McHenry County IL Archives History .....Preface And County History - 1877 
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PREFACE.

THE useful design of a work like this will be evident to all who give it even a
casual inspection; but the labor of preparing and completing it, the
difficulties surmounted in gathering and compiling the facts, can scarcely be
estimated by any one not experienced in similar undertakings. Our intention has
been not only to provide a convenient Directory, but also to offer to our
patrons a useful family book, which will be valuable not only to the present
generation, but become more so to their descendants, in thus preserving, in a
condensed form, the records of their families. In producing a fair and condensed
History of McHenry County, it was our intention to call in person on the oldest
settlers to obtain reliable information concerning the history, settlement and
financial interests of each township. This plan was modified; circulars
containing questions were distributed, in stead, to parties most capable of
giving the facts. The parties receiving the circulars were then visited by our
historian, A. W. Cuming, Esq., and in many instances definite answers gained. We
are sorry to say that in some cases an indifference or unwillingness to impart
information was encountered, which accounts for the less complete history of
some townships than others.

   We wish to thank other parties for their painstaking in collecting and
forwarding items to the compiler. Among these are the Hon. Wm. A. McConuell, C.
G. Cotting and R. R. Crosby, of Richmond; Sidney Disbrow and M. D. Hay, of
Alden; Hon. George Gage, of McHenry; W. G. Billings, of Chemung; James McMillan
and Cameron Goff, of Nunda; W. M. Jackson, of Coral; Geo. T. Kasson, of
Woodstock; Dr. Wm. A. Nason, of Algonquin, who kindly loaned us a history of
that village, prepared by himself; and John Brink, Esq., of Crystal Lake. . In
Greenwood, G. H. Garrison, A. W. Murphy and James Watson. For the facts
regarding Harvard we are indebted to Mr. E. Ayer. To make the Township
Directories as accurate and complete as was possible, we called to our
assistance the different Assessors; still, in a work of this extent, errors
undoubtedly will occur, mostly in spelling of names. Even subscribers in giving
their biographies have made mistakes in dates, too late discovered by them to be
remedied. We have endeavored, leaving out the floating population, to give the
name of each tax payer and voter. The information upon various subjects for
farmers we have culled from the best sources. The Abstract of State Laws will be
found valuable at all times. It would be impossible to make a work of this kind
perfect. Neither could it be published without offense to some, whom it would
have benefited. No claim to literary merit is made for this volume. It has
necessarily been somewhat hurried in execution. Many facts, however, not before
published will be found within its pages.

   We offer to our patrons this result of months of labor and outlay, in the
hope that they will find it satisfactory.

HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY.

SETTLEMENTS within the limits of this county commenced along the Fox River and
on the military road from Chicago to Green Bay, in 1834, Algonquin being
entitled to the honor of the oldest inhabitant. These first settlers came from
Virginia, and it was appropriate that the "Mother of Presidents," herself the
oldest settled of the English colonies, should perform the same office for this
county that their ancestors had for Virginia.

   The Blackhawk War had just ended, the Indian title had been extinguished, and
the country, to those brought up among the mountains of Virginia, was beauty
itself. They were in search of something better, and surely they need look no
further. Here was a deep and inexhaustible soil ready for the plow, and, within
easy range, timber along the streams—not such as they had left behind them, but
amply sufficient for buildings and fences.

   The land had not been surveyed, but that made little difference to them; they
could and did make their claims by mutual consent, and waited till the man with
the compass should put in an appearance.

THE VIRGINIA SETTLEMENT.

   In 1835, Christopher Walkup, James Dufield, John McClure, Christopher
McClure, William Hartman, John L. Gibson and John Gillilan came from Western
Virginia and located in the eastern part of the town of Dorr, since that time
known as the "Virginia Settlement." John Gillilan, preferring to be near the
water, made his claim where he now resides.

