Shields Township

Shields Township

This, as a Congressional Township, is known as Fractional Township 44, north range 12 east. It is bounded upon the north by Waukegan, on the -east by Lake Michigan, on the south by Deerfield, and on the west by Libertyville. The first settlement of this township was commenced in the year 1836. Among the early settlers were Dr. Richard Murphy, William Dwyer, John Dwyer, Lawrence Carroll, Benjamin P. Swain, Isaac Hickox, Godfrey Dwelley, Michael Dulanty, Michael C. McGuire, Thomas Maguire, John Mullery, -Otis Hinckley and John Cloes.

The Chicago and Green Bay Road, which was established by the United States in early days, and commonly known as the "Military road," passed . through about the center of this township, and upon which the first habitations -of the early settlers were mostly erected.

The early settlers of this township were, with a few isolated exceptions, .natives of Ireland. Many of them had come to Illinois to engage in work on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. After working awhile, learning that there was Government land to be had so near in the vicinity, they came and settled in this, as well as in other adjoining townships.

This town was named in honor of Gen. James Shields, a hero in the Mexi¬ can war of 1846-7, and at the time of so naming the town a Senator from Illi¬ nois in the United States Senate.

In October, 1852, Gen. Shields acknowledged the compliment by visiting the town and addressing the citizens, assembled at the house of Mrs. Dwyer, widow of William Dwyer, one of the early settlers of the township, before mentioned.

This township was the home of Dr. Richard Murphy, who has been before mentioned in this history as a prominent citizen in the early settlement of the county. Dr. Murphy was the first Representative from Lake County in the State Legislature,, which position he occupied during a period of six years, where he acquired a high reputation as a debater, and a man of marked ability. As a public speaker, he was forcible and fluent ; as a writer on general sub¬ jects of public concern, he had no superiors in his day, in this part of the country. He was a man of learning, and ranked high in his profession as a physician. He was a formidable competitor of John Wentworth for Con¬ gress, in 1843.

In the northeast part of this town is a small stream, running into Lake Michigan, which, in early days, was known as Pine Creek. There was once a saw-mill on this creek, near the mouth, built by Benjamin P. Swayne, in 1837, who was one of the early settlers at that point. This mill, like others of the kind in the county, before spoken of, has long since disappeared.

The first town meeting in this town under township organization was con¬ vened at the tavern house of Mrs. Dwyer, on the first Tuesday in April, 1850, at which Michael C. McGuire presided as Moderator, and who was elected the first Supervisor of th$ town.

The total assessed value of property for the year 1850, including both real and personal, was 944,300. The amount of tax computed on the same for col¬ lection was 9641.71.

In early days, there lived in the northern part of this town a man of Amer¬ ican birth, by the name of Neal, who was for a long time the only native Amer¬ ican in that part of the tom. He was called u Yankee Neal," to distinguish him from another man in the neighborhood of the same name, of foreign birth . At the time of the public sale of lots at Waukegan, in 1844, John Wentworth, who attended the sale, on his way there from Chicago stopped at the house of Yan¬ kee Neal over night. It was a small log house, of the style and usual capacity of that day. Wentworth, who acquired the name of Long John, was about six feet and six inches in height. It is said that, on rising in the morning to dress himself, he found the ceiling so low, or himself so tall, that there was.

The first school in what is now the town of Shields was taught by William Cunningham, at his house, on the Green Bay Road, near where now is Lake Forest, in 1838.

In this township is the city of Lake Forest, a place of note and importance for its institutions of learning, aided by its natural and artificial attractions.

In 1855, a number of gentlemen of Chicago, among whom were H. M. Thompson, Dr. C. H. Quinlan, D. J. Lake, Rev. R. W. Patterson and others, feeling the importance of establishing, at some point in the vicinity of Chicago, a college and other kindred institutions, held several meetings and finally adopted a plan of operation to accomplish this design. At a meeting held at the office of Dr. Quinlan, a subscription paper was drawn up to raise funds for the contemplated object. To this $59,500 was subscribed, as a temporary ad¬ vance of funds until a permanent organization could be effected. The enter¬ prise was aided by the labors of Rev. J. J. Slocum, of Cincinnati, who proposed, on behalf of Mr. Gibson, of that city, the donation of $100,000 as an endow¬ ment to the institution of learning to be founded, if it should bear Mr. Gib¬ son's name.

Five Trustees were appointed from among the subscribers aforesaid to act temporarily for the contemplated association, until a permanent organization could be effected, viz. : Hiram F. Mather, Peter Page, David J. Lake, Thomas R. Clark and Franklin Ripley, Jr.

