Charles W. Stackhouse 
  Extract from handwritten Biography
  
  The source of this information is a typed copy of a handwritten
  biography of Charles W. Stackhouse, an early settler of Henry County, 
  written in September of 1904. The following is an exerpt of 4
  typewritten pages of C.W. Stackhouse's hand-written journal. This exerpt
  was provided to Henry Co ILGenWeb Project by Pamela
  Kellerstrass.
  
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  "If a residence of fifty eight years entitles one to the honor of being
  one of the old settlers of Henry County, then I may be enrolled among
  that number.
  
  "I first arrived in Cambridge in the summer of 1846. In the company with
  my father and three sisters, I left northern Pennsylvania. In June of
  that year journeying by way of the lakes, reaching Chicago in July which
  at that time was a small town. As there was no other
  way of transportation to the country than by wagon we secured the
  services of a man and team to haul baggage and family to this locality.
  The country along the route was thinly settled, but the people were
  friendly and willing to accomodate travelers. We found the
  roads in fair condition and the trip was made in about a week reaching
  East Cambridge (or Sugar-Tree-Grove as it was called then) where my
  brother William Stackhouse was located. He settled there in 1840 having
  traveled out in the company with James Macall.
  
  The settlers at that time were located in and near the grove for
  convenience of timber and shelter; wood and cobs being the only material
  for fuel. Also in the groves were found an abundance of wild fruit, such
  as blackberries, plums, crabapples and grapes.
  
  Wild game was plentiful. The hunter could go out and in a short time
  secure a supply of venison. Prairie chickens in the fall and winter were
  in such vast flocks as to be regarded as a nuisance in pillaging upon
  the ungathered corn. 
  
  I worked with my father at the chair business. In 1847-48 I taught
  school in district No. 2, called the middle district. That was the first
  school taught in that district. The house was an old dwelling rudely
  fixed up with benches and desks in the side of the wall and a fireplace
  for heating. Here some 35 youngsters were enrolled to engage in the
  rudiments of an education. My salary was fifty cents a day and I boarded
  among the settlers. The Terrys, Talbotts, Grants and Montgomerys were
  nearby settlers and all having large families helped to make up a large
  portion of the attendance.
  
  In the spring of 1852 I became acquainted with Miss Hanna Elm, We
  married Christmas 1852. She was Swedish and it was the first marriage
  between a Swede and an American in Henry County. Now in reviewing our
  experience as old settlers of Henry County we are thankful that we have
  lived to witness the wonderful achievements that have been reached by
  inventive genius.
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  Submitted by Susie Martin-Rott
  Transcribed by Pamela Kellerstrass

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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by 
Susie Martin-Rott< rootbound2@geocities.com >
(© 1997 Susie Martin-Rott)