Riley Township

Riley Township

The first settler of this township was Whitman Cobb, who came from New York and located here in 1836, where he remained till about the year 1874, when he moved to Warren and engaged in the grain business. At the expiration of three years he returned to Riley Township, where he died soon afterward. In 1837 Charles Knapp settled in Riley. He came from Pennsylvania, and after making his home in this township moved to Wisconsin where he died in 1882. An old gentleman by the name off Samuel Smith settled in this township in 1837. In 1838 Rassel Bailey came from New York and settled in Riley. About the same time came Roswell Bates, N. E. Barnes, Jenkins and Osborn Underwood.

Location

This is the extreme southwestern township in the county, being joined on the west by Boone County, on the south by Kane County, on the east by Coral Township, and on the north by Marengo. It is township 43, range 6.

Description

This township is almost exclusively prairie land, which renders it one the finest agricultural towns in the county. Here you will find some of the finest residences in the county. The farms are large and under a high state of cultivation. The township is without a village, but it is situated so near Marengo that a trading point within the limits of the township is not at all necessary. In early times a store was kept in the township for a short time, which was its first and last public trading point. 58 (923) and its two branches are the only water courses in the township, which render this one of the most sparsely watered townships of the county. The two branches of this stream unite near the town house, on section 22, and flowing in a northwest direction, passes out of the township into Boone County, on section 5.

First Events

The first marriage ceremony in the township was performed Aug. 19, 1841, by Ward Burley, a Justice of the Peace, uniting Spencer Flanders and Caroline E. Cobb.

School Statistics

The following statistics show that the educational interests of Riley have advanced with her other interests in a decree highly creditable to her citizens. The township contains eight school-houses, whose value is estimated at $4,300. One thousand six hundred and eighty-four dollars is annually paid her teachers, and there are in the township 225 children of a school age.

The first man who ever located in this township for the purpose of caring for the sick was Dr. Albert E. Smith, who came in 1837 and remained several years. He was followed by Dr. John Woodworth, who came in 1865, and practiced till his death, which occurred in 1878.

The first cemetery in the township was laid out in an early day, near the center of the township. After the Methodist church was built, near the line, a small burying ground was laid out adjacent to it.

Stock And Dairy Business

These industries, of late years, have attracted not only the attention ot the farmers in Riley, but their capital as well While many cattle are raised and fattened for the market, the dairy business is carried on quite extensively and successfully.

The first township election was held in a school-house in District No. 5, the second day of April,- 1850. The Moderator of this meeting was W. O. Nichols, and the Clerk was Enoch Babcock The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Ira E Searles, Supervisor; E. Babcock, Town Clerk; N. E. Barnes Assessor; A. P. Smith, Collector; J. L. Jenkins, Overseer of the Poor; Jesse Fellows and F. C. Griffith, Justices of the Peace; A. P. Smith and Daniel Richardson, Constables; King Henry and T. J. Dewey and Joseph Patterson, Commissioners of Highways' At this election a tax of only $50 was voted for school purposes.

The present officers are: John Hodsell, Supervisor; Jones M Clapp, Town Clerk; P S. Griffith, Assessor; C. W. Mallory, Collector; Win. B. Mallory, F. G. Hackley and J. Hodsell, Trustees of Schools; John Bratzman, Treasurer of Schools; Richard Dal by, A. H. Sears and Isaac Buck, Commissioners of Highways; O. J. Searles and F. G. Hackley, Justices of Peace; J M. Powers and Curtis Mackey, Constables; M. H. Underwood, Commissioner of Canada Thistles.

Biographical

John Brotzman, one of the most prominent citizens of Riley Township, was born in Geauga County, Ohio, Feb. 15, 1835, a son of Abraham and Phoebe (Colman) Brotzman, natives of Pennsylvania, who in early life moved to Ohio where the father died in 1880, aged seventy-six years, and the mother still lives, aged seventy-eight years. Our subject remained with his parents till manhood. He received a good education, and after coming to Illinois taught school several winter terms. He came to Mc- Henry County in 1856, and located in Huntley, where he worked on the farm during the summer months till after the breaking out of the civil war. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifty- second Illinois Infantry, but his company was afterward detached from the regiment and assigned to the Fifteenth Cavalry. He served three years and a month, and Dec. 24, 1864, was discharged. He remained in Huntley till 1869, when he bought the farm in Eiley Township where he now lives. He owns 164 acres of choice land, all well improved. He was married Dec. 2, 1865, to Libbie Meloin, a native of New York, and a daughter of W. H. and Nellie (St. John) Meloin. To them were born two children - Horace A. and Elizabeth Aseneth. Mrs. Brotzman died Sept. 30, 1873, aged twenty-seven years. Politically Mr. Brotzman is a Republican. He has held the office of Township Trustee many years.

