Salem Township (part 3 of 3)

Eopulation until they have come to be regarded as very fathers and mothers, oon, however, in the very nature of things, they, too. will be called to ynn the imnioi'tal throng on the happy shores of the eternal beyond for which they are ready and waiting.

Swamp Lands

The history of the county in connection with its swanij) and overllowed lands is a matter of a good deal of interest in any general resume of county affairs.

In Septcnnber, 1850, the Congress of the United States passed an act to enable the State of Arkansas, and other states having these lands, to drain and reclaim the same. Lists and j)lats Mere to be made out from the government surveys, and transmitted to the respective governors of the states, in which the lands were situated ; and upon the re(juest of the governors patents were to issue to tlie states. The act contained a pro- viso that the proceeds of the sale of these lands should be applied to reclaiming them by means of ditches and drains. The courts, however, subsequently held that this proviso only amounted to a wish expressed on the part of Congress, and did not aiFect the validity of the grant. They further held that the act itself, when the proper selections had been made under it, and plats and lists sent to the governors, and patents issued on their requests, passed an absolute fee simple title to the states, and left their legislatures to dispose of the lands, or the funds arising from their sale, exactly as they saw lit, untrammelled by any condition in the original

' The legislature of this state, by an act passed in 1852, granted these lands to the respective counties in which they were located, for the purpose of reclaimino- them by making ditches and drains, wdth certain options on the part of the purchasers to pay the purchase money in labor, to be expended in making these ditches and drains. The balance of the lands, after so reclaiming them, were apportioned to the townships, for the benefit of schools and roads and bridges. This part of the law was modified in 1854: to some extent. Still the policy was a drainage of the lands; and all the machinery supposed to be necessary to carry it out to a successful termination was set in motion and kept up.

Under these acts it became the duty of the auditor of state to certify to the counties a list of the swamp and overflowed lands within their borders. These lists were to be recorded in the offices of the county clerks. Certifled copies of such lists were made evidence of title ; and vested in the counties an absolute title to the lands described in them. In this way the ownership of the swamp lands passed to the respective counties. These lists became chains of title with the same force and effect as patents for school lands.

The drainage policy, however, did not work to the satisfaction of the people; and various amendatory acts were passed, mostly local iii their nature, and applicable to particular counties. At length, in 1859, the proceeds arisinc Irum the sale of these lands were made subject to the disposition of the various county courts, in such manner as the county authorities saw fit to indicate. In this way the proceeds of these sales passed into the county treasuries, and became a part of the general funds. The original policy in regard to these lands became entirely changed ; and attempts to question the power of the legislature to make this change have repeatedly been made, and always failed. Judicial decisions have at length settled and laid the controversy at rest.

The number of acres of these swamp lands,patentedby the United States to the State of Illinois, under the act of 1850, and granted by the state to the County of Carroll by the act of the legislature of 1852, was, in round numbers, 9,110 acres.

For a number of years after the act of 1852, the policy of this county was to sell her swamp' lands, and turn the proceeds into the school fund. This was the disposition made of the money arising from these sales, durino- the administrations of Reuben H. Gray and James DeWolf as school commissioners. Most of the lands were sold in the years 185-1, 1855, and 1856. The school fund derived ten or twelve thousand dollars in this way. Since that the proceeds of these sales have been applied in attempts to drain the lands, and make them more valuable, and in paying expenses incident thereto. It is a fact, we believe, that the general fund of the county has never been increased from this source.

Tho swamp lands are situated mostly in the Towns of Savanna, York, "Washington and Mount Carroll, with a few pieces scattered through some of the other towns.

In tlie years 1867 and 1868, this county, in connection with Whiteside County, joined in a drainage scheme, to reclaim lands lying around Willow Island Lake, and south of that body of water into the other county. It was at this time the county ditch was dug. The enterprise was a success, and some of the best farming lands in the county were thus reclaimed. The large farm of George S. Melendy, Esq., is partly made up of these reclaimed lands, and the vast corn crops he now annually raises on some of these low meadows testify to their amazing fertility.

The money realized from the sale of these reclaimed and drained swamp lands paid all the attendant expenses of the big ditch, and left a large surplus. The ditch cost a little over three thousand dollars.

Encouraged by the success of this venture, the board of supervisors of the county began to agitate the question of draining the Doty or Sunfish Lake, situated partially in the Towns of York and Mount Carroll. This led to quite a controversy in the board. Outsiders also took a lively part in it. It was shown that this lake was one of the most beautiful bodies of water in Northern Illinois, full of the very best food fishes, and afforded the very best resort for all kinds of wild fowl- - rendering it, in short, a perfect sportsman's paradise. One party contended that the lake was of more value to the citizens of the county than the land after it was drained. It was even surmised that the countv, after such drainao-e, miii^ht not obtain a title to the lands; but this essential point seems not to have been considered with proper care.

The result of the controversy was that the drainage scheme M^as carried, [n 1871, the contract was let, and the ditch to Plum River was finished, or nearly finished, that Fall. The water was let out of the lake, at all events, late in the Fall. Some finishing work was done the next Spring.

This drain cost, in round numbers, six thousand, six Ixundred dollars. About four thousand dollars of this cost was realized from the sale of the Willow Ishmd drained lands. The balance was realized out of the sale of some lands around the Doty Lake which had been swamp lands before that body of water was drained. No money was taken from the county treasury in these enterj^rises, except a small amount for salaries of supervisors and some other incidental expenses.

The drainage of the Doty Lake has not proved a great success. The fall in the ditch is very slight, and a stream called Deer Creek is constantly bearing sand and flood materials into the drain. It is already partially filled, and the water, which at first was greatly reduced in the lake, is again accumulating, and in wet seasons covers most of its old bed. Unless provisions are made to keep the ditch open, it will gradually close up, and the fisli again accumulate.

An int('re>ting litigation s])rang uj) soon alter the opening of this ditch. As soon as the county commenced selling the I'eclainied lands around this body of water, the adjoining land tiwners, acting under legal advice, l)egan to claim the new-made lamls. 'I'hev were advised that the lands made hy the recession of the waters did not belong to the county, but to the adjoining pr()])rietors. Several suits were instituted against the hoard of supervisors to test this interesting (juestion. Two of these cases were at length brought to trial, at the Januarj term, A. D. 1876, of the Carroll County Circuit Court. The cases were argued with learning and ability, and many authorities were cited.