   These men were the real pioneers of the county, and for that reason deserve
more than a passing notice; but it is chiefly on account of their true Southern
hospitality to all new comers, to whom their latch-string always hung out, and
who were always welcome to all the assistance they could render through money,
men and teams, that they are gratefully remembered by those who had occasion to
claim their aid or hospitality.

   Christopher Walkup, John McClure and John L. Gibson have taken their final
emigration, while the others are as ready as ever to welcome the stranger to the
best the house affords.

   Of all these places, Christopher Walkup's was perhaps the most noted, as he
held several of the offices of Justice of the Peace and Sheriff, of the County.
He was the father of the late lamented Josiah Walkup, of Crystal Lake Crossing.
The elder Mr. Walkup died about six years ago, at the age of eighty. John
McClure died in Kansas, and John L. Gibson at his residence in Ridgefield.

   These " old settlers" are passing away, and as we shall never have any more,
it is well that their memory be embalmed in history as it is in the memory of
those who in that early day were forced to put their hospitality to the test;
and if one of them was ever found wanting, the instance has not come to light.

   These Virginians brought with them the local customs of the place whence they
came, where one was not thought to have made a visit unless he had come with the
entire family, and spent at least one night beneath the roof of his host. The
march of improvement has changed all this, but still their memory is green; and
many are now living who have cause to remember the Virginia Settlement.

   Pleasant Grove, now Marengo, came next in order, in 1835, after which time it
were of little use to essay the settlement in the order of time.

   Deer, wolves, foxes and other animals at that time roamed over these prairies
and through the openings, as many and free as the Indian, and no great exertion
was necessary to procure meat for the table; indeed, the temptation was too
great, so that much more was killed than was needed for the necessities of the
settler. The men hunted the deer during the day, and the wolves hunted the sheep
and pigs during the night. In 1844, the people of McHenry County thought to rid
themselves of the wolves by a grand hunt, in which they would surround a large
tract of land with a skirmish line, armed with anything that would make a noise,
drive the animals into the center of their noisy circle, there to slaughter them
at their leisure. The hunters found their meeting place on section six, Seneca
Township; and although they had corralled about sixty deer, all but one of which
were allowed to escape, they bagged a wolf and a fox. This was the first and
last hunt of the kind ever held in the county.

ORGANIZATION.

   During the session of 1836-7, the Legislature passed an act setting off from
Cook the territory now included in McHenry and Lake Counties, under the former
name, which was given in honor of an officer of that name who, in the Sac War,
marched  through the Territory on his way to Fort Atkinson.

   In May, 1837, the county seat was located at McHenry, which had been chosen
by Commissioners appointed by the Legislature, Crystal Lake, Half Day, Fort Hill
and Independence Grove, now Libertyville, competing with McHenry for that honor.
John Coville, of Bloomington, Peter Cohen and Peter Pruyne, of Cook County,
examined the different points, and after mature consideration, taking into
account that the first-named point was near the geographical center of the
territory, and not a bad location in other respects, decreed accordingly.
McHenry County then contained thirty Congressional Townships, being bounded on
the east by the Lake, on the south by Cook, on the west by Boone, organized
about the same time, and on the north by Wisconsin, then a Territory. It was
about equally divided between timber and prairie, was well watered by creeks and
rivers, not to mention the two dozen lakes, large and small, that then supplied
and still supply an abundance of fish.

   On the first day of June, 1837, at the store of Hiram Kennicott, near Half
Day, the first election of county officers was held. The vote was not large, the
total being 138, and the three County Comissioners chosen were Charles H.
Bartlett, Mathias Mason and Solomon Norton. Henry B. Steele was chosen Sheriff;
Michael McGuire, Coroner; Seth Washburn, Recorder; Chas. E. Moore, County
Surveyor; the Commissioners appointed Hamilton Dennison, of Half Day, for Clerk,
and Andrew S. Wells, of the same place, Treasurer. These Commissioners held
their first court at McHenry, June 5,1837, to organize the county, their first
order being an approval of the Clerk's bond; their second, the appointment of a
Treasurer; and third, dividing the county into precincts, or magistrate
districts; which being done, the county machinery was in running order. The
court then proceeded to divide the territory into precincts or magistrate
districts,; the first, called Fox Precinct, included all the territory in the
then County of McHenry lying west and two miles east of Fox River, which, as
will be seen, comprised a trifle more than is now within this county. The
election was held at McHenry; Christy G. Wheeler, Wm. L. Way and John V. McLane
were appointed Judges of Election; H. N. Owen and B. B. Brown, Clerks; and at
the first election held July 3d, 1837, Wm. H. Buck and Wm. L. Way were elected
Justices of the Peace.