P. S. Griffith was born on the Western Eeserve, Ohio, Oct. 20, 1832, the second son of Clemmer and Ann (Hewit) Griffith. His father died in 1838, leaving eleven children, the eldest son nineteen years old. In 1842 F. C. Griffith (the eldest son of the family) came to Illinois and in 1844 the mother sold her property in Ohio and came with her family to Illinois and bought a farm in Riley Township, McHenry County. F. C. subsequently married and moved to Oregon where he died. When our subject was nineteen years of age he assumed the care of the farm, and managed it for his mother till her death in 1883. He has been a successful financier and now owns 276 acres of fine land. He has served in many of the local offices of the township with efficiency. He was married in October, 1856, to Aseneth, daughter of Josiah and Mary St. John. They have four children - Kate S., Flora A., Cora W., and Mary I. Mr. Griffith is a member of Marengo Lodge, No. 138, F. & A. M., and Lancing Chapter, No. 73, R. A. M. Politically he is a Democrat.

Elihu G. Hackley was born in Herkimer, N. Y., in 1S18, the fourth son of Philo M. and Almira (Griswold) Hackley, natives of Connecticut, his father, Philo M. Hackley, born in 1776, son of Aaron Hackley, his mother, Almira Griswold, born in 1784, daughter of Elihu Griswold. When twelve years of age Mr. Hackley began clerking in a mercantile store. In 1837 he went to Allegan, Mich, and engaged in the mercantile business and at the same time carried on a farm. In the winter of 1858 he moved to Illinois, upon which an Allegan paper of that date says: "The removal causes almost universal regret, and a void will be felt in our various circles for a long time. The Agricultural Society has lost one of its best supporters. Our schools of learning will miss a faithful patron; the social gatherings will look for faces long familiar and loved. One of the churches in our village has lost the counsels and aid of one of its officers, and several of its members who have long stood as pillars adorning their profession. Mr. Hackley takes up his residence in Marengo, McHenry Co., 111., and engages in the mercantile business, which has occupied a portion of his time and talents in Allegan." He became a popular citizen of Marengo; was President of the town at one time. In 1870 he moved to the farm in Kiley Township, known as the "Hackley and Rockwood farm" where he now resides. Mr. Hackley was married Nov. 13, 1841, to Mrs Elizabeth L. Hyde, daughter of Rev. D. C. Lansing (a prominent clergyman in the early days of New York). Three children were born to them - Laura W. (wife of W. H. Rockwood of Chicago), Frank Griswold Hackley, and Elizabeth H. (wife of W. G. Hastings of "Wilber, Neb). Mr. and Mrs. Hackley are members of the Presbyterian church. Politically a Republican. Member of Marengo Lodo'e, 138, F. &. A. M.

Frank Griswold Hackley was born in Allegan, Mich., July 24, 1846, son of Elihu G. and Elizabeth L. Hackley. He remained with his parents until he was seventeen years of age, receiving a good education in the public schools of Allegan, Mich., and Marengo, 111. He then returned to his native town, engaging as a clerk in the dry-goods store of Mr. T. C. Jenner (his father's former partner) remaining over three years. In 1870 he commenced farming, making stock feeding a specialty, subsequently engaged in stock-raising and dairying. His farm in Riley Township consists of 260 acres of well-improved land, has been successfully under-drained and has under cultivation sixty acres of wet land, having used several miles of tile in the process. Commodious buildings with all modern appliances for convenience and speed in farm work. Mr. Hackley was married Sept. 6, 1871, to E. Frances, daughter of Dr. O. D. and Caroline A. (Greene) Hamilton, of Rochester, N. Y. Is a member of the A. 0. U. W. and Select Knights faternities. Politically a Republican. Is serving his seventh year as Justice of the Peace.