The proof showed that the lake had been meandered when the lands were originally surveyed. Consequently no lists or plats had been returned to the Governor by the Secretary of the Interior, and no patent issued to the state for them. The auditor had certified no lists to the county clerk. JNo title as swamp lands had, therefore, passed to the state, nor from the state to the county. The principle of accretion was held to apply to these receding waters, at least to the 'extent of permitting adjoining land owners to till out their governmental subdivisions. This, when done, took all the land made by the partial di-ainage of the lake.

Judge Heaton's decision was rendered, after careful examination, and was considered so sound and well backed by the authorities, that the attorney for the county did not advise an appeal to the Supreme Court; and the controversy seems now to be settled.

Crimixal Mention Prepared By Volxey Armour, Esq

The Mathews Case. - The first murder case that appears upon the docket of the Carroll County Circuit Court is that of The People vs. James ]\Iathewb,on change of venue from Jo Daviess County. It was first docketed for the October term, 1841. At the October term, 1842, the indictment was dismissed for want of witnesses.

The next was an indictment for murder vs. Thomas J. Standifer and Samuel Thompson Wheeler (also on a chane-e of venue from Jo .Daviess County), docketed at the October term, 1843. AVheeler was tried and acquitted, October 14, 1843. Standifer died on the 20th day of October, of the same year.

In 1845, John Baxter, indicted with John Long et al.., in Eock Island, for murder, took a change of venue to Carroll County. The case, however, was sent back to Rock Island County, by agreement of parties.

In 1846, James Monnie alias Jake Monie, was indicted for murder in Jo Daviess County. This venue was changed to Carroll, but was afterwards changed to the county court of Jo Daviess County, by consent.

Jesse W. Helden was indicted, at the September term, 1851, for a murder committed in the then Yillao-e of Savanna. He was a steamboatman or rattsman, and while on shore at Savanna was attacked by a comrade. In self defence, Helden picked up a club and struck his opponent a single blow, which proved instantly fatal. The name of the man who was killed is not remembered, and we have been unable to find the indictment on file. The criminal pa^jers belonging to the circuit clerk's ofiice prior to about 1856 seem to be where they can not now be found - at least, the writer has been unable to find them. The following named were jurors in the Helden case: William H. Hawk, Morris Saxton, Michael Siser, William Owings, John B. Christian, Daniel R. Christian, Simeon Johnson. Ransom AVilson, George W. Knox, Peter Hagaman, Elijah Bailey and Daniel Forney. The trial was had September 27, 1851, and on the same day was concluded, with a verdict of not guilty.

History Of Carroli- County

was tried at the March term of the Carroll County Circuit Court, 1859. Hon. John Y. Eustace, judge, presiding; Kobert C. Burchell, state's attorney; Adam Xase. sheriff, and Volney Armour, clerk. Dorsey was indicted at the October term of this court, 18.58, for the murder of one the deceased when the boat was just above Savanna, hitting him several blows on the head with brass knuckles. The injured man left the steamboat at Savanna, and made his way down in the neighborhood of Albert Stead man. Here he was found, dead or dying, near a straw stack. After death, ?i post-mortpjn examination was made by Dr. Ed^yard C.Cochran, of Savanna, who used a saw borrowed from a wagon shop in Savanna, to saw the skull, to open the brain to inspection at the points of injury. There was no dispute about the tacts of the case, except as to whether the injury was inflicted in Iowa or Illinois, and as to whether the deceased died of injuries received at the hands of Dorsey, or from other cause. As there was a chance of a reasonable doubt whether the assault was in the east or west side of the main channel of the river, and the 'post-mortern examination was so clearly a bungling one, and the failure to examine the other organs of the body, besides the brain, left Dorsey's lawyers a chance to contend that, for all the jury knew, ^tlie deceased might have come to his death from other causes than the injury produced by Dorsey. It is enough to say that the surgeon gained no reputation in that post-mortem case. It served, however, to show his ignorance of his profession, and he soon sought other business for a living.

Dorsey was defended by W. E. Leffingwell, of Lyons, Iowa; Wallington Weidey, of Galena, 111.', and Hon. AVilliam T. Miller, then of Carroll County." Dorsey was acquitted. The river men furnished the money for Dorsey's defence. A Rock Island woman, of more than doubtful character, was iiiiported to act the part of Dorsey's wife. She personated that character well, and at the close of the trial, Col. B. R. Frohock, one of the accjuitting juroi's, had Dorsey and his supposed wife to supper with him, and treated them in royal stvle.

Charles Slou^ey and Mary J. Ramsey Cases. - A.i the March term, 1860, Charles Slovvey was indicted for the murder of a fellow-Irishman, named Welch ; and Mary Jane Ramsey, a colored girl, was indicted for the murder of an infant child of John Shirk.

Slowey had been for some time engaged in mining for lead ore, with his victim as a partner. They had sunk two'shafts near their slianty, about two miles west of :Mount Cai-roil, had taken out some ore, and had a prospect of getting more. At this time they both got on a drunken spree, and a few days thereafter the victim was tound dead in one of the shafts. Investigation showed ])lainly that death was not the result of accident or suicide, as the death wound was evidently inflicted by a miners pick. After a ^06'^- //ior-^c'm examination by Dr. R. V. Miller aiul Dr. John L. llostetter, Slowey was arrested and committed for the murder, and indicted, as above stated. The case was continued to the Se])tcmi>er term, ISC.O, of the Circuit Court, when a change of venue was taken to Ogle (\)unty. He was tried in the Winter or Sju-ing of the next year, at Oregon, and convicted of murder in the first degree. ' The Court, Judge Eustace, for some reason, having granted a new trial, the ]H"ople accepted the pro]iosition of William T. .Miller, Slowey's counsel - Slowey to plead guilty to manslaughter, and a sentence to the penitentiary for life. This was accordingly done. Slowey died a few weeks after getting to the penitentiary, the information being that his brain was badly diseased. The general impression, however, came to pre- that his disease of the brain was the resnh of cold head-baths, employed as punishment for breach of discipline.

Mary Jano Ramsey's trial was the first trial that took place in the present court house. It had not yet been seated, or furnished in any manner, and the space between the raised platform and the main floor was open. Such conveniences as conld be readily improvised were arranged, and on Saturday, the 10th day of March, 1860, the trial commenced. R. C. Burchell represented the people, and Martin P. Sweet and William T. Miller appeared for the defendant.

The girl, who was about a half idiot, in order to avoid taking care of the child, which was peevish, hunted up some strychnine that Shirk had left over after the Spiing's gopher poisoning, and fed it to the child. She acknowledged what she had done, and it was discovered where she had placed the tin cup in w^hich she had mixed the ])oison previous to administering it.

