Railroad Accident Near Dayton

September 17, 2025September 9, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

The Dayton depot

BURLINGTON KILLS MAN NEAR DAYTON
Dead Man is Believed to be Oscar Classon of Danway
Mutilated Body is Found on Tracks
Parts of Body Strewn Along the Tracks for Almost a Mile–Identification is Next to Impossible — Body was Brought to Ottawa Saturday

The mutilated body of a man, supposed to be Oscar Classon, aged 47 years, married, of Danway, was found on the Burlington track shortly after 5:30 a. m. Saturday by Robert Burch, a resident of Dayton. The body was found one mile north of the Dayton depot and was horribly mangled. The Kellman Undertaking Co., of this city, was called and took charge of the body and removed it to this city.

The identification of the body is almost impossible, but circumstances surrounding the case lead the residents of Dayton to believe it to be the body of Oscar Classon. The indications are that he was struck by the south bound freight train, due in this city at 2:30 o’clock that morning.

Mr. Classon was in this city Friday and was seen by a number of people. He purchased a ticket at the local station for Millington and departed on the north bound passenger train, leaving this city at 3:05 p. m. It is reported that Mr. Classon had been drinking and that he was put off the train at Dayton at 3:15 o’clock. He was seen on several occasions late Friday afternoon by residents of Dayton wandering about the village. Classon, it is reported, made several attempts to walk the tracks and between 6 and 7 o’clock was found lying in the middle of the tracks by a man walking to the village. He was aroused and led off the tracks just previous to the passing of the passenger at 7:05 o’clock Friday evening.

It is presumed that Classon wandered back onto the tracks after the 8:30 o’clock north bound freight passed by and that he was struck by the south bound freight shortly after midnight.

Robert Burch, a resident of Dayton, while walking north on the tracks this morning, found a portion of the body a short distance from the depot. The remainder of the body was found one mile north of the depot.

The identification of the body is almost impossible. An Ingersoll watch and a ticket, bearing the date of April 8th, for Millington, were found in the pocket of the deceased.

He is reported to have been a married man and worked on a farm near Danway. He has one brother, T. B. Classon, residing east of Wedron, who has been notified to identify the body, if possible.¹

Ottawa Republican Times, April 14,1910, p. 7.

News of a Crime Spree – 108 Years Ago Today

July 30, 2025July 28, 2025Candace W Leave a comment

1917 Oakland 5-passenger

TWO MORE AUTOS ARE STOLEN; ONE MACHINE RETURNED

LYLE GREEN, DAYTON DAIRYMAN LOSES CAR – FORD OWNED BY MILLINGTON MAN FOUND ON CENTER OTTAWA STREET – POLICE HAVE CLEWS

BULLETIN
Mr. Green’s machine was found a little before noon today near the Grand Ridge Cemetery, five miles south of Ottawa, where it had been abandoned by the thieves, after the tank became exhausted of gasoline. Mr. Petty recognized the car as belonging to Mr. Green and drove it into Ottawa. He turned it over to Sheriff Davis who in turn notified the owner of the recovery of his property.

Auto thieves, apparently of the juvenile variety, plied their game in Ottawa Saturday and Sunday evening when two machines were stolen from the loop district. One of the cars taken was owned by Lyle Green of Dayton. The Green car was an Oakland five passenger. No trace of the machine has been found. The other car was the property of George Wilson, of Millington and was recovered by the police last evening.

Police today say they have a line on the youths wanted for the theft, but refused to divulge any of their names. Information which will prove of much value, has been furnished the police and arrests of the youths, it is believed, will put an end to a crime wave that has been sweeping over the city the past few weeks.

Theft Saturday Night

The Wilson Ford was taken Saturday evening between 10 and 12 o’clock. Early Sunday morning a machine was abandoned in front of the residence of Bert Rose on Post street at 5 o’clock and the police were notified that a car had been left there. It was taken to the station and is being held there pending the arrival of Mr. Wilson from Millington to claim his property.

Take Dairyman’s Car

Lyle Green, Dayton dairyman, lost his Oakland car Sunday evening when he stopped in Geiger’s bakery. The machine was taken about 8:30 o’clock, a few minutes after Mr. Green went into the confectionery store. It is apparent the thieves were watching for Mr. Green to leave his car. Thus far no trace of the missing machine has been found.

