Give Credit Where Credit is Due

June 25, 2025June 23, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

Richard Veale, of Dayton, while chopping wood in the timber last Monday about two miles from his house, felled a tree which partially lodged, and not being a very large one, and having fallen in such a manner as to need moving, he took hold of it at the butt end to slide it around, when it slipped and caught his left hand, crushing the inner half to a pulp and breaking the bones of the little finger. He started home, and while on his way the hand was frozen.

Arriving at Dayton, he took a train and came to Ottawa and Dr. Hatheway dressed the wound, having to remove the broken bones from the hand. Mr. Veale is a poor hard-working man and has a sick family at present, and will be laid up for several weeks to come. He was here again yesterday and Dr. Hatheway examined the wound and says it is doing as well as it possible can for so serious an injury.¹

The FREE TRADER, the other day, in speaking of an injury done to the hand of Mr. Veale, of Dayton, gave the name of a certain physician as healing it, which was wrong. As Dr. Downs was the actual attending physician, Mr. Veale thinks he ought to have the credit for the successful treatment of a hand which was very badly crushed, but which is now, under Dr. Downs’ treatment, getting well as fast as any reasonable man ought to expect.²

Ottawa Free Trader, January 24, 1890, p, 3.
Ibid, January 28, 1890, p. 1.

Baby Claire and Friends

June 18, 2025June 16, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

This picture was taken when the house was no longer occupied. The house was built into the side of the hill. The upper yard refers to the large flat area at the top of the hill at the back of the house. The front yard sloped steeply to the street.

A pretty sight was presented at the residence of O. W. Trumbo, in Dayton township, last Thursday. The beautiful grounds which overlook the town were the scene of a novel and pleasing affair. Clare [sic] Van Ettan, 15 months old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Van Ettan, was master of the occasion, and with the aid of seventeen of his baby friends managed to make the woods echo and re-echo with their joyous shouts of glee. All the little ones were about the same age, none being older than nineteen months, and, with one or two exceptions, all were cousins. The picnic dinner was served in the upper yard and each baby, accompanied by its mother, took a seat on the lawn and, it is needless to say, the sight was indeed laughable and pleasant. There were also present about twenty older children, friends of Baby Clare.

Claire and younger brother Walcott Van Etten

The ladies present, whose babies were honored guests, were: Mrs. M. Peddicord, Mrs. Will Newell, Mrs. N. M. Green, Mrs. T. E. MacKinlay, Mrs. J. G. Gay, Mrs. John Parr, Mrs. Charles Shaver, Mrs. Ed Vernon, Mrs. W. N. Bagley, Mrs. H. B. Williams, Mrs. Frank Shaver, Mrs. Frank Trumbo, Mrs. Will Van Ettan, Mrs. John Gibson (Denver, Col.), Mrs. Wm. Martell (Syracuse, N. Y.), Mrs. T. H. Green (Morris, Ill.) The same babies held a party one year ago and it is the intention of the parents to have them assemble annually whenever possible.¹

I’ve ben able to identify these baby guests:
Lulu, daughter of Newton M. and Ella (Pool) Green
Harold, son of John and Lucy (Milliken) Parr
Ida Mae, daughter of Charles and Nellie (Watson) Shaver
Sadie, daughter of Edward and Adelaide (Benoit) Vernon
Jesse, son of William N. and Cynthia (Smith) Bagley
Frank, son of Hosea B. & Cora (Green) Williams
Claire, son of Wilmot and Jessie (Trumbo) Van Etten
Frederic, son of John T. and Josephine (Green) Gibson
Albert, son of William and Edith (Dunavan) Martell
Mabel, daughter of Thomas Henry and Cora (Childs) Green

Ottawa [Illinois} Free Trader, July 26, 1890, p. 7, col. 3

Death of Rebecca (Mrs. Matthias) Trumbo

June 11, 2025June 10, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

DIED
At their residence in Rutland, on the 29^th ult., Mrs. REBECCA TRUMBO, wife of Matthias Trumbo.

Thus, one more of the early settlers of this part of the state, has closed a long and useful life. Thirty-five years ago they settled on the place where they have since lived, and where she died, and is buried.

They had their share of the hardships and privations of a new country. But through them all she had been brought and she came down to her grave in a good old age. She was born in the Shenandoah Valley in the state of Virginia, in 1794, and removed with her parents to Ohio in 1811 So that she had passed through the early settlement of two of what was then known as Western States. Her last illness was a lingering one, attended with much bodily pain.

But for nearly fifty years her trust and confidence had been alone in the finished work of her Redeemer, and a religion whose virtues she had illustrated so eminently by a strong faith and a meek and quiet spirit afforded her abundant consolation and support in her last sickness and in the prospect of death.

On the last day of May a large concourse of people gathered at the old family residence to sympathize with the afflicted husband, the bereaved children, and a large circle of kindred, and to pay their last tribute of respect to one that many of them had long known and that all respected and loved. The Rev. Z. Colman improved the occasion in some remarks from the very appropriate passage in Job 5

“Thou shall come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season.”

We learn that it is probable a much fuller sketch of this excellent woman’s life, will appear in a different form with the sermon delivered at her funeral.¹

If the fuller sketch ever did appear, it was not published in the Free Trader, so perhaps this additional information will be of interest.