The learned counsel's defence of the prisoner was that the defendant was so low" in the scale of intelligence that she was not responsible for lier criminal acts - in other words, that she did not know right from wrong. The soft-hearted jury came to the same conclusion, after the eloquent appeals of counsel. I have listened to many eloquent speeches in murder cases, by the counsel of defendants, but I think I never listened to a more eloquent speech than that delivered by Martin P. Sweet in his defence of that poor, black, ignorant, imbruted, despised girl. He pictured the wrongs of her race, and her ignorance, and concluded by claiming that the Shirk family were, in a measure, responsible for their great sorrow by their neglect to properly look after the welfare of the girl, who had been reared in their family. There were several democrats on tlie jur}", but politics had no influence in shaping the minds of that jury. They were either swayed by Sweet's eloquence, or the influence of the counsel, Miller, who was a democrat of the strictest faith. The girl was but about thirteen years of age at the time she committed the crime. The names of the jury in that case were: Benj. R. Frohock, Luther H. Bowen, Jabez S. Bush, Leonard Hall, James R. Howell, Peter Holman, Joseph C. Christian, Franklin Sisler, republicans; John Johnston, Jr., Seymour Downs, Hiram S. Palmer, democrats, and Martin Eshelman, of no politics, perhaps.

Pease Case. - In the year 1868, Warren S. Pease was indicted, at the October term of the Circuit Court, for manslaughter, for the killing of one Amos L. Zuck.

Zuck had insulted a daughter of Pease, and, incensed at the fact, Pease had sought an encounter with him, and having met him just after getting off" the cars at Thomson, Pease struck him with his fist. The blow, in consequence of the diseased condition of Zuck's skull, proved instantly fatal. No person ever supposed that Pease intended to do more than give Zuck a deserved whipping. The jury very readily pronounced a verdict of not guilty - a verdict with which the whole population of the county was satisfied.

Goddard Case. - At the March term, 1869, Adaline Goddard was indicted for the murder of a Miss Colo. It was an unprovoked, brutal murder. It occurred at the barn on the premises now owned and occupied by George Pope, Esq., in York Township. The girl being at the barn for some purpose, Mrs. Goddard followed her there with a butcher knife, and plunged it to lier heart. A change of venue was taken to "Whiteside County. Hon, David McCartney, state's attorney, tried the case for the people. W. E. Leffingwell and William T. Miller, two of the attorneys in the Dorsey case, defended. At the first trial, the jury found her guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced her to the penitentiary for four years. Judge Heaton, presiding, had instructed the jury, for the people, that if the jury believed, from the evidence, that any one of the defendant's witnesses had sworn falsely any material fact, they were at liberty to disregard the whole of such witness' evidence; that the maxim of the law was - "False in one thing, false in all things." After the trial and conviction, the court's attention was called to a decision of the supreme court, just announced, holding that such an instruction was in error unless it was accompanied with the qualification, after the word evidence, " unless corroborated by other evidence which the jury does believe." The rule announced by Judge Heaton has always been the rule in England, and, I think, in all of the states up to that time. Most of our lawyers consider the qualification senseless, for, if rightly considered, it leaves the matter just as it stood before. If a false witness is corroborated by a truthful witness, you do not have any more faith in the fact sworn to by the truthful witness because the false witness has also sworn to it; you believe it because the truthful witness says so, and not because a false witness is corroborated. The result of this decision was a new trial for the murderess. At the next trial, twelve fools said, under their oaths: " We, the jury, find the defendant, Adaline Goddard, not guilty." If any or many of the jury who pronounced that verdict of not guilty had fallen by similar means, few acquainted with the circumstances of the murder mentioned could have said otherwise than that the doom was in some measure merited.

Rexford, in September or October, 1872. The murder occurred at the house on the island below Fulton, in Whiteside County. Joe O'Neil was the principal, and Thomas, who is a dwarf, was accessory before and after the fact. A change of venue brought the case to Carroll County, and it was tried at the April Term of the Circuit Court, 1873. The crime grew out of jealousy. On the day of the murder, the O'JSTeils took a boat at the island and went over to Clinton, Iowa, and brought Kexford back to the island, under the pretense that he was needed there to do some painting, which, perhaps, was the fact. Eexford had just commenced work, when Joe O'Xeil assaulted him with a piece of board, and literally knocked his brains out. The circumstances of the murder were of the most brutal and heartless character, and produced a great excitement in the vicinit3^

The case was prosecuted by \ . Ai-moui-, state's attorney lor Carroll County, and D. McCartney, state's attorney <»f AVhiteside County. The defence was conducted by E, F. Dutcher, of Ogle County, by appointment of the court. The proof of the murder was ch?ar and certaiji. The only show of the defence was to claim that the brutality of the crime, in its manner of perj)etration, showed the drfendant such a moral monster that it was sufficient of itself to establish insanity - that no sane man could become so brutal.

The jury in this case was made of sterner stuff than s(une of the prior juries of which we have spoken. 'J'hey found both defendants guilty. Joe's punishment was to be hanging, and Tommy's fifteen years in the peniten- tiary. Tommy got a new trial, and tlie next jmy gave hira fourteen years. Joe was sentenced by Judge Heaton, to be hanged by the neck until dead, on May 16, 1873, on which day, Sheriff George P. Sutton carried the sentence into effect. The gallows was erected between two poplar trees, north of the court house. Joe was prepared for the occasion by three Catholic priests. No visible injury was done to either of the poplar trees spoken of, but neither of them leaved out that season, and, becoming apparently dead, they were cut down and removed. Though several of that kind of trees were growing upon the court house square at the time, none others have sin(;e died or shown symptoms of decay. Judge Patch says they were cursed by the priests. Since the kilhng of these trees, the writer has seen a similar circumstance published as to trees near some other place of execution. While the writer has no faith in the notion that the trees died by reason of the tragedy enacted at their sides, he is willing any religionists should conjure up any reasons they may choose. The writer's own theory, however, is that the severe frosts of th<; preceding Winter had impaired the vitality of the trees, situated, as they were, on the cold north side of the court house, and hence they were backward in putting forth their foliage; that the opinion that they were dead was not well founded, and it would have been so demonstrated if they had been left standing a few weeks longer.

Every person entitled unrler the law to witness the execution, did so, except Y. Armour, Esq., state's attorney of Carroll County. He refused to witness the horrible spectacle, his presence being unnecessary, so far as the legality of the proceeding was concerned. O'Neil's neck was broken at the base of the skull by the fall, so that his death must have been painless. His remains were taken to Clinton, Iowa, that same day, by wagon, and interred at that place.

