The following "minute reviews" are from Historical
and Statistical Sketches of Lake County, State of Illinois, by Elijah
M. Haines, pub. in 1852 by E. G. Howe, Gage's Print, Waukegan.
This town is composed of Township 46, north, Range 10 east, and that part of Township 46, north, Range 9, lying on the west, belonging to Lake County, being four miles in width, making the whole length of the Town 10 miles by 6 in width. It is bounded on the north by Wisconsin, on the east by Newport, on the south by Avon and on the west by McHenry County.
This Town has within its borders, 18 Lakes, as follows: Dunn Lake, Stevens Lake, Grass Lake, Lake Maria, Channel Lake, Lake Catharine, Silver Lake, Loon Lake, Deer Lake, Crapo Lake, Crooked Lake, Deep Lake, Sun Lake, Cedar Lake, Petite Lake, Handkerchief Lake, Bluff Lake, and Hastings Lake.
There are also 4 other Lakes, which lie partly in other Towns, as follows: Overton Lake, Cross, Fox Lake, and Hurlburt Lake; most of the Lakes in this Town are equally beautiful with those of the other Towns in the County, and their average size is about the same.
In addition to the foregoing Lakes, this Town is watered by Fox River, Otter creek, Sequoit creek, North branch of Mill creek, Hastings creek, and Petite creek. Upon Sequoit creek, there is an excellent saw mill, situated in the Village of Antioch, which was built by Mr. Hiram Butrick in 1839.
The first permanent claims of Government Lands made in this Town, were made in the month of December, 1836, by D. B. Gage, Thomas Gage, and Thomas Warner. The first house built within the limits of the Town, was built in April 1837, by D. B. and Thomas Q. Gage, near Sequoit creek, on the present site of the Village of Antioch. The second was built by Thomas Warner, near Loon Lake, in the month of June of the same year. These gentlemen had located themselves temporarily at Walker's bridge, on the Des Plaines river, in Cook County. In December 1837 they followed up the river upon an Indian trail, to Mill creek, from whence they proceeded westward to Loon Lake, where they made them a claim and put up a log cabin, from whence, after a few days they proceeded on their return, by way of the Maquonago trail, which was a trail divirging (sic) from the great Milwaukee trail at a point near the mouth of Indian creel, where formerly had been an Indian Village, and running from thence north-westerly to an Indian Village in Wisconsin, called Maquonago.
Being late in December, the weather had become severely cold and boisterous. They found the trail much obstructed by fallen trees, and being unacquainted with the route, their progress was slow, in consequence of which they came near freezing to death, but finally succeeded in reaching the house of Willard Jones, at Jones' point, which was about 13 miles from Loon Lake.
The Village of Antioch -- a thriving place -- is situated in the northern part of this Town, on Sequoit creek. It was commenced in 1840, and contains at the present time 300 inhabitants. It affords two good stores, a tavern and such mechanics as as are needed in an agricultural country. It also has two lawyers, E. S. Ingalls and Wm. L. Stevens, as well as two excellent physicians, Doctors L. D. Gage and Daniel Lewis.
In 1840 the writer was present and participated at the first fourth of July celebration held at this place, and it was such an occasion as he will ever delight to hold in pleasing remembrance,
and no less can probably be said by all who participated. A good
band of martial music was in attendance to give life and spirit to the
occasion. Freeman Bridge acted as Martial of the day and acquitted
himself nobly. The Declaration of Independence was read by Hiram
Butrick, and an excellent oration was delivered by Harrison P. Nelson,
Esq.
The original proprietors of this place were D. B.
Gage, F. F. & P. Munson, and E. S. Ingalls.
The first stock of goods opened at this place, we believe, was by F. F. Munson. The first tavern or house of entertainment was by D. B. Gage, and the first blacksmith shop was by E. F. Ingalls.
The early settlers of this Town were D. B. Gage, Thomas Warner, Thomas Q. Gage, Henry Rector, William Fagher, Robert Stalker, E. F. Ingalls, Loami Piersons, E. S. Ingalls, H. P. Nelson, H. Nichols,
Charles O. McClellen, F. F. Munson, Parnell Munson, Leland Cook and Hiram
Butrick.
The Gages, Warner and Rector, were from the State
of New York; Fagher and Stalker, we believe, were natives from the Isle
of Man; the Ingalls, Pearsons, Nelson and McClellen were from New Hampshire.