Give Police Clew

That four Ottawa youths have keys that will start any machine in the city was learned today by Chief of Police Eurich. Whether or not the police have the names or identity of the youths, could not be learned.

Hundreds of cars are parked on the streets here at night and it is practically impossible for the police to know when the theft of a machine is being committed. Owners of cars are asked to take extra precautions to put an end to the trouble.¹

Ford touring car

2 AUTOS STOLEN HERE ARE FOUND
Two “Joyriders” Run Cars Until Gasoline Gives Out

Ottawa’s bold gang of automobile joyriders kept the police busy over Saturday night and Sunday by stealing two machines, riding both until they ran out of gasoline, ending their hilarious sport each time by abandoning the cars, the first one on Post street and the second in Summit View cemetery in South Ottawa. Neither machine was damaged by the joyriders. Both were returned to their owners today.

Several suspects are under surveillance by the police and Sheriff’s office as the perpetrators of the theft of these cars and other machines from the streets of this city this summer for a little impromptu ride around the nearby country. It is also hinted by authorities that a couple of girls have participated in these rides with stolen machines.

Deserted on Street

George Wilson, of Millington, Ill., was the first to report his machine stolen to the police. Wilson came to Ottawa with a party of friends Saturday evening. He parked his car in front of the Orpheum theater about 10 o’clock. When he returned for it at midnight the machine was gone. The police searched diligently for the auto, which was a Ford touring car, throughout the night, but no trace of the machine was found.

All day Sunday persons residing in the vicinity of Post and Superior streets wondered at the deserted Ford car standing along the curb. Last evening Bert Rose reported the abandoned car at the police headquarters. The machine turned out to be Wilson’s, and was hauled to the police station. The owner said there was about enough gasoline to drive the car 30 miles when he left it. The gasoline tank was empty when the Ford was found.

Found By Garage Man

The second car taken was a five-passenger Oakland, and was owned by Lyle Green, prominent dairy farmer at Dayton, Ill. Green’s machine was apparently taken by the same band and stolen about 8:30 Sunday evening from the side of Geiger’s bakery on Jefferson street. At the time the car was pilfered Green was inside the bakery making a purchase.

When he found his car missing he reported the matter to the police, and a search was instigated for the stolen auto. No trace of it was found, although the police scoured the city from one end to the other in the police patrol.

George Petty, garage man, found Green’s car abandoned in Summit View cemetery at 11 o’clock this morning. He reported his find to the police, and the car proved to belong to the Dayton farmer.

The gasoline tank was dry in Green’s automobile, as had been the case with the other stolen machine.²

Free Trader, July 30, 1917, p. 1, col. 2.
Daily Republican Times, July 30, 1917, p.1, col 6.

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.

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.

Fact or Fiction? History or Poetry?

November 19, 2024Candace W 1 Comment

POETRY VERSUS FACT
FICTION AND HISTORY

The following letter was written by David Green in reference to the wide-spread article about his brother Joseph, which was covered here previously in “He Wasn’t the One”. Apparently a collection of poems by a Nebraska poet, which referenced this event, provoked an article in The Platte Journal attempting to correct the story. Here is David Green’s response to the inquiry, as printed in the paper.

Dayton, Ill., March 31^st, 1871
J. G. Higgins, Esq., Columbus, Neb –

Dear Sir: — Yours of the 7^th inst. asking for information was duly received, in which you give some extracts from a poem written by the Rev. Orsamus C. Dake, entitled the “Raw Hide,” which is found in a recent publication entitled “Nebraska Legends,” with the following preface:

“A certain man, of a small company moving up the great plain of the Platte, in a spirit of bravado, said he would shoot the first Indian he met; which he did, having shortly afterward found a Pawnee woman a little separated from her tribe. But a band of warriors, pursuing, demanded from his companions the surrender of that man, which being refused, the Pawnees made ready to slay the whole company of whites, whereupon the offender being given into their hands, they flayed him alive. From this circumstance the little stream, on whose banks it occurred takes the name of the ‘Raw Hide.’”