This was the only case in which the death penalty was inflicted in the history of the county, from the time it was organized, in May, 1839, to January 1, 1878.

Educational

The first schools taught in Carroll County were private or subscription schools. Their accommodations, as may readily be supposed, were not good. Sometimes they were taught in small, round log houses, erected for the purpose. Stoves and such heating apparatus as are in use now w^ere unknown. A mud and stick chimney in one end of the building, with earthen hearth, and a fire-place wide enough and deep enough to take in a four feet back log, and smaller Avood to match, served for warming purposes in Winter and a kind of conservatory in Summer. For windows, part of a log was cut out in either side, and may be a few panes of eight- by-ten glass set in, or, just as likely as not, the aperture would be covered over with greased paper. Writing benches were made of wide planks, or may be puncheons, resting on pins or arms driven into two-inch auger-holes bored into the logs beneath the windows. Seats were made out of thick plank or puncheons. Flooring was made of the same kind of stuff. Every thing was rude and plain, but many of America's great men have gone out from just such school houses to grapple with the world and make names for themselves, and names that come to be an honor to their country. Among these might be named Abraham Lincoln, America's martyred president, and one of the noblest men ever known to the world's history. In other cases, private rooms and parts of private houses were utilized as school houses, but the furniture was just as plain.

But all these thing^s are changed now. A log school house in Illinois is a rarity. Their places are filled with handsome frame or brick structures. The rude furniture has also given way, and the old school books - the "Popular Reader," the "English Reader" (the best school reader ever known in American schools), and "Webster'sElementarj Spelling Book" - are superseded bj others of greater pretensions. The old spelling classes and spelling matches have followed the old school houses, until they are remembered only in name. Of her school system, Illinois can justly boast. It is a pride and a credit to the adopted home of the great men the great state has sent out as rulers and representative men - men like Lincoln, Douglas, Grant, Shields, Lovejoy, Tates, Washburne, Drummond, and hundreds of others whose names are as familiar abroad as they are in the histories of the counties and neighborhoods where once they lived. While the state has extended such fostering care to the interests of education, the several counties have been no less zealous and watchful in the management of this vita! interest. And Carroll County forms no exception to the rule. The school houses and their furnishings are in full keeping with the spirit of the law that provides for their maintenance and support. The teachers rank hio-h amon": the other thousands of teachers in the state, and the several county superintendents, since the office of iuiperintendent was made a part of the school system, have been chosen with especial reference to their litness for the position.

The present superintendent is Mr. J. E. Millard, of Lanark, an educator of experience and learning. Mr. Millard is now serving his eighth year, having been iirst elected about 1869 or 1870. From his last report, the followiu')' facts and figures in relation to the condition of the schools under his care are selected :

Grand total number of days' attendance, 438,848, being equal in school time (t. e., nine months of four weeks eacli and five tlays to a week) to 2,43f< years and eight days.

During the eight years that Mr. Millard has been superintendent, twenty-five ijew school buildings have been erected in the county, costing from $700 to $20,000 each.' These have, all been seated with modern improved seats, and many of the old buildings have been seated in like manner. These improvements, and the higher grade to wdiich the schools have attained, are largely due to the interest which has been awakened on the subject of education by the holding of meetings in various localities of the county by the superintendent calling the citizens together to listen to suggestions and discuss educational matters, as well as by holding institutes and the hearty co-operation of teachers, etc. The first county convention of school officers ever held in the state was called by Mr. Millard, at Mount Carroll, in 18T1, and was the inauguration of similar conventions throughout the state.

Mr. Millard is and always has been held in the highest estimation by the citizens of our township as a thorough, accommodating and eflicient officer. He has visited our schools much more than Ave could expect. He has criticized, made suggestions, and assisted our schools, so that Salem Township now, in educational facilities, stands second to none in the county.

County Sunday School Association

A county Sunday-school association was organized at Mount Carroll, in May, 1876, through the efforts of Eev. Terrell, of Chicago.' Several meetings of the association have been held, and much interest has been awakened in the cause of Sunday-schools through their influence. Association meets semi-annually, in May and October.

Raileoad History By D. W. Dame, Lanark

The Savanna Branch liaih'oad Company was organized under the provisions of an act of the legislature of tlie State of Illinois, and approved b}^ the governor of said state, on tlie hftb day of November, A.lJ. 1849, and entitled " An Act to provide for a General System of Railroad Incorporations," and a further " Act supplement to the aforesaid act," approved Nov. 6, A.D. 1849 - with articles of association adoptetl at Savanna, Illinois, the 21st day of January, A.D. 1851, and tiled in the office of the secretary of state, according to the provisions oY the aforementioned acts.

Tlie western terminus of said road is to be at Savanna, Carroll County, Illinois, on the bank of the Mississippi River, and to go thence in an easterly direction, by the best and most practicable route, through a part of the Counties of Carroll and Stephenson, and to intersect the Chicago 6z Galena Union Railroad at some point in Stephenson County, not exceeding fifteen miles from the town of Freeport. The capital stock of said company shall be $800,000, with the priviles^e of increasing the same to $600,000.

I^i/'si Board of Directors - Luther H. Bowen, John B. Rhodes, Porter Sargent, Nathaniel Halderman, David Emmert, Henry Smith, Monroe Bailey, Norman D. French, and Enoch A. Wood.

Elias Woodruff, Cyrus Kellogg, John L. Ilostetter, John A. Melendy, and Reuben W. Brush, shall be commissioners for receiving subscriptions to the capital stock of said Savanna Branch Railroad ComjDany.

The Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company was organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin by an act entitled "An Act to Incorporate the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company." Approved April 17, 1852. The route of the road to be located and constructed from the City of Racine, in the State of Wisconsin, via the Village of Janesville, to the Mississippi River.

By an act of the legislature of the State of Wisconsin, approved March 19, 1853, the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company was authorized to construct their road in divisions.

By an act of the legislature of the State of Wisconsin, approved June 27, 1853, the Racine, Janesville A: Mississippi Railroad Company was authorized to build a branch railroad from the main line of said ruad, at any point west oi Fox River and Beloit, and, also, to connect said railroad and operate the same with other railroads, and consolidate the capital stock of the said company with theca]>ital stock of any railroad company with which the road of the said companies shall intersect.

By an act of the legislature of the State of AVisconsin, approved July 9, 1853, the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company are hereby authorized to connect their railroad at Beloit with any railroad or branch I'ailroad in the State of Illinois; and shall, also, have power to consolidate the caj)ital stock of said Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Ct)mpany with the capital stock of any such road, now or hereafter f-hartered by the State of Illinois with which said com])any may connect at Beloit.