Rebecca Grove was born September 15, 1794, in Shenandoah county, Virginia, the daughter of John and Barbara (Lionberger) Grove. She went to Licking county, Ohio with her parents and there married Matthias Trumbo on March 5, 1818. Seven children, John, Lavina, Isabella, the twins, Eliza & Elias, Barbara, and Elizabeth, were born to them in Ohio. They moved to Rutland township, La Salle county, Illinois, where their last child, Elma Ann, was born in 1838,

Rebecca was related to a great many of the Green/Grove families of early La Salle county. Her sister Barbara was the wife of John Green. Her daughter Isabella was the first wife of Jesse Green, son of John. Her daughters, Nancy (married David Shaver), and Emma (married Rezin Debolt) and her sons David and Joseph were all early residents of Rutland township.

Rebecca died on May 29, 1865 and Matthias on November 20, 1875, . They are both buried in the Trumbo cemetery in Rutland township.

Ottawa (Illinois) Free Trader, June 10, 1865, p. 3, col. 4

A Most Pleasant Party

May 28, 2025May 24, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

One of the most pleasant parties of the season took place last Friday evening at the capacious residence of H. B. Williams, Esq., in East Ottawa. The evening was a delightful one for those who drove in from the country and every one seemed to be in a good dancing humor. All seemed to feel that it was to be an evening of enjoyment, and such without doubt it proved to be. The guests (about forty-five in number) were pleasantly received by Mr. and Mrs. Williams, who cannot be excelled for kind hospitality. As dancing was to be the prime amusement of the evening, a good programme had been arranged, the floors of two large parlors had ben nicely waxed, and soon, to the delicious strains of Prof. Sweet and wife’s fine music, the merry couples went whirling thro’ the mazy dance. Mr. C. B. Hess played the part of floor manager in a very happy manner. A few enjoyed themselves in a quiet way by a pleasant game of cards and others listened to the “Melican Man” by Chas. Green.

At a late hour the party dispersed with many pleasant adieus to the host and hostess. The music was praised by all present as the finest we have enjoyed during the season, and the hope was expressed by many that we might enjoy their fine music again in the near future. Prof. Cliff Sweet, formerly of Plano, but now of Aurora, has been engaged in the music business a number of years, teaching, party playing and piano tuning, and is a fine violinist. Besides his party playing he has dancing schools at Aurora and Mendota, and is building up a fine reputation as a musician and teacher. His wife accompanies him on the harp and is also quite a fine musician. His quadrilles are mostly new and his waltzes, polkas and schottisches are delicious.

The following were present: Mr. and Mrs. Thos. E. McKinlay, Prof. and Mrs. C. W. Tufts, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Hess, Misses Clara Angevine, Josie Stout, Cora Dunavan, Bertha Angevine, Maggie Stout, Jennie Dunavan, Louise Watts, Belle Dunavan, Delia Craig, Cora Childs, Etta Barnes, Winnie Childs, Ethel Marriner, Misses Loy and others, Messrs. Chas. Angevine, W. Trumbo, John Hall, Ross Mitchell, James Butters, Geo. Dunaway, N. Flick, N. Clawson, of Oglesby, Chas. Green, Chas. Dunavan, Joseph Green, S. Dunavan, T. H. Green, Wm. Dunavan, James Green and others.¹

Ottawa Republican, March 7, 1884, p. 5.

Another Dayton Water Power Fight

May 21, 2025May 20, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

Dayton dam with feeder in the foreground

In 1899, the Merrifield Electric Light company made a proposal to the Ottawa city council to grant them a franchise to supply electric light to Ottawa, with the power to be supplied from Dayton, on wires running down the feeder bank. The source of the power would be the mill property situated on the feeder in Dayton which Louis W. Merrifield purchased from Miles Masters in 1897. One Ottawa newspaper, The Republican Times, urged caution in accepting the proposal:

Some of our city contemporaries have come out for and against the proposed granting of an electric light franchise to Mr. L. B. Merrifield, of the Organ Company. If the city council is asked for such a franchise the aldermen should take whatever time is needed to examine into the probable results of such an enterprise, not only in the matter of lights, but in its effect upon the industries using the water power furnished by the Hydraulic Company. The Republican-Times holds that a careful and impartial investigation should precede action on any application for special privileges.¹

The paper then provided some historical information on the Hydraulic Basin:

Although an old institution, the people of Ottawa have very little real knowledge of the Ottawa Hydraulic Company and of the advantages in an industrial way that it has been to this city. The canal from Dayton, called the Feeder, was constructed by the state to feed the Illinois-Michigan canal. The side-cut and the oblong basin it empties into, called the hydraulic basin, were constructed by the state for commercial purposes and to regulate the level of the main canal. At one time on the banks of these artificial bodies of water were located six or eight great elevators, with a capacity of 25,000 or 30,000 bushels of grain per day. Then Ottawa was the greatest grain market in the world where the grain was handled direct from the wagon.

A number of citizens of Ottawa in the year 1852 leased of the state of Illinois the surplus water of the hydraulic basin, side-cut and canal. Heretofore that water had run to waste in a race to the Illinois river at La Salle street. The company organized was called the Ottawa Hydraulic Company.

At present the following industries are operating on leases from the Ottawa Hydraulic Company:
The Pioneer Fire-Proof Construction Company
The Illinois Valley Milling and Shipping Company
The Ottawa Electric Light Company
The Ottawa City Electric Light Company
The T. J. Nortney Manufacturing Company
The H. C. King Box Factory
The Sanderson Refrigerator Factory
The Ottawa Harness Company
The McCully and Flick Mold Factory
The Yockey Carpet Renovating Factory²

The concern voiced by the paper was that in order to supply the electricity for the proposed lighting the Merrifields would use more than their share of the Dayton water power to generate electricity, thus depriving the industries in the hydraulic basin of the water they needed. Another article laid out the history of the Dayton water power.

