Rivoli Township (part 5 of 5)

There are other lines of projected railroads, the routes of which touch the territory of Henderson county, none of which, at the present time, give promise of an early completion. The Peoria, Farmington & Keithsburg road, running by way of Monmouth, touches the northeastern part of the county. This road is completed and running cars from Peoria to Farmingtom. Much grading has been done in Mercer county, from Keithsburg, eastward, and along the line much money has been expended, but work has ceased on the west portion of the line, and there seems at present no indication of an early completion of the road. Two other lines of railroad are projected, running thi'ough the county from east to west, pointing to the Burlington bridge, but whether these paper enterprises are merely speculative or not, there is no visible indications of active work upon them at the present time. These enterprises probably are only speculative.*

In 1844, for the first time, Henderson county appears in districting the states into senatorial and representative districts. At this apportionment of the general assembly, Warren, McDonough and Henderson counties composed a senatorial district, and William McMillan, of

Henderson county, was elected senator. In the same year Henderson and Warren counties composed a representative district, and William D. Henderson was elected representative. In the general assembly of 1846-8, William McMillam still held the office of senator, and John Ourts, of Henderson county, was elected representative. The constitutional convention of 1848 made the counties of Hancock and Henderson a senatorial district, and Azro Patterson, of Henderson county, was elected senator. At the same time the counties of Warren, Mercer and Henderson became a representative district and entitled to two representatives, and Abner C. Harding, of Warren, and Gilbert Turnbull, of Henderson, were elected rej^resentatives. In 1850 Jacob C. Davis, of Hancock county, was elected senator, and Thomas Willits, of Mercer county, and Azro Patterson, of Henderson county, were elected representatives. In 1852 J. C. Davis still held the office of senator, and Samuel Darnell, of Henderson county, and Eleazer A. Paine, of Warren county, were elected representfatives. In 1854 J. C. Davis still held the office of senator, and William C. Rice was elected representative. In 1856 Gen. Hiram Pose, of Henderson county, was elected senator, and A. V. T. Gilbert, of Warren county, represented the district composed of Warren and Henderson counties. In 1858 John P. Pichmond, of Schuyler county, was elected senator of the district to which Henderson county belonged, and William C. Pice, of Henderson county, was elected representative. In 1860 John P. Richmond still held the office of senator, and William C. Maley, of Warren|county, was elected representative. In 1862 Henry K. Peffer, of Warren county, and Thomas B. Cabeen, of Mercer county, were elected representatives from the Henderson representative district. In 1864 James Strain, of Warren county, was elected senator, and Jonathan Simpson, of Henderson county, was elected representative. In 1866 James Strain still held his seat in the senate, and Francis M. Bruner, of Warren county, was elected representative. In 1868 Isaac McManus, of Mercer countv, was elected senator from the Henderson senatorial district, and David M. Findley, of Henderson county, was elected representative. In 1870 Harvey S. Senter, of Mercer county, was elected senator from the same district, and William A. M. Crunch was elected representative. In 1870, by the adoption of the new constitution framed by the convention of that year, the state was divided into fifty-one senatorial districts, each electing one senator, and each senatorial district constituting a re])resentative district, entitled to three representatives to the lower house of the general assembly.

assembly, in pursuance of this constitutional authority, the counties of Henderson and Hancock became one senatorial and representative district, entitled to one senator and three representatives. In 1872' Benjamin Warren, of Hancock county, was elected senator, and Da%'id Rankin and William Scott, of Henderson county, and Edward E. Lane, of Hancock county, were elected representatives. In 1874 Benjamin Warren still held the office of senator, and David Rankin and Paul D. Salter, of Henderson county, and Wellington Jenney, of Hancock county, were representatives in the lower house. In 1876 William Scott, of Henderson county, was chosen senator, and Charles F. Gill, George F. Walker, and John J. Reyburn, of Hancock county, were elected representatives. In 1878 William Scott held over as senator, and Thomas B. Brumbrack, John J, Reyburn and Brooks R. Hamilton were elected representatives. In 1880 John Fletcher, of Hancock county, was elected senator, and James Peterson, Robert A. McKinley and Henry M. Whiteman, of Henderson county, were chosen representatives.

