Elgin, Illinois, USA
1878 - City of Elgin

With some unimportant changes in the relative positions of the savage hordes who occasionally made it their hunting ground, the land now occupied by the city of Elgin remained, in the early Spring of 1835, as it had been since the discovery of the continent.

Early explorations had been confined to the east and south, and, though Scott's army had cleared the way three years previously, the vast resources of this valley were at that date undeveloped; no cabin appeared with the curling smoke from the fire of the pioneer, and no claim lines betokened the earliest settlement. Desolation reigned in the midst of the "Garden of the World," and silence, interrupted only by the chirp of some feathered songster, the bark of the prairie wolf or the triumphant yell of the dark hunter, as he brought down the vigilant buck.

But the settlers were on their way, and in order to fully comprehend the immediate causes which led to the peopling of Elgin, it will be necessary to retrace our steps to the previous year, when there dwelt in the county of Oneida, State of New York, a man by the name of Hezekiah Gifford. Having heard of a land in the West, fertile beyond all that he had ever seen, wealthy in water privileges, and abounding with ample supplies of wood, "a land of streams," of fields already cleared for the harvest and waiting for the plowman, he sold his property in the East and repaired to Buffalo. Taking passage thence on a steamer for Detroit, with a Mr. Duryea, with whom he had formed an acquaintance in Buffalo, he arrived, after a stormy voyage, went by stage thence to St. Joseph, when he boarded a schooner and was landed in due time safe in the native mud of Chicago. That city - now the pride of the West - was then scarcely a suitable dwelling place for a colony of prairie dogs or gophers. Its dirt begrimmed cabin walls and vile streets, in which pigs and geese wallowed in filthy happiness, presented no attractive features for any higher orders of creation; while in place of theaters during the week, and churches on Sundays, the inhabitants enjoyed daily dog fights and drunken rows. There were, however, some good and law abiding citizens even in that hamlet, and the generally depraved condition was owing, in great measure, to the lower classes of emigrants who sought refuge there, and the reeking saloons which were kept open for their especial benefit. While wending his way along the streets of this "beautiful West," Messrs. Gifford and Duryea descried a man approaching with a yoke of oxen, and hailing him ascertained that his name was Ferson, and 'that he lived upon the banks of Fox River, the goal for which they had started when they left New York. They accordingly secured places in his cart, and, taking the old army trail, after a weary journey, in which they were frequently obliged to walk, were at length landed at the log but owned by Mr. Ferson and his brother, on the west side of the river, where St. Charles now stands. Having partaken of their hospitality in the shape of some good venison steaks and coffee, and obtained the rest of which they were so sorely in need, they proceeded down the river, following an Indian trail to Aurora, where they found a lone cabin and its owner, Joseph McCarty, near by digging granite boulders to form the first dam. From this point, they went to the present site of Yorkville, thence to Indian Creek and Somonauk, and finally to the vicinity of Blackberry, where they found a man by the name of Hollenbeck, comfortably settled; and having taken up claims near him, returned to New York, where Mr. Gifford directed his steps to the home of his brother, James T. Gifford, in Yates County, and related the story of his adventures.

In such vivid colors did he portray the beauties of the Fox River country, that James T., who was a man of unusual energy, determined to sell his farm at the earliest opportunity and emigrate West in the Spring. Meanwhile, Hezekiah visited his father's family, in Oneida County, and some friends, in Chenango County, where he married, ands returning to his brother, who had disposed of his property during his short absence, both started with a team and lumber wagon, which was loaded with tools and provisions for man and beast, and arrived in Chicago on the 24th day of March, 1835, having driven the entire distance. Having received glowing accounts of a place then called Milwaukee Bay, now Milwaukee, they directed their course northward from Chicago with a man named Goodwin; they did not meet a single soul on the way, and were so poorly supplied with the necessaries of life, they were obliged to divide their few biscuits with their horses. Arriving at their destination, they ascertained, to their great disappointment, that all the land about the present city of Milwaukee had been claimed, and accordingly formed the determination to procecd southwesterly to the country visited by Hezekiah in the previous season. The horses which they had ridden from Chicago were accordingly delivered to Mr. Goodwin, who was about to return, and the Giffords took up their line of march across the country, but were soon obliged to return, having lost their way; and, wandering to the south of Milwaukee, reached the lake at the site of the present city of Racinc. Here they became acquainted with one Jack Jumbean, one of the waifs which the earlier French occupancy had left upon the shore of life, a half breed trader and trapper, and a fair type of the coureurs du bois, so frequently alluded to in Parkman's admirable History of the Conspiracy of Pontiac. Jack told them that he knew the country well, and that by taking the trail from his door they, would reach Fox River in half a day. They, therefore, made the attempt again, and this time successfully, for, at the period stated by the trapper, the stream appeared in the distance, and they were soon upon its solitary banks. Following it to the south, they walked for miles without meeting a sign of human habitation or of life until, as they were beginning to be wearied by their tedious journeyings, they discovered a lone Indian in a canoe, whom they hailed and induced to convey them to the opposite bank. Their inquiries of this dusky Charon in regard to settlers were answered unsatisfactorily, and, night coming on, they slept upon the ground without supper. Upon the earliest break of day, they were up and on the march. Creeks were waded and marshes crossed, yet still nothing but a wilderness spread out before them. At length, after they had been some thirty hours without a morsel of food, Hezekiah Gifford observed a small but in the distance. With quickening paces they hastened to obtain the succor which it promised, but the "ancient mariner's" disappointment awaited them. There were no children playing near its doorway, no obstreperous cur ran out to meet them. "The silence was unbroken," and when they shouted, there was no response. Approaching and peering in, they beheld the body of a dead Pottawattomie warrior, in a sitting posture, wrapped in his blanket and adorned with many trinkets, indicative of his rank and importance. This was all that the but contained, and it was merely a rude sarcophagus, common among tho Indian tribes. Their feelings can better be imagined than told, for they were nearly famished, and starvation stared them in the face.

Weakened by hunger and travel, they continued southward. Night again settled around them, and with it rain, and they awoke, wet and chilled, from a sleep disturbed by the howling of wild animals near their cold couch. Early in the day, they came to Nipersink Creek, in the present county of McHenry, and were obliged to wade the stream, which was waist high, holding their clothes above their heads. Having reached a point near the present town of Algonquin, they were rejoiced at the sight of a human figure moving in the distance. Approaching, they found, to their great joy, that the stranger was a white man, who was at the time engaged in the pioneer employment of splitting rails, and informed the travelers that he worked for Samuel Gillan, whose cabin was near. James Gifford was so rejoiced to hear this that he exclaimed in ecstacy', "Oh, now we'll have a good meal !" and the hired man conducted them to the door, where they were kindly received by Mr. and Mrs. Gillan, and were soon enjoying the good meal anticipated. After a refreshing sleep and a hearty breakfast, they left the dwelling of their liberal host, and a few miles further brought them to the present site of the city of Elgin, where they were enchanted with the beauty of the scenery the rapidity of the clear stream, the woodland on either bank, almost free from underbrush, and the fields as beautiful as if already waiting the harvest - and here they determined to locate. Accordingly, James T. laid claim to the land still known as "James T. Gifford's plat of Elgin," while his brother took up a tract further south, upon the same side of the river (east), and including the grounds now occupied by the National Watch Factory. Having learned from Mr. Gillan that a Mr. Welch was living at the head of Little Woods, within the present limits of St. Charles Township, they then proceeded to his place, as a mere act of courtesy, and afterward returned to Chicago for their horses and wagon. As they were about to leave that place, two days after, on their return, a man stopped them on Randolph street; stated that his name was Joseph Kimball; that he was looking for a mill site; inquired if they knew of a good location, and their place of residence. On being told that they came from Fox River, the gentleman inquired the way there, received his directions, and the Giffords started for their claims. It may here be mentioned that James T.'s cabin was built within the present limits of the little triangular square near the present residence of Mr. Davidson.

A description of the mode of constructing the houses in the Elgin of that day may not be uninteresting, as contrasted with the modern architecture. The shanties were built of logs, unhewed, and consisted of one or two rooms, according to the amount of time at the disposal of the builder. In case there were two, they were known as double log houses, and were constructed by piling up two pens side by side. The roofs were of shingles, two feet long and more, split from oak logs, and generally unshaved, and, there being no nails in the settlement, they were bound down by poles laid across them and extending the full length of the roof, each tier of shingles resting upon two similar poles which formed the rafters, and ran lengthwise, instead of obliquely, as in these dangerous days. The first binding pole, and the nearest to the eaves, was held in its place by resting upon two or more wooden pins driven through the shingles, the next one depending for support upon several sticks of proper length, the lower ends of which rested upon the lower pole, while the upper ends formed a base. Thus the entire row of poles were held in position by the pins underneath the lower one. The floors (when they had any) were of puncheons, and the doors, of the same material, were hung upon wooden hinges. uncouth as these first cabins must have been, they are said to have afforded excellent shelter for the inmates. The grotesque roofs seldom leaked, and the corn dodgers eaten by their ample fire places tasted (according to the testimony of the old settlers) as good as the finer fare of the present day by a modern coal stove, behind the solid protection of brick walls.

