxford, Miss., back to Memphis, Tenn., thence down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Yazoo. From there to Lake Providence where they had their first skirmish with the enemy. Here he was detailed with a band of sixty men, thirty in wagons and thirty on mules, to reconnoitre. When they came to the point of acticn every fourth man was detailed to guard the mules and wagons. He was one of four who ran their horses within reach of the enemy's guns before they understood the situation. It was miracle that they were not instantly killed as there were 300 of the enemy. Their companions soon came to the front and the engagement resulted in the capture of twenty-six rebels. Eleven Union men were killed and wounded, and four horses wounded. The Captain, who was known as a Kansas Jayhawker, was killed. From Lake Providence the regiment went to Grand Gulf, Miss.; from there to Jackson and Champion Hills, reaching the latter place just as the battle was over. They then went to Black River, which they were obliged to bridge over; this they did in one night and the next morning proceeded to within three miles of Vicksburg. On the 19th of May they made a charge on Yicksburg, but were repulsed. On the 22d they made another charge and were again repulsed. He was detailed as sharpshooter at Vicksburg and was thus engaged twenty-five days. On the 4th of July Vicksburg was surrendered to the Union forces, and on the 5th the regiment marched into the city with flying colors. From there they went to Natchez, and Oct. 11 returned to Vicksburg, where they camped till the spring of 1864, when they joined the Red Eiver expedition; thence to Memphis; then down White Eiver, and return, and thence across the country to Cape Girardeau, Mo. On the march through the Iron Mountains they were short of rations and lived on pumpkins and popcorn, which made their mouths sore and they could not eat food when able to get it. Rations were bountifully supplied one morning while on the road, and the result was that many fell out of ranks and were four days in completing a journey of seventeen miles. They proceeded to Jefferson City, thence to Sedalia, and from there by rail and boats to Nashville, where they went into camp and built the fortification, and Dec. 15, 16, and 17, participated in the battle. From there they went to Eastport, Miss., where they went into winter quarters and for three weeks lived on corn, and little of that, as a guard was placed to prevent the soldiers from stealing the corn from the mules. From Eastport they again went to Vicksburg; from there to New Orleans, and then to Spanish Fort, where Mr. Warner was again detailed sharpshooter twenty-five days. Thence to Fort Blakely, and on the 25th of April to Greenville. Here the Ninety-fifth took possession of a printing office and published the first paper in the South advocating Northern sentiments. From here they went to Montgomery; thence to Opelika where they celebrated the 4th of July. Then returned to Montgomery, and from there to Vicksburg, St. Louis and Springfield where they were mustered out. After his return home Mr. Warner engaged in farming till October, 1875, when he moved to Nunda and with F. E. Young purchased a stock of hardware. Six months later W. T. Hamilton bought Mr. Young's interest and the firm remained Warner & Hamilton till 1880. Oct. 11, 1875, he was commissioned Postmaster of Nunda; and held the office till 1880. In September, 1880, he united his interests with William Butler in the dry-goods business. They carry a stock of from $6,000 to $8,000, and are the leading mer- chants of the place. Oct. 1, 1865, Mr. "Warner was married to Mary Eliza, daughter of John and Lydia (Butler) Armstrong, who came from Vermont in 1840, and located in Nunda Township. Her father died Oct. 23, 1879, aged sixty-three years. Her mother lives in Nunda, aged sixty-five years. Mr. Warner has four children - Charles E., born Dec. 16, 1867; Olive M., June 30, 1871; Nellie B., Oct. 11, 1875; Lilla B., Oct. 23, 1879, the day Mrs. Warner's father died.