Constitutional Conventions Of The State Of Illinois

The first constitutional convention that ever assembled in Illinois, was convened at Kaskaskia, in July, 1818. It remained in session until August 30, 1818. This convention was composed of thirty-three delegates, and adopted a constitution which the convention did not see fit to submit to a vote of the people. This constitution was ratified by congress December 3, 1818. In 1847 a second constitutional convention convened in this state. It assembled on June 7, 1847, and adjourned August 31, 1847. It was composed of 162 delegates. The convention adopted and submitted a constitution to a vote of the people, who ratified it on March 6, 1848. Abner C. HaMing, of Warren county, was the delegate chosen from the district composed of AYarren and Henderson counties. The next constitutional convention that convened in this state assembled at Springfield, January 7, 1862, and continued in session until March 24, 1862. It adopted a constitution and submitted it to the people for ratification or rejection, on the Tuesday after the third Monday in June, 1862. The people, by a decided majority, rejected the constitution thus submitted. The rejection of this constitution did not result so much from any real defects in the provisions of the constitution thus submitted, as from other causes combined. It will be seen by the date of the assembling of this convention, that it was during the second year of the war of the rebellion. Psission and prejudice held at that time high carnival. A war of gigantic proportions confronted the northern states. The federal government waa menaced as never before had it been menaced. Many saw in the dire calamity of war only ruin to our whole country. Vast armies were being raised and concentrated at different points, preparatary to being sent forward to meet the advancing foe.

While the heart of the great mass of the people, without regard to party lines, beat true to the lawfully-authorized government and the old liag, there was a small number of malcontents to create alarm. They made up by their clamor in caucuses, conventions, and secret organizations, what they lacked in numbers. No doubt the representations of their actings and doings in the North to some extent encouraged the rebels of the South. It was at such a time that this convention assembled. Some of the early acts of this body, although perhaps springing from honest and patriotic motives, caused alarm in the public mind, already aroused and inclined to suspect danger in every unusual movement, and especially in a body so potent for evil as was this convention. The majority of the members of the convention assumed that upon its organization it was no longer bound by any legislative enactments, but was sovereign in the exercise of supreme power of the state ; that it was virtually an assemblage of the people, with foil and necessary power for a peaceable revolution of the government of the state. The law authorizing the calling of the convention prescribed the oath for members to take : to support the constitution of the state. This a majority of the convention refused to do, holding it to be inconsistent to take an oath to support a constitution that they were about to do away with. It was claimed tliat the convention had the right to declare itself permanent and exercise all the power of the people of the state. The debates upon these subjects created in the minds of a large portion of the people distrust and alarm. The convention lost the confidence and moral support of the people, and a powerful o])position was organized to wdiatever the convention might do. The final work of this body was much superior to what the people had been led by the debates to believe it would be; in fact, the constitution by them adopted, and submitted to the people for their ratification, was of high character as an organic law ; but such was the prejudice that had been engendered against the convention, and such was the party spirit which had been aroused, that tlie people refused to look at the merits of the instrument, and the constitution thus submitted was defeated by a large majority. In this connection a fact should be rec<jrded. The clause of the constitution, pojjularly known as the ''black laws," which forbid the settlement of negroes in this state, and which was submitted as a separate article, was ratified by the people of the state by about 100,000, although the constitution was defeated; but by a provision of tlie schedule in such contingency, the separate article became inoperative. Henderson county ratified the separate article, but rejected the constitution. Public sentiment changed radically since the vote upon that occasion. At the date of the election of delegates to this convention, Warren and Henderson counties composed one district, and Jonathan Simpson, of Henderson, was elected delegate. In 1869 another constitutional convention convened at Springfield. It assembled December 13, 1869, and closed its labors and adjourned May 18, 1870. It was composed of eighty-five members. It adopted a constitution and submitted it to the people for ratification July 2, 1870. It was ratified by a large majority. Mercer and Henderson counties constituted one district, and James S. Poage, of Mercer county, was elected delegate.