DAYTON WATER POWER
The Facts and Figures About the Leases of Power, the Parties and Amounts
THE MERRIFIELD CONTRACT
Ottawa Factories Would Suffer Material Damage From Lack of Water

The publication in the Republican Times of the description of the hydraulic basin and its dependent manufacturing institutions and the danger threatening them through a drawing off of the water at Dayton has created much interest among our citizens. Many inquiries have been made as to the real relations of the parties at Dayton and their rights there.

Dayton, by the terms of contract between the Illinois & Michigan Canal and Green & Stadden, is entitled to ONE FOURTH OF THE SURPLUS WATER that comes into the feeder, after the canal is provided for. From several measurements made one-fourth of the surplus water amounts to from 125 to 250 horse power, according to the stage of water. Most of the year the total surplus water power that could be legally used at Dayton is 150 to 200 horse power.

The Merrifields bought out Masters, who owned three thirty-seconds of the power, less 34 horse power, which had been sold to Basil Green. This gives the Merrifields the right to use, at the highest stage, a run of 64 horse power; at a medium stage 32 horse power, and at a minimum stage the limited amount of only 13 horse power. The Merrifields, on taking possession, took out the Masters’ wheel of about 90 horse power and put in two wheels which will produce 218 horse power.

The past season has been a very wet one, but, notwithstanding this, a considerable more than the one-fourth they are entitled to has been drawn out at Dayton, and had the Pioneer Construction Company been running in September and October they would have suffered material damage from lack of water. Now that the Pioneer Company has built their modern factory they are prepared to and expect to run all the time, and will suffer great loss if forced to shut down. The Merrifields, it is claimed by Ottawa parties, have wheels that will use not only the power they are entitled to, but more water than all Dayton is entitled to for over six months in the year. Notwithstanding the consequent and evident injury to all Ottawa’s industries that use water power, they are asking for a franchise to use all their power.³

The Merrifields responded by denying that they had ever taken more than their share of the water. They claimed that they had made improvements which generated more power from the same amount of water.
The Ottawa Hydraulic Company sued the Merrifields for damages. Meanwhile, the city council could not vote on the question of the Merrifield franchise because the original ordinance had been lost and Merrifield had failed to make a copy, so the vote was postponed to the next meeting of the council.

There is likely to be a lively scrap between Lew Merrifield on one side, the Canal Commissioners, Ottawa Hydraulic Water Power Company and other owners of the water power at Dayton on the other. Under a decision of the court that Merrifield was using more than he was entitled to, the Commissioners constructed a flume leading to the Merrifield electric plant which would give him no more water than he was entitled to. Yesterday morning Mr. Merrifield tore the flume out, claiming it prevented him from getting as much water as he was entitled to. Today a gang of canal workmen went up to rebuild the flume and it is likely that an injunction will issue to prevent a repetition of the tearing out of the flume.⁴

The trouble between the Illinois and Michigan Canal Commissioners and the Ottawa Hydraulic Company on one side and L. W. Merrifield on the other, in which the Commissioners and Hydraulic Company claim that Merrifield uses more than his share of the water at Dayton, will most likely be settled by a bill for injunction filed in the Circuit Court this afternoon by Brewer & Strawn for the Commissioners and Hydraulic Company. It will be remembered that about two weeks ago Merrifield tore out a water gauge which had been placed in his flume by the Canal Commissioners to prevent him using more than his share of the water. The Canal Commissioners replaced the gauge and a few days ago Merrifield tore it out for the second time.⁵

The canal commissioners, on behalf of their patrons, the Ottawa Hydraulic Company, caused their engineer to construct a weir at Dayton which limited the quantity of water to each owner down to the amount they were entitled to. Mr. Merrifield tore this out. The canal authorities replaced it and Mr. Merrifield again removed it. The third time the weir or flume was rebuilt the court was appealed to and granted an injunction which prevented Mr. Merrifield from interfering with it. After the court enjoined him, a motion was made to have the injunction dissolved, and that matter is now being heard. There are quite a number of affidavits from engineers on the quantity of the flow and amount each is entitled to and, that used by Mr. Merrifield, and the court will undoubtedly take the matter under advisement.⁶

In June 1901, the court refused to dissolve the injunction. In May 1902, the matter was still in the courts. Then in March,1904, the dam at Dayton was swept away in an ice jam. In spite of this, it took another seven months to close the books on the Great Dayton Water Power Fight.

The Canal Commissioners’ Case

Another of the cases decided was the suit brought by the Canal Commissioners and the Ottawa Hydraulic Company to restrain L. W. Merrifield from diverting more than a certain amount of water of Fox river from the feeder at Dayton to his factory at that place. It is needless to say that the proceedings were commenced before the dam at Dayton was wrecked by ice and floods. The contention on behalf of Mr. Merrifield was that he was entitled to use two sixteenths of the water of the river while the Commissioners contended that he was entitled to only one sixteenth. Some controversy also arose as to the weir put in by the Commissioners. The Supreme Court seems to have decided that Merrifield has a right to but one sixteenth of the water but the weir interfered with his rightful use of that. Hence the cause was reversed and remanded to the Circuit Court for a new trial.⁷

Since the dam had been torn out , the court case died a natural death a few weeks later.

