Our old friend and neighbor, Chas. H. Hoag, passed away peacefully at his home in Serena last Friday Morning, Sept. 2d. All his children were present except one daughter, Mrs. Clara Fread. Mr. Hoag was born in Delaware county, N. Y., May 18, 1821. He obtained his education in his native state and at the age of 21 came to Illinois. Before permanently locating he spent four years in Michigan, going to that state in 1845, and stopping in St. Joseph county, where he was married in 1847 to Miss Helen Robinson. They came to La Salle county two years later, by wagon, and settled on a rented farm in Dayton township. In 1853 he purchased his present home, and three years later his wife died. Of this union three children were born — Mary, wife of Leonidas Fread, and William, both deceased, and Mrs. Clara Fread, now living in California. Mr. Hoag’s second wife was Miss Mary Wells, who died in 1891. Their children were Lincoln, of Chicago, George, who died in Texas, Lillie, the wife of Walter Carted, now living in Yorkville, Cyrus, who died in Kansas in 1889, Franklin, Alvin, Adams, who married Josephine Beckwith, and Maude, The wife of C. B. Stockham. He leaves also eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Mr. Hoag retained his faculties to the last, and it was a pleasure to hear him recount incidents relating to his long life. His death breaks the link connecting us with the sturdy pioneer past, which has made our country what it is. Last Sunday we laid him to rest in the Dayton Cemetery among the departed loved ones.¹

1. Ottawa Republican Times, 8 Sep 1904, p7.

Miss Fraine

The entire community of Dayton turned out yesterday to pay honors to Miss Emma C. Fraine of Dayton, a teacher for 50 continuous years in the rural schools of La Salle County. Miss Fraine received 600 residents of the community and former students in a reception held from 2 to 5 in the Dayton clubhouse

She will terminate her teaching career at the end of the current school year At present she is a teacher in the Dayton school The club was decorated with numerous bouquets of gold colored flowers in low bowls The refreshment table was covered with a gold and white cloth and arranged with a huge tiered wedding cake. Gold and white tapers completed the arrangement.

The chief entertainment of the afternoon for the one-time pupils of the Dayton School was trying to identify themselves in scores of pictures which Miss Fraine has taken through the years and which were on display The school house was opened for inspection and numerous ex-students of Miss Fraine showed their children or grandchildren where they were taught to read and learned the golden rule.

Miss Fraine is well known throughout Dayton and the surrounding community. She was born in the house in which she is residing. Her parents were early settlers, coming here from the village of Alsace, France, about the year 1875. Miss Fraine attended the elementary schools and the high school which was then taught in Dayton.

In 1902. Miss Fraine embarked on her teaching career which carried her over a span of a half century and through many changes in the educational field. She first taught in a rural school north of Earlville, later going to the Waltham Township School to teach. She then taught in the Kleiber School north of Ottawa and in Grand Ridge During this time she furthered her own education by taking summer courses at DeKalb.

It was in 1907 that she was assigned to teach the primary grades in the two-room Dayton School and has continued in that capacity ever since — a total of 45 years.

Mrs. R. P. Schmidt assisted as general chairman of yesterday’s affair and Mrs. Donald Ainsley and Mrs. E. H. Charlier the decorating committee. Others assisting included Mesdames Art Thorson, H. M. McGrogan, Stanley Thorson, Robert Ohme, Nicholas Parr, W. O. Calhoun, Charles Poole, Bernard Hackler, Mildred Summins, Charles Clifford, Clara Matthews, Sylvia Murphy, Glen Morris and Dominic DeBernardi.

Those who assisted In the receiving line were Mrs. Schmidt, Mrs. James Trent, a teacher at the school, Mrs. Oakley Esmond, Mrs. Barney Nogay, Mrs. Clarence Duffy and Mrs. Donald Ainsley. Girls assisting included Sharon Newton, Dorothy Ohme, Shirley Walleck, Mary Gantz, Nancy Ohme and Candace Clifford.

Those presiding at the silver tea and coffee services were Mrs. Edward Beard, Mrs. Trent, Mrs. Ruth Green, Mrs. George Poole, Mrs. Sara Green, Mrs. Vincent McGrath, Miss Ida Chamberlin, Mrs. Irma Fraine and Mrs. Mildred Summins.

