Shabbona Township (part 4 of 5)

The year 1851 was known as a year of much rain, showers lasting nearly all summi r. The firsl Sunday in April one of the mosl furious snowstorms ever known in this country fell, and it is said that more than fifteeen inches fell in the course of the day. On Sunday following a similar storm came with equal severity. About a month after the snow and before the soil had become sufficiently dried for farming operations, a heavy rain set in and continued with but occasional intervals for more than two months. Tt is related that at one time the sun did no1 shine through the clouds for ered with green mold and the wheal crop was all scabbed, and little or none was raised that was really tit for Hour, and in some cases it sickened ami apparently po soned those who were compelled, from prevalent destitution, (o use it. Tha lead- became impassible and continued so during the most of the year. The board of county commissioners had done little more than to lay out roads and road districts, hut had done nothing toward their improvement. All the work of building pike^ and bridges was done locally under the direction of road masters. Bridges were built .nil-- tin streams so that people did not find it necessary to remain away from market as in pre- \ inn- years on account of high water. The bridges were built of wood and were rather crude structure- and were unable to resisl the \\ |- that came, and it can he truly stated that had all tin money that has been expended in De Kalb county for road work and for building bridges from the date of its organization to the present time, much of which has been of little value, there could have i hi n built out of an equal amount steel bridges and macadamized roads for nearly the whole county.

A reference to taxes levied in the road districts and townships and aid given In the county during these year- since 1845 will prove the truth of this statement. Although people generally took their produce to St. Charles they found even that distance \<-ry difficult to travel in years like 185] and it became evident that something must he i" -.line better means of communication with the outside world and transportation of the products oi tin- country to market. Heretofore all the g I- -..I. I 111 -inn-- were hauled Erom Chicago or from St. Charles, causing great inconvenience ami a large expenditure of n ey for the merchants. The Chicago. Burlington & Quincy was now in process of construction and promised i to the southern portions of the county. The Galena division of the Northwestern road was also being built, a branch of which was extended to St. Charles, which was then a very flourishing little city ami the principal market for all the northern part of the county. When the matter came before our people to bave the road extended through this county, touching Sycamore, the people were too poor to aid in the project. The plank road was established from Sycamore to St. Charles.

at tin- time being very popular throughout the eastern states and covered most of the distance between cities, but in a year or two the plank warped and the road became almost impassible and the planks were finally confiscated by the people living along the road and the project was given up. This was to be a toll road and and St. Charles and on the 12th of December of that year the first train entered that city and the scream of the locomotive was heard lor the first time in the Fox river valley. In August the Chicago ,V- Galena division of the Northwestern had completed their track to Elgin and had changed their route from St. Charles to that place. The citizens of that city, seeing that the salvation of their town depended upon the thoroughfare which had been opened, took the matter in their own hands and ran two trains a .lav from their town to the junction. Ira Minard controlled it until October, 1856, when it passed into other hands. The depot stood on the east side of the city of St. Charles on land now occupied by the Free -Methodist church. In Is:,:; he with others obtained a charter for fhe St. Charles & Galena Air Line road, into which the charter previously granted for the branch track was merged. .Minard became president of the company and a heavy stock was taken along the line. The Chicago & Galena road commenced with the ostensible purpose of extending to Galena never approached nearer that town than Freeport, hut from there depended upon fhe Illinois Centra] track. In an evil hour, one, E. C. Litchfield from Cazenovia, New York, appeared in St. Charles, representing that he and his friends possessed sufficient means to build a railroad through if he was allowed to take a controlling interest in the stock. He was permitted to subscribe for it, the thoroughfare was commended and graded from Chicago to St. Charles, the culverts were built, also the piers and abutments for the bridge across Fox river and the track was laid for nine miles from Chicago. Minard had staked his whole fortune of eighty thousand dollars upon the enterprise, while hundreds of must lie understood that Litchfield promised that the road would he finished and that it should not previously pass out id' his hands into the Galena 0] any other competing line. Never was a villainous scheme more successfully executed. When the controller of the stock had crippled the only man who had any power to oppose him and was assured that any opposition to his own designs would result in that man's ruin he coollv informed

Minard he had concluded to sell his stock in the Chicago an. I St. Charles Air lane to the Chicago & Galena C pany and promised to make reparation for any personal inconvenience which such a course might occasion him if he would raise no objection, lie was then permitted to take his choice and there was no choice to take. The refusal and loss of his property could not help his friends who were already ruined nor save his town, which was then doomed, and he accordingly took the course which any other sane man would have taken. The road en. led at the lies l'laines river and the grading upon the west bank of the l''o\ river, since it was not necessary for the interest of the Chicago & Northwestern Company to continue it. Seven hundred thousand dollars paid by hard working farmers and industrious mechanics across the country was lost and many farmers were reduced from wealth to poverty and the useless piers stood along the hanks of the Fox river as a monument to the perfidy of Litchfield until they were in later years occupied by the Chicago & Croat Western. The real estate of the St. Charles & Chicago Air Line had acquired a large amount of value, especially that part of the property which was to he used for depot and grounds in Chicago ami therefore the railroad property of this proposed line had appreciated enormously in value. There was more than enough to pay for all the work that had been done upon the road It has been reported that Litchfield and Minard by thus selling out their friends made a profit of over four hundred thousand dollars. Tt must he said in passing that the friends of Minard think he has been unjustly blamed for his course in the disaster, but it is sufficiently apparent that he was far beneath the mark of innocence. The loss of this railroad to those who had invested was the severest blow that had ever visited St. Charles and almost annihilated the village. Had that line been built through what is now Sycamore and Dixon to the river it is possible that the towns of Pe Kalb, Cortland and Malta would never have been built and Sycamore might have become one of the largest cities of northern Illinois. The assessed valuation of the property of Pe Kalb county in 1852 reached one hundred thousand dollars above the million dollar mark, and despite railroad disasters and a wet year the people were growing prosperous and the prospects that the ) pie of this locality would soon have markets by railroads had induced many people from eastern states and also many land speculators to buy the wild prairie. And we find that all but about twenty thousand acres of our land in this county at that time had been purchased. The Chicago & Burlington was completed as far west as De Kalb county and although the road was crude in its construction, merchants were able to ship their goods easily and farmers could send their produce to market.

The elections of 1852 were very exciting. The county was overwhelmingly democratic in politics,, but there was a very strong, active freesoil party and a sturdy, enterprising minority of whigs. The omnibus bill of 1850, with the fugitive slave law as part of its consideration, had created great opposition in the north. The democrat party could easily pledge itself to that measure as its great strength lay in the south. The whig? in convention pledged themselves also to the compromise of 1850, which drove many freesoilers from that party. Franklin Pierce was the democrat candidate for president and General Winfield Scott candidate of the whig party. The whig party naturally found its candidate opposed to the compromise of 1850, while its platform favored that measure and many of the freesoilers alluded to their ludicrous political position by stating that the candidates were spitting on the platform that their party had made. In this county five hundred and eighty-three votes were cast for Franklin Pierce, four hundred and fifty-six for General Scott and three hundred and fifty-five for the freesoil candidate. This ended the political existence of the whig party in De Kalb county. That party generally affiliated with the republican party, which came into organized existence here in 1854. James H. Beveridge, a merchant at Freeland Corners, in the town of Somonauk. was the first nominee of the new party for circuit clerk and recorder, was elected and held the position in this county until his election to the office of state treasurer in the early *G0s. Joseph Sixbury was chosen countytreasurer, Jacob E. Crossett. school commissioner, and Herman Furness, sheriff. Bills for tne care of paupers were paid by the county to the amount of six hundred and thirteen dollars and the question of the purchase of a poor farm was agitated at the meeting of the board of supervisors.

The first agricultural society of the county was organized and held a crude exhibition in the village of Sycamore on land near the present Patten factory. It has been stated by those present that the entire exhibit consisted of one old white bull chained to a stake in the center of a vacant lot, two or three horses, with as many cows and colts, and a few beets and pumpkins. The branch of the Northwestern road was extended to Dixon and a train was run into that city before midnight. January 1, 1854. Under the provisions of the charter the road was to be completed by that day, but for many miles of its course there was no grading, the ties were laid down on the prairie and leveled up with stove wood. It had neither station house, freight house, engine house or any other building. It was necessary that everything should be built over from the foundation, but the road gave a powerful forward impulse to the countrv. It brought a market to the produce of all this country to the doors of its growers. It seems incredible that the speculators could not foresee the advance in the intrinsic value of the land which was caused by this revolution in affairs, but yet tracts of land which would be purchased by land warrants at seventy-five cents per acre still lay open to entry. Upon the completion of the railroad to this county the people began to enjoy -Mine of the luxuries. Tropical fruits such as oranges and lemons were seen for the first time in our county.