Rehearings were also denied in the case of the Canal Commissioners vs. L. W. Merrifield, which had been reversed and remanded to the trial court. The question involved related to the amount of water which Merrifield was entitled to use from the Fox river at Dayton. Since the commencement of the suit, however, a permanent injunction has been placed on any water being diverted from the natural course of the stream, the dam having been carried away by floods and ice.⁸

Republican Times, November 24, 1898, p. 4.
Ibid, January 12, 1899, p. 1.
Ibid, January 19, 1899, p. 2.
Free Trader, March 8, 1901, p. 7.
Republican Times, March 21, 1901, p. 4.
Free Trader, May 24, 1901, p. 7.
Republican Times, October 29, 1904,
Daily Republican Times, December 10, 1904, p. 8.

Relay Riders’ Good Time

May 14, 2025May 10, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

A Twelve and a Quarter Mile Spin Over Country Roads
An Important Message Delivered

A large crowd congregated at the Clifton Hotel Wednesday evening to see the start of the relay cycle run from that point to Dayton and return, by a circuitous route. The start here was made at 6:50 by Theo. Crane. He ran to the Dayton road, where Will Pitcher took up the run and rode to the Dayton bridge. There he was met by Charlie Flick, who in turn gave way to Frank Wing, at the Chicago road, who made the final spurt. The time of the run was 37 minutes and 10 seconds, and the distance covered was twelve miles and 550 yards. Before leaving Mr. Crane was handed the following message by Mayor Schoch, to be delivered to President Richardson, of the Kazoos:

OTTAWA, June 14, 1893.
J. F. RICHARDSON, ESQ., Ottawa, Ill.,
Dear Sir: Upon receipt of this message from the relay riders of the Kazoo Cycling Klub you will please present the letter to my esteemed friend, Alderman Alshuler, and I am satisfied the same will be good for a box of cigars, which you can smoke for the cause with the Klub.
Yours respectfully,
AL. F. SCHOCH.

The mayor’s conjecture was correct, the members say. It was decided last evening that another relay race will be arranged shortly.¹

Ottawa Republican Times, June 22, 1893, p. 2, col. 2.

Veterans of 1812

May 7, 2025Candace W 1 Comment

VETERANS OF 1812
(From the Ottawa Free Trader, Oct. 3d, 1874)

On the occasion of the La Salle County Soldiers’ re-union at Ottawa, Sept. 29th, when the picnic festivities, speeches, songs, music, greetings &c., had concluded six of the veterans of the war of 1812 were conveyed in carriages to the Clifton Hotel for supper prior to leaving for their respective homes. As usual, the “ubiquitous photographer, Bowman,” was on hand to secure the shadows of these time honored subjects, and accordingly in less time than we can write it, had the group arranged on the porch of the hotel, and secured an elegant stereoscopic view of the entire number as follows:–

Commencing on the left in standing position, is Perry Pedicord, of Marseilles, aged 81; sitting to his left is Mathias Trumbo, of Rutland, aged 97; to his left stands Judge A. W. Cavarly, of Ottawa, aged 81; to his left in front is seated Capt. James Reed, of Utica, aged 99; standing in the rear to the left is Jacob Stroop, of Ottawa, aged 81; and to the extreme right is seated William Meader, of Port Byron, aged 91. All are residents of this county except Mr. Meador. Their general health and prospects of living to a good old age is excellent, save the tottering steps and failing eyesight of Mr. Meador.

The likenesses are all good, and much better than could be expected, considering the lateness of the hour, to produce an almost instantaneous picture. Mr. B. informs us that he will furnish copies for the album or stereoscope at 25 cents each.

Published by W. E. BOWMAN, Portrait and Landscape Photographer, Ottawa, Ills.

This text appeared on the front page of the Free Trader, but the picture was only available from Mr. Bowman’s studio. Luckily, one of my ancestors came up with the 25 cents needed to acquire a copy so that I can show it here. The connection to Dayton and the Green family is Mathias Trumbo, the father of Jesse Green’s first wife, Isabella. He was also the uncle of Mary Jane Trumbo, wife of Isaac Green, and Oliver Walcott Trumbo, husband of Rebecca Green; Isaac and Rebecca being children of John Green.

Dayton Dam and Fox River Feeder

April 23, 2025April 21, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

Looking up the river toward the dam, with the feeder in the foreground

from the Ottawa Daily Republican Times, April 9, 1904:

The recent floods have overthrown the work of years, wrought destruction to property which, in all probability will never be replaced. This is undoubtedly the fate of the Fox river feeder of the Illinois and Michigan canal and the dam across the Fox river at Dayton. The recent decision of the Supreme Court seems to emphasize the fact that the usefulness of the canal is well nigh spent. The scant water which has flowed through the feeder during the summer months of each year for several years past has been the means of calling attention to the diminishing value of the Fox river as a source of water power for both Dayton and Ottawa.

With the destruction of the dam there arises thoughts of the days which have long since gone. But few now live who can remember the building of the canal feeder and the Dayton dam. Many interesting facts center around those events and a few reminiscences may be interesting, if not instructive.