By an act of the legishiture of the State of Wisconsin, approved March 31, 1855, the name of the Jiacine, Janesville ^ Mississi{)[)i llailroad Comj^any was changed to that of the " Racine ct Mississippi Railroad Lompany.

The legislature of the State of Wisconsin passed an act, and approv^ ed April 1, 1863, to facilitate and authenticate the formation of a corporation by the purchasers or future owners of the Eacine & Mississippi Railroad Company, and provided that said new coi-poration, when so organized, shall have full power to consolidate their capital stock with that of "the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company, in the State of Illinois, or its successors, or that of the Northern Illinois Railroad Company, or both, and thereby to form a new company.

The Rockton & Freeport Railroad Company

By an act of the legislature of the State of Illinois, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the Rockton & Freeport Railroad Company," approved Feb. 10, 1853, the said company was authorized and empowered to locate and operate a railroad from a point on the north line of the County of Winnebago, through the Yillage of Rocktou to the Village of Freeport, in the County of Stephenson.

An act passed by the legislature of the State of Illinois, entitled " An Act to enable railroad companies and plank-road companies to consolidate their stock," approved Feb. 28, 1854, provided: That all railroad companies and plank-road companies now organized, or hereafter to be organized, which now have or hereafter may have their termini fixed by law, whenever their said road or roads intersect by continuous lities, be, and the same are hereby, authorized and empowered to consolidate their property and stock with each other, and to consolidate with companies out of this state whenever their lines connect with the lines of such companies out of this state.

By act of the legislature of the State of Illinois, entitled "An Act to amend an Act to incor23orate the Rockton & Freep(jrt Railroad Company," approved Feb, 1853, provides "that the name and style of the Rockton' & Freeport Railroad Company be, and the same is, hereby changed to that of the 'Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company.'" Approved Feb. M, 1855.

By act of the legislature of the State of Illinois, entitled "An Act to amend an act entitled 'An Act to authorize the construction of the Savanna Branch Railroad,'" passed Feb. 12, 1851, provides "that the time for expending ten per cent of the capital stock upon the Savanna Branch Railroad be, and the same is, hereby extended three years.

By act of the legislature of the State of Illinois, entitled "An Act to amend an act entitled 'An Act to amend an act to incorporate the Rockton >Sz Freeport Railroad Company, confirming the consolidation of the Savanna Branch Railroad Company with the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company, and for other purposes," provides that the name and style of the Savanna Branch Railroad Company be, and the same is, hereby changed to that of the " Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company." Approved Feb,

Northern Illinois Railroad

The Northern Illinois Raih-oad Company was organized under a charter granted by the legislature of the State of Illinois, passed and approved February 24, 185!).

The said company thereby authorized and empowered to locate, and fully to finish and maintain a railroad, commencing at a point on the ' north line of the Countv of Winnebao-o, at or within one mile from its intersection witli Eock River ; thence by the way of Freeport, in the County of Stephenson; Mount Carroll, in the County of Carroll, to Savanna, on the Mississippi River, in said County of Carroll.

By an act of the legislature of the State of Illinois, passed and approved, February 21, lb(33, the iS^orthern Illinois Railroad Company, and the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company, shall have full power to consolidate their capital stock, and also with that of any other connecting railroad, and thereby to form a new company, which consolidated company may take any name it may agree upon, and shall have all of the powers of each of the consolidated companies.

The Mississippi Railroad Company was organized under an Act of Incorporation granted by the legislature of the State of Illinois, approved February 15, 1865.

The said company was authorized to locate and construct and maintain a railroad from the City of Galena, in Jo Daviess County, to Rock Island, in Rock Island County, in this state. Said company has the power to unite their railroad in whole or in part, with any other railroad or railroads now constructed, or which may hereafter be constructed, either in this state or in the State of Wisconsin, coming in contact therewith.

Propositions And Agreements Of Consolidation

At a meeting of the directors of the Rockton & Freeport Railroad Company, held in the Village of Rockton, on the 23d day of February, 1854, on motion, unanimously adopted a resolution to consolidate the capital stock, powers and franchises of this company, with capital stuck of the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company. Articles of agreement were made and concluded this 23d day of February, 1851, by and between the Rockton & Freeport Railroad Company, and the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company, fully merging and consolidating the capital stock, powers, and franchises of the Rockton and Freeport Railroad Company, with the Racine, Janesville A: Mississippi Railroad Company.

On the 23d day of ffanuary, 1856, articles of agreement were made and concluded by and between the Savanna Branch Railroad Company, and the Racine vk; Mississippi Railroad Company, merging and consolidating the capital stock owned and held by them, together with all of the powers and franchises now held by them, by virtue of tlieir acts of incorporation.

On the 9th day of JS^ovember, 1860, the sheriff of Racine County, Wisconsin, by his deed, conveyed to Morris K. Jessnp, of the City of New York, the following described ]n-emise3 and jiroperty, to wit : The Eastern division of the railroad of the Racine vfe Mississippi Railroad Company, extending from the City of Racine to the City of Beloit, with all its tracks, rails, appurtenances, right of way, etc.

On the 6th day of January, A. D. 1S65, Morris K. Jessup, by his deed, conveyed to Richard Irvine and O. A. Hiomson, all the Eastern .division of tlu! railroad of tin; Racine A: Mississipjii Railroad Ciunpany, extending from tiie City of Racine to the City of Beloit, with all its right of way, and all other appurtenances.

On the 13tli day of April, A. D. 1865, Eiicliard Irvine, of the City of New York, by his deed, conveyed to G. A. Thomson, of Eacine, in the State of Wisconsin, all the right, title and interest which said Richard Irvine has in and to all the Eastern division of the raih'oad of the Racine and Mississippi Railroad Company, extending from the City of Racine to the City of Beloit.

On the Tth day of February, A. D. 1865, Henry W. Bishop, Jr., as Master in Chancery of the United States Circuit Court for the Northern District of Illinois, by his deed, conveyed to George A. Thomson all the railroad of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company extending from the line between the States of Wisconsin and Illinois, in the Town of Rockton, in the County of Winnebago, and the State of Illinois, to the Western termination of said road, in the Town of Savanna, in Carroll County, in said State of Illinois.

February 20, 1865, the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois in Chancery ratified and confirmed the sale made by Henry W.' Bishop, Jr.