At the meeting of the board of supervisors this year it was found that the expense accrued by paupers amounted to nearly seven hundred dollars yearly and in the hopes of lessening that burden the board of supervisors decided to purchase a county poor farm upon which some of this class it unfortunates could be made useful and contribute to their own maintenance. By order of the board of supervisors Silas Tappan and Jesse Tindall were appointed to purchase such a farm, which was to be located in one of the two middle tiers of townships, and Mr. Harrington, who was still chairman of the board, advertised for a loan of three thousand dollars with which to purchase it. In September the farm of A. H. Cartwright en the road between Sycamore and De Kalb was purchased for this purpose, the county borrowing the purchase money at the rate of ten per cent interest. Applications for license for the sale of

Newark Station, now Sandwich, was liable to be- "^ ~ come a strong competitor of Somonauk and one Majority for prohibition, 832. of the good cities of this county. That prophecy During the '50s De Kalb county took on more has been fully verified, Sandwich now being the airs of civilization, established lodges and prothird city in population in De Kalb county. moted lectures courses, while in the country the Thus in 1854 De Kalb county had railroad sta- schoolhouse was a social center, in which debating tions at Somonauk, Newark Station, De Kalb and societies were held and many of the public and Cortland. "On the 31st of May, 1854, appeared local questions of the day were discussed and ocin Sycamore the first number of the first news- casionally the old fashioned spelling school was paper ever printed in De Kalb county. The first indulged in and its accompaniment, the country number of this paper which was ever printed is school exhibition. In those days teachers would now in the possession of the Sycamore Library and ^11 the Pupils f°r months in preparation of these it is a valuable relic. It was called the Republican sPeUin£ matches and the best spellers of several Sentinel and edited and published by H. A. districts were often pitted against each other and Hough. The editor announced that the politics the one wno was victor in the contest was eonsidof the paper would be Eepublican Democratic, ered a veritable Socrates. Some of the social which sounds oddly enough at this day, but before functions of the '50s compare favorably with those the year was over he was publishing in his columns Rt the present time. The orthodox churches, the proceedings of the conventions of two parties, especially held revivals lasting nearly through the the Eepublican and the Democratic. The Sentinel en^Te winter. Hundreds of people were converted gave a vigorous and enthusiastic support to the and enuren membership rapidly increased. While prohibitory liquor law presented to the people of in *ne c'ities a ^ew church edifices were erected, the state that year for adoption or rejection, and stl11 tnere was Dut one m tne country, and that from its columns one would have inferred that the was tne United Presbyterian church of Somonauk politics of the county that season hinged on the township. All other exercises of a religious nature question of prohibition. And indeed the people of were llplcl in the schoolhouses. The schoolhouse De Kalb county went into this canvass with deep served as a voting place, was used for school purearnestness. On the 29th of June, 1854, a Main Poses- fnr religious services, funerals, debates and, Law Alliance was formed and a thorough canvass in fact> everything of a public nature, of the county commenced. It cannot be stated In 1 *-">-"> the Crimean war broke out in Europe, with truth that there was an unusual amount of which involved- the nations of England, France, drunkenness in our county, but they fought the Italy, Enssia and Turkey. This was one of the dragon with weapons of flaming fire and if it had later struggles to put Turkey, known as the sick depended upon the vote of De Kalb county the man, out of existence: and Eussia. while defeated vending of ardent spirits would have been for- in her attempt to Eussianize Turkey, still fought vigorously againsl the combined nations of Europe. This gave a wonderful market to the products of the United States. Dressed pork sold at ten dollars a hundred, live pork at eight dollars, horses fit for cavalry service brought an immense price, wheat sold for a dollar and a half a bushel, corn for seventy-five or eighty cents and wealth was pouring into the pockets of the fanners. But in such times of prosperity few are looking for a reaction and many who had paid for their farms with the money secured for one crop began to buy land, giving but little cash down and in some i ases their personal notes. The war suddenly came Pi an end in 1851 and the grain ami stock in the hands of the farmers fell rapidly in price. Tim-.' \ ho had purchased land were unable to meet their

-tore- on "tick" and bad put everj dollar thej possessed into land found themselves unable to pay their debts. Some sold out what they bail and left in the uight, while merchants failed all over the country. Some of the large institution-, as well as banks, failed by the hundreds, so that in L858 the country was paralyzed financially. Notwithstanding these hard times the '50s brought many people to De Kail, county. In 1856 more (ban a thousand came here from the eastern -Miami foreign countries to make their home-, adding to the material and social wealth of our county. P>\ this time all public lands were sold and people bad moved out on the prairie. Instead of the streams the little frami boxes dotted the prairies and the number of districts during tins year was as large as that of any later year in our county's history.

In lS-->4 a barber sel up -hop in Sycamore, hut did not depend upon his tonsorial labors alone, but did the work of dentist. In looking over files of the papers of that day we find that merchants were trying to induce the people to use kerosene oil. telling of its great advantages, of its economy and how much better light it gave than the tallow candles previously used, but people took up this illuminating fluid with diffidence. Kerosene oil was fifty cents a gallon and was thought fo he verv dangerous and many people a quarter of a centurv later, especially old people, preferred to r.sc the tallow candle. After the financial crash following 1857 the papers are full of tax sales and there were other evidences of financial disaster. In the '50s sewing societies were organized I v the ladies of the LTniversalist and Episcopal churches. Tin- was considered not strictly orthodox by some of the churches and it was many years later when all the churches had aid societies of this nature.

A hand was organized in Sycamore in L858, which event was of considerable interest to the people of the whole county. At the invitation of the people of Somonauk a benefit concert was held and wa- \ei\ well patronized. They extended their visits as far as St. Charles mi the east and Belvidere mi the north. In 1858 the firs! Teachers" County Institute wa- held, and the question tor ih-i U--IOH ami debate wa-. "Kesolved, that in Schools, a- Well a- In Nature. Order Is Heaven's First Law. and the First Duty of the Teacher Should He to Have Excellent Discipline." This was discussed through the entire day pro and con. and many of the teachers wdio participated in that discussion afterwards become prominent in other

Sycamore a political mass meeting of such a peculiar nature that a part of the record of its proeedings are worth perpetuating. In some respects \\ wa- the nio-t notable political event of our county. It was the organization of a new party out of the three old parties, and from this meeting may be dated the existence of the republican party in lie Kalh county. At this meeting delegate- were appointed to attend a republican convention called to n I at Aurora. These delegate- were thus apioned among the three old parties represented \- most of the names are prominent one- in our present politics, the reader may be interested in seeing their former affinities. Democrats. Horace W. Fay, G. A. Colton, Joseph Sixbury, James Harrington and Royal Crossett. Freesoilers, Pierpont Edwards, Stephen Townsend, Thurston ('air. David West, .lame- II. Beveridge and E. S. Gregory. Whigs, Reuben Pritchard, W. J. Hunt. A. J. Joslyn, William Byers, Dr. E. Pose and John N. Braddock. This convention was attended by many outside of the regularly appointed delegates and greai enthusiasm prevailed. Opposition to the fugitive slave law was growing rapidly and during this period the operations of the underground railroad wen extensive. The third annual Agri- cultural Fair of De Kalb County was held on the 11th and 12th of October of this year. It was a very tamo and spiritless affair, only twenty-six premiums being awarded in all, and these being divided among eighteen persons. Those of our citizens who participated in the demonstration were mortified at the poor display of the industry of the county, and at the close of the fair a meeting of the Agricultural Society was held, at which it was resolved to put forth every effort to enlist a deeper interest in the annual fairs among the farmers of the county, and from the success which has attended subsequent fairs it is evident that their resolutions were carried out with energy. At the county election this year William Patten of Somonauk was chosen representative in the legislature, William Phelps of Sycamore sheriff, and Lorenzo Whittemore coroner. The latter held office for a period of twenty years. John Settle, the treasurer of the county and an old and respected citizen, died on the 22d of October this year in the township of Pampas, and the vacancy in the office occasioned by his death was filled by the county court by the appointment of Joseph Sixbury.

The taxable property during the year 1854 reached the magnificent sum of one million nine hundred thousand dollars, and the total tax levied was twenty-five thousand three hundred and seventeen dollars. The number of horses in the county was four thousand and ninety, the number of cattle fifteen thousand seven hundred and forty, and sheep eighl thousand five hundred and eight. It is needless to state that of this tax of over twenty-five thousand dollars was collected with greater ease than the tax of fifteen years previous of less than four hundred dollars, and at this time it was no burden to the tax-payer, while in the year 1S40 a tax of five dollars meant an almost unbearable burden. "An act of congress passed in September, 1850, had donated to certain states the swamp and overflowed lands within their borders for educational purposes, and this state had decided to transfer this property to the several counties to be expended at their discretion. The land had been surveyed and a commissioner of drainage appointed as early as 1853. A special session of the board of supervisors of this county was held in September of this year to take measures to dispose of these lands. On motion of Supervisor William Patten it was voted that the net proceeds of the

-ale of these lands should be paid to the county school commissioner and by him to the township treasurers, to be loaned out for the benefit of the school fund, in the same manner as were the proceeds of the sale of the Kith, or school section, in each town. The price of the first-class land was fixed at six dollars; of the second-class a1 three dollars and fifty cents; and of the third class at one dollar and twenty-five cents. But no small amount of these lands had been purchased of the government by individuals, before the report of the surveyor, designating the lands selected as swamp lands, had been received by the United States authorities. It was provided that titles to these lands -should he confirmed to the original purchasers upon their paying the county the purchase money or relinquishing the warrant used in the entry, it being understood that the Ohiied States would refund the purchase money to those who had thus entered them. At this session a petition was received for the organization of the town of Alton, which was dulv accepted."