Going back to the first settlement of the county it is found that one of the pioneers was John Green, father of Jesse Green, now of Ottawa, who first came in September, 1829, and finally located where Dayton now stands in December of that same year. He owned over a thousand acres of land on the west bank of Fox river, extending up and down the stream for over a mile and a half. Before the state dam was built (which was commenced in 1837) a dam was built a part of the way across the Fox river at a point about a quarter of a mile below the state dam by Mr. Green. It extended from the west bank of the Fox to an island which has long since disappeared under the influence of the floods and ice. This first dam was constructed soon after Mr. Green took up his residence at that place about 1830 or 1831. First one mill, then a second and third were built by the Greens, the last one furnishing power for six runs of burrs, or seventy-two horsepower. This first dam was used until the state dam was completed in 1838.

In those days, according to the testimony of Jesse Green given in a recent law suit, the Fox river had about three times as much water as it has had in later years. When the state took up the question of building a feeder for the canal and a dam across the river at Dayton, Mr. Green entered into an agreement whereby he was to receive power to operate his mills from the state.

It may be a matter of surprise to know that for some time after the completion of the feeder, canal boats, on several occasions, went up to Dayton, taking cargoes of grain from that point to St. Louis. This boating did not last many years, as by 1864 the feeder had only about three feet of water.

The survey of the feeder was made by William Jerome, civil engineer in charge of the western division of the canal, in 1837, and the work of construction was commenced in December of the same year. Its length is about four and a half miles. The channel was four feet deep and sixty feet wide for 1,200 feet north of the main canal, and from that point to the Dayton dam it was forty feet wide. At the time of the construction of the feeder and the hydraulic basin at Ottawa it was estimated that the water power which would be created would be sufficient to drive at least “40 pairs of millstones of four and a half feet in diameter.” It was thought that a connection might be made with the Illinois river at this point by means of a short canal and a system of lockage.

The following table was given as an estimate of the cost of the feeder and dam, when construction was about to be commenced:
218,992 yards of earth excavation ………………..$50,340.32
23,000 yards of rock excavation …………………….17,250.00
131,215 yards of embankment ………………………26,253.00
1,470 slope wall ……………………………………………..2,205.00
Dam across Fox …………………………………………….14,000.00
Guard lock …………………………………………………….12,000.00
Road bridge …………………………………………………….2,800.00
Two culverts ……………………………………………………4,300.00
Contingencies, etc. ………………………………………….6,457.41
Total ………………………………………………………..$135,605.73

In the annual report of W. F. Thornton and Jacob Fry, Canal Commissioners, to Hon. Thomas Carlin, Governor of Illinois, in December 1838 the following language was used in regard to the construction of the feeder. “The judicious improvements, ordered at the last session of the Legislature cannot fail to advance the prosperity of Ottawa to a high degree. Strengthened and cultivated as her natural advantages now are, it is admitted by all intelligent observers that she must soon become an important manufacturing city, creating a vast amount of business for the canal, diffusing incalculable benefits through an extensive scope of country, and remunerating the state, by increased value of property. more than three-fold the amount of the additional expenditures.” The expectations of these men were realized only in part. And now, after all the advantages which the state derived from an increase in values to its then marketable lands, the economists of the state have killed the fowl which laid the golden egg.

In another report, made in 1830, when the building of the canal was first considered, the Commissioners said, in speaking of the proposed survey for a canal: “The town of Ottawa, at the mouth of Fox river of the Illinois, is advantageously situated in the heart of the most beautiful, fertile and healthy region of the country, and, as connected with the canal, deserves the legislative care of the state.”

But all these things have gone. Neglected by the state the dam became weakened and gave way before the crush of ice. Sand was washed into the entrance of the guard lock of the feeder and effectually choked that source of water to the canal and hydraulic basin.

The history of the efforts made by the canal authorities to obtain the appropriation voted by the Legislature at its last session, the injunction suit instituted at the instance of Chicago parties, the decision of the Supreme Court making perpetual that injunction and the very late order denying the prayer of the Canal Commissioners for a rehearing, all are recent events. They are disheartening facts and may be taken as an indication that the dam and its feeder for the canal will never again be used for valuable commercial purposes. They will soon become only a memory, then a few lines or a page in history, and will then be forgotten. It is, in truth, to be thus?

A Well-Stocked Linen Closet – 1873 Style

April 16, 2025March 30, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

Elizabeth Trumbo house

When Elizabeth Trumbo died in 1873 she had an extensive collection of household textiles, suggesting a well-furnished home with an emphasis on comfort and hospitality. The variety of bedding—feather beds, wool and corn husk mattresses, and multiple quilts and coverlids—indicates a concern for warmth and comfort, reflecting the seasonal needs of the time.

Bedding Items

4 Feather Beds – Large sacks filled with feathers, used as mattresses or mattress toppers. These were considered a luxury and provided warmth and softness.

1 Spring Mattress – A more modern mattress for the time, likely featuring a metal spring frame for added support.

1 Woolen Mattress – A mattress stuffed with wool, offering warmth and softness but firmer than a feather bed.

3 Corn Husk Mattresses – Mattresses filled with dried corn husks, which were inexpensive but not as comfortable as feather or woolen options. These were often used by servants or in guest quarters.

12 Small Pillows – Smaller pillows, possibly decorative or used for neck support.

6 Pairs of Woolen Sheets – Woolen sheets provided warmth in colder months, an alternative to cotton or linen.

18 Cotton Sheets – Lighter, breathable sheets for summer months, likely made of muslin or homespun fabric.

29 Pillow Slips – Pillowcases to cover and protect pillows from dirt and oils.

Bed Coverings

5 Coverlids – Woven or quilted bed coverings, often decorative and used as a top layer on a bed.

5 Comforters – Thick, stuffed blankets used for warmth, usually filled with wool or cotton batting.

3 Quilts – Layered bed coverings stitched together, providing warmth and decoration. Quilts often had intricate patterns and could be handmade.