There have been in this county several efforts made to remove the county seat from Oquawka to some more central point in the county. The first of these efforts was made in 1859. At the session of the general assembly of that year an enabling act was passed, authorizing a vote to be taken upon the question of removing the seat of justice to the town of Warren, twelve miles south of Oquawka, and not far from what was claimed to be the geographical center of the county. The election was held in November of that year, and resulted in a majority adverse to removal.

In 1865 the general assembly again passed an act authorizing an election to be held upon the question of removing the seat of justice to the town of Sagetown (now Gladstone), five miles south of Oquawka. The election was held in November of that year and resulted in a majority against removal of 114.

In 1869 an election was again held to vote upon the question of removal to the town of Biggsville, a town on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, about ten miles south and east of Oquawka. The majority in this case was also against removal.

In 1872 the question was again submitted to the vote of the electors of the county of removal to Sagetown, but the people again decided, by a majority of 170, against removal. At the present time the legal steps have been taken to obtain again the sense of the people of the county upon the question of removal, but the point to be submitted for the decision of the legal voters of the county has not yet been fixed upon. The towns of Biggsville and Gladstone are each circulating petitions for signatures of the voters, which will be presented to the county court i^ September next, when the question will bo

The Poor Farm, 911

Many who reside in the southern portion of the county feel it to be a hardship to have to travel so far to the seat of justice. It is true that the distance to be traveled would be more in accordance with equity if the county seat was more centrally located. Oquawka, the present county seat, is situated within nine miles of the northern boundary of the county ; the county being thirty miles in length from north to south. If a geographical center was sought, it would be found to be a little north of the town of Olena, near the residence of Isaiah J. Brook and the farm of John N. Bruin, in township 10 north, range 5 west. The main objection urged to the removal is the burden of taxation that would be laid upon the county in the erection of county buildings, court house, jail, etc.

The Poor Farm

In September, 1855, the authorities of the county purchased of George Cronover the N. W. I of- Sec. 26, T. 11 N., R. 5 W., for the purpose of providing a place for all county paupers. It is situated about two miles from the county seat, on Henderson creek. Upon this farm the county erected commodious buildings for the accommodation of the unfortunates from time to time demanding public charity. The farm has been well improved, and has proved upon the whole an economical plan for caring for the poor of the county.

In erecting the buildings, the basement of the larger building was constructed into cells for the safe-keeping of such as might, while there sojourning, need restraint or confinement. Such at least was the pretext at the time. In 1859 we find, however, an act passed by the general assembly authorizing the use of the said basement as a common jail of the county. As a jail the location has been found both insecure and expensive. Situated in a secluded spot, far away from help in case of need, this jail has proved anything but a safe deposit for persons charged with crime, while waiting trial or transportation to Joliet after conviction. Many have been the escapes from this so-called prison, many have been the expensive pursuits, followed by few captures. In this jail the noted William Lee was confined prior to his trial, conviction, and execution on the gallows in 1876 for the murder of Jessie McCarty, -which event is described more in detail further on in these pages under the head of noted criminal trials.

One of these periodical jail deliveries occurred in the summer of 1880, and created for a time a sensation in the county. Confined at that time in the jail were some ten prisoners, charged with various offenses, awaiting trial. Most noted among tliese prisoners were Martin J. Hall and Frank Peasly, under several indictments charging them with burglary and other crimes. Less than two months before the August term of the circuit court, when their cases would stand for trial, Peasley and Hall laid a plan for escape. They succeeded in obtaining from some of the paupers, who had access to the outside of the windows of the prison, two table knives. With these they constructed tiles, which they used successfully in sawing off the hinges of the heavy iron doors which secure the entrance to the cells, and on one Sunday, when the guard was small and unsuspicious of danger, they removed one of these iron doors, weighing 500 pounds, and by the joint action of all the prisoners they were enabled to use it as a battering ram, with such success that they broke down the door of the jail leading to the house, and through this escaped, and thus left the jail vacant.