And the following persons were appointed a committee to draft articles of association, viz. : Hiram F. Mather, John H. Kedzie and H. G. Shumway. Meanwhile the Trustees appointed as aforesaid proceeded, by direction of the subscribers, to make purchases of land, the location having been determined upon at the present site of Lake Forest.

The land purchased for the association originally comprised about 1,300 acres, situated in Section 3, Township 44, and Sections 27, 28, 33 and 34, Range 12, in Lake County, lying on Lake Michigan, extending back across the Milwaukee Division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. It was divided between the Lake Forest Association and the University afterward organized.

A permanent organization was effected by articles of association, bearing date February 28, 1856, the style thereof to be " The Lake Forest Association." The capital stock was fixed at not less than $50,000, and not to exceed $60,000, in shares of $500 each.

The following persons were constituted the first Board of Trustees of the association, viz. : Hiram F. Mather, Thomas R. Clark, Peter Page, Franklin Ripley, Jr., David J. Lake.

The following were designated as the first Board of Trustees for the institu¬ tion contemplated by the articles of association, viz. : Benjamin W. Raymond, Franklin V. Chamberlain, Thomas B. Carter, Charles R. Starkweather, Charles H. Quinlan, Deville R. Holt, Amazi Benedict, John J. Slocum, Shubal G. Spees, Harvey Curtiss, Robert W. Patterson, Ansel D. Eddy, Ira M. Weed, Harvey M, Thompson, Sylvester Lind and Lewis H. Loss.

The town plat of Lake Forest was laid out and the work completed July 23, 1857, under the direction of Mr. Hotchkiss, of St. Louis, which is a mar¬ vel of landscape work.

The first building erected in Lake Forest was the present hotel. The enter¬ prise was started by Mr. D. J. Lake. This was followed by dwellings and other buildings, until it has become a populous town and place of suburban residence.

The first elegant dwelling was that of Mr. H. M. Thompson. This was followed by those of John V. Farwell and Hon. Charles B. Farwell. These several mansions are among the finest to be found in any suburban town.

The original forest trees on the ground have been carefully preserved, which adds greatly to the beauty of the place. Its location in the forest on the lake suggested the name of Lake Forest.

Lake Forest was incorporated as a city, and held its first election for city officers March 23, 1861, at which the following were elected as the first city officers :

The exertion of Mr. Slocum, to whom the matter was largely entrusted, having failed in procuring funds wherewith to erect the college buildings, Mr. Sylvester Lind, of Chicago, proposed to endow the institution with a fund of #100, 000, as a University, for the education of young men for the ministry, to be located at Lake Forest, on condition that there be erected a building to cost not less than #30,000. The proposition being accepted, a charter was obtained incorporating the institution under the name of the Lind University. The following were the corporators, and constituted the first Board of Trustees :

But, unfortunately, before the time limited for the erection of said building had expired, Mr. Lind became financially unable, and failed to comply with his agreement to endow the institution as aforesaid. Thereupon, to prevent misapprehension as to the name, the Board of Trustees applied to the Legis¬ lature and procured a change to that of " The Lake Forest University," by which the institution continues to be known.

The Lake Forest University is comprised in its organization of three de¬ partments : 1. The Academy, or Preparatory Department ; 2. Ferry Hall, or Young Ladies' College ; 3. The Collegiate Department.

In 1857, $38,000 was raised by subscription, with which the present Academy building was built. The subscribers to this fund were afterward re¬ imbursed by lands from the University, at $500 per acre.

In 1858, a school was opened at the Academy building, under the super¬ vision of Prof. S. F. Miller as Principal, with the following as the first students: William H. Spencer, John Patterson, George Manier.

Prof. Miller, with whom became associated Rev. Wm. C. Dickenson, con¬ tinued in charge of the Academy until 1861. These teachers were enthusiastic and successful.

In 1864, Mr. S. M. Johnson became Principal, and continued four years, when Mr. Thomas Band, Mr. Jones and others had charge of the school for one year. Under the care of these teachers, the school was more or less pros¬ perous. Very many students, during this time, prepared for entering college, and have since become graduates thereof. Thus the academy has accomplished a good work in sending its graduates well prepared into the different walks of life and various professions in the Northwest. But while a good work was be¬ ing done, the tuition was low, and there being no permanent endowments the receipts from tuition were not sufficient to pay expenses, and deficiencies were made up by disposing of property, and thus a large portion of the property of the university was exhausted.