2 Counterpanes – A decorative bedspread, usually lighter than a quilt, used for covering the bed during the daytime.

Household Linens

6 Table Spreads – Decorative cloths used to cover tables, protecting them from spills and adding an ornamental touch.

15 Towels – Likely made of linen or cotton, used for drying hands and face, as well as general household cleaning.

1 Chair Tidy – A small decorative cloth placed over the back or arms of a chair to protect it from hair oils and dirt.

This concludes our look at Elizabeth Trumbo’s home at her death. We have previously considered her stable, kitchen, and furniture, finishing here with her linen closet. It was a comfortable family home and probably held many family gatherings of relatives and neighbors.

A Resurrection at Dayton

April 9, 2025March 29, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

A General Revival of Business in Our Northern Suburb
C. B. Hess Practices What He Preaches
The Dayton Tile Factory Will Resume Operations Next Week

The little town of Dayton has again struck its gait. The grist mill is running at full blast, the collar factory has its hands full, the paper mills are behind in orders, and now comes C. B. Hess, one of Ottawa’s most enterprising citizens and to-day leases the brick and tile works for a year commencing Feb. 1st, with an option for further time and will open up on Monday next full blast with forty hands, the works to run night and day. The firm name will be Hess, Williams & Hess, and Ed J. Hess, junior partner, will have full charge.

These works will put out paving brick, fire brick and drain tile, and will be run in a measure in connection with the Ottawa factory. The capacity will be 50,000 brick or 10 car loads, and 200 tons of clay will be used every day. The works have six kilns, with every facility for increasing the capacity if found practicable. The water-power used is of 200 hundred [sic] horse power. The firm will build a tramway across Fox river to its beds of fire clay, which are 7 foot veins, while the common clay will be taken from a 30 foot band just across the feeder from the works. Probably an inclined railway will be put in from the works to the “Q.” tracks to increase the shipping facilities.

Hitherto the difficulty at these works has been in getting the clay properly united, but Mr. Hess has been experimenting with it for the past six weeks and is satisfied that he has at last found the right thing.

These works will make their drain tile for the local trade, but the paving tile and fire brick will, most of it, find its way to Chicago and Peoria.

Mr. Hess says he intends to make this a “go,” and we have no doubt but he will.¹

The Ottawa Republican Times, January 29, 1891, p. 8.

Jennie Cullen’s Family

March 26, 2025March 17, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

Two-year-old Jennie Cullen died in Dayton February 21, 1881 and is buried in the Dayton Cemetery. She is not related to anyone in the cemetery. The Cullen family lived in the area for only a few years, but luckily Jennie appeared in the 1880 census in Ottawa. From that entry we discover that her parents were Thomas and Emma Cullen and she had two older sisters, Josie and Hattie. Following these facts led to this account of the Cullen family.

Thomas Cullen was the son of Patrick Cullen and Bridget Finnell, immigrants from Ireland. He was born in New York in October 1852 and married Emma Schuyler in New York in 1874. In late 1879 or early 1880 they moved from New York to Ottawa, Illinois.

In 1880 Thomas gave his occupation as “working in glass factory”. This was probably the Ottawa Glass Company, a plate glass company, which opened on April 1, 1868. In January 1880, the Ottawa Free Trader reported that “The Ottawa Glass Co has 140 hands, 20 are blowers.” At this time there was also a bottle factory in Streator, another place Patrick may have worked, as his son Frank was born in Streator.

A number of family members worked in the glass industry. By 1900 the family has moved to Covington, PA, where Thomas is now a glass gatherer. His 18 year old son Frank is working as a glass cutter, and daughter Josephine is married to a glass blower.

In 1910 the family is living in Roulette, PA, where Thomas and son William are both glass workers, probably at the Fairchance Glass Works. Son Frank is working as a glass cutter in Putnam, PA.

In 1920, Thomas was retired and managing a pool hall, but the family still has glass associations. Daughter Hattie’s husband, Ezra S. Cochran, is a glass blower for a window glass factory in Putnam, PA.

Thomas and Emma had nine children:
Josephine (1875-1918) married Edward Cauffeld
Harriet (1876-1928) married Ezra S. Cochran
Jennie (1879-1881)
Frank (1882-1946) married Grace Sullivan
Carrie (1886-1956) married 1st William Sheldon; 2nd Oren Verne Tippen
William Roy (1887-1940) married Edith May Hutchinson
Margaret Agnes (1889-1967) married Hollis A. Clark
James Andrew (1891-1962) married Ruth Getman
Mary (1895-1942) married Gordon Legacy

Emma Schuyler Cullen died in Roulette, PA, on June 1, 1911. Thomas Cullen died April 22, 1925 in Putnam, PA, where he was living with his daughter, Harriet Cochran. Thomas and Emma are buried in Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Sartwell, PA.

Elections, Music, and Fish

March 19, 2025March 17, 2025Candace W 1 Comment

DAYTON ITEMS

During the past few weeks the river has been quite high, and, as a consequence, a goodly number of game fish have no doubt ascended the river. They were caught in large numbers on Saturday and (we are sorry to say) on Sunday last. One fisherman reports having caught a fine string of twenty-two bass and pickerel.