Those on guard resisted to the extent of their power, but against such force of desperate men they were powerless. The prisoners scattered in different directions along the timber that skirts the banks of Henderson creek. Alarm was not long in reaching the county seat, when a vigorous pursuit was begun. Men on horseback, in wagons, on foot, armed with rifles, guns and revolvers, scattered in' every direction, and continued the pursuit until night set in and darkness and storms precluded further search. Before night, however, a portion of the gang had been captured and returned to their old quarters. The ringleaders in the breaking eluded pursuit. The next day one or two more were captured in Warren county and sent back.

The sheriff. J. Oscar Anderson, with his deputy, Truman G. Allen, showed themselves on this occasion to be able and efficient officers. They were in no wise at fault on account of the escape, but set themselves to the task of capturing the fugitives with commendable zeal. Three of the prisoners were still at large, one of whom was not an important one, but Hall and Peasley were the ones that the people were anxious should be captured and brought to trial. They had been a source of trouble to the people, who felt that ttiey could rest more securely as to their property if Hall and Peasley were securely behind the bars. A systematic search was kept up by our sheriff, who was leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of the prisoners. For a. long time no clew to their whereabouts was obtained, until at last Mr. Anderson, through his correspondents, learned that his men were in Nebraska. He at once started for that state, found and captured his men, and returned them safely to our county jail.

Source changes here: from Past and Present of Mercer County, Illinois, by Bassett, Isaac Newton, published 1914; 3,512 words in this source stream.

Rivoli Township

Rivoli Township has an excellent soil and is well drained, without any abrupt valleys or high hills. The south central part is drained by North Pope Creek and the extreme southern part by Pope Creek itself. This township has valuable coal deposits which have been worked to a considerable extent from an early date. In the end this will be a source of great wealth to the owners of the soil. Owing to the fact that this township was located a considerable distance from the Mississippi its settlement was neither early nor rapid. In time, however, it became populated with an excellent class of people who came from the older states and established here Christian homes and excellent schools.

The first settler in the township was probably James Bridger, who arrived in the spring of 1836, having previously lived for a time in Schuyler County. He came here in company with another pioneer on a prospecting tour and liked the country so well that he selected a claim on section 31 and there afterwards made his permanent home. He became prominent in township affairs. The death of his wife in 1836 was the first in the township. She was the first person buried in Mann Cemetery in North Henderson Township. In January, 1837, he married Mrs. Eliza Longley and this was the first wedding ceremony in the township so far as known. His son, Ira G., who was born October 14, 1837, was the first child born in the township probably. In the log cabin of Mr. Bridger was held the first religious service in the township. Rev. Samuel P. Burr, who traveled on the Mercer circuit for the Methodist Episcopal Church, held services there during the winter of 1836-7. This cabin, which was 14 by 18 feet, sheltered at times a family of fourteen persons, still, when necessary, could accommodate a belated and weary traveler.

During the earlier years Indians encamped along the main streams of the county. A band in 1841 remained encamped on the stream near Mr. Bridger's residence for several months. While there a son of the chief was taken sick and died and was buried on the northeast quarter of section 6. This grave was surrounded later with a fence, which was pointed out for many years afterwards.