The Rev. Mr. Drake has given in the above, the substance of a report which in 1849 found its way into nearly every newspaper in the United States, and no doubt but he together with many others, in good faith and very innocently believes that such a tragedy did really take place as stated, but the whole story is a base and unmitigated falsehood from beginning to end, as there never was the least foundation for said report. The hoax was gotten up in Magnolia, Putnam county, Illinois, in a bar-room to gull a gaping crowd, without any thought of its going any further, but someone present took it to be true and communicated it to the editor of a paper published in Lacon, Marshall county, Illinois, from which it was, as stated, very extensively copied.

On receipt of yours I wrote to Hon. Wm. E. Parret now of Winona, Illinois, but at the time the hoax was gotten up he resided in Magnolia, Illinois, and in reply he says, “That two men by the name of D. P. Fyffe and David Law, of Magnolia, got up the hoax out of whole cloth. The said Mr. Fyffe of Magnolia, over his signature of the 27^th inst, says “It (referring to said hoax) originated here and was known to be a hoax.” I merely give you the above that you may know where said report originated.

My Father, two Brothers and some twenty or thirty others from this county were the company referred to, and my brother Joseph Green was the reported victim, who would have been the last man in the world to make any such threat, or be guilty of any such rash act.

The said company went out to California in the spring of 1839 – he Joseph Green returned in 1851 – went out to California again in 1852, returned in 1853, and died in this place in 1855, with the consumption. A more noble, kind-hearted and generous man never lived, and I hope you will use your best efforts to correct this infamous slander upon his fair name.

I am, very respectfully,
D. Green¹

The Platte [Nebraska] Journal, April 12, 1871, p2, col2.

Grand Wolf Hunt

October 9, 2024October 5, 2024Candace W 1 Comment

It is proposed to have a general turn-out of all in the towns of Rutland and Dayton (the cooperation of the towns of Mission and Serena respectfully invited) who are desirous of ridding themselves of these pests — the wolves — which are becoming so numerous that they have been seen in droves of three and as high as five, to the great annoyance of sheep men, and others.

The plan of operations will be for Rutland and Dayton — with the request that Serena and Mission join them — to elect one marshal in each town, who shall have entire control, first and second lieutenants for every twenty men, who shall be subordinate to the marshals, the people of those towns to drive to Fox river, where the meeting shall be simultaneous, with a view of capturing every wolf, which is considered better than to meet on the prairie, as is usually the custom in such hunts.

Friday, the 27th day of February, is the time appointed for this grand turn out — for this grand raid on the wolves — for the organization and success of which the following meetings are hereby called: One at the Grove school house, Rutland; one at the Dunavan school-house, on Buck creek; and one at the schoolhouse in the village of Dayton, on Saturday evening, February 21st. The meeting at the Dunavan school-house to have the privilege of electing the marshal for the town of Dayton.¹

Hunts typically involved hundreds of men walking in a line with guns. In 1875, Illinois had a bounty for wolf scalps. Settlers could receive $20 for each wolf scalp they provided. There was also a smaller bounty of $3 for wolf pups.

Although the submitter of this report promised to provide a report on the success of the event, a search of the next few issues of the newspapers was unsuccessful. Maybe there wasn’t much to brag about?

The Ottawa Republican, February 19, 1874, p5.

An Anniversary

April 2, 2024March 17, 2024Candace W Leave a comment

Today, April 2, is the 175th anniversary of the day John, Jesse, and Joseph Green started for the gold mines.

Californians

At least fifty persons from this county, left this place during the past week for California. The company from Dayton left on Monday, on board the Timoleon, which boat we understand they chartered to take them through to St. Joseph, on the Missouri river. All Dayton precinct was down to see them off, which gave our landing altogether the most crowded and bustling appearance we have ever seen it bear. The company is composed of as good men as there are in the county, and we are sorry to lose them. May their brightest anticipations be realized!