In the year 1869, Prof. Ira W. Allen was elected Principal, under a special contract, under whose supervision the academy was well patronized, although the price of board and tuition was greatly increased. He continued in charge four years, haviug during this time, by careful management and thorough busi¬ ness talent, put the school on a firm basis - more than paying its expenses during the time.

In 1874, Prof. A. R. Sabin, for many years connected with the High School of Chicago, and a thorough disciplinarian, became Principal of the academy. Under his efficient management this department is fulfilling its in- tended mission as a primary, grammar and high school for boys in Lake Forest and vicinity. It is also a boarding school for non-resident pupils. It has always been a college preparatory school and its graduates have entered with credit the leading colleges of the country, East and West.

It is the aim of the present management to make it -the leading preparatory school in the West. The course of study is as full as any afforded in the New England academies, and is as follows :

Latin - Smith's Principia, Harkness' Grammar, Reader and Latin Prose, Arnold's Latin Prose, Csesar, Ovid, Sallust, Cicero and Virgil. Greek - White's First Lessons, Goodwin's Grammar, Xenophon and Homer, Jones' Greek Prose. Mathematics - Fish's Arithmetic, Ficklin's and Olney's Al¬ gebra, Oiney's Geometry and Todhunter's Euclid. English - Reading, Writ¬ ing, Spelling, Grammar, Composition, Elocution, History of the United States, England, Greece and Rome. Geography - Ancient, Modern and Physical.

In the Academic Department, in addition to the Mathematics and English studies of the Classical Course are the following studies: German, French, Book-keeping, Drawing, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Physiology, Botany, Geology, Political Economy and English Literature. Singing and Piano Music have also a prominent place in the actual daily work, not for show, sound or ornament, but for study, culture and discipline.

The following, from the report of the Committee on Examinations for 1876-7, will serve as the most comprehensive statement that can be given of the present condition of this department of the University, the Committee being composed of the following learned gentlemen : Rev. Wm. A. Nichols, Lake Forest; Rev. J. B. Stewart, D. D., Milwaukee, Wis. ; Rev. Edward H. Curtiss, Waukegan ; Rev. Geo. C. Noyes, D. D., Evanston ; Rev. J. H. Trow¬ bridge, Riverside:

" During an examination of several days, it was everywhere evident to the Committee that substance, rather than show, had been the object of the year's labor in this institution.

" 2. In the higher mathematics, algebra,, geometry and trigonometry have been taught by persistent drill. Ordinarily no text book was brought to the class, either by the teacher or the pupils, and such has been the style of teaching as well as examination. The work consisted in canvass¬ ing principles and in illustrating the same by extemporized examples. During this process, the Committee, with the other visitors, often did their best to find the weak places in the instruction, if there were any. The result was most gratifying.

" 3. In the classical department of an academy we have known a larger area of text books in Greek and Latin traversed by classes in the same time ; but not often a more critical mastery of the substance, as fundamental to the subsequent pursuit of classical studies with pleasure and profit. The grammar of a language examined was fully brought out and applied with minuteness and accuracy. The exact force and nice application of the modes and tenses was exhibited with clearness, especially in prose composition on the blackboard. The geography, history and mythology suggested by the text book came in as a constant reference. The pupils were required to trace on the maps the march of armies and the wanderings of voyagers, including the localities of the countries, cities, seas and islands incident to the narrative.

" 4. Music is cultivated as a science, and practiced as a pastime, but not . prosecuted to the neglect of more solid studies, for it appeared in the exami¬ nation that the best musicians were also among the best scholars in other depart¬ ments. This, indeed, is a natural result, where the Principal himself is a thorough scholar and a scientific musician.

" 5. Prizes, as an encouragement to excellence in scholarship, have been awarded to successful competitors in penmanship, composition and oratory.

" 6. To those who have known the students previously, the most gratifying result of the year's labor is the growth of character among the students. The evidence of this appeared in the composition and oratory of the closing exer¬ cises. The productions for the stage were original, and the manly thought, the impressive and often graceful oratory, were palpable evidence that the young men were beginning to put away childish things."

In 1859, Rev. Baxter Dickeson, with his daughter, came to Lake Forest and purchased of the Lake Forest University a lot, and erected a building to be used as a Young Ladies' Seminary. This relieved, for a time, the Board being to the expense of building the Department of Music for the ladies. This ladies' school was a great success under Dr. Dickeson, until about the time of building Ferry Hall by the University.