Mr. Hezekiah Gifford's cabin was built near where the residence recently owned by George S. Bowen stands. The Giffords had not long returned from Chicago when Samuel J., G. W., Russell and Jonathan Kimball, parties with whom Joseph Kimball had communicated, made their appearance at the settlement, and announced their intention of making claims in the vicinity. The two previous settlers were, of course, rejoiced at this prospect of having near neighbors, gave the visitors a hearty welcome, and the claim lines were soon staked out, Mr. Samuel J. Kimball choosing the land now owned by Walter and Joseph Kimball, his house being still in existence near the residence of the latter; while Mr. Jonathan Kimball also took up a tract upon the West Side, within the present corporation limits. G. W. Kimball settled at first a number of miles south, but subsequently moved to Elgin, where he has since died. Russell Kimball also settled within the city limits, but removed at an early day. Mr. Joseph Kimball, who had made the inquiries of the young men in Chicago, died while on a journey East for his family. During the early Spring of this year, the Giffords went to a small settlement upon the banks of the Du Page and purchased four yoke of oxen, and from thence James T. went to Chicago, where he found his brother Asa and Mrs. Hezekiah Gifford, who had just arrived from the East. Accompanying him back to Fox River, Mrs. Gifford was for six weeks the only white woman in the settlement. She had but just established herself in her new home when a company of the "noble sons and daughters of the forest" called upon her - not for the purpose of paying their respects, as civilization would have suggested to their untutored minds - but to beg for flour and other supplies, which the savage is unable to obtain save by trade with the settlers. Often they would bring her fish and venison, which they would offer to exchange for these products so rare among them as to be regarded as dainties, and on one occasion when the lady was alone a band of about twenty walked into the cabin and one essayed to help himself to flour. Mrs. Gifford, although nearly frightened to death, assumed a bold air, and gave the audacious gentleman a push which sent him reeling across the cabin and produced shouts of laughter from his companions, who always admire a brave "squaw." They soon left the dwelling without taking further liberties, but meeting Mr. Gifford, were conducted back and presented with all the flour that he could spare. Indeed, it may well be doubted if any could be dispensed with for a less important consideration than the friendship of the savages, for the scarcity of mills throughout the country was sorely felt at this time. Journeys were made to Green's Mill (now Dayton), and a settlement near Joliet, where a set of mill stones had been attached to a saw mill, but both of these buildings were continually crowded with customers, and grain was not unfrequently stored in them for a week, awaiting the proper time for grinding. As a previous writer has suggested; they "ground slowly," like the mills of the gods, but, unlike them, not particularly small. But Mr. James T. Gifford, equal to any emergency, conceived the idea of constructing a cheap substitute, for pulverizing the wheat and corn nearer home An immense stump was hollowed out to form a mortar, within which a huge pestle was fitted, and attached to a long pole, balanced upon a post like the well sweep which raised the "old oaken bucket;" and here the grain was pounded as occasion demanded.

And now the settlers began to feel the need of a road to the outer world, and accordingly one was staked to Meacham's Grove, since known as Bloomingdale. Late in the 'same Spring, James Gifford visited his former home in the East, and upon his return was accompanied by his family, consisting of his wife and five children, and also by his two sisters, Experience and Harriet, the latter of whom still resides in Elgin.

In June, 1835, P. J. Kimball, Sr., settled upon the spot where Mr. Borden's dwelling now stands, and with him came two ladies - rare accessions to the Fox River settlements then - Mrs. Kimball and her daughter. And now the hope, presumptuous though it at first seemed, began to dawn that there might one day be a town in that beautiful valley, and Mr. James T. Gifford startled his brother and sister in law one day by saying, without previous warning, "What shall we call the town ?" Hezekiah arose in astonishment, while his wife nearly fainted, but, regaining her breath, she gasped some reply which indicated that she was not a credulous woman and was not to he imposed upon. "Well," said James T., "I have a Scotch name for it, and a short one, 'Elgin.' It should here be observed that Mr. Gifford was very fond of the old tune by the same name, which Burns has immortalized, and likewise of old "Dundee," and that he had previously applied the latter to a small village in New York. But Mrs. Gifford could not recover in a moment, and now ventured to inquire if they really supposed stages would ever run there. "To be sure we do," replied both the brothers, and, in 1837, the energetic James T. having laid out in the previous year the Galena road as far as Belvidere, Mrs. Gifford saw two stages pass in one day into Elgin. Mr. Gifford had labored diligently to secure the passage of the stages through the town, as there was some effort made to establish the line by way of St. Charles. He even went to Washington and spent several weeks there, at his own private expense, presenting inducements for a mail route through his place. His labors were signally successful, and the place formerly know as State Road became legally Elgin. The first post office was established in his house in January, 1837, the mail being carried a short time from Chicago on horseback. The same log building served also as the first school house in the Summer of 1836, Miss Harriet Gifford being the "wielder of the birch and rule." Her juvenile monarchy contained but ten subjects, who are said to have been governed with skill and kindness.

Religious exercises commenced in Elgin upon the first Sunday after the arrival of the Gifford family, when Miss Harriet Gifford read a sermon in her brother James' log cabin. Later, regular services were held each Sabbath in the same dwelling, conducted by Russell Kimball or Deacon Philo Hatch, the latter having settled upon the East Side, upon the lot since known as the Webb place. The James T. Gifford house seems to have been the first public building for all purposes - preaching, courts and public meetings - and was even of more importance than town houses to larger places.

On the 4th of July, 1836, the first celebration of the people of Elgin, or "State Road," as it was still called, occurred, as follows: The road previously blazed to Meacham's Grove was such that the wayfaring man might err therein unless diligent attention was given to the blazed trees through the woodland and the furrows across the prairie. Accordingly, scveral teams were attached to a fallen tree at Elgin, and the settlers, turning out en masse, drove them to a point half way between the two places, leaving a deep track the entire way, and were there met by a delegation from the grove with a similar path marker, and all were refreshed by an Independence dinner of corn cake, cold bacon and coffee.

At an election held for Lake Precinct, at the house of Thomas H. Thompson, within the limits of the present township of Dundee, on the first day of the same month, Jonathan Kimball was chosen Justice of the Peace, and S. J. Kimball Constable for

On the 10th of October following, the first election in the town of Elgin was held, at the public house of Hezekiah Gifford, erected the same year, upon the site afterward occupied by the Presbyterian Church. Political life, thus commenced, received new vigor on the 9th of October, in the following year, when the second election in the place occurred at the same hotel, which was then owned by Eli Henderson. On this occasion, James T. Gifford was elected Justice of the Peace, and Eli Henderson, Constable.

The year 1836 is remembered as the date when the first religious society was regularly organized in the town. In February of that year, Rev. John H. Prentiss, of Joliet, and Rev. N. C. Clark, then of Naperville, met, by invitation, a small congregation at the house of J. T. Gifford, where, after a sermon by the former gentleman, it was determined to form a church as soon as convenient.

In the following May, the determination was carried into effect, under the direction of Father Clark, of the Congregational denomination. Mr. Clark subsequently removed to Elgin, where he enjoyed for many years the love and reverence of all his townsmen, and died lamented by all.

The first male white child born in Elgin appeared upon the stage of life November 28, 1836, and is now well known to the citizens of the place as Joseph Kimball. The first death, that of Miss Mary Ann Kimball, a daughter of P J Kimball, occurred in May of the same year; and the first marriage. at the house of Jonathan Kimball, when his daughter was joined in wedlock with Sidney Kimball. It will be observed from the above that the Kimball family was sufficiently numerous to form a respectable hamlet by themselves.

The first cemetery was situated upon land now owned by Mrs. Horace French, and there the body of the lady mentioned above was buried. The later burying ground was laid out in 1844, and the remains of many of those deposited in the former ground were disinterred and removed there. Through the care of a former sexton of this necropolis, a perfect record has been kept of all bodies deposited therein - a volume which cannot be too highly appreciated.

In 1836, the Indians left, to the great joy of the settlers; for, although friendly and generally harmless, they were a source of constant dread to the timid, and were more bold and impudent in their importunity than the tramps who now traverse the country, from Maine to California. The thought that a licensed rattlesnake sleeps upon the doorstep is not pleasant to a brave man, even if he knows that the reptile may be propitiated by an abundancc of food, and by carefully observing the rule to go around him; and a very similar sentiment may be said to have existed in the minds of the early pioneers toward their red neighbors. They dared not use them otherwise than respectfully. Their demand for "pennyack," "quashkin and "goonatosh" always received an answer of peace and a liberal donation, even if the settler had scarcely enough of these supplies to last his own family a single day, for he knew that the slightest insult would rouse the war hounds from the lair. Despite all the sentiment which has been wasted upon them, a careful study of their habits, from the most favorable reports of those acquainted with them, will convince any sane man that the "abused" Pottawattomies were, even in the most favorable ligat in which we can view them, a lazy rabble of armed thieves and vagrants. In the year of their departure, the Elgin people received a terrible fright, by a courier arriving in the village, from the north, with a report that the Chippeways had dug up the hatchet, and were on their way toward Fox River in overwhelming numbers. A public meeting was called and measures of defense at once taken, but the Indians failed to make an appearance, and the settlement was troubled with reports of them no more.

In the Fall of 1836, a frame addition was made to Gifford's Tavern, which was originally of very moderate dimensions for a public house, being only 16x24 feet. Until April, 1875, this addition was standing.