June 5, 1S65, G. A. Thomson tiled, in the ofiice of the Secretary of State of the State of Wisconsin, his certificate of organization of the Western Union Railroad Company in the State of Wisconsin. Said certificate specifies as follows :

Third. The names of the directors for the first year are herein designated as follows : Richard Irvine, Jacob S. Wetmore, S. P. Nash and R. G. Ralston, all of the City of New York; S. C. Tuckerman, Henry T. Fuller, Darwin Andrews and George A. Thomson, all of the City of Racine, Wisconsin; E. P. Barton, of Fi-eeport, lUinois; H. A. Mills, of Mount Carroll. Illinois; D. W. Dame, of Lanark, Illinois; Wm. Shannon and Elijah Northey, of Shannon, Illinois.

June 16, A. D. 1865, G. A. Thomson filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois, his certificate of organization of the Western Union Railroad Company in the State of Illinois. Said certificate specifies as follows:

Third. The names of the directors for the first year are herein designated as follows : Richard Irvine, Jacob S. Wetmore, S. P. Nash, and R. G. Ralston, all of the City of New York; S. C. Tuckerman, Henry T. Fuller, Darwin Andrews, and G. A. Thomson, all of the City of Racine, Wisconsin; E. P. Barton, of Freeport, Illinois; II. A. MilJs, of Mount Carroll, Illinois; D. W. Dame, of Lanark, Illinois; Wm. Shannon and Elijah Northey, of Shannon, Illinois.

Articles of agreement made and concluded the 13th day of June A. D. 1865, by and between the Mississippi Raih-oad Company and the Northern Illinois Railroad Company, mutually merge and consolidate the capital stock owned and held by them, and each of them, and that the name of the company formed by this consolidation shall be " The Northern Illinois Railroad Company," and that the whole management of the afiairsof such new company'shall be under the management and control of a board of directors.

Principals Proprietor Of

consisting of the following named persons, to wit : Richard Irvine, Elijah ISTorthej, Enoch Chamberlain, L. H. Bowen, H. A. Mills, Duncan McKay, Edward P. Barton, Wm. Shannon, D. W. Dame, G. A. Thomson, E. A. Knapp, S. C. Tuckerman and Henry T. Fuller.

January 16, A. D. 1866, articles of agreement were made and concluded by and between " The Western Union Eailroad Company, a corporation created and existing in the State of Illinois," and " The Western Union Railroad Company, a corporation created and existing in the State of Wisconsin," thereby mutually merging and consolidating the railroad and property owned and held by them, and each of them, and all the powers and franchises now held, owned and possessed by them, and each of them, and that the name of the company formed by this consolidation shall be " The Western Union Railroad Company," and that the whole management of the affairs of such new company shall be under the management and control of a board of directors, consisting of the following named persons, to wit: Richard Irvine, S. P. !Nash, R. G. Ralston, Jacob S. Wetmore, Elijah Northey, H. A. Mills, Edward P. Barton, Wm. Shannon, D. W. Dame, G. A. Thomson, Darwin Andrews, S. C. Tuckerman and Henry T. Fuller.

Articles of agreement were made and concluded the 17th day of January, A. D. 1866, by and between " The Western Union Railroad Company, a corporation existing under, and by virtue of, the laws of the States of Illinois and Wisconsin," and " The jSTorthern Illinois Railroad Company, a corporation created and existing under, and by virtue of, the laws of said State of Illinois," thereby mutually merging and consolidating the railroads and property owne 1 and held by them, and each of them, and all the powers and franchises now held, owned and possessed by them, and each of them, and that the name of the corporation formed by this consolidation shall be "The Western Union Railroad Company," and that the whole management of the affairs of such new company shall be under the management and control of a board of directors, consisting of the following named persons, to wit: Richard Irvine, Jacob S. Wetmore, S. P. J^ash, R. G. Ralston, S. C. Tuckerman, Henry T. Fuller, Darwin Andrews, G. A. Thomson, E. P. Barton, H. A. Mills, D. W. Dame, Wm. Shannon and Elijah Korthey.

An act to authenticate and contirm the incorporation of the AVestern Union Railroad Company, and the consolidation thereof with certain railroad companies in Illinois, and to grant rights of transportation by water, was passed and approved xVpril 11, 1866.

To aid in constructing the West(n-n Union Railroad, thus consolidated and legally ])orfected in its m-ganization, farmers along the entire line from Racine to Rock Island contributed in subscriptions ranging from $300 to $15,000 each, for which they never received one dollar in return, many of the farmers losing their farms in conse(iuen(*e of encumbeiing them to meet the obligations thus assumed. The present numagement obtained lK)ssession and control of the road by direct purchase, receiving no contril)uti()ns or local aid. Through the influence of this road, ('arroU County has i)een placed on an ecpiai footing with the other counties of the state, and has developed her resources, which are ample, as the business resources of the road for the current year, given in another place, fully testify.

With the completion of the Chicago A: Pacific Railroad through to Lanark - now completed to within about ;>0 miles - and forming a junction there with the Western I'nion Road, a new era of prosperity will open before this people. Extended on to Sabula, and there uniting wkh the

Sabula, Ackley & Dakota Railroad, and extending on to the Missouri River, tapping the Iowa granaries, the pastun^s of Nebraska, and finally reaching the mineral and pine Jand regions of the Black Hills, by way of Yankton and the valley of the river that comes down from that district and discharges its waters into the Missouri at Brule City, and Carroll County will be on one of the great highways of the American Continent. And that consummation is only a question of time.

Miscellaneous

Carroll County was named in honor of " Charles Carroll, of Carroll ton," one of the signers of the Declaration of American Independence. Mount Carroll was named by the commissioners who located the county seat here, in 1843. They drove the stake designating the location on the highest point of ground here, a point that had sometimes been called Baby Mountain, and christened the place Mount Carroll.

Lanark was named after Lanark, Scotland, the home of the capitalists who furnished the money to aid in building the Western Union Rail Road.

Straddle Creek, now Carroll Creek, derives its name from a pioneer incident. A man named Chambers, who was the first settler at Chambers' Grove, was a man of about sixty years, short and rather corpulent. At one time in early days, he was assisting some surveyors, when they came to the banks of the creek, which rises in Ogle County. When the surveyors reached it, it was small and narrow. It was necessary to cross the stream, but they didn't exactly know" how to do it without wading, when Mr. Chambers remarked that he could straddle it, as short as his legs were. Some of the party offered to wager him that he could not even jump it. He did not like to take such a banter, and did straddle it - planted one foot on each bank. But he could not master the situation. He could neither go over nor come back. The banks were pretty high, and, in his struggles to right himself, he fell sprawling into the water, ninch to the amnsement of the party, who at once named it Straddle Creek. It was universally known to the people by that name until some of the younger ones became too refined to use the name in polite society, and they named it Carroll Creek. The old settlers still call it Straddle Creek.

