Charles W. Stackhouse 
Extract from handwritten Biography

 "I first arrived in Cambridge in the summer of 1846. In the company with my father and three sisters, I left northern Pennsylvania. In June of that year journeying by way of the lakes, reaching Chicago in July whichat that time was a small town. As there was no other way of transportation to the country than by wagon we secured the services of a man and team to haul baggage and family to this locality. The country along the route was thinly settled, but the people were friendly and willing to accomodate travelers. We found the roads in fair condition and the trip was made in about a week reaching East Cambridge (or Sugar-Tree-Grove as it was called then) where my brother William Stackhouse was located. He settled there in 1840 having traveled out in the company with James Macall. The settlers at that time were located in and near the grove for convenience of timber and shelter; wood and cobs being the only material for fuel. Also in the groves were found an abundance of wild fruit, such as blackberries, plums, crabapples and grapes.

 Wild game was plentiful. The hunter could go out and in a short time secure a supply of venison. Prairie chickens in the fall and winter were in such vast flocks as to be regarded as a nuisance in pillaging upon the ungathered corn.

I worked with my father at the chair business. In 1847-48 I taught school in district No. 2, called the middle district. That was the first school taught in that district. The house was an old dwellilng rudely fixed up with benches and desks in the side of the wall and a fireplace for heating. Here some 35 youngsters were enrolled to engage in the rudiments of an education. My salary was fifty cents a day and I boarded among the settlers. The Terrys, Talbotts, Grants and Montgomerys were nearby settlers and all having large families helped to make up a large portion of the attendance.

 In the spring of 1852 I became acquainted with Miss Hanna Elm, We married Christmas 1852. She was Swedish and it was the first marriage between a Swede and an American in Henry County. Now in reviewing our experience as old settlers of Henry County we are thankful that we have lived to witness the wonderful achievements that have been reached by inventive genius.