Not long after this, the Elgin House, kept for many years by a man by the name of Tibballs, was erected by William S. Shaw, at the corner of Chicago and Center streets, where it was considered one of the most magnificent hotels in the West. A part of it is now the Elgin House, kept by William Spendlove. Tibballs left Elgin when the railroad came, confident that grass would thenceforth grow in the streets; and in the Spring of 1851, the hotel was converted into a seminary, under the management of Misses E. and E. E. Lord, now of Chicago.

The closely contested election for Governor, in 1837, and the Congressional contest between. Stephen A. Douglass and John T. Stewart, aroused a vast amount of enthusiasm in Elgin and nearly every legal voter is supposed to have cast his ballot. The election was held at Eli Henderson's house, and resulted in 47 votes for Carlin and Anderson, Democratic candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor; while Edwards and Davidson, Opposition, received 26 votes. The number cast for Douglas was 45, to 26 for Stewart. The Congressional District included nearly all Northern Illinois

In 1837, Mr W. C. Kimball came to the growing hamlet and set about developing its resources with Mr. S. J. Kimball and James T. Gifford. A dam was built across the river by Folsom Bean, a mill race dug upon the West Side by Mr. Kimball and upon the east by Mr. Gifford, while the former put up a saw mill and the latter quite a good grist mill. which stood for years at the head of the race. Later, it was used for a slaughter house, and finally burned by incendiaries. An old settler states that it required all the men then living between St. Charles and Alconquin to raise the saw mill. It is still standing.

In June, 1838, Dr. Tefft, who, as has been heretofore seen, had been in the township since 1835, removed to the village, where he built the first frame house in the place, upon land now occupied by the market. About the time of his arrival, another physician, Dr. Elmore, settled upon the place now occupied by Mr. Carpenter. In the following year he commenced keeping hotel in the house built by Hezekiah Gifford for that purpose, and left the town shortly after.

About the same year, one Judd. Elgin's first blacksmith, made his appearance in the village. Previously, a brother of Judd had preceded him and burned a coal pit for the coming smith. While engaged in this work, a small shanty provided for his accommodation caught fire and burned down. This was the first conflagration in Elgin. The blacksmith left about 1839, and was followed by another worker in iron and steel Jason House by name.

Several other arrivals should be noticed at this time, among them B. Healy, the first harness maker; Harvey Raymond, Burgess Truesdell, Alfred Hadlock, William Shaw, John and Vincent Lovell. Elgin people, as we have seen, had suffered great inconvenience, during the early years of the settlement, from the lack of a bridge. On one occasion, it is said that two young ladies, who were visiting upon the West Side, were obliged to take off their shoes and stockings and wade the river to reach the opposite bank. Such a state of affairs began to appear extremely scandalous to the village, and the citizens resolved upon. the immediate erection of a bridge. A rude wooden structure was accordingly raised in 1837, one of the abutments standing immediately in front of and within two or three feet of, Healy's shop, so much has the channel of the stream been narrowed since that day. In 1849, the bridge was carried away by a freshet, and was replaced by a more substantial one of the same material, which remained until 1866, when it was removed for a handsome iron one. The Elgin people now imagined that they had secured for themselves a permanent bond between the river banks, and one which would defy alike the wear of time and the fury of the elements. What, then, was their disappointment when it went down beneath the weight of a drove of cattle, and when, after being replaced. a portion of the new structure shared a like fate on the 4th of July, 1869. The curse of Sisyphus seemed to have been imposed upon them; but they bravely recommenced their work, and this time with success, for, after the third attempt, the bridge has held itself in place. A new iron bridge of different design was constructed in 1870 from a point near the watch factory to the opposite side.

Mercantile enterprise was first displayed in Elgin by the appearance, in 1836, of a frame store on Block 9, upon the north side of Chicago street. In the same year in which it was raised, Samuel Stoars commenced selling goods in a small log store, and was soon after joined in business with F. Bean, the partnership continuing for several years. The dam, built by the latter, went out the following April, but was replaced by another during the Summer.

Chicago was now beginning to rise from the mud, and a market could generally be found there for all the Western products. A reliable authority states that from 1838 onward, wheat ncver sold for less than thirty cents. nor corn for less than twenty cents per bushel, and pork was often firm at $1.50; and at that time prices seldom rose far above these figures. Let farmers who complain of the present hard times read this and be happy. As early as 1835, Mr. J. T. Gifford had sketched a plan of that part of the city now known as J. T. Gifford's plat of Elgin, extending from Division street on the north, to Prairie street on the south, and from Chapel street to the east bank of the river; but there is no record of a survey among the plats in the Recorder's office until August 3, 1842, where we are informed that a described tract upon the east side of the river was regularly laid off in lots and streets, for the proprietor, James T. Gifford, by J. P. Wagner, County Surveyor. On the 12th day of February, in the following year, a similar service was performed by the same gentleman for W. C. Kimball, the proprietor of the West Side. Settlers for all points West had been pouring into Elgin almost daily for more than a year, when, in 1838, B. W. Raymond and his partner, S. N. Dexter, appeared in the village and bought one half of the J. T. Gifford claim. To Mr. Raymond Elgin is greatly indebted for many of the improvements which followed, for although not an actual resident, he displayed a remarkable interest in its progress, contributed liberally for the establishment and support of the Elgin Academy, was for a long time one of the leading merchants, was a partner in the foundry of Augustus Adams & Co., instrumental in establishing the woolen mill built by S. N. Dexter, in 1844, and in securing the location of the watch factory, of which he became President. During the year 1838, the Baptists, who had met for some time in the house of Hezekiah Gifford, organized a society under the Rev. J. E. Ambrose, and for several subsequent years met with other religious organizations in a frame building, 25x30 feet, which stood at the northeast corner of Du Page and Geneva streets, and is still well remembered by the Elgin people as the Elgin Chapel. It was raised principally through the liberality of Mr. Gifford, and was used both for church and school purposes and was surmounted by a small tower, and the first bell hung in the village. Several denominations were nurtured during their infancy within its walls. We will have occasion to allude to it again. From 1839 to 1840, no extensive enterprises were launched, but the steady growth of the town continued during the interval, and new arrivals constantly appeared. In the latter year, great interest was taken in the Presidental election, the Whig element haying attained considerable strength in the village. As a list of the voters may be of interest as illustrative of the increase in the population during fiye years, and the political changes since that day, we give the following as recorded. The names prefixed with a W. represent those who voted the Whig ticket:

Colton Knox, Edward E. Harvey Geo. W. Renwick, David Hunter, (W.) Erasmus Davis, Philo S. Petterson, (W.) Benjamin Hall, (W.) Thomas Frazier, (W.) Wm. V. Clark, (W.) Thomas Hammers, (W.) James P. Corron, Wm. Conley, Thomas Calvert, Aaron Harwood, Lewis Ray, Charles H. Hayden, Joseph S. Burdwick, Anthony Phillips, Caleb Kepp, W. S. Shaw, (W.) Luther C. Stiles, Asahel B. Hinsdell, Seth Green, George Hammer, Justice Stowers. Hiram Williams, Jonathan Kimball, Joseph Tefft, Wm. C. Kimball, (W.) Burgess Truesdell, (W.) Charles W. Mappa, (W.) George Hassan, (W.) Asa Merrill, John W. Switzer, James Hoag, (W.) Otis Hinckley, (W.) Abel Walker. Francis Wells, Samuel Waterman, David Hammer, David Welch, John Hill, (W.) George E. Smith, (W.) James Sutherland, (W.) Finley Frazier, Daniel B. Taylor, Geo. W. Hammer, Geo. R. Dyer, (W.) Lorenzo Whipple, (W.) Erastus Bailey, (W.) Lyman Rockwood, Guy Adams, (W.) Myron Smith, (W.) Lewis Tupper (W.), Ralph Stowell, Whitman Underwood, (W.) Halsey Rosenkrans, Lyman Williams, Jonathan Tefft, Jr., (W) Moses Wanzer, (W.) Norman Stephens. (W.) S. A. Wolcott, Ransom Olds, Jas. M. Howard, (W.) Ralph Grow, (W.) Perry Stephens, (W.) Calvin Carr, Ira Earl (W.), Solomon Hamilton, (W.) Asa Gifford, John B. Scovell, (W.) John Lowell, (W.) E. A. Mittimore, William B. Howard, (W.) Aaron Bailey, Alfred Hadlock, Wm. W. Welch, (W.) Harvey Gage, Elisha Sprague, John Flinn, Pierce Tobin, (W.) Benjamin Burritt, (W.) N. C. Clark, (W.) Walcott Hart, Benjamin Williams, Geo. W. Kimball, (W.) Harvey Raymond, (W.) Charles B. Tucker, Jesse Abbott, Isaac Stone, John S. Calvert, (W.) Hezekiah Gifford, Amos Tefft, (W.) Wm. R. Mann, Lewis Eaton, Abraham Leatherman, (W.) Peter Burritt, Daniel Leatherman, Samuel Parker, Nathan E. Daggett, (W.) Craig Duncan; (W.) Thomas Mitchell, (W.) Calvin Hall, Adin Mann, Isaac West, Jonathan Tefft, A. W. Hoag, (W.) Anson Leonard, John Guptill, Joseph Corron, (W.) L. S. Tyler, George Hammer 2d, Amos Clark, Elijah Clark, (W.) Philo Sylla, (W.) James H. Scott, (W.) Philip H. Sargent (W.), Solomon H. Hamilton, (W.) John Ternworth, (W.) Vincent S. Lovell, Sidney Heath, (W.) James Parker, (W.) Orange Parker, James Todd, (W.) Chaplin W. Merrill, Horace Heath, Richard A. Heath, Hiram George, (W.) William A. Moulton, Simon Deke, W. M. Bellows, Abel Pierce, (W.) Joshua E. Ambrose, Benjamin Adams, Samuel Minard, (W.) Asa Rosenkrans, (W.) P. J. Kimball, Jr., (W.) Charles Merrifield, (W.) Byron Smith, (W.) John June, S. P. Burdick, Owen Burk, Aurelius Barney, Chas. S. Tibballs, (W.) Artemus Hewett, (W.) Christopher Branham, Daniel Guptail, (W.) Humphrey Huckins, (W.) Henry Serman, Marcus Ranstead, (W.) A. D. Gifford, (W.) Alphonso Whipple, Josiah Stephens, (W.) Alfred Gurlean, (W.) Geo. Sawyer, Samuel Kimball, Geo. F. Taylor, (WO P. M. Goodrich, (W.) Anson Underwood, (W.) Jas. H. Rowley, (W.) John Cromer, (W.) David Corlis, (W.) Geo. W. Rowley, (W.) Alexander Plummer, Wm. W. Welch, Luther Herriek, (W.) Halsey Adams, Alfred C. Ordway, Samuel Hunting, Russell F. Kimball, Abraham Cawood, (W.) E. K. Mann, N. K. Abbott, (W.) Horace Benjamin, (W.) Thomas Bateman, Samuel J. Kimball, Berry Branham, Wm. Plummer Kimball, A. S. Kimball, Joseph Kimball, Charles Kimball, (W.) Aaron Porter, (W.) Gould Hinman, (W.) A. R. Porter, Jason House, (W.) Jarvis Smith, (W.) Seth Slawell, Franklin Bascomb, Mark Adams, (W.) Stephen De Long, James West, Thomas Burbanks, Moses Gray, Elijah Waterman, Almond Fuller, (W.) Jas. T. Gifford, John Ranstead, D. B. McMellen, Isaac Hammer, (W.) Isaac Otis, Rowland Lee, Alexander McMellen, Folsom Bean, Judah H. Fuller, Philo Hatch, Amos Stone. It will be seen that this list contains the voters of the entire township.

