McHenry County IL Archives History .....Greenwood Township History - 1877 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 20, 2008, 8:12 pm

GREENWOOD, TOWNSHIP 45, RANGE 7, EAST OF THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN.

   The earliest settlers in this township were Lewis Boone, Henry Westerman,
Oliver and Alden Stone, Elijah Slafton, who brought a family of two or three
children, and James Watson, these all making their claims in 1837. Boone made
his claim, like some in Hartland, rather large, including both timber and
prairie; but, in the dispute which followed, Boone took the law into his own
hands, demolishing a cabin, which one McCollum had erected on a part of his
(Boone's) claim, and, not content with that, chopped the logs in two; then,
meeting McCollum, accused him of trying to jump his claim. The quarrel ended in
a fight, in which Boone came out with flying colors. The settlers took sides,
and the vanquished Mack, with his clan, waylaid the Boones, and got even, so far
as a field fight and a victory could make it so. But the matter was not allowed
to rest there, and, at the first opportunity, these parties carried the case
into court, Boone vs. McCollum stanidng first on the docket of the first County
Court.

   Section 35 claims the honor of furnishing a site for the first school house,
it having been built in 1843, near the residence of William D. Given. The first
school, of fifteen pupils, was taught by Miss Melinda Pease, of Crystal Lake.

   The Methodists took the lead in church building, erecting one, in 1848, upon
the site of the first school house. It may be as well to state here that
preaching in that meeting house was discontinued some years ago, and, in 1875,
it was taken down, brought to Woodstock and converted into sheds to shelter the
horses of those who worship in the M. E. Church, of that place.

   The first preacher in that church was N. Jewett, but in the township he had
been preceded by a Baptist minister, Rev. Joel Wheeler, whose places of worship
were school houses or private dwellings. At present, two denominations of
Christians hold meetings in the township; the Presbyterians, with a membership
of about 23 and a church building estimated to have cost $2,000, and the
Baptists, with a house of worship, also in the village of Greenwood, built in
1873, costing about §3,000, and a membership of about 50.

   In 1841, W. Lake built a saw-mill on Section 11, for which the Nippersink
furnished the motive power. This mill has done its duty, but remains as a relic
of ancient times, making the village of Greenwood more picturesque, if not more
beautitul. Next, Toles & Brown about one mile below built another saw-mill, and
in 1845, the same firm erected the first grist-mill, costing about $5,000. This
was burned in 1862, and Job Toles, just below the old lake saw-mill, in 1847,
put up a second grist-mill, which is still doing a good business, estimated at
$4,000 to $6,000 yearly.

   Abbott & Thompson, in 1848, erected the first cheese-factory in the township,
and dispose of the milk furnished by one hundred and fifty to two hundred cows,
and put upon the market annually from ninety to one hundred thousand pounds of
cheese. It is now manufacturing butter and cheese, under the name of O. C.
Thompson & Co. In 1870, Job Toles erected the second cheese factory near his
grist-mill, and after running it one or two seasons, leased to the firm above
mentioned, who now monopolize the butter and cheese business in this town.

   The village of Greenwood was first laid out in 1842, and lots added to in
1845. It contended for the honor of having the county seat when it was removed
from McHenry in 1843; but, owing to the want of proper stimulus, to wit,
railroad or manufactures, has made little growth in the past fifteen years. 

   In 1854-55, Weller & Hamilton planted several acres to apple trees, and
Greenwood had a nursery which continued for several years, Hamilton finally
selling out and moving to Ridgefield, and Weller closing out the business. At
present Garrison Brothers carry on the business of fruit and ornamental trees,
garden seeds and flowers. They are doing a large and increasing business. The
first orchard was set by Andrew Murphy, on Queen Ann' Prairie, in 1842, the
trees being brought from Lockport, Will County. That orchard is now dead, but
the one raised by him from the seed still flourishes, and furnishes Mr. Murphy
with an abundance of good apples.

   The first store was opened at Boone's Mill by a Mr. Lockwood, about 1847, who
soon moved away, being succeeded by the store built by O. M. Goodsell, at
Greenwood village, which, although frequently changing hands, still exists in
the hands of J. J. Philbrick. Goodsell was very successful after the retirement
of his partner, Simmons, who is now an attorney at law in Geneva.

  Whether fortunately or otherwise, Greenwood can boast of but one mile of
railroad, the Chicago & North-Western, running across the southwest corner of
the township; but in the matter of mounds, mention must be made of several on
Section 10, near the Nippersink. Some of them have been opened, and were found
to contain human remains and instruments of domestic use, supposed to be the
work of the Mound Builders.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF THE TAX-PAYERS AND VOTERS
OF
McHENRY COUNTY;

CONTAINING ALSO

A Map of the County; a Condensed History of the State of Illinois; an Historical
Sketch of the County, its Towns and Villages; an Abstract of Every-day Laws of
the State; a Business Directory; Officers of Societies, Lodges and Public
Officers; a Department of General Information for Farmers, Dairymen, Etc., Etc.

CHICAGO: C. WALKER & CO.
1877.


Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by
C. WALKER & CO.,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CULVER, PAGE, HOYNE & CO.,
PRINTERS, CHICAGO.


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