During the year 1S55 the county paid its indebtedness on the poor farm and owned their property, valued then at about five thousand dollars, and il held also a count)- bond valued at one thousand, one hundred and thirty-five dollars.

About this lime an agitation sprang up in favor of building a branch road from Cortland to Sycamore, and as the county seat "bugaboo"' was kept rife in the minds of some of the Sycamore politicians it was stated that if Sycamore could not get railroad communication with the outside world it would lose the courthouse, so the people put their hands in their pockets and raised a sum necessary for the building of that road, which later became known as the Sycamore & Cortland Jerk Water, which in the later '80s was purchased and is now owned by the Northwestern road. Twenty thousand dollars was raised from this sale and was paid into the school fund of the Sycamore district, which fund is kept intact and the interest raised therefrom goes toward the support of the public schools id' the city.

The census of 185.) shows Sycamore as having a population of eight hundred, in 185G De Kalb five hundred, in 1857 Cortland one hundred and eighty-six. The census of 1855 shows the following population : Genoa, eight hundred and ninety-five; Kingston, eight hundred and seventy- four; Franklin, eight hundred and thirty-seven; South Grove, four hundred : Mayfield, eight hundred and thirty-five; Sycamore, sixteen hundred and forty-six ; Pampas, eleven hundred and eightytwo; De Kalb. fifteen hundred and eighty-eighl ; Pierce, six hundred and twenty-seven ; Squaw- Grove, five hundred and fifteen; Clinton, eight hundred and sixty-seven; Shabbona, nine hundred and sixty-sis : Paw Paw. nine hundred and fortyfour; Victor, three hundred and ninety-nine; Somonauk. eleven hundred and twenty-one; total, thirteen thousand, six hundred and thirty-six.

In 1856 after considerable agitation the board of supervisors appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions from the citizens of Sycamore for the erection of a county jail, reported no success in their mission and recommended that the county proceed to build a jail without their aid. After a heated discussion and considerable filibustering in opposition the board appropriated five thousand dollars for this purpose and appointed John S. Brown, Dr. James Harrington and Alonzo Ellwood a building committee. Those voting in favor of this proposition were G. H. Hill of Kingston, .1. S. Brown of South Grove. William Patten of Somonauk, I. W. Garvin of Genoa, W T. Kirk of Franklin, H. S. Champlin of Pampas, James Parker of Mayfield, <'. M. Eumiston of Pierc and James Harrington of Sycamore. Those opposed were T. S. Terry of Shabbona, and Alonzo Converse of DeKalb. The work was started at once and after a period of twenty-one years De Kalb county had its first jail. Prisoners had been allowed and encouraged to escape if the crime of which they were guilty was not of much consequence, and in many instances when the county had a criminal charged with murder, forgery or some other heinous crime, the sheriff or his deputy was compelled to sleep with him, having the hand of tli.' criminal tied to that of the sheriff.

William Fordham. drainage commissioner, reported that he had sold lands to the value of twenty-three thousand, seven hundred and eightythree dollars ami seventy-six cents and received in cash fourteen thousand, five hundred and seventy-five dollars and eighteen cents, and in notes nine thousand, two hundred and sixteen dollars and fifty-eight cents. The committee report that they are satisfied with the course of Fordham in the matter.

The town of Victor was organized with its present boundaries in 1852, Afton in 1853, Pierce in 1853, Malta in 1856 and Milan in 1857. Added to the calamity of 1851 one of the wet seasons, which seemed to have appeared every seventh year, set in, and before the planting season arrived floods of rain drowned vegetation, enveloped the country in seas of mud and rendered it almost impossible to conduct farming operations with any degree of profit. Wheat which was raised that year was not very marketable and the crop that had sold the previous year at one dollar and a half a bushel now fell to forty and fifty cents.

The Agricultural Society held its fair north of the village of Sycamore on land now owned by Frederick Tomlin. These exhibits began to attract considerable attention and were great occasions in this county. It is stated that five or six thousand people attended on special occasions. The December session of the board of supervisors changed the name of the town of Aetna to Malta. 'I he proposition for erecting a fireproof building for the court records was voted down.

The True Republican, a publication still in existence, was published for the first time in 1858. The Be Kalli Time* came into existence in 1850 and the Prairie Home was published at Sandwich. These papers were edited by men of ability and became prominent. It was found that during those stirring times there was no place for the neutral paper and in time all of them became identified with a party. During the year 1858 a tornado swept over the northern portion of the county during the month of April and destroyed broad belts of timber and much property, but no lives were lost. The total tax of 1858 was sixtynine thousand, nine hundred and five dollars, of which seventeen thousand was state tax, seven thousand school tax. eight thousand county tax and thirty-eight thousand town, road, bridge and other taxes. The total value of property of the county was three and a half million.

In 1859 at the county convention held during this summer Hiram Ellwood was nominated for county treasurer. X. S. Greenwood for school commissioner and J. W. Eeid county surveyor. Mr. Roswell Dow was a candidate for the nomination at that time and his friends discredited the methods adopted by that convention and urged him to become an independent candidate. Tip to that time this was the most sharply contested election ever known in county politics. Ellwood received nine hundred and eighty-five votes and Dow nine hundred and sixty-two.

The year of 1850 witnessed the passing of the Fugitive Slave Law and the growing opposition to slavery. Then the underground railroad began to be operated and a chapter bearing on this subject is thought not to be out of place at this time.

Underground Railroad

The history of the underground railroad in this county was never written and, in fact, it would be difficult to secure a good history of the movement, as all of its operations were supposed to be generally conducted in a secret manner. Synopsis of the underground railroad. "It was a strange road. It had neither locomotive nor cars; it ran in the darkness and was invisible. Its operations were so secret that people called it the underground railroad. The friends of this mysterious railway declared that its charter came from God and that it ran from the northern portion of the southern states to Canada. Its officers were largely volunteers and its route was that which afforded to its passengers the greatest safety - salary, time, if not paid in this world will surely be in the next; running expenses donated. It is true that the present generation knows but little of the moaning of the term, underground railway, and we have been surprised to hear people who have attained their majority ask if there really was a railroad that ran under ground. It is not such a strange question in view of the fact that we may have so many city railways that are now operated under the surface of the earth. The work of this road was simply to aid the fugitive slaves of the south to Canada, where freedom was assured. A conductor on one of these roads not only jeopardized his life but subjected himself to a heavy fine and imprisonment under the fugitive slave law in Illinois, and if one will refer to the statute books that were printed after the adoption of the new constitution of 1848 they will find heavy fines and long terms of imprisonment for those convicted in aiding negroes from slavery to freedom. Some of the citizens of De Kalb county who aided in this movement were the Beveridges. of Somonauk township; Deyeo, of South Grove;

David West, of Sycamore; Starr Gregory, of Genoa; Niekersons, Townsends and Nicholses of Mayfield. There may have been other places and perhaps many, but these homes became well-known and have been remembered by the people who lived at those times as the principal places where this business was carried on. The only passengers using the underground railway were the negro people then in slavery and it had been running years before Lincoln's famous proclamation was signed and it might be well to state here the feeling of Abraham Lincoln when he attached his name to that immortal document. After he had drafted it and laid it aside for reflection it was brought to him to sign. He lifted his hand to the place of signature and then it fell by his side. Again he lifted it and again it fell. Then turning to some one near him he said, "I have been shaking hands with the people all day and my hand is very weak and shaky. If I should tremble as I write my name on this paper, which will be handed down in history, if any deed of mine is, all the wrorld will say 'he hesitated.'' " He lifted his hand once more to the place of signature and steadily and firmly wrote the A. Lincoln, with which all the world is now familiar. Then leaning back satisfied hr said, "that will do." Its principal stations were through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio - the route that afforded the passengers the greatest safety - and lay through the anti-slavery portions of the three states mentioned. The homes of abolitionists whose aim was to carry fugitive slaves from one station to another with safety were the stations used. It must be remembered that it was not without fear and trembling that many of the escaped slaves, who started on their perilous journey, for if they were captured the usual penalty was to sell the escaped slave further south. The home of Deacon West, one of the early pioneers here, whose latchstring was always out, especially to the poor slaves of the south, came to be known as one of the most ardent abolitionists in this section of the country. The old covered wagon shown in the picture was made by him and used as a car in the running of the underground railroad. The son standing beside it was occasionally pressed into service as conductor in his younger days. The wagon and its history is known all over the immediate country. It is now past active service but still stands on the premises as