Our Ottawa boys, although there is quite a number of them, have been leaving for a week or two, in parties of two or three. There are among them some of the best of men, and a few whose loss we shall probably be able to survive. May they all have the best of luck, and come back with gold enough to improve the river to Ottawa, and build a bridge across the Illinois!¹

1. The [Ottawa IL] Free Trader, April 6, 1849, page 2, col.2

The Rest of the Story

November 2, 2022October 26, 2022Candace W Leave a comment

This is the follow-up to last week’s story, which may be seen here. [Note that George Benoit’s name was spelled Bennett in the initial articles on this event.]

INDICTMENTS RETURNED
Against Mary McWilliams and George Bennett for Attempted Murder

From Wednesday’s Daily
The special grand jury summoned to investigate the McWilliams affair began their labors on the case at 9 o’clock this morning and by noon were done and returned indictments against Mary McWilliams and Geo. Bennett, charging them with an assault with intent to commit murder by poisoning. The charges were conclusive and the jury completed its work in short order. Neither of the defendants was able to give bail and they now occupy quarters in the county jail. It is thought that they will enter a plea to the charges and in less than a week they will be doing time in Joliet.¹

GIVEN THEIR REWARD
Bennett and Mrs. McWilliams Sent to Joliet Prison Yesterday

George Bennett and Mrs. Mary McWilliams were given a long season by Judge Blanchard yesterday afternoon in which to meditate upon the consequences of a double crime, that of unfaithfulness and attempted murder. They were brought before the court by the sheriff’s officials to plead to the indictments found against them on the previous day, and, as both had made confessions, she that she had placed the poison in her husband’s tea at Bennett’s suggestion, and Bennett that he had purchased the poison and given it to her for the purpose of putting McWilliams out of the way, they expressed no desire to stand trial, but threw themselves upon the mercy of the court by pleading guilty.

Judge Blanchard said that he considered Bennett the plotter and real culprit, as he had alienated the affections of the wife, while having a family of his own, and then sought to wholly possess the woman by making her the executioner of her husband. On this account he gave Bennett the full limit of the law, fourteen years in Joliet, but gave Mrs. McWilliams seven years because of the fact that she had been more a dupe and a tool than a willing criminal. Both took their sentences hard, especially the woman. Their intended victim, the husband, John McWilliams, has fully recovered, and is now as well as ever.²

MRS McWILLIAMS CONFESSES
She Admits That She Placed the Poison in the Tea

From Sunday’s Daily
Mrs. John McWilliams, wife of the man who all but expired from Strychnine poisoning Friday noon, confessed at the county jail last evening that she placed the deadly drug in her husband’s tea for the purpose of putting him out of the way. Rumors to the effect that McWilliams had poisoned himself with “Rough on Rats” are without foundation, for, though he may have made such a statement in his delirium, the fact is that the poison was strychnine. Mrs. McWilliams is closely confined in jail, while her husband, who is still very weak, is in the county asylum, on account of the lack of a city hospital.³

TELLS THE STORY
George Benoit Admits That He Figured in the Poisoning

HE IS CAPTURED AT LA SALLE
He Says That the Whole Affair Was Arranged Weeks Ago by Mrs. McWilliams and Himself and She Administered the Dose

From Monday’s Daily
But little has been said of the McWilliams affair, which occurred on Friday last, up to the present time, owing to the fact that George Benoit, one of the accessories to the crime, was not captured until last night. As soon as he heard that he was wanted he made his escape from Dayton and went to La Salle, where he remained with his sister-in-law. As stated in yesterday’s paper, Mrs. McWilliams made a confession of the whole affair on Saturday, and Sheriff Taylor lost no time in hunting up the abode of Benoit. He was captured at La Salle and brought to Ottawa this morning and placed in the county jail. This afternoon he was brought before State’s Attorney Blake and told the whole story. He said that Mrs. McWilliams made the proposition to him to do away with her husband so that they might get married, and on Saturday, Oct. 22, he purchased the strychnine in this city. Benoit took the matter very cooly. He is a man of family, and according to his own statement intended to get a divorce from his present wife after McWilliams was out of the way and marry his wife.