The first election held within the present limits of this Town, was in October, 1839, under the old Precinct arrangement, which was for the purpose of electing officers for Bristol Precinct. This election was held at the house of Thomas Warner at Loon Lake, at which there were 16 votes cast -- all told.-- The following is a list of the voters. Thos. Q. Gage, D. B. Gage, E. F. Ingalls, Henry Rector; H. P. Nelson,
Miles Shepard, Laomi Pearson, Chas. O. McClellen, Thos. McClellen, Oren
Parker, George Rae, Thos. Warner, Hiram Butrick, J. B. Rice, F. F. Munson
and Horace Butrick. -- Laomi Pearsons and Oren Parker were elected Justices of the Peace, and John B. Rice and George Rae were elected Constables.
The first Town meeting, in this Town, under the present Township organization was held at the tavern of D. B. Gage, in the Village of Antioch. Dr. L. D. Gage was chosen moderator, and Eli S. Derby, clerk. The following is a list of the Town officers elected at this meeting: Harrison P. Nelson, Supervisor; Eli Gage, Townclerk; Thomas Webb, Assessor; John H. Elliott, Collector; Chas. Webb and Robert K. Colts, Justices of the Peace; Ira Webb, A. B. Paddock and E. C. Stephens, Commissioners of Highways; Robert Pollock, Overseer of the Poor; John H. Elliott and Albert Webb, Constables. The number of votes cast at this Town meeting was 145.
The present Town Officers of the Town, are as follows:
Supervisors, Charles Webb; Assessor, Geo. Hale; Townclerk, Delos S. Cook;
Collector, S. S. Drum; Commissioners of Highways, Myron Emmons, H. Lincoln and Chester Ames; Overseer of the Poor, John R. Arnold; Justices of the Peace, Chas. Webb, L. D. Gage, and E. S. Ingalls, (Associate Justice of the County Court); Constables, John H. Elliott and S. S. Drum. The present County Surveyor, George Hale, resides in this Town. The number of votes cast at the last Town Meeting were 169.
This Town is divided into 11 school districts. The amount of township school fund for Town 46, Range 10, is $1,400.
The post offices in this Town are Antioch, Hickory and Millburn. the office at Antioch was established in 1846, and Dr. L. D. Gage, was appointed Postmaster. The office at Hickory was established, February 3d, 1848, and Chester Ames appointed Postmaster, who still continues in office. The office at Millburn was established, February 10th, 1848, and Robert Strong appointed Postmaster, who still continues in Office.
The inhabitants of this Town are mostly from the states of New York and New Hampshire and are characterized for their industrious and temperate habits.
This Town, for the rearing of stock probably possesses advantages over any other Township in the County -- being so remarkably well watered, and at the same time possessing an unsurpassed quality of
soil. The size of farms ranges from 40 to 320 acres.
The assessment value of property in this Town for 1850, including both real and person was $88,904.00. The amount of tax (obscured) the same was $1,744.51.
"This is likewise one of those fractional Townships
upon the western boundary of the County, being only 4 miles in width.
It is bounded on the north by Antioch, on the east by Avon, on the south
by Wauconda, and on the west by McHenry Co. As we have before remarked,
it takes its name from Deveraux Goodale, Esq., one of the early settlers.
It is watered by Fish Lake, Wooster lake, Sullivan's lake, Mud lake, Duck
lake, Long lake; part of the Pistakee Lakes, and some 2 or 3 smaller ponds
not named; also by Squaw Creek which passes through the northern portion.
It contains an area of about 15360 acres of which about one fourth part
is covered with water. It has therefore the smallest population,
and least wealth of any of the towns of the County.
Among the early settlers,
were Harley Clark, Rufus Willard, Robert Stanley, Chester Hamilton, Deveraux
and Henry Goodale, T. D. and D. C. Townsend and Timothy B. Titcomb.
The first house was erected
by Harley Clark, near Fish Lake in the summer of 1839.
The land was originally mostly
timbered land, or woodland, with the exception of a small skirt of prairie,
extending up into the south east corner of the Township. It is however
well adapted to farming purposes, especially to the raising of stock; and
affords many thriving and industrious farmers.
The Lake and McHenry Plank
Road passes through the south east part of the Town, on Section 36.
The only Post Office in this
Town is Fort Hill. Orren Marble Postmaster, which office as we have
before remarked, was originally established in the Townships now known
as Freemont.