In the same year (1840), the legal profession was first represented in Elgin, the practitioner being Edward E. Harvey, a former student of Joseph Churchill, Esq., of Batavia, and a brother of Geo. P. Harvey, still a resident of the city. Mr. Harvey was a good speaker and a successful lawyer, remaining in Elgin until 1847, when, having received a commission as Captain, he raised a company of volunteers and led them to the seat of war in Mexico, where he died in the following year, near Cerro Gordo, at the age of 32. In 1841, Isaac G. Wilson, the son of Judge Wilson, of Batavia, settled in Elgin and commenced the legal practice. He was a thoroughly educated attorney, being a graduate of the Cambridge, Mass., law school, and held the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court in McHenry County. Having practiced in Elgin until 1849, he was then elected Judge of the County Court, and in 1850 removed to Geneva. In 1852, he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, which office he held until 1867; he is now practicing his profession in Chicago. From 1846 to 1850, Judge Wilson and Sylvanus Wilcox were law partners. The practice thus ably commenced was continued by Edmund Giffford, from 1845 to 1861; Paul R. Wright and A. J. Waldron; Charles H. Morgan, from 1847 to 1863; E. S. Joslyn, from 1852. to the outbreak of the rebellion; John S. Riddle, from 1857 to 1862; Thomas W. Grosvenor, from 1858 to 1861; Joseph Healy, E. W. Vining, A. H. Barry, R. N. Botsford, J. W. Ranstead, Wm. H. Wing, W. F. Lynch, Eugene Clifford, Henry B. Willis, Cyrus K. Wilbur, John McBride and others. Many of the above left their professions to serve their. country in the late war, and some died from wounds received upon the battle field.

Several of the medical profession have already been noticed. Among others who followed, Dr. Anson Root deserves especial notice as one who assisted in building up the town, having purchased one fourth of the original James T. Gifford claim and settled with his family, about 1839, in a log house, which occupied a position near the present residence of J. A. Carpenter. His death occurred in Elgin in February, 1866. In the following years (from 1839), Drs. Treat, Fairie, R. S. Brown, E. Tefft, C. Tony, J. Daggett, E. Sanford, V. C. McClure, O. Harvey, T. Kerr, Paoli, E. Winchester, Peebles, B. P. Hubbard, E. A. Merrifield, B. E. Dodson, Wetherel, D. O. B. Adams, N. F. Burdick, Fred Bartels, Berkhauser, George Wilbar, Cutts and Pulaski successively appeared in the town, and forming leagues with the naturally salubrious climate, have generally succeeded in keeping the population in an excellent state of preservation. But in 1845, intermittent and bilious fevers, which had so afflicted all the settlements, became epidemic and raged with fearful havoc. The inhabitants became panic stricken, and fled the place; nearly every remaining settler was prostrated with the prevalent disease, and it is even asserted that one man, whose wife had died from its effects, could with difficulty find sufficient assistance to bury her in a decent manner. James T. Gifford removed to a little village in Wisconsin, with the hope of protecting his children from the general destruction, but the pestilence followed him, and two of his family died there. Returning after the health of the village was restored, he remained in active business until August, 1850, when he fell a victim to the Asiatic cholera. He was one of the noblest and most generous men that ever lived, a philanthropist by nature, and his memory is still cherished by the inhabitants of the city, to the prosperity of which he contributed so largely. The spot where his cabin stood, although now in the heart of the town, has been set apart from the encroachments of business blocks and dwellings, and is devoted to the public, as was the life of the truly good man who once dwelt there.

But, returning to 1840, we find an important change in process in the business part of Elgin. Previous to that date, it was believed that the "hub of the town - the grand center from which all the mercantile interests were to radiate - was to be the part of Center street near its intersection with Chicago street, but about this time Mr. Raymond erected the store formerly occupied by Stewart's bakery, and, subsequently, business centered there. The post office was also moved to the building since known as Roberts meat market, which also served as the office of Judge Wilson. A little later, great financial difficulties arose, and threatened, for a time, to suspend the progress of the town. The Illinois State Bank, the great source of supply to the West, refused to redeem its notes, and went down amid the ruin of thousands; but the Marine and Fire Insurance Company's notes were substituted as legal tender, and Elgin once more continued in her upward career to success. About 1840, Burgess Truesdell established an extensive cocoonery in the village, and quantities of the silk manufactured went into the market, but not proving financially successful the enterprise was relinquished.

The first train entered Elgin early in February, 1850, and the occasion was one of great rejoicing to the inhabitants. The village remained for two years the western terminus of the Chicago and Galena track, and the swarms of explorers, settlers and pleasure seekers for all points West were landed at her depot, where crowds of hackmen met them with their discordant yells and efforts to carry them to any hotel in town, or wherever they might wish to travel west of the place. The old depot still stands near the building recently erected near the old Raymond store, used later by the Stewarts as a bakery. That corner is historic, and those years were years of wonderful progress for Elgin. Hotels sprang up, business prospered, and the streets were filled with residents and strangers daily. Among the new public houses was the one erected by P. J. Kimball, Jr., near the depot, and, when the road crossed the river, Mr. W. C. Kimball built the Waverly House, still well known throughout the Northwest. But like all the towns along the river, Elgin was doomed to a season of great business stagnation, and the night was approaching. The railroad was continued west, business left with it, and during the years which followed, the only life which the village contained proceeded from several important manufacturies, among them an extensive tannery, owned by B. W. Raymond. For a time, it was hoped that the Fox River Valley Road would be completed to the great lumber districts of Wisconsin, and thus open a trade in that product, but the road ended at Geneva, Wis., and the village sunk down deeper than ever into the lethargy which the removal of the western terminus had produced. Great manufacturing companies, however, were induced, by the favorable situation and the wise liberality of the citizens, to establish their shops and factories in the town, and thus, as will be seen, the dying commercial interests were revived.

In February, 1854, Elgin became a city, with Dr. Joseph Tefft for the first Mayor, and Charles S. Clark, R. L. Yarwood, L. C. Stiles, P. R. Wright, E. A. Kimball and George P. Harvy the first Board of Aldermen. The general financial cloud of 1857 lowered gloomily over the young city, but she had begun to recover her wonted prosperity, when the news of the capture of Fort Sumter threw the entire place into the wildest indignation. In one week after the tidings were received, the first company for the first regiment of Illinois volunteers was ready to leave for the battle field. No town in the county has a more glorious war record than Elgin, as will appear upon a careful scrutiny of statistics given upon another page of this work. The first company was mustered into the service upon the 15th of April, 1861, and was again mustered in, after its first term of service had expired. Another company entered the service from Elgin, with the Thirty sixth Regiment, in 1861; a third was contributed to the Fifty second in the same year, and later in the Fall, a fourth to the Fifty fifth. The Forty eighth Regiment was enrolled in 1862, and in it went a large quota from Elgin. She also contributed a company to the Sixty ninth Regiment - three months men - and on the 5th of September, 1862, sent two companies for the One Hundred and Twenty seventh. The Elgin Battery was mustered into the service in the Fall of the same year; and in the Summer of 1864, two companies left the place with the One Hundred and Forty first Regiment. Aside from the above glorious list, individuals left as volunteers in other regiments, throughout the entire struggle. Scarcely a battle was fought, without some representatives of the patriotic little Bluff City participating therein, and the names of some of them are immortal.