A program was presented by Miss Ida Chamberlin’s students. They were Monica Fosse, Beverly Lowery, Evelyn Meyers, Barbara Edgcomb, Charlotte Treat, Howard Hampton, Donald Meyers.¹

1. The (Ottawa) Daily Republican Times, 19 May 1952, p. 10, cols. 4-6.

Dayton Items

We are pained to announce the sad news of the death of Frankie, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Trumbo. Frankie was about seven years of age, very bright and quick of intelligence, with many winning ways and greatly beloved by her parents, sister, relatives and friends, to whom her death is a sad blow and the untimely ending of a beautiful life full of hope and promise.

She had been ill for some time past, and, altho’ hopes have been established of her recovery, and the parents were thinking of taking her to a milder climate, yet she slowly and steadily failed, and last Saturday morning, about eight o’clock, she breathed her last in the presence of the bereaved family and friends.

The funeral services, which were quite largely attended, took place in the residence at two o’clock P. M. Sunday. Rev. J. Straub, of Marseilles, conducted the services and made a few appropriate and touching remarks. The choir – Mrs. H. B. Williams, Mrs. C. B Hess, Wm. S. Davis, and Chas. Green – sang “Waiting and Watching,” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” two beautiful and appropriate songs.

The pall-bearers were A. W. Ladd, Jesse Makinson, Henry Geduldig, and Wm. Dunnavan. As the earth closed over the last sad remains of little Frankie many tears were shed, but all found consolation in the thought that she was not gone from us forever, but only “gone before.” “Only a few more trials, only a few more tears,” and then we shall join her in that happy land above.¹

1. The Ottawa Republican, Friday, March 14, 1884, p. 8, col. 6.

Charles G. Miller, one of the pioneer settlers of La Salle county, and for some years engaged in the mercantile business in Ottawa, died at the residence of his son in Chicago on the 3rd inst., in the 72nd year of his age. He was a native of Lancaster, Pa., and had come to this county in about 1837, opening a tailoring establishment in the village of Dayton, then buying and working a farm in Dayton township for several years, and then opening a dry goods store in Ottawa. In 1862 he closed out his business here and returned to Pennsylvania, going into business at Pittsburg, but gave that up in about 1872, and since then had lived in Chicago. He was a man of more than average education, fond of books, a wide reader, and a ready and fluent speaker. Though active in his earlier days as a democratic politician, generous and big hearted, he never sought office and, except the postmastership at Dayton, we believe never held any. Two brothers, John and Uriah Miller, who survive him, are well known prominent citizens of this county; and a third brother, Reuben, who accompanied the Mormon exodus to Utah, we believe is still living there.¹

Charles was the son of Isaac and Esther (Gleim) Miller. He was born in 1809 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Eliza Smith, had four sons and a daughter: Mary, born abt 1834; William born about 1839; Milton B, born October 25, 1841 in Dayton; Edgar S born abt 1844; and Edward, born abt 1845. Charles was a justice of the peace in addition to serving as Dayton’s postmaster from1839 to 1845.

This is an ad for Charles’ dry goods store in Ottawa, showing the variety of items he offered. Note that the name of the store is the Pennsylvania Store, in honor of Charles’ home state. In 1857 ads appeared in the Ottawa Free Trader where Charles was selling his business in Ottawa and his farm prior to his move back to Pennsylvania. Charles never lived in La Salle county again, though he may well have visited his brothers after he (Charles) returned to live in Chicago.

1. The Ottawa Free Trader, September 17, 1881, p. 1, col. 2.

In Memory of John W. Rhoads

Died – At the homestead, in the town of Dayton, June 19^th, 1891, John W. Rhoads, aged 69 years.

Born in Brownsville, Pa., came to Ottawa with his widowed mother and settled in Dayton township. Shortly afterwards he left his home for St. Louis, to work at his trade of a carpenter; the mother remaining with her small children founded the old homestead from which all the family have gone out one by one. In 1846 he enlisted for the Mexican war, in the Company of Captain Hudson, attached to the famous regiment of Col. Doniphan, sharing all its trying marches and participating in the battle of Sacramento, where 1500 fell on the Mexican side and less than a dozen on the American.

After this war he was at home for a short time and then went with the early gold seekers to California. Three times he crossed the plains, returning home once the same way and twice by water. Later on he went to Montana, stopping at Helena City. Here again he was successful as a miner, and was sent twice to the territorial legislature. Then he came home and a year afterwards went to the Black Hills, and remaining there but a short time, finished up his wanderings.