Richard Cox was another of the first settlers, his claim being taken up in the eastern part of the township in 1837. He was a native of Ohio and was a man of upright character and pure morals. He was one of the first justices of the peace and was reelected several times. He was a Methodist and a whig. James Durston came to this county first in 1837 and settled on section 36, Greene Township. In 1838 he took up a claim on section 30, Rivoli Township, which he afterward sold to Mr. Spicer and again took a claim on section 15. His family became prominent in local affairs. His son, Charles F., lived for many years in Aledo and was clerk of the County Court. On his farm was built the first schoolhouse in the township in 1848. It was a frame structure and was afterwards used as a granary. Nelson Chidester was among the early pioneers, arriving here in 1840 and taking up a claim on section 16. The second school in the township was taught on Mr. Chidester's premises. In 184411c built a temporary school building in his yard. Stephen Smith was another pioneer of this township. He arrived about 1840 and first located in Richland Grove Township, but two years later came to Rivoli and secured land on section 4. He left several children and all the members of the family were prominent and useful citizens. Major McMullen came at an early date and located in the northeast part. In 1844 his house was blown from its foundation by a tornado that swept the Edwards River Valley. In 1837 John Heriford secured a claim on section 29, but a little later sold out and left the township. An early school was taught in his cabin it is said. It stood near where the Zion Methodist Episcopal Church stood in later years. In 1838 Abram Watson arrived in the township. He had served in the Revolutionary war and may have been the only resident of the county who served the colonies at that time. It is said that George Spies, who lived in this county, was also a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Watson was a native of Virginia and enlisted in the Continental army at the age of fourteen years. He was present at the siege of Yorktown and at the surrender of Cornwallis. During the siege he was accidentally wounded by a bayonet thrust through the leg.

In 1837 Daniel Jones came to this county, having previously for a short time located at Knoxville. He secured land here and in time became prominent. He was a school trustee of the township and assisted in establishing permanently the early school commissioners. He was elected county supervisor in 1856 and reelected in 1858. His home was on Section 25. Orson Jones was another early settler. He arrived at an earlv date and became a useful and prominent citi- zen. He held nearly all the local offices within the gift of the people. He left this county at an early date and went to Henry County and there became equally prominent in township and county affairs. Later he came back. Rev. Hugh Breckenridge was a prominent settler at a little later date. He located on section 4 and was a member of the Hopewell Wesleyan Methodist Church. These were the earliest settlers in the township. Others came in, but their names have escaped the recollection of the present generation.

The Township of Rivoli was organized in 1854. The first supervisor was R. R. Cox; James Bridger, town clerk; L. Chidester, assessor; N. Chidester, collector; C. Harshberger, justice of the peace. In 1865 the township auditors levied a tax of $2.60 on each $100 valuation as a bounty for volunteers. The total amount expended by the township for fifteen volunteers to fill the last quota was $7,940.75. Of this sum $3,620 was raised by subscription.

Xew Windsor

The name of this town is Windsor, but the postoffice and the railroad station are New Windsor. This should be borne in mind in reading this chapter. It is located on the north half of the southeast quarter and forty acres out of the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 13, township 14 north, range 1 west. It was platted and laid out on August 20, 1857, by William F. Petrie, Olof Johnson, William T. Hammond and Samuel Remington. The principal addition to the Village of Windsor was laid out by Johnson & Wiley. Other additions have been laid out from time to time. The village was laid out because of the fact that the Western Air Line Railroad was graded a short time before that event. It was expected that the road would be ironed and put in operation at once, but this did not occur until 1869. In the meantime a small town started there, which did not amount to much until the railroad came. Galesburg parties built a large storeroom there as soon as the road was graded, but afterwards rented the building to other parties, and in the end sold the property to residents of the little village. There were usually at the village, after it was laid out and previous to the construction of the railroad, one store and a shop or two and in addition a school and a few religious organizations. In 1866, in anticipation of the early completion of the road additional lots were offered for sale and several purchasers appeared. In 1869 the postoffice at New Windsor was changed from Rivoli, which had been