J. 8. Watrous was born in Broome County, N. T., May 4, 1826, a son of William and Eliza (Smith) Watrous, his father a native of Connecticut, born Dec. 31, 1798. His grandfather, James S. Watrous, was of English descent, a native of Connecticut. He died in 1852 aged eighty years. The name was originally spelled Waterhouse. His grandfather, Miles Smith, died in 1851 aged eighty years. William and Eliza Watrous had a family of eight children - Amanda, wife of Franklin Doolittle, of Lincoln County, Kas. ; J. S.; Eliza, wife of Doctor Doolittle, of Woodstock; William M., of Prince William County, Ya. ; Sarah O, wife of D. K. Marsh of Marshfield, Pa.; Charles B., of Marshfield; Emma, died in 1864, aged twenty-four years; Marion, wife of Walter E. Marsh, of Lincoln County, Kas. The father died March 19, 1883, age, eighty-four. The njother is living in Pennsylvania, aged about eighty-three years. J. S. Watrous rceived a good education. After leaving school he followed lumbering fifteen years. In 1869 he came to Illinois and bought 200 acres of land in McHenry County. He was married in 1859 to Kate, daughter of Hiram K. and Sarah (Lewis) Hill. The father died in Minnesota in 1867; the mother in Nunda in 1877, aged seventy-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Watrous have two children - Kate, born Nov. 14, 1860, married Edward A. Murphy, and Sarah E., born Aug. 7, 1864. In his political views Mr Watrous is a Republican. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Watrous's parents had a family of seven children - Sarah, died in infancy; Henry, lives in Dunreith; Horace Abner, in Minnesota; Bayard, died at the age of four years; Kate; Foster L., a member of Company F, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, was killed near Jackson, Miss.; Louisa, wife of James Wilson.

Amos D. Whiting was born in Johnson, Lamoille Co., Vt., July 27, 1824, a son of Zachariah and Lucinda (Dodge) Whiting, his father a native of Connecticut, and his mother of Vermont. His father died in 1862, aged seventy-two years. He was a veteran of the war of 1812. His mother died in 1872, aged seventy-two years. His grandfather, Nathan Whiting, was a native of Connecticut, of Scotch descent. His maternal grandfather was a native of New Hampshire, of English descent, and the father of seven children - Daniel, Amos, Jonathan, Solomon, Lucinda, Sarah and worked by the month for J. W. Smith a year and a half. He then ran a peddler's wagon till the spring of 1850, when, in company with J. W. Smith, Joshua Chase and Thomas Heath, he started for California, reaching the end of their journey the first of August. Mr. Whiting remained in California nearly ten years, working in the mines, running a hotel, and carrying on a mercantile business. He finally lost his hotel, which cost him $8,000, and then returned to Illinois, and settled in McHenry, remaining there four or five years, when he bought the farm of 280 acres where he now lives. Mr. Whiting was married March 21, 1860, to Lois, daughter of George and Achsah Bassett, natives of Lamoille County, Vt., where the mother died in 1871, aged fifty years, and the father in 1877, aged sixty-two years. Mrs. Whiting was born Nov. 10, 1843. To Mr. and Mrs. Whiting have been born five children - Cynthia, William E., Belle, Lois and Lizzie. Politically Mr. Whiting is a Democrat. He has been an influential man in the township, and has held several of its offices.