SCHOOLS
of Elgin were firmly established, and scores of the men and women of the present city were obtaining within them the intellectual culture which has contributed to give the place a front rank among the river towns.

In 1838, Miss Gifford, who had taught the first school during the previous year in her brother's log house, was seated upon the throne in the Elgin chapel, or Union Church, where many little boys and girls were taught the rudiments. of an education.

Some three years later, Mr. Adin Mann taught in the new church which the Methodists had recently erected; and, later, Rev. Mr. Bolles and others wielded the ruler in the same building

During the Winter of 1841-2, Miss Ballard, now Mrs. Nathan G. Phillips, had opened a small school, south of the business part of the town, in an unoccupied dwelling belonging to Horace Heath.

But each of these institutions was merely temporary, and no suitable house was dedicated exclusively to education until 1844, when one was completed, by private subscription, upon the lot now occupied by the residence of Dr. Tefft. Miss Harvey, afterward Mrs. P. R. Wright, was the teacher for a number of years; but, in 1845, additional accommodations being found to be necessary, Mr. R. W. Padelford circulated a subscription paper, and, as a result, the brick school house was commenced, which was completed two years later and dedicated in January, 1848. It was then the most elegant school house in the northern part of the State. Mr. Ballard was employed as Principal, on a salary of $400 a year, while Mrs. Ballard and Miss Graves, now Mrs. J. J. Town, were assistant teachers.

About three years later, the School Law was adopted, and then the day of subscriptions for the support of education was at an end. Each man's tax was henceforth apportioned, and since that day there has been no interruption in the steady progress of the Elgin schools.

In 1854, they were by special charter placed under the control of the city, Edmund Gifford being elected Superintendent; Mr. Curtis, Principal in District No. 1, and Mr. Cole in District No. 2. Various changes have since been inaugurated.

In November, 1855, the new school house was dedicated in District No. 3, and Mr. Daggett opened the school as its first Principal. In 1857, the new brick building was erected, for the occupation of the high school, and was dedicated in the Fall of the same year.,

About this time, the citizens, after discharging several teachers, began to observe that competent instructors could not be secured upon the same scale of prices paid for splitting rails or for farm labor, and, accordingly, we find Mr. Heywood receiving the once fabulous compensation of $1,000 per annum.

Nine schools were taught in the city during the successive years, from 1859 to 1866, and ten teachers employed. The average attendance ranged from 427 to 468. Two new school houses were built about 1867, one in the First, the other in the Sixth Ward.

During the year 1869, the schools were re-graded and a complete census of the pupils taken by Mr. C. F. Kimball, the Superintendent, and also Principal of the high school. The result was as follows: White children, from 6 to 21 years, 1,545; colored children, from 6 to 21 years, 30; total, 1,575. At this time the entire white population of the city was 4,804; colored, 91; total, 4,895.

At the same time, more school room being needed, the old church formerly occupied by the Baptists was purchased by the City Council for $5,000, and three schools were opened therein, in 1870, enrolling nearly 200 pupils. In 1873, the schools passed from the municipal control and adopted the general school law of the State. A new school house, two stories high, was raised the same year, adjoining the high school. At present there are sixteen schools in successful operation upon the East Side, with nineteen teachers, while the West Side supports three schools, with four teachers. Mr. W. H. Bridges is the Superintendent of the whole.*

*For the above educational items we are indebted to Mr. C. F. Kimball, the former Superintendent.

Aside from the public institutions of learning, several have been established by private enterprise, at various times. Of these, the Elgin Seminary, started in the Spring of 1851, by the Misses Lord, now of Chicago, should be noticed. It was first opened in the basement of the Congregational Church, and a house on DuPage street, now owned by Mr. C. K. Anderson, served as the boarding department. It was designed, principally, for the education of young ladies, although several young men were admitted during its history. It was removed to the Elgin House in 1852, which was fitted for its reception, with the house now standing next east of it, and there continued until 1856. During the intervening years, it attained a high reputation under the management of Rev. Daniel S. Dickinson (deceased), A. R. Wright (now of Sioux City) and others. The original charter 6f the Elgin Academy was granted to Solomon Hamilton, Colton Knox, George McClure, Vincent C. Lovell, Luther Herrick, Reuben Jume and Burgess Truesdell, by act of the Legislature of Illinois, approved February 22, 1839. After an unsuccessful attempt, in 1843, to erect a building and establish a school under this charter, the lot owned by the Free Will Baptists was purchased, in 1855, by a stock company organized under the charter as amended February 14 of the same year. This amended charter still remains in force, the peculiarly liberal spirit of which may be seen by the following extract:

"SEC. 7. The said institution shall be open to all religious denominations; and the profession of no particular religious faith shall be required either of officers or of pupils."

Previous to the sale of their lot, the Free Will Baptists had laid thereon the foundation of an institution of learning, to be called the Northern Illinois College, and upon this arose the Elgin Academy. The school was opened for students December 1, 1856, with Robert Blenkiron, a teacher of great ability and culture, as its first Principal. He was followed successively by James Sylla, Clark Braden, C. C. Wheeler, Dr. Nutting, W. T. Bridges, B. C. Cilley, A. S. Barry and A. G. Sears.

The war record of the Academy was a glorious one, sending, as it did, seven commissioned officers, six non commissioned staff officers, twenty one non commissioned officers and twenty three privates.

In 1872, the course of study in the normal department was enlarged by the addition of the natural sciences, physiology and laws of health branches which have been retained in the course ever since.

In the years 1873-4, $1,500 were expended in beautifying the grounds and in making the school building more suitable to the purpose for which it was designed. A heavy debt with which the institution had been incumbered was liquidated during those years, and the year 1875 opened with renewed prospects of success, and since then has been steadily advancing. The course of study embraces all the higher branches required by the students desiring a liberal education; also, the fine arts, music, drawing and painting. Since September, 1870, A. G. Sears has been the Principal.

The foregoing notice of the educational facilities of Elgin would be incomplete without a sketch of the rise and progress of the

TOWN LIBRARY.
In March; 1872, the General Assembly of Illinois passed an act providing for the support, by taxation, in each town, city or village, of a public library, under the control of six Directors. Section 6 of this act reads as follows:

"Every library or reading room established under this act shall be forever free to the use of the inhabitants of the city or township where located, always subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as the library board may adopt, in order to render the use of said library and reading room of the greatest benefit to the greatest number."

On the 2d day of April, 1872, the town of Elgin voted to organize a library under the above act, and, on the following April, a Board of Directors were elected at the annual town meeting, as follows: Zebina Eastman, I. C. Bosworth, E. C. Lovell, J. A. Spillard, J. W. Ranstead and W. H. Hintze.

A tax of $3,000 was collected in the same year, and a correspondence opened with some of the leading publishers of the world, by a committee of two of the Directors.

In December, 1873, the books and furniture of the Young Men's Christian Association library, previously formed in Elgin, was purchased by the Board of Directors, for $250, and removed to the third story of the Bank Block, on the corner of Chicago street and Douglas avenue, where rooms were leased and fitted for the use of the library.

In February, 1874, the circulating library of Denison & Burdick, containing 700 volumes, was purchased for $500; and other purchases were made in Chicago, winch swelled the number of volumes to 2,000.

In 1875, Mr. E. C. Lovell made the tour of Europe, and was directed by the Board to expend a certain amount for the library. The result was the purchase of the entire Tauchnitz edition of British writers, and many other valuable works - some of them exceedingly rare. The selections, from the commencement, have indicated unusually good taste in the Directors. While all the standard and popular authors of English and American fiction and poetry are to be found upon the shelves, history has been made the specialty, and there is scarcely a work in the English language, of any special merit in that department, which may not be found in this valuable collection. Science, too, has not been overlooked, and all the more popular works under this head may there be found. Books of reference, comprising lexicons of the various languages, atlases and cyclopeadias, astonish the visitor with their vast amount of erudition upon every conceivable subject. Several of the most frequently quoted authorities upon English and American law have been gathered in, and a room is devoted to works prepared under the direction of the United States. Government, comprising State papers, agricultural reports, geological surveys, etc. There are now between 4,000 and 5,000 volumes in the entire library 1500 of them having been obtained by the Lovell. purchase. The annual tax for the support of the institution is. $2,100. In addition to this, donations are received from any individuals disposed to assist by money or books. Not less than 120 persons attend the reading rooms daily, which are kept open until 10 o'clock at night; and where all the news of the world may be found, as given by 25 weeklies, 8 dailies. 16 monthly journals, and the North American
Review.

In the Spring of 1814, Mr. Louis H. Yarwood was appointed sole librarian, an office which he still retains, having contributed much by his industry and good sense to render the benefits of the library available to all. The present Board of Directors are J. S. Wilcox, E. C. Lovell, W. H. Hintze, J. A. Spillard, Geo. D. Sherwin, and D. F. Barclay.