.. souvenir of those 'lark days. Soon after their arrival in Illinois in the early morning the We&t children had their first sight of a colored person. He was in the house only long enough for his meals and was on the alert every moment as this was his - cond attempt to escape. During the day he hid in tin- cornfields anil slept in the barn at night. Finally Mr. West took bis wagon and put in some ags o it, covering them up, with the negro hidden somewhere in the load, started for the next station near St. Charles. On the way he was stopped and asked to see what he had in his load, lie told them that was his business and whipped up his horse, soon turned in a new road and heard nothing more from the man following him. A man, woman and three small children were brought Tlie children were kept upstairs most of tin- time The bahy was taken sick, however, and the children were sen! down stairs t<, stay in the kitchen. Thej were rather unruly Inn seemed t" be in mortal fear. If they -aw any one approach the liouse they would ask if they were after and if they were told ye.-, they would fly under the bed quick as a flash and remain as quiel a- mice. After that Mr-. West knew how t" manage them. They were taken on a- soon as possible. Mr. Wesl had no trouble conveying In- passengers to tin station beyond him hut could not always trace them to their journey's end - Canada. Once there were seven grown men brought there ami Mr. Wes1 was away from home. They hid through the day inn Mr-. West got a little nervous over so many and -tailed ber -on off with them about midnight, reaching the next station before daylight, and from there they were passed on. One negro told how he rubbed onions on the bottom id' his shoes to fool the hounds hut this had to he repeated many times in order to break the scent. Often they would wade in streams for a mile or more. or. if possible, steal a mule and ride for some distance. All this tended to baffle the dogs in pursuit. Once the presence oi two runaways hid fair to make it more than usually interesting for Mr. West, a- a southern sheriff was on his trail and the pursuit was active and determined. One day the sheriff appeared in Sycamore and posted a bill, describing the two slaves, and upon it was an ten thousand dollars for their apprehension. II. came to the house and questioned Mr. West verv closelv hut he had grown skillful in giving evasive answers if he chose and the man went away no wiser than when he came. Later the men were taken on. It can he stated at this time that prominent men of Sycamore were anxious to receive part of the ten thousand dollars reward ofi and tried in every way possible to assist in the capture of the two valuable negroes, but upon being informed by Sylvanus Holcomb that Deacon West was skillful with a rifle and could hit the eye of a deer at long range, they thought best to return r<> Syeammv and give up the matter of securing the ten thousand dollars for the capture of the negroes. Strange a- it seems to us now ninetenths of the people of DeKalb county in the early '50s were opposed to the plan of the underground railway. Once in the early '50s two negroes appeared at the home of Mr. Dey< f South Grove, who was a well-known conductor on tin- underground railway and he thought best nut to he caught in tran-porting slaves to Canada, so he secured the services of his hired man. Mr. James Pureed, now a resident of South Grove, and somi during the night started him for the home oi Joshua Townsend, of Mayfield, with these directions. "Look neither to the right nor to the left. It,, n,,t look behind you or you will become a pillar salt, inn drive directly to Joshua Townsend's house and hack up to his cellar door." Appearing there -nine time after midnight he found Mr. Townsend awaiting him according to the directions of Mr. he.,-,,, and the load wa- taken out and hidden in the cellar and Mr. Purcell invited to breakfast. At another time Mr. Deyeo sent Mr. Ed. Becker, now a resident of South drove, to the of William Nickerson with runaway negroi - to I" -in on to the station near St. Charles. In the city of Chicago a Dr. Dyer was a well-known conductor of the underground railway and he was attacked by an assistant United States marshal. and a bloody battle ensued on In- doorstep. Dr. Dyer was wounded but he killed the officer and wounded another. Excitement ran high hut the ment by tin- time had grown rapidly in favor of anti-slavery and he escaped without punishment. Many of the negro men and women that appeared at the homes of these abolitionists in DeKalb county were covered with stripes from head to foot and had suffered untold agonies in timent grew apace and perhaps more than any other factor this book secured the organization of a party that was opposed to the further extension of that relic of barbarism - slavery.

On another occasion seven fugitives, man. wife, and children, came to the house of Deacon Wesl when he was away. Mrs. West felt some hesitancy in taking them in in the absence of her husband, but the children urged her to do so. They found one of the seven a white girl. At supper time the old folks were allowed to eat first and the pretty white girl and the children had to wait with the other members of the family. Supper over, the problem arose as to how the)- would keep so large a number, but by making beds on the floor all were cornfortablv entertained for the night. Morning came, but .Mr. West did not, and -lie sent her >nii over to Deacon Kellogg, who was also friendly to the cause, and told him how they were situated. He said he would lei his eldest son go and take his team and .Mr. West's wagon, so the seven were loaded up and started for the next station near St. Charles, reaching Dr. Bartlett's soon after midnight and went to the door and knocked. He came and asked what was wanted and was told that he had seven fugitives. Mr. Bartlett said that he understood they were coming and had made provision for them. After putting up the team he remained all night at the home of Mr. Bartlett, who took the party on to Chicago, where thev were placed on a boat and taken to Canada. About a year later a letter was received from the young lady, who was then aboul twenty years old. In the meantime she had learned to read and write quite intelligently. She said they were happy in their new Canadian home and could not thank us enough for helping them on their way to freedom. The exact date cannot be remembered, but it was sometime in the early '50s. In Mayfield, where a branch of the Weslevan church had been organized, one of whose cardinal principles it was to oppose slavery, there was a large settlement that gave much time and energy in the assistance of slaves on their way to Canada. These abolitionists advocated emancipation of slavery when ministers behind pulpits denounced it. On one occasion Ira Nichols, a pioneer of Mayfield, was on his way to St. Charles with a load of grain, among the sacks of which was packed a negro about twenty-five years of with the deputy United State- marshal offering a reward of live hundred dollars for any one who would apprehend the slave and restore him to his master. Members of the two old political parties held freesoilers in contempt for many years, and some of them sneeringly said when they passed the Brush Point settlemenl that they rode through it as quickly as possible to escape the smell of tln> negro. This kept up and in fact grew in effectiveness until the war broke out in 1861. After that time no attempts were made by slave owners te follow their escaped slaves into northern territory and the emancipation proclamation which has been mentioned in the beginning of this article rather closes the business of the underground railway.

Points From The Sentinel, The Fiest I'Aper Published In Df Kami

H. A. Hough, on May 31, 1854, in the first paper issued to the people of the county, makes a salutatory address to his prospective patrons, but so far as county news is concerned we find but very little has been given. In it we find some news of congress, some mi the Kansas and Nebraska bill and foreign news galore, lint so little of county news that the paper is not so valuable as one might think. The county was then nineteen years old and many of the old settlers were still alive, and had the local news been given as fully as now we might have considerable that would be of interest. There are many topics of a moral nature, some of the subjects being Our Home, Solitude. Early Death, Sabbath Reflections, etc.

In the Sentinel of June 21st the opening of the Japanese ports by Commodore Perry is given and a whole column is devoted to the circumstances attending the Japanese treaty. Little did that individual think that in less than fifty years Japan would rise to be of world power. In one of the issues flax culture is encouraged and from the latter '50s until the prairie sod was generally subdued flax became quite a profitable crop.

In the early '50s cholera swept through the Mississippi vallev and in some localities many deaths occurred from that terrible disease. As the coun- try became older and better settled so many of the contagious diseases that were so common in the early '50s are practically unknown. In 1851 the Sentinel makes mention of the seventeenyear locusts, which came in large numbers and destroyed considerable vegetation.

The Fourth of July celebration of 1854 was a memorable occasion. We iv.nl nf Revolutionary soldiers and 1812 soldiers being invited to join the procession, but as no list of those invited appear* we presume that in 1854 the Revolutionary soldiers bad stopped marching in every part of the Union. A number of toasts were responded to l>> some of the Leading citizens of Sycamore and an address was made by John A. Bross, a prominent republican politician of Chicago. A grand banquel was spread and several hundred sat d"\\ n to partake of the repast.