Stag's Point. When the building of the mill was first commenced here, there were no w^omeu in the party. On one occasion, there being a good fiddler among the men, they improvised a dance. The ball-room was within a cabin that stood wdiere Sheldon's house now stands. The male dancers had males for partners. For a long time afterwards the place was known all over the country as " Stag's Point.''

From the report of the several vice presidents of the Old Settlers' Association, published in the Carroll County Mirror^ September 22, 1876, we glean the following record of firstlings in their respective townships :

Beport of Dr. E. Woodruffs Savanna. - A. Pierce, George and Y. L. Davidson, and Wm. Blundell were the first settlers. They settled here in the Fall of 1S28. They built the first liouses.

E. Woodrufi* was the first male school teacher, as well as the first physician. He taught school in the Winter of 1837-8. Miss Hannah Fuller was the first female teacher, and taught in 1836-7.

The Methodist people built the first church edifice. If was commenced in 1848 and finished in 1849. . Rev. Mr. Oliver was the pastor or circuit rider.

Report of L. E. GalusJia, Fair Haven. - The first settlement was made on the N. E. cpiarter of section 15, by L. E. Galusha, December 10, 1844.

The first school was taught in a small log house belonging to Samuel Geer, on the N. E. quarter of the N. W. quarter of section 23. Miss M. J. Healy, from Elkhorn Grove, was the teacher. The first school house was built on the S. E. quarter of section 15, in 1854.

Report of Henry Smith, Etk/ior?i. - T\\c first settlement was made on the iioi'th side of the Grove, on sections 7 and S, by John Ankeny, in 1831.

* The first sawmill was built on Plum Kivcr, about two inilcs oast of Savanna, in 1835, by L. II. and ,1. L. IJowcn. .1. L. Howcn was in charge of this mill up to ihe time of his death, in 1844.

In a letter from Dr. E. WoodruM, under date of November 19, 1877, to the ])ublishers, to l)e found on pai^e 248, tlie building of this mill is ereilited to .lames Craig. Dr. Woodrutl", at a subsequent date, but too late for the printer, called attention to the error, and hence the reader's attention is here called to the correction.

Report of C. Hege?nan, Rode Creek. - David Becker was the first settler. In 1811, he settled on land now owned bv Daniel Beldino'. The prairie was broken by E. Spaulding and L. T. Easterbrook. Becker gave the town its name.

The first machinery introduced in the township was an old threshing machine - simply a horse power and cylinder - owned by a ' man named Smith, and generally emplo,yed by Becker. The first thresher and cleaner was operated by S. Dunn and Cline, in 1847.

The first school was taught by Phebe Humphry, in the Winter of 1849-50, in an old log house rented for the occasion. The first school house was built in 1853. Asa Belding was the first teacher to occupy it.

Report of N. D. French^ of YorJ:. - N. D. French was the first settler. He settled here in 1835. William Dyson, senior, and Russell Colvin came in 1837.

Rejjort {verbal) of Duncan Mackay, Salem. - The first settlement was made by Mr. Daggart, in 1839. There were but fourteen families in the township when Mr. Mackay came. A man by the name of Walker undertook to build a mill, but never finished it. The first school house was built near where Mr. Kingery now lives. The school house was built and the school maiutained by private subscriptions. The teacher was D. B. Shattenkirk. The first orchard was set out in 1843.

made by John Bernard, in the year 1828 or 1829, on the farm now occu]»ied by Edward Hatfield, four miles north of Savanna, on what is known as the Savanna and Hanover road.

The first church was built about the year 1845, by the Presbyterians. The pastor was Rev. Mr. Harslia. It was located at what is known as Center Hill.

In the years 1830-1, James Temple and John Bernard opened a tanyard on the land now owned by Benjamin Hatfield. It was successfully operated until the Spring of 1832, when the Black Hawk War breaking out caused a sudden dissolution of the partnership, which was never again resumed, so the first and only tan-3'ard was of short duration.

The first and only mill w^as a saw mill, built by Joseph McCollipps. It was erected entirely by himself, and was commenced about 1841, but was not finished for several years. It was located on Rush Creek, about five miles north of Savanna.

Property Belonging To Railroads

BURWEMi Cll.iS. Well Drilling; Sec. 22; P. O. Ml. Carroll; born in Pickaway Co., O., Dec. 8, 1852; came to this Co., with his parent-, in IHT)'); not married.

born Aug. 24. 18U'.», in Germany; came to this Co. in 1836; owns 3'JO acres land, value :^ 11, 7U0; married Katli. Weitzel, in 1835; three children living and three deceased; she died July 12, 1849; m>irried second time Miss Elizabeth Schriner; she died Feb. 5, 1865, and April 15, 1870. he married Mi^^s Margaretha Friedrich, bis present wife.

DITSWOHTIl JOIIX, Farmer; Sec 12; P. O. Lanark; born in .MitHin Co., Pa., in 1834; lived there 18 years; came to Carroll Co., HI., in 1852, and ha.s livctl here 25 years; but little improvement liere when he came; not a hous* i i Lanark; Ikus hu.sked corn where the town n<iw stands; engaged in tarming and slock raising; owns 160 acres land; has held school offices; married Catherine Emmert, daughter of Joseph Emmert, Nov. 9. 1805; they have flvi" childrfii: Clayton, Oliver, William, Charles, Frank; lost one s-on.

tJEL, WICKS JOIIU, Farmer; Sec. 4; P. O. Mt. Carroll; born in Adams Co., Pa., April 13,1812; married Feb. 8, 1838, Elizabeth Alleman, who was born Oct. 9, 1815 ; they came to this Co. April 16, 1848 ; they have ten children, six boys and four girls.

GRAHAM \VM. Farmer ; Sec. 28 ; P.O. Mt. Carroll ; born in the Parish of Lairg, Sutherlandshire, Nortli of Scotland, in June, 1802; landed in Nova Scotia 14 years after; coming to this state in 1843; married Deorna Mackay in 1828 or '29, who was born at the same place as her husband, in 1804; they have seven children: James, Jennie, William, Ellen, Daniel, Annie and Robert.