The first Town meeting was
held at Goodale's Tavern, at which the following persons were elected Town
officers: Chester Hamilton Supervisor, D. C. Townsend, Town Clerk; Jehiel
Campton, Assessor; Orren Marble, Collector; Cornelius Smith, Overseer of
the poor; Calvin Clark, Rufus McWay and Robert Stanley, Commissioners of
Highways; Chester Hamilton and A. S. Maltby, Justices of the Peace; L.
P. Barnes and Orren Marble, Constables.
The valuation of property
for 1850, including both rent and personal, was $33868. The amount
of tax computed on the same, for collection was $472.56."
The Township of Vernon is bounded
upon the north by Libertyville, on the east by Deerfield, on the south
by Cook County, and on the west by Ela. Its settlement was commenced
simultaneously with that of Libertyville, sometime in the year 1834.
Among the early settlers were
Captain [Daniel -mw.] Wright, A. Talcott, Clark Knights, William Easton,
Seth Washburn, Esq., John Herrick, John and Robert Easton, Theron Parsons,
Hiram Kennicott, Matthias Mason, Andrew S. Wells, Elisha Gridley, John
A. Mills, Rufus Soules and Moses Putney.
This Township is watered by
the Des Plains River and Indian Creek, which latter stream empties into
the former upon section 23, near which point was once an Indian Village,
which gave rise to the name of the creek upon which it was situated, (Indian
Creek,) which village we believe was called by the Indians Mettawa;
and was the home of the Indian Chief Hafda, a Chief of the Potawatamie
tribe, from whom the present delightful village of Half-Day derives its
name. In the winter of 1836 and '37, the Half-Day Post Office was
established by the Post Office Department. The prayer of the petitioners
for this office, was, that it should be named Haf-da in honor of
the Indian Chief before named; but it seems to have been the idea of the
Department, not understanding the facts in the case that the petitioners
desired the name of Half-Day, but that they had misspelled the name and
therefore established the office under the name of Half-Day; which has
always been a source of regret to such of the inhabitants as were acquainted
with the circumstances, yet they have never applied for a correction of
the error, which seems to us that they certainly ought long since, to have
done.
The first saw mill erected
in the County of Lake was erected in this Township by Hiram Kennicott,
Esq., upon the Des Plains River at the point now known as Vincent's mills.
The first school, for the
instruction of youth ever taught in the County, was also taught in this
Township at Half-Day, by John Easton in 1837.
The first stock of good opened
in this Township, was opened by John Easton in 1837, a man of excellent
business habits and qualifications, and who has, by close and continued
application, and strict economy, accumulated a very comfortable fortune,
and has set for the young men of Lake County, an example of enterprize
well worthy of their imitation.
The Village of Half-Day, at
the present time contains some 200 inhabitants, the progress of which has
been materially aided, through the enterprize of Messrs. John Easton, Seth
Washburn, Esq., and Theron Parsons. It supports two good stores,
affords one of the best public houses in the western country, and all such
mechanics as are needed in a country village, and like Libertyville, has
been favorably remembered by the Church going community, who have erected
there a very fine Church.
The post offices of the Township
are Half-Day and Long Grove. The latter office was established on
the first of April, 1847, under the name of Mutterschultz, and Michael
Sigwald appointed postmaster, being in the midst of a german settlement,
a german name for the post office, was very naturally selected. In
December 1849 the name was changed to Long Grove, that being the name of
the grove of timber, where it had been located. Fred'k A. Ormsby
is the present postmaster.
Like Libertyville, the lands
upon the west side of the Des Plains, which comprises about two thirds
of the extent of the Township, are principally prairie with the exception
of some two or three scattering groves of timber; whilst those upon the
east are heavily timbered.
Full on-third of the population
of this Township is german, who are characterized as peaceable, quiet,
and industrious citizens.
The first Town meeting was
held at Half-Day Village; Matthias Mason presided as moderator; and Robert
M. Hamilton acted as clerk. The following persons were elected as
the first Town Officers: Captain James Moore, Supervisor; Orange
Brace, Town Clerk; Philander Stewart, Justice of the Peace; Elisha Gridley,
Assessor; H. H. Hawkes, Job W. Tripp and Irvin Ruth, Commissioners of Highways;
J. W. Ayres, Constable and Collector; Robert Hamilton, Overseer of the
Poor.
The assessment value of property
in this Township for the year 1850, was 110,418.00; the amount of tax computed
on the same was $1,368.68.*
More to come later!