In an article of August L7th the editor, II. A. Hough, made a pilgrimage to the south part of the county. Passing through Cortland be speaks of n as a place destined al no distant date to make a thriving town. He speaks in glowing terms of Somonauk, which at that time contained a depol and perhaps fifteen or twenty houses, and also mentions a new church thai is Well under way. In passing through Victor and Paw Paw he speaks of the fine farm- and the good agri he mentions as a thriving village. T. J. Carney, id' Sycamore, was pastor of the Universalis! church, and in the i>sue of August, 1854, makes an attack upon Spiritualism, which at thai time seems to have many adherents. The wife of T. .1. Carney was the author .if the famous poem, --Little drops of water, little grains of sand."

lion. Joshua R. Giddings, of Ohio, one of the leaders of the anti-slaver: element, delivered an Address at the Anti-Nebraska convention, which lias been alluded to in another part of this work. Mr. Gidding's oration was listened to with a great deal of interest. Dr. Madden, of Mayfield, presided over the meeting and introduced the speaker. This meeting marks the organization of the republican party. Stephen A. Douglas delivered an address to his political adherents in this city in August, 185 1. Thus this section of i he -late early became the political battle-ground of Illinois. In the issue of September, 1854, a number of extracts are given from the address. His article on the know nothing and the republican parties is interesting reading at this late date. The address was delivered in the old courthouse. Later in the year of 1854 the editor resumes his pilgrimage about the county and visits Genoa, which he describes as a truly delightful spot on the face of this earth. .Speaks of it as being located in the east part of the grove near the Kishwankee. There are twenty dwelling houses in the village, one nice church, which was built this

Allen. Israel Dowd and Ball Brothers, two blacksmith shops, one carriage and wagon shop, one |i;uni shop, two hoot and shoe shops and two hotel* conducted by II. N. Perkins and II. Durham, one broker's office and one sawmill, which was no doiihi located just west of the village on the Kishwaukee, and >avs it has a population id' about one hundred. The shipments of grain from Genoa that year he gives at thirty thousand bushels.

At the democratic congressional convention of is:, i linn. Edward L. Mayo, of Sycamore, was nominated for congress. .Tames II. "Woodworth m;i- nominated by the republicans as a candidate of congress ami Etoberl S. Blackwell was the candidate of the whig part}-. H. C. Beard, afterward county superintendent id' schools, was nominated by the whig party for representative. Charles 0. 1'xiyntoli. of Sycamore, was secretary of the whig convention. He afterward became prominent in the democratic party. The election of 1S51. while an oil' year election, was one of considerable interest. W Iworih carried the county for congress by aboul lifteen hundred plurality. The whig part} made a very poor showing and disappeared from the political arena entirely. On November 30 Editor Hough issues a letter to his patrons and to the people of De Kalb county in general appealing for support. He states that "his expenses have been six hundred and ninety-six dollars and ninety-nine cent-, and his receipts four hundred and three dollars and fifty-seven cents, leaving us out of pocket in cash two hundred and ninety-three dollars and forty-two cents. Thus it will lie Been that we have worked for glory and are out two hundred and ninety-three dollars and forty-two cents for honors. Now. we have worked for glory so long that it comes perfectly natural, but the latter statement, to say the least, is a doubtfu] one. With our books no one has any business and we shall not at this time make an exhibit of them, but if the above facts produce nervousness in any of our creditors we hope they will call and pay their bills. We are prepared to meet all demands." At this time, however, about seven hundred dollars was due Editor Hough and this it took a long time to collect. Thus it will be seen that the newspapers of the county today pay far better than the pioneers in this field of the early '50s. The editor again takes up his little journeys over the county and visits De Kalb Center, which changed its name from Buena Yista. He speaks of the prosperity of that village, says it has about four hundred people, a large steam mill and a number of stores and mentions quite a number of the business men of that time, such as B. M. Dayton, A. II. Cartwright, Eeuben Hiland. Appleby. Love. (i. A. Colton and Dr. Hyslop. In describing the chief parts of the county he does not neglect his home city, mentions three churches, the pastor of the Congregational being Eev. Darius Gore ; Methodist. Rev. D. L. Window, and the Universalist church, built the past season, pastor Eev. T. J. Carney. The latter church is to be dedicated January 11. 1854. A brick schoolhouse has been erected, which is the best one in this locality, two brick blocks have been erected, a brick tavern, several dry goods stores, a drug store and three taverns, being kept by Messrs. W. M. Maxfield. A. Edson and Wadsworth. A carriage and wagon shop is kept by Cobb and Preston, and there is also a blacksmith shop, shingle factory, meat market and seven lawyers' offices.

The paper was not published regularly, as an editorial statement will show, for one day while they were getting the machinery ready expecting to print the paper another eastern mail arrived with news from the seat of war. Crimea, and news from Washington, and the machinery was stopped, additional matter put in type and the paper issued. A lecture was delivered by Judge Depp, of Virginia, which created considerable excitement. Judge Depp had been a slave and had become free, was well educated and a speaker of considerable force and his story gave quite an impetus to the anti-slavery cause in this locality. It was thought by many that he was the equal of Fred Douglas.

1859 had been one of depression. Added to these difficulties the weather had been unpropitious. The year 1858 had been one of flood and rain, while 1859 was a year of great drought. In the year of 1860 spring opened unusually early. Wheat was sown as early as February. The drought of i lie previous year had drawn the moisture of the subsoil to the surface from an unusual depth and with the fructifying substance held there in solution seemed to have covered the whole county with a coating of fertilizer. The average yield of wheat, corn, oats, flax, hay and barley was unprecedented. Even to this day the year 1860 is known as the year of the great crop. Fruit and vegetables were also produced in great abundance. It seemed to be a year of general prosperity and during the early autumn crops were marketed at prices that were unusually high and the farmers who had been debt ridden for years began to feel great relief. During the year 1860 was one of great political excitement. In 1856 the first real opposition to the slave power from a political standpoint took form and eleven states of the Union registered their disapproval of the extension of slave power. The political excitement of

1860 was even greater than that of 1840 and much more was at stake for the nation. Political meetings were held early in the season and continued at almost every sehoolhouse and public place gathering during the fall. The republicans were organized into a body known as the wide-awakes and the democrats into an organization known as the Douglas enthusiasts. One of the most notable gatherings that ever occurred in this county was the political meeting held at De Kalb. when Cassius M. Clay, of Kentucky: Isaac N. Arnold, of Chicago, who was at that time congressman from this district: John F. Farnsworth, and many other eminent speakers wen' present. An ox was roasted at this meeting and distributed free to the attendants. The wide-awakes in uniformed political body with torches and banners attended in large numbers, nearly half of the young men in the county being members of this organization. People came from other counties and it has been estimated that thirty thousand attended. It is sate to say that no gathering has been held in this county -nice that equalled this in size and enthusiasm.

Past And Present Of De Kali'. County

this date. De Kalb count}- gave Lincoln three thousand and forty-nine rotes; Douglas, nine hundred and fifty. The republican party nomination was by this time considered equivalent to an election and 1800 marked the first strife for republican nomination. The candidates for recorder this year were Mr. J. H. Beveridge, who had filled the office eight years; Silas Tappan. of Squaw Grove; Roswell Dow, of Sycamore, and C. M. Brown, of Sycamore. ('. M. Brown was the successful nominee. Thomas S. Terry, of Shabbona, was chosen representative ; Baldwin Woodruff, of Clinton, sheriff; Lorenzo Whittemore, coroner. At this election four thousand and nine votes were given in favor of a convention to form a new constitution.

the county a population of over nineteen thousand, distributed as follows: Genoa, one thousand: Kingston, one thousand and sixty: Franklin. nine hundred and forty-three; South Grove, seven hundred and eighty-seven; Mayfield, one thousand and forty: Sycamore, two thousand two hundred and eighty; Pampas, one thousand three hundred and ten: Malta, six hundred and twenty; Milan, two hundred and sixty-three; Afton, five hundred and forty-five; Pierce, nine hundred and fifty: Squaw Grove, eigb.1 hundred; Clinton, nine hundred and ninety-seven: Shabbona, nine hundred and sixty-three: Paw Paw. one thousand one hundred and seven; Victor, seven hundred and sixty-six; Somonauk, two thousand two hundred and forty: De Kalb. one thousand nine hundred. The year 1865 was one of general gloom. The war. which many supposed would be of short duration, had assumed immense proportions and battles larger than ever had been fought on this continent were transpiring almost weekly. Thousands upon thousands had lost their lives, or had been crippled, and added to this, the beginning of the year 1862 the Union army had gained no decided advantage. The calls for troops came in rapid succession to fill up the depleted ranks of our defeated armies and up to this time the response was generous and prompt. Those enlisting in the Western Army had won some battles that had a telling effect upon the rebellion, such as Fort Donelson, Shiloh. Island No. 10 and the capture of Nashville. The call for troops this year came in the midst of the busy labors of the harvest field and eight hundred of the best young men of the countv enrolled themselves on the roster of the army. In October of this year a total of eleven hundred and thirty-three men was enlisted from this county. An enrollment made at this time with reference to those subject to draft showed that only thirty-three hundred remained who were able to do military duty. The enlistments so far were distributed as follows:

The total number of bounties paid from the county treasury this year was three thousand four hundred and sixty-six. The assessment made in 1862 placed the total value of property in De Kalb county at two million seven hundred and twelve thousand dollars, of which one million, nine hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars was in farms, one hundred and ninety thousand dollars in town property, a little more than a half million in personal property. The actual value of the last class was probably ten times and of the former classes five times the amount for which they were assessed. The returns show that there were ten thousand seven hundred and thirty-four horses, twenty-four thousand eight hundred and eighty-four cattle, sixteen thousand and twenty hogs, five thousand and ninety-two sheep and one hundred and thirty-eight mules owned in the county. It gave a comparative idea of the wealth ,n the present tune. The money deposited in one of the half dozen hanks in De Kalb county at the present time is as much as the assessed valuation of personal property in 1862.