   Lake County appears to have had a monopoly of precincts, having four, named
respectively, Oak, Lake, Indian Creek and Abingdon; the first holding an
election at the residence of William Dwyer, Isaac Hickox, Arthur Patterson and
Benjamin Marks being Judges of Election; in the second, the voting was done at
the house of Samuel P. Ransome, the Judges being Jeremiah Porter, Emsley
Sunderland' and Edward Jenkins; Seth Washburne's house was made the voting place
in the third, John G. Ragan, Richard Steele and Andrew S. Wells receiving the
tickets; and in the fourth, the house of Thomas McClure was where the Justices
and Constables were elected, Jared Gage, Willard Jones and Samuel Brooks being
Judges. Two Justices and a like number of Constables were elected in each precinct.

COURT OF CLAIMS.

   The County being now organized, immigrants poured in as fast as ox-teams
could bring them, but as the Government surveyor had not yet made his
appearance, each man could only choose prairie or timber solely, stake out his
"claim" or plow around it if he had a plow to do it with, put up his cabin and
consider himself at home, although, according to Henry Clay, the whole mass
formed "a lawless band of squatters."

   The human disposition being the same then as now, it became necessary to
provide some mode of proving and recording those claims, as a security against
those disposed to "jump." Accordingly, the settlers formed themselves into an
association for mutual protection, organizing a sort of "Court of Claims." In
pursuance of this object, the territory was divided into "claim districts." Each
district was then sub divided into sub-districts, in each of which three
Commissioners were appointed to record claims and hear and determine all
contests in that regard. These claims, when recorded, became evidence of title.
It does not appear that these Claim Commissioners had much to do with what is
now McHenry County, but so well did they perform their duty in the Lake
precincts that but little trouble arose and that was easily and quietly
adjusted. The survey of the land comprised in the county proceeded from the
third principal meridian eastward, reaching the west range (5) in 1838, and
finishing Lake County four years later, when these courts of claims, being no
longer needed, ceased to exist.

   These immigrants were a neighborly set, coming, as they sometimes did, in
strings of six to eight covered wagons, the inmates of which were seeking to
better their condition by putting to some use the immense waste of timber and
prairie stretching away on every side as far as the range of human vision. The
difficulty of choice was increased by the extent of unoccupied beautiful
country, still they could not wander on forever; they must have land, water and
timber, the last all-important to them, as the first thing to be provided was
shelter. The spot having been selected and claims satisfactorily adjusted, they
formed themselves into a co-operative society for the purpose of house-building,
putting up the first house for him who seemed to them to stand the most in need
of shelter. Thus, in a short time, all were provided with such dwellings at the
materials at hand afforded.

   Mills, log school-houses and villages soon made their appearance, and if
unlike in that respect to those who, in December, 1620, left the Mayflower for
the bleak coast of New England, they brought no minister with them, that
necessary element of civilized society was not long behind, preaching in barns,
schools and private houses to audiences more attentive if less fashionable than
now, and finding beneath every "shake" roof a hearty welcome to the table and no
less hearty one to the "shake down" for the night, unless the host was provided
with that rarity in those days, a spare bed.

   Their rate of taxation was one per cent, on the following schedule: Slaves or
indentured or registered negro or mulatto servants, stock in trade, horses,
mules, asses, and neat cattle above three years of age, swine, lumber, and one
horse wagons, clocks, watches, etc., but never a bit of bank or railroad stock,
piano or silver ware. The tax of 1837 realized $370.86.

