THE EARLY HISTORY OF MARENGO

Having been asked to give the early history of Marengo, I will endeavor to do so to the best of my ability considering the facts I have been able to obtain, and the limited time I have had at my command in which to prepare this article.  It will necessarily be but naked facts without any embellishments.

The old Kishwaukee Precinct was organized in 1837 and embraced the towns of Marengo, Seneca, Coral, and Riley, and the early history of these towns are so interwoven it would be somewhat difficult for me to separate out Marengo along without interspersing some facts occurring in the towns above mentioned that are situated in the southwest corner of McHenry County, Illinois, which county together with Lake was originally a part of Cook County until the winter of 1836 and 1837 when it was set off by the General Assembly and the “Seat of Justice” located in old McHenry.  The land was purchased off the Potowatami Indians in 1832 and they were to give possession in June 1836, but it seems the white settlers could not wait until that time but commenced coming on in September 1835 by the way of Chicago, which was then a flourishing village.

 The whites, who had made a very poor bridge over the O’Plain river, also had made an attempt to bridge Dupage River and Salt Creek; west of this the first settlers were guided by the roads traveled by their illustrious predecessors called “Indian Trails.”  By these they were guided to the best places to cross creeks and sloughs.  These trails varied from 4 to 15 inches in depth, and they were (I am told) guides to the first settlers here.

They crossed the Fox River a little above the Dundee Bridge, where Huntley now stands, crossing the Kishwaukee this side of there, and came to the place where Artennis Dunham lived and where there was an Indian dance house and burial ground.

This place seemed to be headquarters for them (Indians) as quite a number of trails centered here; one of the large trails ran along the north side of the grove verging from 6 to 12 rods from it, and after leaving the grove ran very near where the state road now runs and forked below Garden Prairie, the south one crossing Coon Creek and going onto where Belvidere now is…then called Squaw Prairie.  There was one trail running south from the “dance ground” to the center of the State.  It passed about 40 rods west of Carlisle Hartings and a little west of Sycamore.  Mr. A. B. Coon followed this to the center of the state in 1835 and did not return here until 1837.  There were also several other important trails running to different directions.  Here was a small village of scattering wigwams, perhaps 10 to 15 from Mr. Dunham’s to the top of the hill this side of Coral, and some 20 rods beyond the ravine was their council house.  It was built of bark taken from black ash and pressed flat.  The house was round and from 12 to 14 feet in diameter and showed some skill in construction.  Inside it was surrounded by seats made of split sticks—said to serve as placed on which to sleep by covering themselves with skins.  The wall was a picture gallery, though there was a lack of variety.  The pictures consisted of an Indian (full sized) on the march, a squaw on a pony, and a dog in the rear all going west.  This was repeated over and over again.

Richard Tompkins was the first man who came here and made a home.  He came before the middle; probably about the 5th of September 1835.  His first claim was afterwards known as the Christopher Sponable farm just west of Marengo village.  He finally settled in Coral the next May.  Mr. Calvin Spencer was the next who came.  He was in company with Joseph Brayton, who married his sister and she was the first white woman who kept house in the precinct.  Mr. Spencer assisted them in putting up the first house, which was built back of where Alfred White’s house now stands.  They landed here September 14, 1835.  Mr. Brayton sold his claim to Dr. Ward Burley Mason and returned to Laport County, Indiana, to winter.  Mr. Spencer built his first log house near where Mr. Hale now lives.  He afterwards built on the corner of State and Main Streets where he kept the first public house in the precinct.

Mr. Spencer’s father, Moses Spencer, came in the fall of 1835.  His wife died in November, said to have lived but three days after arriving here.  She was the first white person that died here.  They had to take the boards from their wagon box for a coffin.

Dr. Ward Burley Mason wintered here the winters of 1835 and 1836 on the claim that he bought for Mr. Brayton, which extended from Rhakin Vail’s to the road running to the pickle factory.  He was the first physician in the precinct and to them was born the first white child.  He afterwards traded his farm to Mr. Frank Safford for a store.  He died here in 1847; his wife returning to New Hampshire where she soon died.

There were quite a number who came here in the fall of 1835 and made claims, although the land was not yet surveyed, nor in market.  Many, after making their claims, returned to their former homes to winter.  Those that I have mentioned, together with William Sponable, Warren Blakesley, and Laugher Bache, who bought a claim of George Raymond and now owned by Alfred Patrick, were all that spent the first winter in Marengo.  Mr. Hamilton came on in November 1835 and lived in a house that stood near where Mr. Wm. Boie’s corn crib now stands.  It was the first house in Coral where a white woman lived, was owned by O. P. Rogers, the claim having been made for him by his older brother earlier in the fall who went back to Indiana to winter and brought his family on in the spring.  O. P. Rogers was the first person that came in the spring of 1836; arrived March 16th.  At that time, there was no settlement between his place and Dundee and but one between his place and Elgin (about three miles).