In September, 1868, the Town of Windsor had only two frame houses and one church. On July 1, 1869, it had, all told, seventythree buildings, of which fifty-two had been built after March 1, 1860- The pioneer store was opened by Stevens & Gibson, who sold dry goods, groceries and a general stock. Peter Casler opened a clothing store soon afterwards and E. L. Larkin began selling drugs about the same time. The latter had a general store as well as sold paints, oils, wallpaper and various other articles. The fourth storekeeper was B. F. Brooks, who opened an exclusive grocery establishment. About the same time A. J. Smith opened a hotel. The above were about the only business establishments here during the winter of 1868-9. I'1 rne spring of 1869 business was exceedingly brisk, and, as above stated, the town grew with great rapidity. On June 1, 1869, the following business houses were here: Dry goods, Stevens & Gibson, J. A. Maxwell, Buchanan & Epperson, and a little later, W. H. Sawyer; grocers, B. F. Brooks, Stevens & Gibson, Buchanan & Epperson, J. A. Maxwell, Moore & McNaughton, William Pitman, who also conducted a bakery; iron and hardware, Olof Frenell, an old resident; Shaw & Gregg, who sold stoves as well as hardware generally, and Moore & McNaughton; hotel-keeper, A. J. Smith; drug stores, E. L. Larkin and G. R. Knowles; agricultural implements, Loomis, Potter & Allen; A. J. Smith and Olof Frenell; lumber, Lynd & Mays, Le Barron & Reed, and W. I. Edwards; grain buyer, J. W. Kline, and Mack & Company.

As yet no elevator had been erected, although considerable grain was purchased and shipped. At that time the railroad company was putting in a switch 2,700 feet long. The new depot was almost finished, with H. E. Wadsworth as agent. Already a large stock yards was built and cattle and hogs were sent away on the trains. There were three blacksmiths in the town, also two shoe shops and a jeweler and a new hotel building was being erected; wagonmaker, W. H. Gladman; painter and decorator, John McLean. Excellent residences had been built by J. M. and W. J. Wiley, Capt. P. C. Riggen, William Fleharty and J. M. Christy. Several buildings were moved here from a little place called Oxford, two miles southward. It was said at the time that Oxford picked itself up and set itself down in Windsor. Two new churches were being erected at this time - Methodist and Swedish. The Presbyterians had been here many years before. A big schoolhouse was talked of at this time also. The Viola House was soon opened by E. B. Hoag, proprietor. A steam flour mill was being erected by A. R. Cannon & Company. Park & McKinney opened a new drug store about the same time. New residences were soon built by H. Boon and R. Park. Shipments of live stock and grain were made by H. H. Hammond. This was the Village of Windsor in June, 1869.

On August 2d the citizens decided, by a vote of 34 to 7, to incorporate as a town. On August 14th the first town election was held and A. J. Moore, E. L. Larkin, P. Casler, J. H. Epperson and G. W. Gregg were chosen for the first board of trustees. Joseph M. Christy was the first police justice.

On August 1, 1870, the people of the town voted to issue $10,000 in bonds to aid the Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad. The measure was carried by a vote of 43 to 14. The conditions were not complied with by the railroad company and, accordingly, the bonds were never issued. In 1870 the big schoolhouse at Windsor was completed. At the same time James Evert established a printing office and once a month issued a small sheet called the New Windsor Eagle.

The New Windsor Institute was founded in September, 1873. W. S. Coe, agent of the C. B. & Q., had charge of the same. It was planned to instruct students in the operations of railways. It was planned to give instruction in telegraphy, railroad construction and the express business. The scholarships per annum were fixed at $30. This institution seems to have died at a very early date.