At the school election a week ago last Saturday the votes were somewhat mixed, some, according to law, stating for long and short term, and others merely containing two names. The judges decided that the party receiving the greatest number of votes, whether for long or short term, or no term, was elected, but the township treasurer decides that the persons who received the greatest number of designated votes were legally chosen. According to this decision the board of directors for the following year will consist of the following members: Joseph Barends, H. B. Williams and John Green. The vote on issuing bonds to the amount of $2,500 for building a school house was carried almost unanimously, there being only two opposite votes.

Co. Supt. Williams visited our schools last Friday.

Mr. C. B. Hess and family will commence moving to the city this week. We are sorry to lose such good citizens, but our loss is Ottawa’s gain. “May they live long and prosper.”

Little Willie Hull, son of Mr. Geo. V. Hull, of Ottawa, spent Sunday recreating with Chas. Green and other friends in Dayton.

Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Gibson, of Ottawa, spent the Sabbath at his brother’s, Mr. Geo. W. Gibson.

The Musical Union are procuring some new books and expect to hold some interesting meetings during the season. On account of the unavoidable absence of the leader, Mr. Chas. Green, no meetings have been held for two weeks. A dramatic entertainment for the benefit of the Union is being prepared, and will take place in due time.

Mr. John F. Wright will depart this week for a month’s visit at his old home in Braidwood.

Ex Uno¹

The Ottawa Republican, May 4, 1882, p. 4.

Dayton in 1858-59

March 12, 2025March 1, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

In 1858 the Chicago publisher, John C. W. Bailey, decided to publish a directory of La Salle County. In his introduction to the work, he explains that he had no material from any previous publication to aid him and that, therefore, it took a long time to collect the information. He states that in the farming districts he relied on the postmaster for a list of the persons in their district. Because of this the lists are sometimes incomplete and at other times duplicate other lists. For instance, the townships of Dayton and Rutland are closely connected, both by residence and relationships. In many cases names appear on both lists, so caution is needed. Also, the lists are certainly incomplete, so lack of a name does not imply lack of residence.

Here are the pages that refer to Dayton township.

DAYTON
TOWN 34, range 3
The Post Office Dayton. O. W. Trumbo, Post Master

The village of Dayton, in the township of the same name, is situated on the west bank of the Fox River, four miles above Ottawa, and is destined to be one of the greatest manufacturing places in the west. The water is drawn from the Fox River Feeder, under a twenty foot head; there is sufficient water unoccupied to drive fifty run of burrs. It contains two large flouring mills, one woolen factory, one wool carding establishment, one machine shop, one cloth store, one saw mill and one tavern, all owned by John Green, who located here in 1829 as an extensive farmer and stock grower. He possesses some of the best blood stock, both Durham and Spanish.

Two school houses and churches are within 1 1/2 miles of this place, also two miles distant on the east bank of the river, is the largest white sulphur spring in the State, and is a great place of public resort; the water contains great medical qualities, and probably will become the principal watering place in the west. It is also owned by John Green, of this place.

Col. Wells Wait, school commissioner for La Salle county; resides at Dayton.
Office, in the Sheriff’s room, Ottawa city.

John Green, principal landed proprietor. Andrew Thompson, blacksmith.

FARMERS

Albert, Thomas B, S W qr. Sec. 1.

Bagley John
Bennett Enoch
Black Samuel
Bly Frederick A.
Breese David K.
Breese Silas
Brisco, Patrick, S W qr. Sec. 35
Brown Enos, N W qr. Sec. 2.
Brown Silvester, S W qr. Sec. 3.
Brownfield K., S W qr. Sec. 3.
Burke Daniel, N E qr. Sec. 9

Carton Thomas, N E qr. Sec. 18.
Carpenter George W.
Chapman Samuel, S E qr. Sec. 4.
Clark W. O., N E qr. Sec. 2.
Connelly John G.
Conway Michael, S E qr. Sec. 9.
Cowper Mary, S W qr. Sec. 20.
Curyea Cincinatti
Curyea Henry
Curyea John H.

Daniels Aaron
Delevan E. C., N E qr. Sec. 21.
Dixon James, N W qr. Sec. 15.
Dobbins John, N W qr. Sec. 3.
Dunovan J. A.
Dunovan George M.
Dunovan W. L.

Erwin Wm., N E qr. Sec. 34.

Fisher Charles A., N W qr. Sec. 24.
Fielding John, S E qr. Sec. 33.

Gedney H. E., S E qr. Sec. 30.
Groove Davis
Groove Joseph

Hall Joseph
Harrington Robert
Hess Henry H.
Hess, Levi, N W qr. Sec. 12.
Hite David
Howard Humphrey, S E qr. Sec. 2.
Howland Ezekial, S E qr. Sec. 6.

Jacobs Peter

Kenny Christopher, N W qr. Sec. 18.
Kennedy Francis, S E qr. Sec. 33.
Kleiber Joseph

Lamb John F.
Laning Jacob, S E qr. Sec. 21.
Larkin Martin
Lawrence Daniel G.
Leland Lorenzo, S E qr. Sec. 21.
Lowell Calvin
Lyghthall Joseph

McCarthy Timothy, N E qr. Sec. 5.
McNeal William
Miller Edmund, N W qr. Sec. 13.
Miller John
Morgan Rees
Montgomery John H., S E qr. Sec. 2.
Monroe James, S W qr. Sec. 9.