   Among the curiosities of ancient legislation is a tavern license of 1837, the
license costing eight dollars, and that the landlord might not swindle his
thirsty customers, the Board established the following prices for liquors:
Brandy, rum or gin, pints, 25 cents; wine, 37 1/2; whisky, 12 1/2; beer or
cider, the same; meals, 37 1/2; lodging, 121/2; while a span of horses could
chew hay all night, for 25 cents. Those were halcyon times, but we have no
record that the men and women of that day were all drunkards, the secret of
which may have been that the shilling for the pint of whisky was as difficult to
get at that day as it is to obtain enough to pay for the same quantity now. They
had one advantage of us in that they were in the most blissful ignorance of the
"crooked."

DIVISION OF THE COUNTY.

   The Legislature of 1838-9 passed an act dividing the then County of McHenry
into two unequal parts, the present county to retain Ranges 5, 6, 7, 8, and the
west third of Range 9, the remainder to constitute the new county which was to
be called Lake. In pursuance of the authority given by this act, in 1839, the
new county was organized, since which time each county has its own history.

LOCATING COUNTY SEAT.

   The object in view in dividing Range 9, so as to leave one-third of it in
this county appears to have been that McHenry might still be the county seat,
but being so much to one side the people became dissatisfied, and the
Legislature, during the session of 1842-3, passed an act authorizing the people
to select anew site for the county seat.

   The election was held the August following, and Centerville (now Woodstock)
having the majority, the County Commissioners' Court in September following, by
proclamation, declared the seat of justice removed to that place, which was done
on the 23d of September, 1844, and the Legislature, at its next session, changed
the name to that which it now bears.

   The court house, built in 1844, stood a little south of the center of the
public square, and subserved the ends of justice, till the night of the 4th of
July, 1858, when it was destroyed by fire. The present fine building having been
erected, in 1S57, at a cost of $40,000.

   The first highway run through the county was the State road running from the
Indiana State line through Lockport, Naperville, Du Page, Warrenville, Dundee,
Woodstock and thence to Madison. The act passed the Legislature in 1837 and the
road was located by William Smith, of Will, I. M. Warren, of Cook, and Zeba S.
Beardsley, of McHenry County.

   Cook County having preferred a claim against McHenry for expenses incurred by
Cook, on account of McHenry, previous to the creation of the latter county, and
Lake being in a similar manner indebted to McHenry, by act of the Legislature,
in 1843, a Commissioner was appointed to inquire into and adjust the matter,
when it was found that this county was indebted to Cook in the sum of $750, and
Joseph Wood, of Lake, with J. H. Johnson, of McHenry, having ascertained that
Lake owed us precisely the same sum, the matter was settled by Lake paying Cook.
In these days such a strange coincidence would be deemed worthy of examination
by a committee.

   In 1840, the census showed that from -1837, when the first vote was cast, and
from which the population was estimated at 500, the population had increased to
2,578, and the county contained thirteen mills and manufacturing establishments.

   The nearest market being Chicago, and the only means of reaching that muddy
town being by wagon, hauled, for the most part, by oxen over the execrable
prairie roads, the trip occupying three days at the shortest, and the prices of
all kinds of produce being what would, at this day, be thought too insignificant
to pay for planting, sowing or feeding, it is no wonder that the seller
frequently returned from market no richer than he went. Thirty to forty cents a
bushel for wheat, and that was the only article that they were sure of selling
at any price, would scarcely pay, even though the produce of that cerial was as
high as forty-five bushels to the acre. Twenty teams in line thus going to
market with their only staple was no uncommon sight.

   At the first election (1838) for Member of the Legislature, .the Whig and
Democratic parties put their candidates in the field, but the Democratic party
being then greatly in the ascendant, Dr. Richard Murphy, the Democratic nominee,
distanced Giles Spring, of the other party. The district, at that time,
consisted of Cook, Will, Du Page and McHenry Counties, and the first
representative from this county, after the division, was Hon. Wm. M. Jackson,
also a Democrat and still living at Union, in the township of Coral.