In 1875 the New Windsor Press appeared, in charge of W. S. Coe & Company. It was a patent paper throughout, but contained a few columns of local news. In April, 1878, the town, bv a vote of 30 to 22, decided to organize as a city under the general incorporation law of the state. As told elsewhere herein, E. L. Larkin secured and put in operation here the onlv telescope ever owned in the county. In 1877 the Rivoli Farmers Mutual Insurance Company was established and authorized to transact business in the Townships of Rivoli, Richland Grove, North Henderson, Greene and Suez in this county and in other townships of the adjoining county. The company had at first thirty charter members, whose aggregate policies amounted to $60,000. A. P. Petrie was the first president; T. D. Merryman, treasurer; and N. P. Smith, secretary. The first board of directors were S. B. Shumway, H. H. Roberts, A. P. Petrie, W. S. Fleharty, N. P. Smith, T. D. Merryman, J. M. Merryman, T. S. Wilson and B. Kasenberg. Their report, made in January, 1882, showed 164 policies covering $178,468 worth of property-

Oxford Lodge, A. F. & A. M., was moved from Henry County to Windsor in 1870. It afterwards became a prominent and fixed institution here and at one time had about one hundred and fifty members. A chapter of the Eastern Star was established with eighteen members at a little later date. New Windsor Lodge, No. 518, I. O. F., was organized in 1873 with the following officers: J. B. Armstrong, N. G. ; W. H. Gladman, V. G. ; Samuel Adams, secretary; A. A. Willett, treasurer. At one time it had more than one hundred members. In the township are four or five cemeteries, one on section 21, known as Woodham's; one on section 31, called Cooper's; one on section 12, known as Windsor; and another on section 12, owned by the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran people.

In 1880 the Rivoli Creamery purchased 563,356 pounds of milk. They manufactured 54,049 pounds of cheese, also 2,728 pounds of butter. They found that 10.42 pounds of milk were required to make one pound of cheese. The cash they received amounted to $5,623.44. T. D. Merryman was treasurer of the creamery company at this date. In 1880 the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company had ninety-seven members. There were out seventy-nine policies, valued at $100,328.

The Mercer County Shooting Club held a tournament here in September, 1881. Of this club L. H. Bruner was president; E. T. Crosby, secretary-treasurer; and S. M. Huntley, manager. In 1882 a baseball club was organized here. It plaved all the neighboring towns and cities. At this time C. F. Peterson & Company conducted a general store here. The Rivoli Creamery began business in 1878. Although it was prosperous at the start, yet in the end it proved a losing business. It was conducted by David Little, Jr. He closed out the institution and went elsewhere in the county. For a time C. A. Vannersberg had charge of the business. Mr. Little went to Preemption Township and established another creamery which was more successful. In 1883 he had 300 patrons. At the same time he bought the Viola mill, and as has been told elsewhere, established a creamery there. The Hour mills at Windsor were owned by Goold & Shaw in 1883. In 1890 the old soldiers held a reunion at Windsor on which occasion there was a large assemblage of people and several hundred of the members of the G. A. R. The principal speaker was Judge J. H. Connell. The Sons of Veterans were present and made a fine display.

At the citv election about this time the question of license or no license came before the people and the town voted in favor of temperance. A Knights of Pythias lodge was organized here in Jan- uary, 1894. A. D. Underwood was P. C. Again, in [894, the liquor question came before the people. An anti-license or temperance ticket was elected, as follows: S. P. Samuelson, president; Alexander Brown, clerk; }. F. Tornquist, Elias Lindorff and H. D. F. Browning, trustees. In 1896 Windsor had five churches, four civicsocieties - Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Woodmen - an opera house, a superior public school building, of which A. J. Amlong was principal, and Miss Anna Petrie and Miss Delpha G. Durston were assistants. J. Anderson kept the Commercial Hotel. C. A. Swanson conducted a meat market; C. J. Mead was jeweler; J. F. Tornquist was carriage maker; C. F. Peterson & Company were bankers and general merchants; James Ulam sold furniture and was an undertaker; E. Lindorff conducted a hardware store; J. E. Goold operated the flour mill; J. Wilcox owned a livery stable; Mrs. D. G. Coe was the leading milliner; John Carlson & Son had a general store; A. P. Petrie dealt in registered Shorthorn cattle. The New Windsor elevator was conducted by F. L. Huff, proprietor, and W. K. Slitt, manager. E. L. Emerson was the principal physician; Leonard Lorin sold boots and shoes; Gus Lindorff had a hardware store; O. Adams sold watches and jewelrv; Robert L. Watson was a practicing attorney; M. L. Humphreys had a harness store, and the New Windsor poultry house was conducted by William Schreitlong.