In 1861 the Douglas democrats and republican? had formed a union ticket, the republicans, although four to one. giving the democrats half the candidates Dominated in the convention. The No- vember elections of 1862 were fought out under part.v organizations. A reaction had set in and the opponents of the war were making themselves heard.

W. W. Sedgwick was chosen a member of the legislature, Henry Safford was made sheriff and Jacob R. Crossett, coroner. At the autumn session of the board of supervisors the claim of the county against the United States, under the swamp-land grant, was offered at auction. "W. T. Kirk offered fifteen hundred dollars, A. K. Stiles offered nineteen hundred and twentyfive dollars, Reuben Ellwood offered two thousand and twenty dollars, W. J. limit offered two thousand and forty-five dollars and Benjamin Page two thousand and fifty dollars, all upon credit. R. Ellwood then amended his bid to two thousand and twenty dollars cash, and it was struck off to him. Five supervisors voted against the proposition to sell and their written protest against it was recorded. They were Messrs. C. Winne, R. M. Pritchard, T. J. yandevere, G. W. Culver and S. Denton. Soon after it was reported that injustice had been done to the county by this sale and the board was called together for an investigation. A committee of the board presented an elaborate report, giving the full history of the swamp-land matter, which was to the following effect:

They report that in 1852 John L. Beveridge had been appointed drainage commissioner, with authority to drain and sell the swamp-lands, but that he was soon after succeeded by William Pordham. By April, 1853, Mr. Lamb, the county surveyor, had selected as swamp-lands thirty-one thousand one hundred and fifty-three acres, but none of these lands had been conveyed to the county until 1858, when only five thousand, seven hundred and fortyone acres were conveyed, the' remainder, about twenty-five thousand acres, having meanwhile been sold by the United States to individuals. The policy of the United States in regard to lands selected as swamp-lands, but which it had thus sold, was to return to the county the money paid in cases in which money had been used in paying for these lands and to give land warrants in cases in which the lands had been paid for in warrants. The United States had accordingly paid into the state treasury for the benefit of this county six thousand seven hundred and eighty-six dollars in

Mr. Ellwood had gone to Springfield immediately after the sale by the county and had drawn six thousand five hundred and forty-three dollars and nineteen cents in money. The land warrants had not yet been received. Messrs. Kirk and Stiles testified before the committee that they did not know that the money was at Springfield at the time of the sale. Mr. Ellwood testified that he did not know that it was, but supposed that it was or would be soon. He supposed, however, that it was a smaller amount. He offered to re-eonvey all the land warrants to the county if it would pay the expenses of the trip he had made to Washington to procure them.

For the land sold by Fordham nothing had been paid into the treasury. He had removed from the county in 1855, but reported that he had received from the sale of these lands fourteen thousand five hundred and seventy-eight dollars and eighteen cents; that he charged for his services three thousand four hundred and fortvthree dollars, and had paid for ditching six thousand dollars, leaving five thousand dollars in his hands. The committee thought that very little of this ditching was ever done. He had soia for the county eight thousand seven hundred and thirty-one acres, a. large proportion of which was land subsequently sold by the United States to individuals. Upon such sales the county had been compelled to refund to those who purchased from it, and already raised by taxation and paid over six thousand dollars for this purpose. The county had commenced suit against Fordham" s bondsmen, but had settled it for thirteen hundred dollars.

Thus this rich heritage intended for the benefit of the county, and which, had it been retained and wisely managed, would not have been worth more than half a million dollars, had really cost the county several thousands of dollars more than it had received from it,

The year 1863 whs pecuniarily a prosperous season for De Kalb county. It had been drained of a large proportion of its population and by this time nearly two thousand men from this county were under arms and some farms lay waste and unfilled for want of men to work them. Yet the days of stump tail currency had passed and the country had been put upon a firm financial basis.

The tai'itl' bill which was enacted was furnishing considerable revenue and wise national legislation had brought the currency up to a higher standard. In 1S01 many of the banks of issue were in the southern states and soon failed, leaving the bank currency in possession of the owner absolutely worthless. The newspapers tried to post their customers as to the solvency of certain banks, but they failed with such rapidity that it was impossible to do so. Many a farmer came to town with stump tail currency in his pocket to pav for produce, finding his money absolutely worthless, but in 1863 the necessities of war had made a market for the productions of the farmer and higher prices were received than ever before. The soldiers' bounties, the county indebtedness and private indebtedness was paid for with considerable rapidity.

This year the board of supervisors made an appropriation of four thousand five hundred dollars for the construction of an extensive fireproof addition to the courthouse. Notwithstanding the demands made upon the people by the great rebellion improvements thai were more substantial than had been made heretofore were consummated. De Kalh built an excellent graded school building of brick, which at that time was the best building of its kind in the county. Sycamore built a large wooden building in 1863, which still remains ami i- used as a grade building.

All over the county churches had been built, hedges bad been planted and orchards were in bearing and it is safe to state that on prairie land of this county in 1863 there were more trees than at the present time. In 1863 six hundred thousand more troops were called out by the president for various terms of sen ice and although it seemed impossible that so many could be raised by voluntary effort, yet this county tilled Iter quota and still remained free from the terrors of the draft.

The board of supervisors offered a bounty of one hundred dollars to each recruit from this county and appropriated twenty-five dollars for each family of absent soldiers requiring it. Captain E. A. Smith, who was wounded in the sieg of Vicksburg and lost an arm ami was wounded in the leg, received an honorable discharge for disability and returned to his home in Cortland. This year both parties resolved upon the union and a convention was called under the head of the republican union convention. There were sharp contests for the nomination of county treasurer. Mr. William C. Tappan. of South Grove, was chosen on the sixth ballot. Some of the friends of Captain R. A. Smith, who was a candidate for the same position, believed that he had not received a square deal. E. A. Smith came out as an independent candidate and was elected by a vote of two to one over the regular nominee. He was afterward re-elected and served in that position for eight years. Hiram C. Beard, of Victor, who had been a pioneer school teacher in different parts of the county, was this year chosen as school commissioner, lie was a man of considerable ability and many regarded him as an able supervisor of schools. 1). W. Lamb was elected county treasurer. The county indebtedness this year for all purposes was fifty thousand dollars. The jurisdiction of the county court, which had previously extended only to probate matters, was this year enlarged, so as to give it authority to try civil suits as in the circuit court. In place of the allowance hitherto paid the judge he was now remunerated with a salary which was fixed at one hundred dollar- per annum.

The high prices paid for sugars and syrups had at this time greatly stimulated the culture of the sorghum plant, then a new discovery, and large steam factories for the manufacture of sugar and syrup were established at Sycamore and Sandwich. Small portable machines were in operation in various portions of the county. Isaac Christman, an indefatigable worker and pioneer of this branch of manufacture, had several mills in operation.

The year 1864 came in with a storm more terrible in its fury than the oldest inhabitant bad ever known. This has since been known as the cold New Years all over the northern part of the United States. Heavy, lowering black clouds seemed to descend in a mass to the earth in prodigious drifts of snow, which were driven with great force l>\ a powerful south wind. The country was buried beneath these drifts and the murcury sank to forty degrees blow zero. The severit) of the cold was intensified by a fierce gale, which blew for three days with great fury. Many person- were frozen to death and it must be remembered that the home- of that time were not warm and comfortable as at present. Many horses, (attic and bogs perished. Tin- commodious barns of the present day had not been built and the young cattle were allowed to run out all winter and their only protection was the straw slacks or in some cases growth of timber. More than half the fowls in the county wrere frozen. The railroad was blocked up and multitudes of passengers were compelled to remain in the cars for several days. Thousands of animals in the course of transportation upon stock trains perished and were brought to market a stiff, stark frozen mass. Xone who lived through that fearful storm can ever forget its terrors.

This year an extensive fire at Sandwich destroyed several warehouses and other buildings, creating a heavy loss. A favorite shade tree in this county had always been the rapidly growing locust and thousands of acres of them had been planted for timber and as screens from the fierce winds of the prairie. During this year they were i lest roved by a species of borer, which left hardly one tree alive in the country.