FIRST COURTS.

   The Circuit Court of McHenry County held its first session at the county
seat, on May 10th, 1838, John Pearson, of the Seventh Judicial Circuit,
presiding. The first State's Attorney was Alonzo Huntington; Sheriff, Henry B.
Steele; Clerk, A. B. Wynkoop; and the first Grand Jury consisted of the
following named gentlemen, several of whom are still living: Andrew S. Wells, C.
H. Bartlett, Martin Shields, Phineas Sherman, Thomas McClure, Rufus Saules,
Linley S. Wood, Christy G. Wheeler, John Deggins, Moody B. Barley, Christopher
Walkup, Isaac H. Loyd, Jeremiah Porter, Willard Jones, Leonard Gage, Daniel
Winters, Richard Steele, Alden Harvey, Luke Hale, Amos Diamond, Aaron Randall,
Elisha Clark, R. R. Crosby, and Charles Bartlett, who was Foreman.

   The Petit Jurors were as follows: Wm. Easton, Dr. J. H. Foster, John A.
Mills, Theron Parsons, Abijah S. Bernard, Samuel Walker, Russell Diggins, Samuel
Terwilliger, E. F. Farnum, Timothy B. Titcomb, John Herrick, John Hicks, Erastus
Houghton, Nelson Darling, John McOmber, Eli W. Brigham, Uriah Cottle, Abraham
Vincent, Burley Hunt and Wm. Irwin.

   Upon attendance at that term of court were the following named attorneys: E.
W. Cassay, J. C. Newkirk, Nathan Allen, _____ Kimball, Horace Butler, James M.
Strode, Alonzo Huntington and Giles Spring.

THE PRESS.

   In 1846, it was seen that the county must have a newspaper, so Mr. Josiah
Dwight started the "Illinois Republican," which, under his management, was
conducted for a few years, when it suspended, and the Woodstock Democrat, first
published by F. D. Austin, in 1848, shared the same fate in 1856. The year
previous to the closing of the Democrat, the first number of the Woodstock
Sentinel made its appearance, as a joint stock company, having been projected by
Convers & Tappen, who were, at that time, the managers of the newly formed
Republican party.

  . It appears that Convers procured the attendance of J. R. Giddings, of
Ashtabula County, Ohio, at a political meeting in Woodstock, at which time, and
during the speech of the Ohio statesman, the question arose as to the name of
the new party, when F. J. Mansfield stretched over the speaker's head a long
paper, bearing, in large type, the word "Republican." The name was accepted, and
the establishment of the Sentinel followed as the logical result of the new
party organization.

   In 1856, it was in the hands of Franks & Son, who sold out in the spring of
the next year, to A. E. & W. E. Smith, they running it till 1866. Sapp &
Richardson became its proprietors, to be, in their turn, succeeded by Wm. E.
Smith, in 1869, and in 1873, G. S. Southworth became editor and proprietor. It
has always been a Republican paper, and the leading one of the county.

   In 1856, E. W. Smith and M. L. Joslyn started a campaign paper called the
Argus, which did not long survive the election.

   Next came the Woodstock Democrat, under the editorial management of F. D.
Austin, but, not being well sustained, soon went under, and in 1861 the Union
was issued from Phoenix Hall, and shared the fate of its predecessor.

The Harvard Independent was started in 1864, which for the past few years has
been in the hands of McLaughlin & Leland. Three years later the Marengo
Republican was established, which has .been run almost continuously by J. B.
Babcock.

   The New Era was established in the fall of 1873, by Ringland & Price, as a
Grange paper. The latter named gentleman was connected with it but a short time,
since when it has been owned and conducted at Woodstock and Nunda by its present
proprietor.

   Next, in order of time, follows the Plaindealer, published at McHenry, by J.
Van Slyke, who commenced its publication a little more than one year ago (in
1875), and the Richmond Gazette, now in the last half of its first year (1876),
was first issued by H. B. Begim, who subsequently took in G. S. Utter, when, the
former dying, the latter took in Dr. S. F. Bennett, and it is now under the
management of Bennett & Utter.