Ferry Hall is the name given to the Young Ladies' Department of the Univer¬ sity. In the year 1868, Rev. Wm. M. Ferry, of Fair Haven, Michigan, made a be¬ quest to the University of about $35,000, a large portion of which was given upon the condition that a Seminary for Young Ladies should be opened, and that a building for the purpose should be erected. But as the fund so donated would not be available for ten years, Mr. D. J. Lake, one of the Board of Trustees, started a subscription, and raised the sum of $10,000, and in view of this Mr. Ferry, the executor of the estate, was induced to appropriate the sum of $15,000 at once to assist the erection of the building which so appropriately bears his name.

Ferry Hall was built and furnished at an expense of about $60,000. It is a commodious brick edifice, well arranged for the purposes of a Young Ladies' Seminary, and completely furnished throughout in the finest style. It contains a gymnasium, an art gallery and music rooms, especially adapted to and fitted up for these several departments. This spacious and elegant edifice is warmed throughout by steam, and lighted with gas, and thus completed it is all that means and skill can provide for the comfort of the young ladies in their course of study. It contains, beside the above, a spacious dining room, kitchen, laundry, parlors, recitation rooms, an elegant school room and chapel, and thirty-nine rooms for the use of teachers and pupils, which are all furnished, warmed and lighted.

In the Fall of 1869, Hon. E. P. Weston, then of Maine, took charge of the seminary, under a special contract with the Trustees, with Miss Noyes as Assistant Principal and an able corps of teachers. Mr. Weston contracted to act as Principal of the seminary until the Summer of 1876, and under his care the school became firmly established as one of high order, and was well patronized. The first graduates of the seminary, the class of 1871, were four. There have been seven classes graduated in this course of study, numbering forty in all.

In the Fall of 1876, Mr. Weston retired from the management of the school, and Miss M. H. Sprague was appointed Principal, and now fills this place, associated with a very able corps of instructors.

Prof. Emil Leibling is one of the finest pianists in the country and is un¬ surpassed as an instructor, and Prof. Bigelow is one of the finest artists in Chicago, and is highly satisfactory as a teacher in drawing and painting. The number of pupils in the school is about eighty.

Ferry Hall is not , as has been represented, 'a mixed school, conducted on the principle of " co-education." Only young ladies are permitted to enjoy its privileges, although it is under the direction of the same Board with the other departments of the university. Parents may rest assured that their daughters will be as well guarded and cultured in this institution as in the very best sem¬ inaries at the East.

In the year 1869, the Trustees, deeming the possession of unproductive lands an obstacle to the progress of their plans, accepted a proposition from a company of gentlemen for the sale of nearly all their remaining lots, at a low rate. The company erected a building on the lake shore for a hotel, at an expense of about $80,000. After an experiment of two years, the hotel was found to be unprofitable ; and in the Summer of 1875, the company proposed to deed it, with the grounds, to the Board, for the remainder of their indebted¬ ness, which was then a little less than $40,000. This offer was accompanied by a proposition from certain gentlemen to endow one professorship, provided $50,000, including this amount, should be speedily subscribed by responsible persons for the endowment of the college ; and provided, also, that the Colle¬ giate Department should be opened at an early day. Within a few weeks, the additional $20,000 was subscribed by responsible parties in Lake Forest, and the offer of the company was accepted. In the course of another month, two Professors were appointed, and the same year a President was elected ; and in September, 1876, a Freshman class was organized, consisting of twelve mem¬ bers.

The college building is a fine wooden structure, situated on the shore of the lake, a little more than a mile from the railroad depot. It contains sixty rooms for students, besides parlor, library and chapel, recitation rooms and din¬ ing room and kitchen, with many other conveniences. The present college grounds embrace twelve acres. The park for the site of the future university building contains nearly forty acres. Near the present college building there is a fine artesian well, from which an ample supply of water is obtained, both for the college and the Ladies' Seminary.

The College Department now consists of two classes, Freshman and Sopho¬ more, embracing about eleven members in each, and two Professors, beside the President, viz. : Rev. John H. Hewitt, Professor of the Latin and Greek Lan¬ guages, and E. P. Morris, A. M., Professor of Mathematics. The President is Rev. R. W. Patterson, D. D.

There are two courses of study in this department, viz. : The Classical and Scientific, which are substantially co-exten3ive with the courses in Yale College.

A good beginning has been made in a library, numbering between three and four thousand volumes, which is open to all the departments of the Uni¬ versity. The instruction in this department is unsurpassed by that of any of our older institutions. Young ladies are admitted to the classes on the same conditions as young gentlemen, but only gentlemen board or room in the college building. The utmost care is exercised in the supervision of the students. It is hoped and believed that this young College will command the patronage and beneficence of the friends of Christian education in all this portion of the Northwest.