The rapid rise in gold caused by the immense issues of bills required by the necessities of the government this year caused an equally rapid appreciation in value in all kinds of property. Money was plenty, trade was lively and every one seemed to be growing wealthy. Gold rose during the year to two dollars and forty cents, wheat sold at two dollars, corn at a dollar and twenty cents and barley at one dollar and ninety cents per bushel. Those in trade rapidly made money by the inevitable rise in value of everything they purchased and large numbers, attracted by the profits of trade, moved into the villages and filled every department of business. The wheat crop this season, however, was a failure. It was destroyed by the chinch bug. Tn February the president made a call for two hundred thousand troops for a term of three years, or during the war. In April came a demand for three hundred thousand more for one hundred days. The supervisors met and extended the bounty of one hundred dollars to all who should enlist upon the first call and offered thirty-five dollars to those who went upon the second. Two or three companies were raised for the latter term of service and were soon garrisoning the forts and guarding the communications in the rear of our great armies of veterans, now marching under General Sherman upon Richmond and Atlanta. The repeated calls for volunteers had exhausted

The people of Sycamore found to their surprise that their town was credited with forty-one more men than their quota required. This was probably due to the fact that early in the war men from other towns recorded their names as coming from that town, thus unwittingly defeating their own towns of the proper credit. This created a great deal of complaint and a convention of the county was held at Cortland to endeavor to devise some means to right the wrong, but nothing of any avail could be done. In some of the towns meetings were called by town officers, at which large sums of money were voted as a tax mi the property of the town, it being understood that the next legislature would legalize these irregular taxes. Money was advanced by citizens upon these promises and by offering large bounties recruits were procured and the draft averted, but in others the conscription came and fell with great severity upon many citizens. Tt singled out many men whose absence would leave their families destitute and dependent and who in some cases were obliged to pay a thousand dollars to secure substitutes, but most of the drafted men went willingly and served most faithfully.

At the election in the autumn General F. W. Partridge was elected circuit clerk and recorder: T. V. Randall, of De Kalb, representative to the legislature; and TT. A. Joslyn, of Sycamore, sheriff. James H. BeVeridge was elected state treasurer - the first person ever elected from the county to anv public office whose duties were not exercised entirely in the county. The county this year gave Abraham Lincoln two thousand nine hundred and eighty-five votes for re-election and seven hundred and forty-one for General George B. McClellan.

The Union League, a secret political organizatii.n. established lodges in most of the towns of the county and held frequent meetings. The charter of the Union League of America, of Paw Paw council, Xo. 520, reads as follows: "To all to whom these presents shall come, know ye that we the grand council of the Union League of America, for the state of Illinois, do grant unto Robert Hampton. William P. Hampton. John B. Hyde, Jesse Cory. n. M. Boardman, D. D. McGibbeny and X. n. Powers ami their associates of this charter constituting them a council to be known as the Paw Paw Xo. 520. U. L. A., to be located at Paw Paw. in the county of De Kalb, state of Illinois. Know ye. therefore, that this charter gives them and their associates that may become regular members of this League full power to receive male citizens over eighteen years of age and initiate and instruct them in the work of the Union League of America on such rules and terms as the constitution of the League will permit. Also gives them full power to make sucb by-laws as they can agree upon, provided they do not conflict with the constitutions and rules of the grand council. Also gives them full power to elect such officers as they think worthy and suitable for the good of the League. Also gives them full power to send delegates to this grand council as provided in the constitution of the same and gives them full power to perform all the duties of the council of the Union League of America, while they conform to the by-laws and rules of the League.

"In witness whereof we have caused this charter to be signed by the errand president and grand secretary of the Union League of America of Illinois and the seal of the errand council aforesaid to he affixed thereto, this 29th day of April. A. D.. 1863. Signed Mark Banks, srrand president: George H. Harlan, grand secretary."

It will lie noticed that the real purposes of the League are not set forth in their charter, hut they de\ ised means for the support of the trovernment by aiding in the enlistment of officers and ^upporting such measures in political affairs as in their judgment gave tic- greatest security to the

Onion cause. It is not necessary to state that an organization of this character met with consideralili (i]ipn>itiou, hui in "in' i ountj especially thej performed a great work.

A great deal of excitement was caused this year against the railroad companies because of the high prices of freight and a vicious system of warehousing and grain inspection. A convention was held at De Kalb on the subject and a committee sent to confer with the companies. Some unimportant concessions were made to the demands of the public. Captain J. M. Hood, of Sycamore, was appointed United States consul to Siam - the first foreign appointment received by a citizen of tlii- county.

During the winter of 1864-5 a bill for the rein. !\;il of the count} seat from Sycamore to De Kalb was introduced into the state legislature by Mr. Randall, of De Kalb. A committee of the citizens of Sycamore immediately went to Springfield and endeavored to defeat its passage. The number of names upon the petition to its passage and the remonstrance against it was greater than the number oi raters in the county and many names wi re those of persons who had been dead for many years. After an exciting discussion of the committee to whom the bill was referred they reported againsl its passage and the opponents of the measure returned home. The bill was subsequently, however, taken up by the house and passed to a third reading but it was defeated in the house.

Tn 1865 another call for troops was made and shows the following : Afton fifteen ; Clinton twenty ; De Kalb twenty-seven; Franklin sixteen: Genoa sixteen : Kingston fourteen: Mayfield thirteen; Milan three: Malta seven; Pampas twenty-three; Paw Paw twenty-six: Pierce seventeen; Sycamore one; Smith Grove sixteen: Squaw Grove nineteen; Somonauk forty-six; Shabbona twenty-two: Victor seventeen. Most of the towns since the rail was made had partially filled their numbers by enlistments of citizens and raised funds by taxation to produce substitutes in the cities and elsewhere. Sycamore had raised money and put into the service twelve men. which was eleven more than its quota. From four hundred to six hundred dollars was usually paid each recruit. In ral towns, however, a draft became necessary and some of the drafted men paid nearly one thousand dollars for substitutes. To meet the expense caused by taxation for procuring these men the taxes levied this year were enormous, the percentage levied in several towns of the county for all purposes being as follows: Paw Paw ten per cent; Shabbona seven per cent; Milan six and a half per cent; Malta four and a half per cent; South Grove six and a half per cent ; Franklin five and a hall' per cent; Victor six and a half per cent; Clinton ten and a half per cent; Afton six per cent: De Kalb seven and a half per cent; Mayfield six per cent; Kingston six per cent; Somonauk, seven per cent; Squaw Grove six and a half per cent; Pierce seven per cent; Cortland six and a half per cent; Sycamore eight and a half per cent; Genoa six per cent.

Great relief was felt, however, as the war was expected to lie brought to a close speedilv. The Confederacy had been cut m two by the march of Sherman to the sea, at Savannah. Hood*s army bad been destroyed by the gallant boys under Genera] Thomas; Grant was holding Lee in death grasp at Richmond, and at last, in April the news that Richmond had fallen and the rebel army was flying in dismay, and later of the surrender of. Lee*s army was received by the people of the county with joy. How every heart rejoiced, how every eye brightened, how every household was gladdened by the delightful assurance that the most terrible of all wars was ended, and gloriously ended, that the last loyal son of De Kalb had fallen by rebel bullets, that the husband, the father the son would soon be home again on a long, perpetual furlough, that the cankering fear of the lonely watchers at home, least lie should come shattered with wounds . or a mangled, loathsome corpse, had passed away forever. None can forget the glad rejoicing of that joyous occasion. Hundreds of the brave boys were among us again and were received with that glad welcome which their sufferings and sacrifices deserved. The total of all men furnished by the different towns will be given in the township history and the losses from each town will lie given as far as can be ascertained. With the close of the rebellion came a fall in the value of gold and a consequent fall in the prices of farm products. "Wheat fell to seventy cents a bushel and this was a criterion of the value of other property. Crops were verv poor and the summer of 1865 was a wet season. There had been a drought in the spring but at harvest time (he Hoods poured down destroying large portions of the ripened grain and covering the country with a coating of slimy mud, so deep the reapers could not operate when tins was attempted in the intervals of the showers. The wet season continued during the fall. At the autumn elections there was no opposition for the election of county officers: General Daniel Dustin as county clerk; Captain E. A. Smith as treasurer; M. V. Allen, a wounded soldier of the One Hundred and Fifth, as superintendent of schools; D. W. Lamb as surveyor. The only contest was between D. B. -lames and Hon. E. L. .Mayo. James winning by a small majority.

Notwithstanding the great loss of life occasioned during the war the county showed a substantial increase in population. Sycamore, De Kalb and Somonauk having made the largest increase, the total population being twenty-one thousand, one hundred and sixty-eight. When the soldiers returned to their homes and devoted their energies to civil pursuits they gave new life to all branches of industries. Many of the newly returned veter- .ans crowded into villages and cities and filled to repletion every branch of trade. It was a year of general prosperity. In anticipation of a decrease in prices the people had prudently kept out of debt, paid cash for their purchases, foreseeing and preparing for a financial storm but all dangers from its effects were averted. Notwithstanding the great expenditures of the county during the war improvements in every line continued. Some of the elegant churches that remain to this day were built, notably, the Methodist Episcopal church at Sycamore, which was considered the finest house of worship in the county. This year two hundred Swedish emigrants from the land of their birth settled about the villages of De Kalb and Sycamore during the summer, Peter Johnson being tin' first Swedish settler in the county. They were a sober, industrious, peaceful, frugal race and considered a valuable addition to the population. The German population was considerably increased by emigrants from Germany, who settled in Genoa. Squaw Grove and other portions of the county. In August of this year a desolating hail storm swept through the northern and central portions of the county, beating every species of vegetation into the earth. Farmers had commenced their harvesting, and with the exception of the grain which stood in the shock every acre was rendered utterly worthless. Thousands of acres of corn were beaten to bare stalks. Hail stones measuring six and seven inches in circumference fell in millions. Children were knocked senseless, pigs, fowls and birds were killed by hundreds. The loss was estimated at more than a quarter of a million. In the portions of the county where hail did not fall, drenching rains continued for several day- and threatened the destruction of the ripened grain. This year cholera appeared again in the United State- and was especially contagious in cities. Feu cases, however, were found in this county.