O’Donnell Edward, S W qr. Sec. 4.
O’Donnell John, S E qr. Sec. 3

Pakenham Joseph, N E qr. Sec. 35.
Parr Thomas, N W qr. Sec. 1.
Pembroke Richard
Pennell Dwight
Pickings James, S E qr. Sec. 19.
Platt Joseph, N E qr. Sec. 5.

Reddick Hon. William
Reed Henry J.
Reigart Wm. H.
Rhodes Samuel
Robson Thomas, N E qr. Sec. 14.
Rowen James
Rumery William
Russell John

Sage Seth S., S W qr. Sec. 12.
Scovill Palmer F.
Sizer Randolph, N E qr. Sec. 35.
Stodden Jonathan

Thompson G. L., S W qr. Sec. 13.
Thorne Isaac
Thorne Richard, S W qr. Sec. 31.
Trumbo Elias
Trumbo Mathias
Trumbo Moab P.
Turner Benjamin

Wait Wells
Webb B. E., N E qr. Sec. 8.
White James
Wightman James D.
Wright Samuel
Wolsey Nathan. N E qr. Sec. 10
Woodlock Patrick, S W qr. Sec. 24.

What’s Going on in Dayton?

March 5, 2025March 1, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

Dayton Items

Our public schools are again in session, with Miss Cora Childs still in charge as principal and Miss Jennie Crane, of Ottawa, as assistant.

Misses Maud Green, Jessie Trumbo and Carrie Barnes are attending the Ottawa high school. Apparently they did not attend the full four years, as none of them appear in the lists of graduates in 1884-1888.

Mr. Joseph Green is kept busy at his sugar camp across the river. His maple syrup is excellent and in great demand.

H. B. Williams, Esq., and wife, of Ottawa, were in town last Sabbath.

Mr. Isaac Green has had a force of men clearing off the woods, brush, etc., across the river. It will make a fine sheep pasture.

Mr. Geo. W. Makinson came near having his house burned down last week from a defective flue. He talks now of having it insured with Mr. John Green, who is agent for the Phoenix and Aetna at this place.

The tile works got their first kiln of the season ready to burn last week, but were obliged to wait for coal. They are turning out a fine quality of tile, which is meeting with a ready demand.

The fact that caused the election of Mr. Beach as supervisor over Mr. Roades, we understand, was the removal from the town of a number of the latter’s supporters. The contest was close.

And now why can’t we build a thing that is greatly needed in our village, as well as the whole neighborhood, viz: a bridge across the river here. Nearly five thousand dollars have been spent for bridges, etc., in the north part of town during the past year or two, and wouldn’t it be the fair thing for about half the above amount to be invested in a bridge here. Eleven or twelve thousand dollars ought to put up a good, substantial iron bridge, and from twenty-five hundred to three thousand dollars from each town with one-half from the county will make up the above amount. A bridge here would greatly increase the value of property in the village and in consequence raise the assessment. This, of course, would materially lighten the taxes in the other part of the township. In fact, a bridge would be a great advantage in more ways than one, and we think has become a public necessity and should be built at once. The railroad bond case has been settled and most of the money raised to pay the lawyers, and now what sort of an excuse can we find to vote against investing a few hundred dollars in a much-needed bridge?

Occasional¹

Ottawa Republican, April 11, 1884, p. 5

Elvira G, wife of C. F. Ford

February 26, 2025February 23, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

Elvira Ford is another example of an isolated burial in the cemetery. There are no other Fords and no indication that she is related to any of the others. She arrived in Dayton with her husband by June of 1850 and appeared in the census in Dayton with her husband and daughter, but died shortly thereafter.

Elvira was born about 1826 in New Hampshire, the daughter of Solomon and Jane (Willoughby) Hall. On April 13, 1846 she married Calvin F. Ford in Lowell, Massachusetts. He was born September 25, 1820, in Maine, the son of Isaac and Charlotte (Heselton) Ford. Elvira and Calvin had one child, Mary Jane, born June 30, 1847, in Maine.

They came to Dayton by 1850, where Calvin was working as a miller, At that time he owned no land. Apparently Calvin wrote home to tell of opportunities in the west. William Crompton, who was married to Calvin’s sister, moved to Freedom township, La Salle county, with his wife and family.

Elvira died January 9, 1852, in Dayton and was buried in the Dayton cemetery.

On November 11, 1852, Calvin married Martha Crompton, the sister of William Crompton. Martha was born December 7, 1805, in Industry, Maine, the daughter of Samuel and Martha Crompton. Martha was unmarried and had been living with her sister’s family in New Sharon, Maine in 1850. When her brother William moved to Illinois, Martha came with him.

In the early 1850s Calvin, Martha, and Mary Jane moved to Union township, Black Hawk county, Iowa. By 1860 he owned land worth $5000.

Martha died on June 29, 1863 and on May 12, 1864, Calvin married Lois Maria Gilkey.

By 1870 Calvin, Lois, and Mary Jane had moved into Cedar Rapids, where Calvin was selling agricultural implements. His real estate was valued at $2500. In 1880 the family was back in Union township, where Calvin died on October 23. He was buried in the neighboring Gerholdt Cemetery.

In 1882, at age 35, Mary Jane Ford married Frank A. Butler. They had one child, Fred, born in 1884. Mary Jane (Jennie) died August 15, 1925, and is also buried in the Gerholdt Cemetery.