In the spring of 1836 the Dunham’s came:  Hartford Brown, Frank Diggins, Enos Pease , John Beldin came and made his claim in 1835 but went back to Laport County, Indiana, to winter and was married in the meantime.  Amos Daman came in 1836, settled on the Huchison farm.  Wm. M. Jackson came in 1836 and settled west of Coral not far from where Thomas Keeley now lives; came from Rochester, New York.  He is said to have been the first postmaster in the County and to have kept the first Post Office between Chicago and Galena.  Afterwards was appointed “Register” in the land office in Chicago; came back and settled in Seneca.  Theophelos Renwick came in 1836, made the claim of the farm E. J. Vail now owns.  Robert White came the same year from Boone County, this state, was honored with the office of County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. Also built the first sawmill in the County.  The Chatfield's, who were energetic and enterprising citizens, came in 1836.  The old gentlemen made his claim where the Wood and King farms are.  Solomon Beldin came in 1836, made several claims and sold to different parties.  Christopher Sponable came in the fall of 1836 and bought out his brother's claim west of town.

Whitman Cobb came the same fall and bought of parties what is known as the Jenkins’ farm and one or two east of it in Riley.  He then made a claim of what is known as the Edwards’ farm where he lived for several years.

George R. Page came to Marengo in 1837, settled over the river on the farm now owned by J. Haven.  It was said that he brought more means with him than any of the new settlers; he married Marry Lillibridge.  Jacob Davis came at the same time.  He married Helen Diggins.  The Deitz came in 1837, the same year Woody Bailey came and opened a small store.  Said to be the first one in Marengo.  The first school was taught by O. P. Rogers in winter of 1837-1838 in a small log school house nearly opposite where Mr. Spencer now lives; it being the first building erected for education purposes, and taught by the first lady, Caroline Cobb.  The building was erected by private parties at their own expense.  The first frame schoolhouse was erected in 1841.  It stood on the site of the present school building.  It was finally supplanted by a fine stone building, which was burned in 1882.  The following year, the present fine edifice was erected.

The township was organized in 1850 and the first election was held on the 2nd day of April.  It became incorporated in 1857.  Frank Safford being the first President of the board.  The Post Office was established in 1841 and kept by Alfred King west of the village.  David Hammer was the next Postmaster and the office was announced to the village.

The town was known by the name of Pleasant Grove and sometimes called Jefferson but at a meeting called by the citizens in 1847 or 1848 for the purpose of deciding on a name for the town, C. P. Hyde proposed the name of Marengo among others that were talked of.  It was voted upon and Marengo was the choice.  The first grist mill was built in 1846 by the Smith Bros. and known as Smith’s Mill.  In 1861 a steam mill was built by Messrs. Batsford and Howe.  In 1868 a machine shop and foundry was established.  In 1880, a pickle factory was built by a joint stock company.  Mr. Spencer kept the first hotel from 1835 to 1842, then David Hammer erected a log house in which he kept a hotel for awhile, afterward erecting the frame building later known as the Vermont House, which he kept for several years.

The first religious services held in the township were at the house of Calvin Spencer in March 1836 by Rev. Southworth, a Baptist minister.

There was a Methodist class formed here as early as 1838 consisting of six persons, very soon, more were added to their numbers.  Since 1852 this society has held regular religious services.  In 1855 they built their house of worship now occupied by the Royal Theater.

The first Baptist Church of Marengo was organized in 1852 although there had been an organization in the precinct as early as 1840, by the Rev. Isaac Marvin who was sent here as a home missionary.  Their house of worship, I think, was built about 1852.

The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1850 under the Rev. G. T. Goodhue with but 15 members.  He preached for seven years at the expiration of which time he was elected President of the “Collegiate Institute of Marengo,” which was a large commodious brick building.  This building was burned in March 1862, which was looked upon by the community as quite a calamity as it was hoped that in time we might have had a flourishing institution of learning here, which is a great benefit to any community.  The Episcopalians organized a church early in the fifties and built a very neat house of worship, but for lack of sufficient support, disbanded and sold their church to the Catholics who now occupy it.

The Free Methodist Society was formed in 1860 and dedicated a house of worship in 1862.  In 1876 the Independent Church was organized by the Rev. N. D. Farming.  After a few years they disbanded and sold their church building to the German Lutherans, who now occupy it.

About 1852 our first newspaper, “The Marengo Journal” made its appearance; it was published by Edward Burnside for five years.  Its successor was the  “Marengo Weekly Press,” which survived but a short time.  The “Marengo Republican” was started in 1867. From 1868 to the present time, the “Republican” has been conducted almost continuously by J. B. Babcock, the present editor and proprietor who has made the paper a success to himself and satisfactory to the community.

I have not time and space to more than mention the brave soldiers who went out from our midst to rescue our country from its threatened peril during the great rebellion.  Many lives were sacrificed for our country and safety.  With tear-dimmed eyes and hearts full of gratitude, we reverently refer to this subject with justified pride.

I cannot close this article without mentioning the long and continued and successful temperance element which has kept our town free from the disgusting and terrible presence of the saloon for more than 20 years; and I trust that the record will not be broken by any new and unreasonable law.