The failure of the Sycamore Bank on the 2d of November, was the cause of a greal deal of embarrassment to the people of northern l>e Kalb county. Hon. James II. Beveridge, its president, and William J. Hunt, its rice-president, with B. T. Hunt, its cashier, were the only stockholders. The people had confidence in the honesty, skill and integrity of the two former, and all classes dealt Ereelj with the hank. But. upon the failure il was discovered that these men owned Km eighl shares in the institution, while the remainder was in the hands of E. T. Hunt, an amiable young man of pleasanl manners, with whom people liked to do business but whose expensive habits and reckless management, together with a number of unfortunate spa illations, had sunk the capita] of the concern and brought it down to ruin. Mr. Beveridge had for three years been abseni at Springfield, in the performance of the duties of his office ii- state treasurer. A public meeting of the depositors appointed a committee to examine its affairs and thej made a full report. They reported its debts at ninety-five thousand dollars, and assets at less than ten thousand dollars. During the following year a settlement was made with its depositors, by which they received fifty per cenl of their claims.

The elections of 1866 were held and practically no opposition appeared to the republican ticket. William Patten, of Somonauk, was chosen state senator: Robert Hampton, of Paw Paw. representative; Mortis ffolcomb, of Sycamore, sheriff: Lorenzo Whittemore, of Sycamore, coroner; and V. D. Miller, of De Kalb, surveyor. The total this year was three thousand, the smallest cast for many years. The assessors report for this year valued the taxable personal property of the county at seven hundred and fifty-four thousand, seven hundred and seventy-one dollars. The total value of all property being three million sixty-eight thousand dollar-. The county tax levied was seventy-six thousand, seven hundred and thirty-three dollars and the entire tax of the county for all purposes, including its indebtedness, was two hundred and eight thousand and thirty dollars. The interest on this indebtedness w^as paying ten per cent, as was also the interest on the indebtedness of the several townships. The township tax had never been so high and was not so high for many years afterwards, and it can he added that this tax, burdensome though it was. was more easily borne than would have been a tax of one hundredth that amount several years previous.

A great many cases of destruction of sheep by wolves were reported and the supervisors increased the bounty to twenty dollars upon each animal killed, with the prudent proviso that as some had been detected in the profitable business of keeping tame wolves and raising them for the bounty, no claim- thus originated should be paid.

The business interests of De Kalb county have always been to such an extenl agricultural in their character that upon the abundance of crops and enlargement of prices all of its pecuniary prosperity has directly depended and no record of its history for 1867 would be complete without mention that this was the third and most fortunate of years of great prosperity among the fanner-, and consequently with all classes of population. With the opening of spring grain commanded the highesl prices ever known in the county, spring wheat readily selling at two dollars and seventy-five cents per bushel, which a few years previous had been a drug at fifty cents. Corn, which six years before had been burned for fuel, was now worth a dollar and twenty cents a bushel. Cattle and other farm products were equalh high. Beef, which five years before retailed at five cents per pound now brought twenty cents. The fanners who since the war had been expecting a decline in prices had consequently been very cautious in their dealings, now began to place higher value upon their lands. During the war no considerable rise jn the value of real estate had been accomplished but now there was a material advance. Prairies about Malta and Milan sold readily at twice the prices of three or four years before. All over the county there was a similar advance, stimulated by a promising prospect for a very large crop of grain.

Half Shire Bill

During the spring of 18137 a new method originated in the brain of sonic of the men interested in retaining the county seat. (Tpnn the petitions offered a convenient place for the transaction of the public business of the southern portion of the county. One of the most exciting elections ever held in the county followed. To oppose this measure the citizens of De Kalb and this vicinity formed a stock company and contributed nearly five thousand dollars to establish a newspaper office in that town. Aaron K. Stiles, a former of the citizens of Sandwich, which had now become the largest village in the south part of the county, Senator William Patten had during the previous winter introduced a bill in the legislature known as the Half Shire Bill. It provided for a re-location of the county seat at Sycamore and Sandwich. The latter place was to be the seat of justice of the six southern towns of the county and the former the twelve northern towns. It was argued in its favor that the business of the county dividing the thinly settled country in the county clerk, being one of the stockholders now became chief editor of the De Kalb County News. He was a man of remarkable tact, shrewdness and energy and for a week or two preceeding the election the paper was issued daily. The people and the papers at Sandwich supported the movement. Meetings were held at almost every schoolhouse in the county but the final quietus was given to the measure by the efforts of a delegation from the southern sections, composed of Messrs. Beard, Woodruff. Pritchard. McEwen and Ball, men who the firsl time in the history of political affairs of fl tomt,stone is erected to the memory of Halfour county the cartoonisl took a hand in the game g}lire wiiii;,,,,. The pall bearers are given as of the Half-Shire law. This beautiful engrav- (.xritl, all(1 hard feeling. ing was made on a shingle by our devil, who. for guarantee it true to life in every particular. To fully appreciate this illustration you must supth: Half-Shire bill to have become a law, The year 1867 was noted as one in which mamiand the politicians of Sandwich and Svcamorc faeturing establishments wore first erected in the

At the same tin* old De Kalb county has been rid- Cortland and Malta, each erecting a new graded den until there is no mon gr< ase on his hack bone school building this year, as did also the village of and the old Half-Shire plank squeaks out taxes! Somonauk and the city of Sandwieh. The planttaxes! ! taxes! ! ! ing of hedges for the prairie farmers continued to Never was such a vote polled in this county. We attract a great deal of attention and over two will be unable to publish the official returns until hundred miles of osage orange hedge was set out. next week. The following town- gave majorities Farmers had been troubled considerably with the for the bill : rail fences, which were continually broken down and stock would get in the growing grain, doing considerable damage. The hedge fence was thought to be the only thing that could protect crops from the stock. The County Agricultural Society, which held its fairs at Sycamore, was revived this year and held a nourishing exhibition. A Farmers' Club was also established and held weekly meetings of decided interest to the agricultural portions of the community. Some of the discussions by farmers, well known, appeared in the old files of the papers and at this date are of considerable interest.

In the '60s the fair at Sycamore assumed larger proportions and their annual meetings became exceedingly popular. Instead of holding their meetings northeast of town, in 18G2 they purchased land west of the city, which remained in possession of the Sycamore Fair Association until that organization ceased its existence in 1888. George Dennison, an attorney, who had practiced law in De Kalb in 1858, was appointed naval officer at the port at New York, with a salary of seven thousand five hundred dollars. Flax culture was carried on to a large extent, the crop proving valuable on account of the price received for flax seed and from profits derived by the sale of the straw at the flax mills located in the county. In 1863 there are two hundred and twenty-three cases on the trial calendar of the circuit court. Litigation seemed the order of the day and there were five times as many law suits at that period of our county's history than we find on the calendar of today. The planting of willows continued and in the early '70s many miles of willow fences might be found in De Kalb county. These like many other of the soft woods planted by the early settlers have proved themselves a nuisance and have been removed.

Religious discussion was rampant in many sections of the county. One that deserves especial notice was between Rev. A. J. Fishback, of the Universalist church, and 0. I). Mullis, of the Christian church. The question of "Universal Salvation" and "Endless Punishment" was discussed at the court house for a week. They were largelv attended, people coming for miles around and listening with ereat interest, and from all that we learn at the present time we judge that they were interested, listened intently and came away with the same views that they had before the discussion was projected. A similar discussion took place in De Kalb between a Wesleyan Methodic minister and one of the Adventist denomination. In the later '60s the attendance at country churches reached the high mark. Services both morning and evening were largely attended and aside from services in the churches many appointments were held at various school houses in the county. The early settlers having come mainly from the eastern and southern states, had organized the churches they attended in their earlier homes. In the '70s there began to be a marked falling off in the attendance of the country churches, caused by the removal of first settlers to homes farther west, by the retirement of fanners to cities, who had secured a competency and by the young people who sought employment in factories and by young men from the farms seeking professional careers. Their places were supplied by foreigners to a large extent, who spoke different languages and affiliated with the churches with which they were allied in the fatherland. Aside from this there seemed to be a general movement toward the cities, so that at the present time the majority of the population of Illinois resides in cities and towns.

Although the village of Shabbona has been founded for twenty-six years, it is of recent origin when compared with other portions of the township. At no time in the history of the place has it had a "boom," but the steady, healthy growth has brought about changes which seem marvelous when compared with the condition of the country as seen by the early inhabitants of fifty years ago.