Edwin Hbdsell, farmer and stock-raiser, Riley Township, was born in Luzerne County, Pa., March 4, 1816, a son of Amos Hodsell, an early settler of Pennsylvania. He was reared in his native county, and in the spring of 1846 moved to McHenry County, 111., and settled in Riley Township. He entered forty acres of land and the following year bought forty acres. Two years later he bought forty acres more, at $1.25 an acre. He was one of the first settlers of the township, and was obliged to undergo many 'hardships, but was persevering and ambitious, and success crowned his efforts. He added to his farm from time to time till he now owns 360 acres of fine land. He was married in 1841, to Lydia Dilly, a most estimable woman who shared all his privations and assisted hira in building up his frontier home. She died Sept. 8, 1877. They had a family of eleven children; eight are living - Mira, George, John, Charles, James, Elinor, Rose and Lena. Millie, David and Ella are deceased. Politically Mr. Hodsell is a Democrat. He has been one of the most influential men of the township, and is ever ready to assist any laudable enterprise.

Gilbert Metcalf was born in Geauga County, Ohio, April 3, 1829, a son of Joseph and Amanda (Stevenson) Metcalf. In 1848 he came with his parents to Illinois and settled in Riley Township, McHenry County. He helped his father on the farm till 1854, and then bought the farm where he now resides which he has improved and on which he now has good farm buildings. He owns 100 acres of land, but now makes a specialty of stock-raising. Mr. Metcalf was married in 1855 to Louise Hotchkiss who came from New York to McHenry County in 1854. They had one child who died when six years of age. Mrs. Metcalf died in 1875. In 1880 Mr. Metcalf married Emma Bowley, a native of New York. Politically Mr. Metcalf is a Republican.

M. S. Metcalf, farmer and dairyman, is a native of Geauga County, Ohio, born in 1829, a son of Joseph and Hannah (Stevens) Metcalf, his father a native of Connecticut, and his mother of Ohio. In 1845 he came with his parents to Illinois, and settled in Riley Township, McHenry Couunty, where his father died in 1846. His mother afterward went to Iowa, and spent the rest of her life with a son. In 1852 M. B. Metcalf went to California and remained six years. He first engaged in mining, and then ran a cattle ranch. He was successful financially, and after his return home loaned money for two years or more. In 1867 he bought the farm where he now lives which contained 200 acres to which he has since added sixty-nine acres. He has one of the best residences in the township, and his farm buildings are commodious. Mr. Metcalf was married in June, 1859, to Susan W., daughter of William H. Rockwood who came from New York to Illinois in 1855. They have had eight children; but three are living - George A., Walter B., and Ralph

W. E. Winthrop, Charles E., Edith M. and two infant sons are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf are members of the Presbyterian church, Mr. M. a Ruling Elder. Politically he is a Republican He has held many offices of trust in the township, has held the office of Trustee of the Pleasant Grove Batter and Cheese Factory over six years.

Josiah St. John, deceased, was born in 1806, in Chautauqua County, N. Y. He grew to manhood in his native county, and there married Mary Adams, a descendant of the old Puritan family. He subsequently moved to Canada, and in 1847 came to Illinois and settled in Boone County. In 1852 he moved to McHenry County, and bought the Bates farm, one of the first farms of Riley Township, where he lived till his death. He was a prominent and influential man of the township, and had many friends. He died in 1874, and his wife in 1875. They had a family of eleven children, three born in New York, five in Canada, and three in Illinois. Six are living. They are members of the Congregational church. Politically Mr. St. John was a Republican. He was a member of Marengo Lodge, No. 138, F. & A. M.

Jacob Talbot, farmer and stock-raiser, is one of the earliest settlers of McHenry County, lie was born in Otsego County, N. Y., March 27, 1818, a son of Isaac and Rachel (Colgrove) Talbot, early settlers of New York. When eighteen years of age he besran life for himself and worked by the month for farmers seven years. He was married Oct.9, 1843, to Ruth P. Cole, a native of New York, daughter of Arnold and Ruth (Hopkins) Cole, natives of Rhode Island, but early settlers of New York. Immediately after his marriage he came West and entered eighty acres, and bought eighty acres of land in Dunham Township, McHenry Co., 111. They passed through all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, but were industrious and soon had their farm under good cultivation. In 1852 they sold their farm and moved to Marengo Township where they lived eleven years, and in 1863 moved to what is now known as the Hutchinson place. He dealt extensively in stock till 1873 when he moved to their present farm. In 1875 they moved to the village, although they have not entirely given up the care of the farm. They have had a family of five children - Amanda, wife of Morris Sutherland; Mary Ann, wife of J. T. Belden; Lane, wife of Judge C. A. Allen; George J., died in infancy; Charles H, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot are members of the Baptist church.