It is worthy of congratulation and of thanksgiving that within the last two years handsome donations to the funds of this University have been pledged by several reliable friends of education.

The property of the University now consists of University Park, 40 acres ; Academy Park, 10 acres, with buildings ; Seminary Park, 12 acres, with build¬ ings; building occupied by College, with 12 acres of ground; all together worth about 8185,000 ; other property valued at 845,000 ; permanent endow¬ ments, 810,000; total, 8300,000.

This is but a fair beginning. It is the hope and purpose of the Trustees to make the University at Lake Forest an educational center for the Northwest, especially for the churches of the Presbyterian denomination, that have no other College for whose endowment and patronage they are deemed responsible.

It remains to be seen whether the friends of Christian education, especially the Presbyterians, in the cities of Chicago and Milwaukee, and of the North¬ west, will co-operate in this last effort for the thorough education of our

The First Presbyterian Church, in Lake Forest, was organized by the Presbytery of Chicago, July 24, 1859, and embraced twelve members. On the same day, Mr. Samuel F. Miller and Dr. Charles H. Quinlan were elected and installed Elders of the church.

The first members of the church were as follows : Samuel F. Miller, Mrs. Charlotte H. Miller, Charles H. Quinlan, Mrs. Ruth E. Quinlan, James Anderson, James H. Wright, Mrs. Eunice Wright, Mrs. Eliizabeth H. Bald¬ win, Harvey L. House, Mrs. Jessie House, Hugh Samuel, Mrs. Elizabeth Samuel, Miss Elizabeth Disencamper, Miss Mary Lynch, Mrs. Sarah B. Hickey.

Divine worship was held for the first three years of its history in the chapel of the Academy. Rev. Wm. C. Dickinson assumed the duties of Acting Pas¬ tor, October 2, 1859. This relation continued until July 13, 1862, when Rev. A. H. Post became the stated supply for one year. July 19, 1863, Rev. Wm. C. Dickinson resumed his connection with the church as stated supply, and in the Spring of 1864, accepted a call to become in form its Pastor, and was duly installed May 10 of the same year.

Rev. Mr. Dickinson was dismissed as Pastor in June, 1867. In June, 1868, Rev. James H. Taylor became Pastor, and dismissed, at his own request, June, 1875. Rev. Wm. R. Brown became Pastor, October 1, 1877, and is the present Pastor.

There was a Catholic building, of logs, in this town, built near Wm. Dwyer's, about 1839. It was abandoned about 1845. There is now a very fine Catholic church edifice at Lake Forest, built in 1875. There is also a Catholic church in the southwest part of this town, a very fine brick building. This super¬ seded a church building of logs, built in 1839, near Michael Yores', in what is now the town of Deerfield.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church of Lake Forest was organized in 1866 by Elder J. B. Dawson, minister in charge. This church grew out of a Sunday School which was organized in 1865 by Mrs. H. M. Thompson and Miss Webster, and was held in the brick school house with four scholars.

The church was organized by electing Alexander Marshall and Siman W. Smith Trustees. Charles Taylor was first class leader. This church is con¬ nected with the Conference of the A. M. E. Church of the State of Illinois.

Their house of worship was erected in 1870, and dedicated in 1875, and cost $900. The present Board of Trustees are Peter Williams, Samuel Dent and Smith Hayes. The Stewards are Samuel Dent, Henry Burr and Henry McIntosh. The present Pastor is Aaron Perkins.

Lake Bluff, otherwise known as the Lake Bluff Camp Meeting enterprise, is situated in this township, on Lake Michigan, a short distance north of Lake Forest, east of Rockland Station, on the Northwestern Railroad. A plat of this place was laid out and completed February 24, 1877.

Like Lake Forest, the native trees on the ground have been preserved, and the place has been rendered very attractive by its rustic bridges and winding avenues. It is designed not only for religious camp meetings, but, as Mr. Thatcher, President of the Association, expresses it, as a place of " summer resort, similar in character to Martha's Vineyard and Ocean Grove, where, without the expense and weariness of a long journey, rest and change may be found."

The place is the property of an organized association known as the " Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist EpiscopalChurch." The officers of the association are as follows : Solomon Thatcher, Jr., President, Thatcher Park, Ill. ; Hon. D. N. Cooley, Vice President, Dubuque, Iowa ; S. A. Kean, Treasurer, 100 Washington street, Chicago; Rev. C. G. Truesdell, Secretary, 51 La Salle street, Chicago; Rev. Robert D. Sheppard, Cor¬ responding Secretary, 1023 West Monroe street, Chicago.