   It will be perceived that the county is abundantly supplied with local
papers, all Republican with the exception above noted. Nothing short of an
intelligent, reading people could keep so many alive.

THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

   This Society was organized twenty-five^ years ago, and bought ten acres of
land a little east of town, outside the corporation. This land was bought of
James B. Church, May 18, 1855. The Society then borrowed, of the county one
thousand dollars, giving a mortgage on the land. The land finally passed into
possession of the county, the Society taking a perpetual lease for the same. In
February, 1869, eight acres more, on the north side, were bought of Daniel
Joslyn, at $900. Finding itself still within too narrow limits, in December,
1873, a lease of five acres on the east was obtained for three years, with the
privilege of purchase, and, the lease having expired, the land has been
purchased for §1,000; so the Society now has twenty-three acres, with nothing to
prevent indefinite expansion eastward.

   The old buildings proving inadequate and inconvenient, in 1872 the present
fine hall was erected, at a cost of §2,000, while for stock, ample stalls,
stables, sheds and pens exist.

   Three years ago, at the suggestion of the President, Mr. James Crow, an
attempt was made to pay off the debt by selling life membership tickets at $120
each. About one hundred were sold, but, owing to various circumstances, there
still exists a debt of about $2,000.

   About one year ago, Marengo made an attempt to organize a second society in
the county, but their first meeting was not so successful as to warrant any
great outlay in that direction.

THE DAIRY BUSINESS.

   The dairy business takes the lead in farm products, there being, in the
county, no less than twenty cheese and butter factories in operation, the most
of them making both, while several confine their operations to butter alone, and
a smaller number to cheese alone.

   The first factory was built in 1866, in the township of Hebron, by R. W. & W.
H. Stewart. About the same time, Dr. R. R. Stone built one at Richmond, and
recently, D. E. Wood & Go., at Huntley, have put up the largest factory in the
county. There are about twenty-seven or twenty-eight all told, but some of them
are closed.

   The number of cows connected with these factories is from 12,000 to 15,000,
and the total product of milk is probably 30,000,000 pounds, of which 3,000,000
is made into cheese, producing about $300,000 per year; and the receipts for
butter are about one-third as much.

   Of milk otherwise disposed of, about 1,000,000 pounds is shipped to Chicago
in eight-gallon cans, this producing about $10,000 a year. The above, including
milk used at home and fed to stock, would make the value of this product alone
about $700,000.

   The heaviest operator in the factory line is Dr. R. R. Stone, of Richmond,
who now controls about one-fourth of that business in the county.

WAR RECORD.

   During the war of the Rebellion, McHenry County responded promptly to every
call of the government; the number of men furnished being 2,533, which is just
three less than the number required, but as many enlisted in the Irish Legion,
who do not appear upon the records of the county, the number must have been in
excess of that given. It has been found impossible to ascertain the precise
number who went from each township, for the reason that men who belonged in one
township were frequently credited to another, because enlisting there, it being
the custom to consider a man as belonging where he was enrolled.

   The county issued bounty orders, to the amount of $260,000, of which about
$90,000 remains, outstanding. Part of these orders drew ten and part eight per
cent., but last year (1876) they were, by order of the Board of Supervisors,
funded into eight per cent.

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.

   Progress from the log school house, with its puncheon floor and slab seats,
has been as rapid as in any other county in the State. School edifices of frame,
brick and stone have superseded the log expediency, while a system of
supervision has largely increased the efficiency of teachers, and in the various
cities and villages of the county, the graded system has been introduced. From
the first schools of Wm. M. Jackson, in Coral, in 1838 to 1875, the school
houses have increased to 150, while the number of pupils, according to the
census of 1870, was 11,890, of whom 7,000 were enrolled. The amount paid
teachers was $43,000 in 1874. The number of female teachers, during the last
twenty years, has doubled, while the number of male teachers has increased but
one-seventh. The average daily attendance is about one-half of the school
census, or 5,995, being about two-thirds of the enrollment.