W. E. Willard was born in Sherbrooke, Canada East, March 3, 1819, and died in McHenry County, III., June 19, 1881. He was a son of William E. and Elinor M. Willard, natives of Vermont, his father born July 23, 1775, and his mother April 17, 1787. When fifteen years of age he came to Illinois, and lived in Kane County till 1845. He then moved to McHenry County, and made Nunda Township his home till his death. He was a successful farmer and stock-raiser, and owned 360 acres of fine land, well stocked with the best grades. He made a specialty of Morgan horses and cattle, and carried on a large dairy business; He was married Nov. 7, 1840, to Mary, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Sager) Wilde. To them were born four children - Charles M., born April 11, 1843; Caroline A., born Dec. 27, 1850, now Mrs. Thomas Grantham ; Lydia M., born Jan. 11, 1859, and Ellen M., born Sept. 27, 1861. Politically Mr. Willard was a Democrat. He was a prominent man of the township, and held several offices of trust. He was one of the charter members of the Masonic lodge in Nunda. Mrs. Willard's parents were natives of Lan- cashire, England, her father born March 2, 1795, and her mother March 31, 1789. They came with their family to America in 1826, and settled in Providence, R. I. ; subsequently moved to Taunton, Mass., where her mother died Jan. 1, 1831. Her father afterward married again, and moved to Putnam County, 111., and died there Nov. 16, 1837. To the first marriage was born a family of eight children - John, born Sept. 20, 1818; Edward, born Feb. 10, 1820; Mary (Mrs. Willard), born Nov. 24, 1821; Sager, born July 13, 1823 ; Thomas, born Feb. 15, 1825; Betsey L., born .Nov. 25, 1826, Sara A., born June 8, 1829. To the second marriage three children were born - Benjamin F., born May 24, 1835; Abbie C, born July 2, 1837, and Joseph W., Dec. 24, 1839.

0. Willey was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Jan. 25, 1808, a son of Eleazer and Wealthy Willey, natives of New York. His father died in 1833, and his mother a few years later. In 1833 he came West, and in 1834 went to Chicago and remained till 1835. He then went to De Kalb County, and took up a claim. In 1836 he moved to Lake County and took up a claim, and remained eight years. In 1844 he moved to McHenry County, and bought 140 acres of land in Nunda Township, eighty acres of it from the daughter of Elijah and Rachel White, and widow of Alexander Martin. They have six children - Almira, wife of G. S. Beach; Arminta, wife of William Gibbens; Maria, wife of Alonzo Parish; Charles, in California; Henry, on the home farm, and Lewis, in Kansas. Mrs. Willey had three children by her first marriage - John, died in April, 1858; William died in 1872, and Mary is the wife of Theodore Jones, of California. Politically Mr. Willey is a Republican.

Source changes here: from History of McHenry County, Illinois, published 1922; 1,114 words in this source stream.

Nunda Township

Nunda Township comprises congressional township 44. range 8 and one third of range 9. It is bounded on the north by McHenry Township ; on the east by Lake County ; on the south by Algonquin Township ; on the west by Door Township. This subdivision of McHenry County is among the finest agricultural sections of the northern portion of Illinois. Dairying is now the chief industry of the farms. The Fox River courses through the township. As originally known Lilly and Clear Lakes were in the center of its territory, but these lakes are gradually disappearing. Ilanley's Creek crosses the northern portion, and Stiekney's Run, with lesser streams make Nunda one of the best watered in MeHenrv County.

Origin Of Name

For a short period after Nunda Township was settled, it was known as Brooklyn, it being so named by "William and C. Goff. But when a post office was petitioned for, it was discovered that another Brooklyn was already in existence in Illinois. A public meeting was called, and the name was changed to Nunda in honor of the birthplace of Col. William Huffman, a leading man in the community, who was born in Nunda, N. Y.

Early Settlers

The first white man to invade the confines of what is now Nunda Township was George Stickney, who came in December, 1835, locating on section 6, where he erected the first house in the township. This primitive cabin contained no iron of any description, wooden pegs being used instead of nails. Benjamin McOmber, who arrived a short time after Mr. Stickney, lived in his log house. Samuel Terwilliger, came in June, 1836 and was the third settler. Cameron Goff was the fourth, and he arrived in October, 1837.

Prior to 1840 these made Nunda their permanent settlement : George T. Beckley, Abram Vincent, De Witt Brady, Joseph Walkup, Charles Patterson and his four sons, William Huffman and his four sons, Win. St. Clair, Fred Bryant, J. Gracy, G. A. Palmer, John Fitzsimmons, J. E. Beckley, A. Colby, D. Ellsworth and W. Musgrave.

Pioneer Events

John Terwilliger, son of Samuel Terwilliger and wife, was the first white child born in Nunda Township. He lived on the same farm on which he was born, until he passed from earth in 1876.