At the old home his life flowed along quietly, amid friends. He was intelligent and of a pleasant, social, turn. Had a wide knowledge of people and places and knew the world, its fluctuating scenes and cares, and was content. He came to the old home after the death of his dearly beloved mother in 1874, and in quiet gathered strength for the world to come, his life flowing on in the peaceful intercourse with friends, a well woven chain from manhood to middle life and then to old age, with silver locks – a crown of glory – the river of life flowing at his feet. A friend to the unfortunate, a brother in adversity, faithful and kind to all – his works do follow him and it is well.

Over the river a boatman pale
Dips his hand in the silvery stream.
Deeper and deeper than earth his voice:
“Come rest thee and bathe thee, O tempest tossed.”¹

John W. Rhoads was born November 13, 1821 in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas R. and Sarah (Collins) Rhoads. His father died in Pennsylvania, and Sarah afterward brought the family to La Salle county, securing a farm near Dayton. There were six children in the family – John, the eldest; Elizabeth, who married Robert Strawn; Samuel; Hannah, who was Jesse Green’s second wife; Mary Jane; and Thomas.

John never married. At his death in 1891 the inventory of his estate listed the assets as 120 acres of real estate, 105 lambs, 138 sheep, 43 swarms of bees, farm implements, growing crops, notes, credits, accounts, cash on hand, etc., of the value of about $4100. He may have led an adventurous early life, but he ended his days as a prosperous Illinois farmer.

1. Ottawa Free Trader, September 19, 1891, p. 8, col. 3.

photo from FindAGrave

Wedron

Passed to spirit life, March 19^th, Mrs. Sarah Lewis, aged 81 years, at the home of her son, Park Cole. Deceased was an old settler and resident of the town of Dayton. She had been sick for about a year and her demise was not unexpected. Five sons survive her. The funeral occurred from the school-house on Wednesday, at 11 a. m., Rev. Baird, of Ottawa, officiating. As we write a large concourse of friends are gathering to pay last respects to the memory of one who was loved and esteemed while living and mourned in death.¹

The above obituary gives little information about Sarah Lewis’s life, so this is an attempt to expand on the few facts in the obituary.

Sarah Davis Cole Lewis was born abt 1818/19 in New York. She married William Cole on February 4th, 1838, in Plainfield, Otsego County, New York. They had 6 children: Lyman, Leroy, Jay, Marian, Parke, and Burt. The family moved to La Salle county about 1849 and settled in Serena township, north of Dayton. By 1860 they had moved to Marseilles, Illinois.  On November 18, 1861, William Cole enlisted in the 53rd regiment, Illinois Infantry at Ottawa, Illinois. Unfortunately, his part in the war was of short duration. He died at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, on April 6th, 1862. As reported by the Regiment Major:

He was breaking teams consisting of six mules, was thrown from the one he was riding on, was run over by the wagon and his back broken and otherwise injured.

William is buried in the West Serena Cemetery. Sarah applied for a widow’s pension and there were two young children who were also entitled to support. She was appointed guardian for her two young sons, Parke and Burt. She got a pension of $8/month from William’s service.

In June 1865 Sarah Cole and William Lewis, of Dayton, were planning to marry. Because her widow’s pension would end at her remarriage, she wanted some assurance that she would be provided for should her husband predecease her.  On June 13, the two of them signed an agreement in which Sarah says that without such a contract she would not have married Lewis. The provisions for her children are that Lewis will support, clothe and educate her two sons until the age of twenty and when they reach twenty-one he will give each a horse, saddle, bridle and suit of clothes. Should Lewis die before Sarah, she will have all his real and personal property and, in addition to maintaining herself and her sons, she will provide for the younger Lewis children until they reach the age of twenty.

With the contract signed and registered with the county court, the marriage took place the next day, June 14th, 1865. The two Cole boys worked alongside the Lewis men on the farm and Sarah kept house for the blended family.

William Lewis died October 9th, 1874 and was buried in the Dayton Cemetery next to his first wife, Eliza Ann Holman. Sarah lived on the dower tract of her husband’s farm until her death on March 19th, 1900. She was buried in the West Serena Cemetery, next to her first husband, William Cole.

1. Ottawa Republican-Times, March 22, 1900, p. 5, col. 2