   Formerly the county made ample provision for school supervision, appointing
Carlisle Hastings .to the office of School Commissioner in 1840, but under the
new school law, the duties of the School Superintendent are limited to making an
annual report to the State Superintendent, apportioning the public money,
loaning the county funds, examining teachers and visiting schools when required
by school officers, he receiving four dollars a day when engaged in his official
duties.

   In the fall of 1874, at Nunda, the teachers organized a County Association
for mutual improvement. It meets monthly, numbers fifty members, and is in a
flourishing condition.

   The county has twenty-two school libraries, the best one being at Richmond.

THE TEACHERS' INSTITUTE

Was organized by Rev. R. K. Todd, during the first year of his first term as
School Commissioner. It was held in the old court house, continued for one week,
had an aggregate attendance of one hundred and fifty, much exceeding the
expectations of the presiding officer, who, in conducting the exercises, was
assisted by several of the citizens of the town. This was in the fall of 1849,
and each fall, during his term, a similar meeting was held, but during the reign
of his successor the interest dwindled until A. W. Smith, on assuming the office
in 1855, had some difficulty in re-awakening the teachers' dormant interest in
this means of improvement. His institutes were held for two weeks, and at his
third meeting, in the fall of-185G, a constitution was adopted, and the
Institute began to assume a permanent form. Mr. Smith was the first to go
outside the county for instruction to the members, he having, at his second
gathering, the State Superintendent.

   School Commissioner Hutchinson was succeeded, in 1855, by Asa W. Smith, Esq.,
who shall be allowed to tell his own story:

   "In the fall of 1855, I was elected School Commissioner, and, upon accepting
the office, found it to be one of my legal duties to visit schools fifty days in
a year, with a compensation of $2 a day. There were at that time somewhat over
two hundred schools in the county. Notwithstanding it was 'big work and small
pay,' I resolved to undertake the task, which was performed by visiting two
schools daily, and lecturing at night in the most convenient place for the
accommodation of the two districts thus visited.

   "In October, 1856, the present organization known as the McHenry County
Teachers' Institute was formed.

   "In 1857, we had the most successful and interesting Institute of my time as
an active member thereof. It was quite generally attended by the best teachers
of the county, among whom were Rev. R. K. Todd, John A. Parrish, S. F. Bennett,
Theodore Mead, M. F. Ellsworth, two Misses Thomas, Miss Jewett, Miss Achsee
Smith, Miss Thompson, Miss H. S. Corey, Mrs. C. M. Smith and many others."

   The records of the Institute referred to by Mr. Smith cannot be found since
the election of G. S. Southworth, into whose hands they never came; so the
McHenry County Teachers' Institute is without a regular organization, further
than may be necessary to hold one meeting.

   Since 1857, the Institute has not met regularly, except during the terms of
A. Brown, A. J. Kingman, G. S. Southworth and the present incumbent, Wm. Nickle.
Its meetings have generally been held in Woodstock, but sometimes they have gone
to McHenry, Richmond and Nunda.

    The Woodstock University of Rev. R. K. Todd grew out of the necessities of
the people, who, feeling their need of a better education than could be had in
the public schools of the county, as early as 1848 began to urge him to open a
school. He finally consented; and, from himself and wife as teachers, the school
grew into the second hundred and the teachers were multiplied by four. A
suitable building was erected on his lot, a little east of his residence, and,
with 150 students, school had been in operation for about twelve weeks when, in
the early part of the winter of 1861, he was called up in the night to see his
school building become a heap of smouldering ashes.

   His loss was about $7,000, and, feeling sure that he had no enemy who could
do that, and, being equally certain that the fire could not have been the work
of accident, inquiry was set on foot and the deed traced to one Cosgrove, who
accused another person of having hired him to do the deed. This other person
proved to be one to whom Mr. Todd, when School Commissioner, had refused a
certificate on the ground of moral character; but, being too adroit in covering
up his tracks, he could not be convicted. Cosgrove, however, was sent to prison
for six years, but was pardoned out at the end of two, and moved to Will County.
The real criminal has never been heard from since the trial.