In 1808 the town was almost wholly destroyed by fire. This was a severe blow, but in the end many of the losers recovered themselves and, as a whole, the town did not suffer much. The Hopewell Cemetery Association was formed about this time. Its president in 1898 was Rev. J. L. Clark.

In 1900 the following business concerns were here: Banking and general merchandise, C. F. Peterson & Company; boots and shoes, John Carlson, L. Lorin; blacksmiths, Axel F. Anderson, John A. Rosberg; barber, N. G. Kalin; contractor and builder, C. Adolph Swanson; druggist, E. L. Emerson; furniture and undertaking, C. J. Carlson, James Ulam; grain buyer, V. E. Setterdahl & Company; hardware, Gus Lindorff; harness, M. I. Humphreys; hotel, Commercial; jeweler, Gust T. Peterson; lumber and building material, G. W. Christy; livery and feed barn, C. C. Luttrell; general merchandise, James Spivey & Company; millinery, Mrs. Clara Dawson Coe; meat market, R. Knox & Company; machinery, implements, hardware, Albert Peterson & Company; notary public, W. H. Gladman; painter, C. J. Lindstrom; physicians and surgeons, E. L. Emerson, F. D. Rathbun; restaurant, S. B. Lindgren; stock buyers and shippers, M. J. Merryman, C. L. Petrie; veterinary surgeon, O. E.

At a comparatively late date the Windsor Free Library has been organized and put in operation, but as yet is somewhat feeble, though still in existence. In 1901 the Rivoli Farmers Mutual Insurance Company was in excellent working condition, with A. J. Christy as secretary.

In 19 1 4 Windsor had a population of about five hundred. The bank had a capital of about fifty thousand dollars, with A. M. Craig, president; W. H. Gladman is justice of the peace. The following business concerns were here at this date; Oscar Anderson, harness; Christy Lumber and Hardware Company; Clara D. Coe, milliner;

E. L. Emerson, drugs; C. A. Fay, blacksmith; N. G. Kalin, restaurant; E. A. Lindbeck, meats; John G. Lindorff, hardware and stoves; Leonard Lorin, boots and shoes; M. L. Lutrel, restaurant and confectionery; Nelson Brothers, general store; A. V. Peterson^ general store; J. T. Peterson, jewelry; W. A. Peterson, feed mill; Peterson & Johnson, general store; Rivoli Grain Company; H. M. Snyder, furniture and undertaker; Tornquist & Johnson, blacksmiths.

Anson J. Streeter was an old settler of the township, a farmer and stock raiser, and had been one of the 49ers to California. He became quite wealthy and settled in New Windsor and built the largest and finest dwelling house there at the time of its location. He was supervisor of the township for several different years, represented the county in the Legislature of the state in both branches, was a prominent greenbacker, and was candidate for the United States Senate in the '90s. He came very near being elected. Charles

F. Farwell was the republican candidate and John M. Palmer the democratic, the latter being finally elected. Mr. Streeter was also a prominent candidate for President of the United States in 1900. William F. Petrie was a prominent settler in the Village of Windsor, having settled in Richland Grove before that time, and was supervisor from that township in 1854. He was a very prominent man and had induced many of the farmers in this county to set out Osage orange hedges. He engaged in planting and cultivating the hedges for the farmers over the county. Alexander Petrie, his son, was a very prominent farmer, represented Mercer County in the Legislature and was a candidate for Congress on the republican ticket. His son, E. R. Petrie, is assistant cashier in the Aledo Bank.