THE PRESS.
No place in the county has been so productive of newspapers as Elgin. Their name is legion, and they commenced in 1845, with the publication of a Baptist and Anti Slavery sheet, by a joint stock company composed and edited by Spencer Carr, Rev. A. J. Joslyn and Rev. Wareham Walker. It was subsequently removed to the State of New York, and was succeeded in Elgin, in 1847, by the Elgin Gazette, which continued until consolidated with the Advocate, in 1874. In 1851, the Fox River Courier commenced its brief existence in support of the political views of the Whigs, but, never proving a financial success, the publication was soon suspended. The Elgin Palladium followed, in 1853, edited by Mr. Hough, and was changed about three years later to the Kane County Journal, published by Lyman & Smith. In 1858, a Democratic paper was established by Grosvenor & Willis. In 1865, the Second District Democrat took its place, succeeded in turn by the Elgin Chronicle, edited by Ed. Keogh, and finally merged into the Watchman, after being purchased by E. C. Kincaid. The Lady Elgin, a monthly paper, under the control of operatives of the watch factory, commenced her career in 1872, edited and published by Bertha H. Ellisworth, Alida V. Able and Lydia A. Richards. It afterward passed through some important changes, and had attained a circulation of 1,500, when its publication ceased during the past year. The publishers of the Dundee Citizen issued an edition in Elgin in the Fall of 1874, and called it the Elgin Republic. It continued to be published until the Spring of 1877, when it became the Elgin Free Press, with C. Stoddard Smith, editor and publisher. Since then it has been steadily gaining ground and now claims a circulation of 1,000. Its size, 28x44, folio. The office is well arranged for job work. The Elgin Advocate was established in 1871, by S. L. Taylor, its present editor and proprietor, and has proved the most successful newspaper enterprise launched in the city. It absorbed the Gazette' in 1874, and since then had an uninterrupted career of prosperity. The newspaper work of the office is but a small fraction of the entire business - book binding, blank book manufacturing and job printing requiring the services of sixteen hands. Its office occupies a front rank among those west of Chicago, both in its favorable location and the convenience of its furnishings. The circulation of the Advocate is between 2,000 and 3,000; its size a seven column quarto; politics, Republican. The Elgin Times was established by Ed. Keogh, in 1874. No changes have occurred in its management, and it now claims a circulation of 600. It is an eight column folio, 24x36, and politically "Greenback." In December, 1874, Dudley Randall issued the first number of the Daily Bluff City, suspended its publication for a few days, and recommenced it in January, 1875. In the following August, W. J. Christie purchased a half interest, and in the Fall of the same year it was enlarged from a three to a four column folio. In June, 1876, it was again enlarged by an additional column, and became a six column folio in the following Fall. It is now owned by W. J. Christie & Co., C. E. Gregory, editor. A daily paper was started by Dudley Randall, in 1875, but scarcely survived the first quarter. The Elgin Daily News was first issued June 17, 1876, by the Elgin Printing Company, with F. H. Taylor as manager. It is a five column folio, and Republican in politics. Its job printing establishment is quite extensive, six men being employed in the office. Two monthly papers are also issued from Elgin, both commenced in 1874 - the Informer and the Gospel Trumpet. Each has a large circulation.

CHURCHES.
As has been already seen, the Congregational Church, was the first organized in Elgin, and dated May 12, 1836. We copy the following from the records:
ELGIN; May 12, 1836.

A number of members of Presbyterian and Congregational Churches met,' by appointment, at the house of James T. Gifford. The meeting was opened by prayer. Rev. N. C. Clark was chosen Moderator, and James T. Gifford, Clerk. On motion, Resolved, that it is expedient to have a church formed in this place, and that its form of government be Congregational. The Rev. N. C. Clark then proceeded to organize a church, composed of the following members, who presented letters from sister churches, gave their assent to the Articles of Faith, which were adopted as the Articles of the church, and solemnly entered into covenant:

George McClure, Philo Hatch, Laura Gifford, Relief Kimball, Sarah E. McClure, Reuben Jume, Experience Gifford, Mary Ann Kimball, Julia McClure, James T. Gifford, Ruth G. Dixon. The first house of worship was the Elgin Chapel, occupied, jointly, with the Baptists, but in 1843, the Congregationalists sold their interest to the Baptists, and in July, of the same year, the present building was commenced. It was enlarged, however, and repaired in 1869 and 1870; is now in a very prosperous condition, and has enjoyed many seasons of revival. The membership is 300; and the Pastors, in their regular succession, from its commencement, Rev. Nathaniel C. Clark, from September 1, 1837, till June 13, 1845; Rev. Marcus Hicks, from July 17, 1845, to April 19, 1847; Rev. N. C. Clark, from July 29, 1847, till July 13. 1851; Rev. William H. Starr, from September 1, 1851, until his death, March 6, 1854; Rev. William E. Holyoke, from March 20, 1854, till September 14, 1858; Rev. J. T. Cook, from April, 1859, till the same month of the following year; Rev. N. C. Clark, from May 1, 1860, until September 1, 1862; Rev. Fred. Oxnard, from September 1, 1862, until November 1, 1866; and lastly, Rev. C. E. Dickinson, the present Pastor, who commenced his labors May 12, 1867.

Baptist. - On the Sabbath following the 12th day of September, a religious meeting was held at the cabin of Hezekiah Gifford, and, as stated on a previous page, a sermon read by Miss Harriet Gifford. About the 1st of October, in the same year, Hezekiah, Asa and' Harriet Gifford met with a few other Baptist brethren and sisters, at the house ofMr. Kittridge, in St. Charles Township, for devotion, and were organized into a Baptist Church, under the name of the Little Wood Baptist Church. The Elgin Baptists Continued to meet with this congregation, near, and subsequently, at Fayville, until the 14th of July, 1838, when Rice Fay, Esther Fay, Asa Gifford, Marietta C. Gifford, Abel D. Gifford, Harriet E. Gifford, Hezekiah Gifford, Luther Herrick, Sarah Hamilton, Samuel J. Kimball, Clarinda J. Kimball, Nancy Kimball and James C. Stone, having taken letters of dismissal, met at the house of Hezekiah Gifford, where a church was organized, called the Baptist Church of Christ of Elgin. Luther Herrick (Cook County) was the first Deacon, and Hezekiah Gifford, Church Clerk. Rev. Joshua Ambrose was employed to preach every alternate Sunday, for $150 a year, while Mr. Clark, the Congregational Pastor, preached during the remaining Sabbaths. During the year 1838, under the ministration of the Rev. R. B. Ashley, a great revival swelled the ranks of the church members. The sincerest friendship and good will prevailed during these early years, while the two Christian societies worshiped together. This may be illustrated by the fact that the Baptist and Congregational Pastors were met upon the Sabbaths by nearly the same congregations. The glory of God was then sought in preference to the up building of any sect; and the conversion of members, nearly every year, testified that the object was fully attained. During the Winter of 1842-3, the coldest since the first settlement of the country, an addition, 24 x 20 feet, was made to the chapel, and in the following Spring the Congregational interest in the building was purchased by the Baptists. Here they continued to meet regularly until 1849, when the cobble stone building was erected, which remained their spiritual house for twenty one years, at the expiration of which time it was converted into a school building The Pastors, in their order of succession, have been Revs. A J. Joslyn, Levi Parmley, C. N. Chandler, Levi Parmley, Benjamin Thomas, A. J. Joslyn (supply), Charles K. Colver, Wm. P. Everitt and L M. Woodruff, now in charge. During the pastorate of Mr. Everitt, extending from 1869 to 1872, the present brick edifice was erected at a cost of over $35,000, and dedicated on the 5th of October, 1871. It is the most imposing edifice of the kind in the place. The membership exceeds 400.

Methodist. - A sermon was preached by a Methodist minister in Elgin in 1835, and a class formed by settlers in the township, and across the line in Cook County. In the following year, a sermon was preached by Rev. Washington Wilcox west of the city, and occasional sermons followed in various parts of the circuit until 1839, when the church was located for a time in the village, at the Union Chapel, a part of which is now the residence of Dr. Jaeger. A camp meeting held the same year greatly increased the membership by additional converts. In 1840, a church was completed 25x42, on land donated by James T. Gifford. Diminutive as was this chapel, it was amply large for the congregation. The land upon which it stood is still the church lot. The timber was given by the Messrs. Hammers; George Hammers made the oak shingles, and Horace Benham did the carpenter work for $150. When the brick church now occupied by the society was built, in 1866, the former was sold to the colored Baptists, removed and occupied by them until destroyed by fire March 28, 1875. The membership is now about four hundred.

Catholic. - Rev. M. De St. Palais, a zealous and devout priest of the Catholic Church, and now Bishop of Vincennes, was the first who addressed congregations of his faith in Elgin For about four years, he labored in the place, administering to the spiritual wants of his flock once in two or three months, and at the expiration of that time was followed by Father Doyle, after whom came Rev. Wm. Feely, who was priest in Elgin from 1845 to 1852. During his pastorate, a lot was donated to his church by James T. Gifford, and a church edifice, still occupied, was immediately commenced thereon. From 1852 to 1857, Rev. James Gallagher officiated as Pastor, and was succeeded in the two following years by Rev. M. Carroll. Next followed the long pastorate of Rev. A. Eustace, from 1859 to 1868, succeeded by Rev. T. Fitzsimmons, an earnest temperance worker, who accomplished much good in the city. In addition to his efforts in behalf of morality, Father Fitzsimmons inspired his congregation with a sufficiency of his own zeal to undertake the building of an academy on Center street, at a cost of $15,000, to he managed by a religious community of sisters, to whom he donated a house upon Gifford street, where they intend to board a number of the young lady students after the academy has been opened.