   At the fire, or immediately after its occurrence, Mr. Todd promised to open
his school again within ten days, in the basement of the then unfinished
Presbyterian Church, which was done. The school was continued there till 1867,
when it was moved into a newly built addition to his residence, where it still
continues, but, for several years, has been for boys only.

   The University was incorporated a short time previous to the fire.

ICE BUSINESS.

   Crystal Lake ice has such a reputation for coolness and clearness, that the
people of Chicago would not care to dispense with it; and no history of McHenry
County would be complete that did not give some account of it, which, through
the kindness of John Brink, Esq., we are enabled to do:

   The Crystal Lake Ice Company, consisting of Joy, Frisbie and others, was
organized in 1855, and put up some 7,000 to 9,000 tons of ice, which Joy sold in
the city. The ensuing year, Joy & Frisbie had the concern entirely on their own
hands, and, from that time to 1860, shipped yearly 10,800 tons. The houses were
burned that year and, till 1868, Crystal Lake ice was unknown in Chicago; but
Joy, Smith and others organized another company, putting up and selling ice for
the ensuing six years, when the Fire King closed them out a second time.

   During these six years, the company put up and sold about the same quantity
yearly that had been done by the company burnt out in 1860. From 1869 to 1873,
the lake had a rest, the only ice cut being for private use or sent into Chicago
by the carload, probably 2,000 tons yearly; then C. S. and J. H. Dole got
possession of the lake, and, in the winter of 1873-4, they put up and filled six
ice houses, each having a capacity of 1,250 tons, or 7,500 tons, besides
shipping to different places 3,000 tons more—a total of 10,500 tons. The next
winter the number of their ice houses was increased to eight, capable of holding
12,000 tons, whilst, during that winter, 7,000 tons was shipped, making 19,000
in all. In the winter of 1875-6, they filled their houses and shipped 1,200
carloads, making, altogether, 26,400 tons. This fall they are putting up four
more buildings near the others, the new ones being 38x148 feet and thirty feet
high. This will give them twelve ice houses, to fill which they are putting in
an engine of twenty-five horse power.

   These new ice houses will hold an aggregate of 14,416 tons, which, added to
the capacity of the old ones, gives a total of 26,416 tons, the amount that will
be put up this winter and, probably, half as much shipped. These houses are
situated at the south end of the lake, near the outlet, in a beautiful grove,
and are fenced in with a tight board fence eight feet high.

   Of course, a business that has, in so short a time, grown to so large
proportions has not yet arrived at its maximum, and we may look to see those ice
houses doubled in number within the next ten years, unless Chicago should cease
to grow or contrive some better way to keep themselves cool and preserve their
meats during the hot weather. The ice harvest gives employment to many who, but
for that, coming, as it does, when there is nothing else to do, would go idle
and want for the luxuries, if not for the necessaries of life.

RAILROADS.

   In 1855-6, the C. & N-W. Ry, then called the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac,
was built through the county, and its effect was greatly to stimulate business,
legitimate and illegitimate. Every village traversed by the road was destined to
be a city, and corner lots went up to fabulous prices. People have now learned
that means of transportation alone do not build up a town; to do that, requires
bodies to be fed, lodged and clothed.

   The Fox River Valley, now the Elgin & State Line, was built at the same time
by a different company, but never having been a paying investment, has been
absorbed by the Chicago & North-Western.

   The Galena & Chicago Union Railroad was built in 1854. It is now the Galena
Division of the Chicago & North-Western Railway, and has three depots in the
county—one at Huntley, one at Union, and one at Marengo. And the Rockford &
Kenosha first began to run trains in 1861. It forms part of the same
corporation, and has a depot at each of the following named places: Hebron,
Alden and Chemung.


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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