An infant son of the Terwilligers was the first child to die in the township. His remains were laid away in the Holcombville burying ground.

In 1845 James and Samuel McMillen erected a saw-mill on section 22, which was the first in the township. After 1863, at considerable expense it was fitted over into a grist-mill and as such used many years. A carding-mill was constructed there in 1846, bj- Mr. Truesdell, but two years later it was abandoned as it would not pay. The first real grist-mill was built at Barryville by T. J. Ferguson, at a cost of $6,000; this was used many years. McHenry Count}' paid the large sum of $15 for every wolf scalp which was taken within the limits of the county. This custom obtained until 1850. It is related that certain hunters of Nunda Township distinguished themselves by capturing cubs and caring for them until they were six months old, at which time they killed and scalped them, and then claimed the bounty.

Old Village Op Nunda

What is now within the incorporation of the city of Crystal Lake, but was originally known as the village of Nunda, was platted in August, 1868. It was situated on section 32, township 44, range 8. A man named Reed conducted a general store there as early as 1855. The first depot for the railroad at tliis point (Chicago & Northwestern system now) was shipped out from Chicago on flat cars. That was in 1856. It was set down carefully, just where the old Fox River Valley crossed the "Northwestern.-" Then, Xunda the village had not even been thought of. This station house was for the accommodation of the workmen, and being fearful of the high winds, it was staked down to the right-of-way. Finally Nunda sprung up and flourished under that name many years, and was finally incorporated as a village, but with the several Crystal Lake corporations it was decided at an election not long since that Nunda should be merged with the Crystal Lake villages, and so it is today.

This was the name given to a eolleetion of houses or hamlet in this township. Thomas Combs built a store there, and about it grew the small place. A mill was built in 1857 and carried on successfully by its proprietor, Mr. Ferguson, until his death in 1865. Patterson Bros, owned the mill later, and still later it was owned by Messrs. McCord and J. F. Thompson. It was finally owned by Louis Munch, who in 1884 remodeled it and made "'patent flour" there.

In 1854 a post office was established on Silver Lake Prairie, and the first postmaster was Russell Stanton. About 1864 the offiee was moved to Barreville, with Fred Bryant as postmaster.

The early business and professional men of Nunda included the following: Crystal Lake Pickling and Canning Co., G. H. Clayson, Nunda Flour Mills, Gilbert & St. Clair, E. Beckley, J. Goodwin. Philip Roberts. J. A. Sheldon, Piatt & Pinney, C. II. Stone, Smith Bros., Dr. George Horn, G. E. Dickinson, M. M. Hulburt, W. T. Hamilton, Ilartman & Barnes. Edgar Beckley & Son, A. M. Clark, D. W. Wattlers, P. W. Stark, 0. C. Colby, J. X. Powell, P. A. England, D. Williams, J. F. Whefiton & Son., Dr. E. Ballou, Dr. C. C. Watson, and Robert Rowley.

The history of the village corporation is included in that of Crystal Lake and will be found in the township history of Algonquin. Of the post offiee, it may be stated in this connection that one was established at Nunda Center about three miles north of the village, and James Mc- Millen was the postmaster. The office was moved to the village in 1855, and called Dearborn, but the name was later changed to Nunda.

Terra Cotta

Terra Cotta, a station (in the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, located on section 21 of Nunda Township, is home of the third largest terra cotta plant in the United States. This plant is the principal interest of the settlement, employment here being given to an average of 300 people. An account of this industry and the American Terra Cotta and Ceramic Company, is given in the chapter on Railroads and Industrial Enterprises.

Population

The following are the township officials of Nunda Township : Supervisor, A. H. Hale; assessor, George L. Bryant; clerk, H. A. Rowley; highway commissioner, John Pierson : justice of the peace, P. F. Hunt ; constable, George J. Chlert.