Universalist. - A liberal movement was instigated, principally by the Universalists and Unitarians, in the years 1847-8, resulting in the erection of the church on Center street, now occupied by the Free Methodists. Rev. Mr. Conant was the first Pastor. The church was soon sold, and preaching was afterward held in the Masonic Hall, and later in the Free Will Baptist Church, where Rev. O. A. Skinner officiated for some time as Pastor. Mr. Skinner being called to the Presidency of Lombard University, the church declined, and no meetings were held until the Winter of 1865-6, when Rev. H. Slade reorganized it, and the edifice now occupied at the corner of Center and Du Page streets was built. In 1871, Mr. Slade left, and was succeeded by Rev. W. S. Balch, who in turn resigned in 1876. At present, Mr Slade is supplying the church, which numbers about one hundred members.

Presbyterian. - The Presbyterian Church, of Elgin, was formed by the Chicago Presbytery (N. S.), February 8, 1853, with twenty five members from the Congregational Church. A small building, standing on Center street, south of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was purchased, and Rev. A. W. Henderson commenced his pastorate therein in June, 1854. Leaving, in August, 1856, he was succeeded, in March, 1858, by J. V. Downs, who remained until March, 1861. The organization, meanwhile, flourished; but, owing to removals about this time, became weakened, and was dismissed.

The present organization called "The First Presbyterian Church of Elgin" was organized on the 4th of May, 1855, by the Chicago Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, with twenty five members. The first Board of Elders was composed of James Christie and George Kilpatrick. Rev. J. B. McCorkle was elected to the pastorate in September, 1855, and administered to the wants of the congregation until April, 1864. The house of worship, at the corner of Center street and Dexter avenue, was erected in the Spring of 1856. After the resignation of Mr. McCorkle, a vacancy occurred in the church for three years, during which it was supplied by the Presbytery. At the expiration of that time, Rev. D. C. Cooper was called to the pastorate, in May, 1867, and served until September of the following year. On the 18th of August, 1867, the congregation, with their Pastor, Mr. Cooper, withdrew from the Synod of the Reformed Church, and united with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (O. S.) Rev. Samuel Hare then supplied them, from October, 1869, to January, 1871; after which, Rev. Donald Fletcher supplied them, until October, 1872. During Mr. Fletcher's stay, the old church on Center street was sold to the Swedish Evangelical denomination, for $3,000, and an elegant new church erected on the corner of Chicago and Center streets, at a cost of nearly $15,000. It was beautifully furnished, and contained one of the most elegant chandeliers west of Chicago, and was surmounted by the finest bell in the city. It was dedicated to the service of God July 11, 1872, but, by a. mysterious dispensation of Providence, took fire, December 5, and burned down. Its destruction was.a severe blow to the society, but the present chapel was immediately commenced, and is very neatly furnished, and designed merely as a lecture room of a larger structure to be built in the near future. Rev. Robert McKenzie followed Mr. Fletcher to the pastorate, and was succeeded, in February, 1874, by Rev. W. L. Boyd, who remained until February, 1876, when a vacancy occurred until the following October. The present Pastor, Rev. Alexander Alison, then accepted a call from the congregation, and under his ministration the church has doubled during the past year. The membership is at present 160.

German Evangelical Association. - In 1855, Rev. Mr. Logschute, a missionary of the German Evangelical Association, visited Elgin and preached twice at the house of Henry Runge Later in the same year, Rev. A. Schnacke addressed congregations of Germans in the city, and was followed by Revs. Authis, George Vetter, G. V. Lechler and Ragatz, during whose preaching camp meetings were held and a number of souls converted. The meetings were much disturbed, at first, by certain of the rabble and nondescript vagabonds who are always found about the streets of cities; and, on one occasion, an attempt was made to burn the preacher's stand, upon the camp ground: but these annoyances disappeared as their numbers increased. In 1859, under the pastorate of Rev. H. Hintze, a house was purchased of B. W. Raymond and D. Hewitt for $300, and fitted up for a church. This meeting house stood opposite the Congregational Church, on Center street, had previously been occupied by other religious denominations, but had passed into the hands of private owners. Revs. E. Schneider, Mussulman and Carl Gaztstadter followed, and afterward came Rev. C. Wagner, from 1863 to 1865, under whose pastorate the Sunday school was organized. Revs. John Kiest, V. Forkel and E. M. Sindlinger succeeded, the ministration of the latter extending from 1867 to 1869, followed by Christian during the two following years. The Free Methodists having meanwhile erected a house of worship for Which they were unable to pay, it was exchanged, in 1870, with the Evangelical Association for their small building and $3,000. The pulpit has since then been filled in succession by Revs. M. Stumm, B. C. Fehr, T. Alberding, who was retained for three years, and F. Busse, the present Pastor. Membership, 150.

Episcopal. - There are no records in existence stating when church services were first held by the Episcopal denomination in Elgin. The parish was organized. on Ash Wednesday February 17, 1858. Rev. J. H. Waterbury, now of Boston, was the first Rector, remaining with the parish for eighteen months. and the first services after the organization were held in the Free Will Baptist Church. Rev. F. Esch was next employed, and, after a vacancy extending over a short period, was followed by S. D. Pulford, who remained until 1860. A vacancy in the pastorate then occurred, until 1866, when Rev. D. C. Howard officiated for a few Sabbaths, but left during the year. From that date until 1870, the church continued to decline, but during that year aroused, temporarily, and employed Rev. George Wallace as Rector, who remained only until 1871: S. J. French officiated from 1874 to 1875, when, after a short interval. Rev. W. W. Estabrooke, the present Rector, succeeded. Number of communicants, eighty.

German Lutheran Evangelical, St. John's. - This church was organized upon the 1st of October, 1859. Revs. Winder and Muller were the earliest of its preachers in Elgin. On the 26th of February, 1860, the first election of Trustees took place, L. Schneidwend, John Long and Frederick Fehrman being selected to fill the important position. The building formerly occupied by the Free Will Baptists was purchased for $550, and was used until 1876, when the brick edifice now used was erected upon the same ground, at a cost of about $10,000. The old house of worship is still standing and used for Sabbath schools and business meetings. The names of the Pastors who have successively addressed the congregation are: Revs. F. Renecke, R. Dulon, Chas. Israel, W. Buhler, F. W. Richmann and H. F. Fruchtenicht, the present Pastor, who has officiated since 1875.

German United Evangelical, St. Paul's Church, separated from the above organization, in Elgin, on the 1st of October, 1875. Preparations were immediately made to erect a house of worship, which was commenced the same year, and finished upon the 23d of July, 1876. It cost, with the lot, $10,000. The membership has increased since its organization, from seven to thirty. Rev. R. Katerndahl was the first Pastor. followed by Rev. Gustav Koch, who still officiates.

Free Methodist. - In the Fall of 1865, Rev. C. H. Underhill, organized a Free Methodist Church, in Elgin, with four members, and, subsequently, continued his labors in the city until the Spring of 1867. Meanwhile, an elegant church building was erected on a lot purchased at the corner of Milwaukee and Center streets. This house was 40 x 60 feet, and building and lot cost about $7,000. The membership had been increased at that time to forty five, and the society continued to prosper during several successive administrations. In 1870, Rev. D. M. Sinclair was appointed to fill the pastorate, and, in consequence of his mismanagement, the church greatly declined, resulting in the final disposal of their building in exchange for the one formerly occupied by the German Evangelical denomination. The present membership is about twenty.

The Swedish Evangelical Church was organized in January, 1870, and, in September, 1871, purchased the church formerly owned by the Presbyterians, at the corner of Dexter avenue and Center street, for $3,000. The membership, which was at first forty five, has now greatly increased.

African Baptist. - One hundred gentlemen and ladies of color arrived in Elgin from the sunny South, in the Autumn of 1862, and their number was largely increased by arrivals in subsequent years. In 1866, the Second, or colored, Baptist Church was formed, Rev. A. J. Joslyn ministering as Pastor for some time. A portion of the old Methodist Church was purchased, fitted as a house of worship and occupied until it was destroyed by fire, on the 28th of March, 1875, since which time the Court House has been used for the same purpose. The present membership is about thirty.