HOSTETTER ABRAM B. Farm er and Stock Breeder; Sec. 9; P. O. Mt. Carroll; lives on East Wilderberg; born in Mt. Carroll, 111., June 1, 1847; his father, Dr. Abraham Hostetter, was one of the early settlers ; owns 213 acres land, worth $60 per acre ; married, JNIay 19, 1875, Hattie S. Irvine, who was born Sept. 18, 1848, at Mt. Carroll, 111.; have one daughter, Ada I.; Mr. Hostetter is a breeder of short-horn cattle and Berkshire and Poland China hogs.

HOSTETTER V. E. Farmer; Sec. 8; P.O.Mt.Carroll; owns "Wilderberg Place;" born in Cumberland Co., Pa., near Harrisburg, Nov. 18, 1842, and came to this Co. with his parents in 1845; his father. Dr. Abraham Hostetter, was a practicing physician of Mt. Carroll for ten years, bringing the first comi)lete stock of drugs to that place ; he moved on the farm in 1852; in 1865 he brought the first herd of short-horn cattle into the Co.; Mr. C. L. Hostetter is breeding them at the present time quite extensively, having some of the best cattle in the U. S. ; has served two terms as Justice of the Peace, and is now serving his fourth term as Supervisor; owns 187 acres land, worth $75 per acre.

KEITER GEO. \%\ Farmer; Sec. 10; P. O. Mt. Carroll ; born in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 22, 1817; lived there 27 years; removed to Pittsburg, and lived there 5 j-ears; came to 111., to Carroll Co., in 1854; has lived here 23 years; engaged in farming and stock raising; owns 87 acres laud; has held otfice of School Director; married Miss Emma M. Miles, from Cluster Co., Pa., Feb. 4, 1841 ; they have five children: Lewis M., John M., Charles I., Sallie M. and Edwin.

KENNEDY IIEXRY R. Rents his mother's farm; Sec. 4; P. O. Mt. Carroll; born in this Co. April 24, 1850; married Mary B. Philips March 3, 1875; she was born in this Co. March 3, 1856 ; one child only.

EOAVER EEI E. Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 13; P.O. Lanark; came to this Co. in the Fall of 1865; was born in Blair Co.. Pa., in July 17, 1843; has 320 acres laud, valued at $35 per acre - $11,- 200; republican; maiden name of wife, Naoma Snell ; born in Bedfoid Co., Pa.,

Banker, Farmer and Stock Kaiser; P.O. .Mt. Carroll; born in Sutlierlandshire, Scotland, in 1812; came to Nova Scotia in 18;}:i, and to Maine in ISoo ; he engaged in the manufacture of fine carriages, and did an e.\t('n.sive business, but in 1837 his atlairs sutlered on account of the panic; in 1840 he removed to Carroll Co., 111.; purchased several claims on arriving here, one of which is his present residence in the Tp. of Salem ; Mr. Mackay has given especial attention to the raising and developing of horses, havingsome of the finest specimens to be found in the country of the Percheron stock, having taken the sweepsrake premium at the State Fair at Freeport in the Fall ot 1877; in 186'45 he associated with seven other ciU izens of (Jarroll Co. in establishing the First National Bank at Mt. Carroll, willi a paid up cai)ltal of .v.")U,000, increasing in the second 3'ear to ^10<),t)>iO; Mr. M. has been President of tliis institution for the last 14 years; has iieUl most of the Co. offices of trust and confidence in the gift of the people; in 1873 Gov. Beveridiie appointed him Commissioner to the Vienna E.\posilir)u ; allerdischar'MUg the duties connected therewitii, hetraveTed extensively in Europe, whenborn; married Miss Jessie Mackay, of Nova Scotia, June !), 1«40; had twelve children: Aiuia .M.. Donald J., Helen B., Jennie M.. Lena li.. K.ite and Kllen. (twins) Charles. Henrietta J., .M. Jenette, Duncan and Ada.

MOFFF/rr ^V:»I. n. Farmer; Sec. 2; P.O.Lanark; born in Hancwk Co., Ind., June 27, 1832; came to this Co. in 1836; married Susan li. ReichanI, March 5, 1801 ; she was born near Martinsburg, Va., March 19, 1830, and came to this Co. in 1801 ; they have three children: Lester C, Nellie R. and Thorn J.

SCHRIXER CHAS. K. Farmer; !Sec. 20; P. O. Mt. Carroll; independent; Evaneelical Association ; born in Germany Dec. "27, 1847; came to this Co. in 1854; owns 80 acres land, valued at $3,200; married Miss Eliza Scliriner April 7,1868; she was born in this Co. Oct. 6, 1849; they have four children living, three sons and one dantrhter: Chas. W., Johnny A., Frankie B. and Katie A.

ISHKADER PETER, Farmer; Sec. 15; P. O. Mt.Carroll; born in Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa., Jan. 8, 1822; came to this Co. in 1846; married Cordelia Ray in Aug., 1849 ; she was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, Aug. 21, 1830; have six children, three sons and three daughters; owns 180 acres land, valued at $65 per acre.

TA^ RU^KTRK JESSE, Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 15; P O. Mt. Carroll ; born in Ohio, July 26, 1804; came to Jo Daviess Co. in 1827 ; came to this Co. in 1841 ; owns 320 acres land, valued at |35 per acre, or $11,200; is a democrat; married Clarasa Morton, who was born in Summit Co., O., Jan. 29, 1827; have had six children, three of whom died in infancy: Washmgton Elderado, Julia and Francis.

^VEBER HEXRY, Farmer; Sec. 30; P.O. Mt. Carroll ; born in Germany in 1843 ; came to this Co. 1858; is a democrat; member Lutheran Church; owns 160 acres land, valued at .$5,000; enlisted in Co. I, I. V. Mounted I., in 1862; was in all the skirmishes that his Regt. was engaged in, and served to the close of the war; married Miss D. Shulz, March 30, 1866; she was born in Germany; they have five children living, three boys and two girls.

ZIESCHE GOTTFRIED, Farmer; Sec. 20; P. O. Mt. Carroll; democrat; Lutheran; born July 17, 1822, in Germany; came to this Co. in 1868; owns 100 acres of land, valued at $4,000; married Christiana Ricbter in 1848; she was born in Germany; they have three children ; two boys and one girl.

ZIEEHART J. C. Farmer; Sec. 18; P. O. Mt. Carroll ; born ]\Larch 20, 1836, in Washington Co., Md. ; came to this Co. in 1849; owns 120 acres of land; married Miss Sarah Her, May 14,1864; she was born in this Co.; they have five children living, two boys and three girls: Ira, Emery, Ina, Lizzie and Lydia; lost one, Effie, who died in 1872.