McWilliams has fully recovered from the effects of the poison and on Saturday did not seem desirous of prosecuting the matter. But the authorities told him it was no longer in his hands and that there would be a rigid prosecution. The case will come up at the January term of the court.⁴

The Ottawa Free trader, November 5, 1892, p. 1, col. 2
The Ottawa Free trader, November 5, 1892, p. 1, col. 3
The Ottawa Free trader, November 5, 1892, p. 3, col. 2
The Ottawa Free trader, November 5, 1892, p. 7, col. 2

A Halloween Horror Story

October 26, 2022October 24, 2022Candace W Leave a comment

A DIABOLICAL PLOT
John McWilliams Lying at the Point of Death

POISON IN HIS TEA
He Alleges That His Wife Prepared the Dose in Hopes of Putting Him Out of the Way – He Will Recover and Will Prosecute the Matter

From Friday’s Daily:
One of the most fiendish plots that we have been compelled to chronicle for many a day occurred in this city at noon today. For several days past John McWilliams, a laborer, whose home is in Dayton has been employed on our streets by the Rockford Construction Company. He worked at the Rock Island depot unloading the brick from the cars to the wagons. As stated before, his home is in Dayton, to which place he returned every evening. He carried his dinner with him in the morning and at noon he ate it at the flagman’s house on Columbus street. After quitting work this noon, he went to this little house, as usual, and proceeded to eat his dinner. He carried his tea in a small can, and after drinking probably a half a pint of it, he remarked to some of the men who were with him that the tea had a queer taste and he threw the balance of it away. He soon became sick and was seized with cramps and then became hysterical. Dr. Dyer was sent for and upon examination found that the unfortunate man had drank strychnine in his tea and administered an emetic.

McWilliams was conscious all the time and when questioned by a representative of this paper as to the manner in which the poison was placed in his tea, he had no hesitation in saying that it was the work of his wife and that she was undoubtedly prompted to do so by a married man, who resides in Dayton and with whom she has been very intimate of late. The whole circumstances tended to show that the plot was perpetrated with homicidal intentions and the poisoned man weak as he was stated that it was the work of no one save his wife and her admirer. The matter was reported to State’s Attorney Blake, who immediately issued a warrant for their arrest and the same was placed in the sheriff’s hands for service. At 3 o’clock McWilliams was resting quietly and Sr. Dyer’s opinion is that he will recover. The plot is one that should not go unrecognized by the authorities and the perpetrators should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.¹

[Stay tuned. Next week we will see the follow-up to this attempted murder.]

The Ottawa Free Trader, October 29, 1892, p. 5, col. 4

Sibling Dispute Leads to Fratricide

May 25, 2022May 21, 2022Candace W Leave a comment

The 1860 mortality schedule for Dayton

I was looking at the 1860 list of deaths in Dayton in the preceding year and was struck by the entry for James Mahar. MURDERED? A little research in the local newspaper produced this story:

FRATRICIDE – On Saturday last, two brothers, named James and Daniel Maher, living in the town of Dayton in this County, came to Ottawa to do some trading, and as is too frequently the case with a certain class of countrymen, drank a great deal too much whiskey before they went home. They got home however, about 8 or 9 o’clock in the evening and both took supper at James’ house. After supper James got to quarreling with his boys, when Daniel interfered and took the boys’ part.

Thereupon the brothers quarreled, and agreed to fight it out, but conceded that both were too drunk then, fixed upon the next morning for the fight, shaking hands upon the agreement. Daniel then started for home, and in passing through the bars, picked up a large club, and dared James to meet him. James picked up a mop or fork handle, and followed Daniel beyond the bars, where the fight commenced.

James struck the first blow which was warded by Daniel so that the mop handle broke in two. Daniel then struck James on the head, felling him instantly, and then passed on. James not rising again, his boys went to him and found him insensible. On closer examination, it was found that his skull was fractured, and that his injury was mortal. He lay insensible until next morning, when he died.

The Coroner was sent for, and an inquest being held, brought to light the above facts. Daniel made an attempt to escape but Deputy Sheriff having gone after him with a competent force arrested him on the prairie in the neighborhood, and brought him back to jail, where he now awaits his trial.¹

The Ottawa Free Trader, June 18, 1859, p. 3, col. 2

Dayton and the Greens

John Green and the history of Dayton, La Salle County, Illinois

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