The Illinois Northern Hospital for the Insane is situated in Section 23, about a mile southwest of the business portion, but within the city limits of Elgin; and the farm connected with the institution embraces 510 acres, of which 150 were donated by the citizens of Elgin, and the remainder purchased by the State. The buildings stand upon an elevation 3,000 feet from the river bank, and seventy above the water level, thus affording a pleasing view from the upper portico of the river bend upon the east, the railroads following either bank, the smoke clouds rising from the manufactories of South Elgin below, and the clustering spires and dwellings of the more ambitious town on the north. The slope to the river bank is very gradual, and the scenery in the vicinity is of the quiet and cultivated cast so often met with in this State. The main river road passes through the farm in front of the hospital. The ground plan of the entire edifice includes a main or center building, occupied by the officers and employes, two irregularly shaped wings, of which one is occupied by male, the other by female patients, and a rear building for the domestic department and machinery. The entire frontage of the building, including the wings, is 1,086 feet; that of the main building, sixty two feet. The main structure is four stories, the wings three stories, and the material is Dundee brick, with stone caps and sills, which give the whole an imposing appearance. There are twenty four wards - twelve in each wing - light and airy, and supplied with bay windows and conservatories for flowering plants, while the entire hospital is equipped with all modern appurtenances for convenience, safety and health, including hot and foul air ducts, fire apparatus, railways, and dumb waiters for the distribution of food, dust flues, speaking tubes, double bladed iron fans, for forced ventilation, etc. The outline and arrangement of the Government Hospital for the Insane, in Washington, universally acknowledged as one of the best in the world, has been carefully observed in the construction of the Asylum at Elgin. The buildings were originally designed for the accommodation of only 300 patients; but, when completed, it was found that they were amply sufficient for the demands of 500, as shown by a recent report of the Trustees. In 1869, the Legislature made the first movement toward the establishment of the Hospital, by enacting a law providing for the necessary appropriation. A commission of nine persons, to wit: Samuel D. Lockwood, of Kane County; John H. Bryant, of Bureau; D. S. Hammond, of Cook; Merritt L. Joslyn, of McHenry; Augustus Adams, of DeKalb; Benjamin F. Shaw, of Lee; William Adams, of Will; William R Brown, of Massac, and A. J. Matteson, of Whiteside, was appointed by Governor Palmer, in accordance with the provisions of this statute, for the purpose of selecting a suitable location for the proposed Northern Hospital.

Various towns of the northern counties having been visited, a careful consideration of the advantages offered by each resulted in the selection of the site now occupied. The inducements offered by the citizens of Elgin included 160 acres of land, valued at $16,000, a spring valued at $2,500, and freightage over the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad to the amount of $3,000. Three Trustees were now appointed by the Governor, to adopt plans for the buildings, and superintend their erection. The original board consisted of C. N. Holden, of Chicago; Henry Sherman, of Elgin, and Dr. Oliver Everett, of Dixon. In 1873, Hon. C. W. Marsh, of Sycamore, was substituted for Dr. Everett, and in 1875, Edwin H. Sheldon, of Chicago, was appointed in the place of Mr. Holden. The north wing was completed first, and was opened, to receive patients, April 3, 1872, after a public and formal inspection on the 2d of February, when the Governor of the State and many distinguished guests were present, and were regaled with a complimentary dinner by the ladies of the city.

The main or center building was finished in April, 1874, and the south wing was ready for use in the following July; hut, owing to a neglect on the part of the Legislature to appropriate a fund for the support of the patients, it was not opened until April, 1875. The present census of the Hospital is 500, equally divided between the sexes.

The following is a list of the officers:
President - Hon. C. W. Marsh, Sycamore.
Trustees - C. W. Marsh; Frederick Stahl, Galena; I. C. Bosworth, Elgin.
Secretary - R. W. Padelford, Elgin.
Treasurer - Hon. J. A. Carpenter, Elgin.
Resident 0fficers - E. A. Kilbourne, M. D., Superintendent; Richard S. Dewey, M. D., John J. Crane, M. D., Assistant Physicians; C. H. Woodruff, Clerk; Mrs. F. M. Porter, Matron; Edward Wellinghoff, Lizzie Dougherty, Supervisors.

THE ELGIN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
is a stock company, organized in the Fall of 1869, with a capital of $10,000. Forty two acres within the city limits were immediately purchased, and inclosed by a fence eight feet high. The floral hall is one of the finest in the State, and the race course and amphitheater are in an excellent condition, while the fairs, which are held annually, have always proved successful. At present the company is composed of about 300 members.

BOARD OF TRADE.
The first attempt to establish a Board of Trade in Elgin was inaugurated by Dr. Tefft during a meeting of the Northwestern Dairymen's Association, assembled in that city. A committee was appointed, at his suggestion, composed of three persons, viz.: Dr. Stone, Mark Dunham and C. C. Church, to meet at Dunham's house and form a constitution for an association, whose object should be the trade in dairy products. Twenty seven cheese and butter factories in Kane County, and a still larger number in adjoining counties, now dispose of their products through this channel; and the organization is well known both in this country and in Europe. The sales during the year 1877, to December 12, as obtained from Dr. Tea, who has been the President since the commencement of the organization, amounted to $1,059,000.

MANUFACTURES.
We now approach the great industries of Elgin, to which her prosperity is due. Prominent among these, though one of the more recent in the date of its establishment, is the Elgin National Watch, Factory. Several residents of Chicago organized, in 1864, a joint stock company, called the National Watch Company, and acting under a charter granted by the Legislature. The citizens of Elgin, being informed of these proceedings, and learning that no location for manufacturing had been decided upon; appointed a committee to ascertain the inducements necessary to secure the establishment of the buildings in their city. The committee consulted with B. W. Raymond, the President of the company, and always, as heretofore seen, the friend of Elgin; an examination of grounds about the place followed, resulting in the conclusion that those at present occupied would be satisfactory, and the offer by the company to locate thereon, if thirty five acres were donated and $25,000 of stock taken in Elgin. Considerable difficulty was experienced in meeting these conditions, but it was at length surmounted through the wise liberality of Henry Sherman, Benjamin F. Lawrence, Walter L. Pease and Sylvanus Wilcox, and in 1866 the company moved into the new establishments, which comprised a central building three stories high, with basement 40x40; a two story and basement south wing, 28x87; a west wing of the same height, 28x100; a one story west wing, extending from the south wing, 25x35, for a dial room, and a one story wing on the west, opposite the dial room, 30x65, for the engine and boiler room. A west wing was added to the front, 28x100, two stories, with basement, in 1868, and two years later the south wing was extended, 28x100, two stories, with basement. The buildings were again greatly enlarged in 1873-74. During five years and ten months from the date of the charter, the company manufactured their machinery, erected their buildings and placed 42,000 watches in the market. In five years from the commencement upon the first watch, 125,000 were manufactured, and a world wide reputation attained. Six hundred hands are employed, nearly one half of whom are ladies.

A Woolen Mill was erected in 1844, five stories high, 80x34 feet, and for three years employed a large force of operatives. In 1856, it was sold to Harvey & Renwick. The latter then became the sole owner, and for some time previous to 1866, it had been on the decline. In that year it was purchased and enlarged by the Fox River Manufacturing Company, which has since then employed from forty to fifty hands, and made from 300 to 500 yards of cloth per day. The machinery is valued at $100,000. A brick block, 50x80 feet, was erected by the Company in front of the factory, in 1870, and is used for stores and newspaper offices.

Gronberg, Bierman & Co., commenced the manufacture of agricultural implements on River street, near Division street, in 1870. Their specialty is the National Combined Reaper and Mower, but a large amount of general casting and repairing is likewise done.

In the same year, O. Barr & Son commenced the making of agricultural implements on the same street, and have won a deserved celebrity for the manufactured articles.

The year 1870 seems to have been unusually productive of manufacturing establishments, which brought wealth and a name to Elgin, for aside from the above the Elgin Iron Works were established during that year. and have since employed about thirty hands regularly.

The Elgin Butter Company also dates from 1870, and has made an aggregate of 144,000 pounds of butter and 190,000 pounds of cheese per annum. The former commands the highest price in market.

The Milk Condensing Factory commenced operations four years earlier, under a company of which Gale Borden, whose name will be handed down to posterity as the inventor of the process, was President. In 1868, Mr. Borden and his associates in New York purchased the stock, and the company name became "The Illinois Condensing Co." The same Company controls the Borden Condensed Milk Company, the New York Condensed Milk Company - both in New York - and the Borden Meat Preserving Company, at Borden, Texas. The factory at Elgin is the largest of these establishments, employs thirty men and twenty six women, and pays out $8,000 per month.

Mr. Borden died in 1874. His biography will be found upon another page.

The vast proportions which the dairy business has assumed in Elgin have given employment to several companies, established for the manufacture of dairy goods, viz.: vats, engines, boilers, cans, churns, pails, etc.

The Elgin, Packing Company, established in 1870, is devoted to canning fruits and vegetables, and employs about one hundred and fifty men, women and boys during the packing season.

Besides these, there is a great array of manufactories of various products, some of them extensive, but which our limited space will prevent us from more than merely mentioning. Among them are two tanneries, one of which employs from eighteen to twenty hands; the boot and shoe manufactory of Russell Weld, established by Groce Brothers & Co.' in the Fall of 1878, and which employs ten workmen; a number of large wagon and carriage shops; three flouring mills, and minor shops in almost endless variety. In fine, there are few cities, large or small, which possess so many institutions as Elgin calculated to bestow a universal fame. Her streets are well paved, and lighted by the Elgin Gas Company, her business blocks imposing, her schools and churches an honor, her opera house, erected in 1870, unusually good for a place of the size, while no less than four fire companies and a police force protect her property. Several secret societies furnish social enjoyment for the few, a number of the more public associations form resorts for the many, a military company, and last, but not the least important, three good cornet bands delight the ear with music.

No accurate census reports of the population can be referred to, but it may be safely estimated at between 7,000 and 8,000.

The Past and Present Kane County, Illinois, Wm. Le Baron, Jr. & Company, Chicago, 1878

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