OLD INDIAN TRAILS
A glance at a map of Lake county will show immediately
that a large number of the roads, especially through the
southwestern part of the county, run in a diagonal
direction from the northwest to the southeast. From Half
Day to Diamond Lake this is noticeable and from Long Grove
the same is found as well as the roads leading through
Lake Zurich, Wauconda and other points. In fact, the
greater number of roads through the locality have the same
general direction.
The early history of the section accounts for this fact as
at the time of settlement there was no trading point in
Lake county and all the settlers went to Chicago to buy
their provisions and do their shopping as well as to sell
their produce and get their mail. It was a custom at that
time to follow trails which led almost directly from one
point to another by the most accessible route. At the
time these roads were laid out there were no section lines
surveyed and the roads became roads only through the
travel of the people living in the neighborhood and thus
became located where they would accommodate the greater
number of travelers.
As we approach the Des Plaines river we notice that the
roads run more north and south and along the lake shore
they are parallel with the lake. These roads like the
others were laid out without any regard to section lines
and their northerly and southerly direction is due to the
same reason, it being the most direct route to the trading
post at Chicago.
Along about 1840 some of the inhabitants of the county
became imbued with the idea of starting a trading post at
some local point as a rival of the fast growing Chicago
and chose as a site the present Waukegan, naming it Little
Fort. The following year they conceived the idea of
getting the county seat changed from Libertyville to that
place and immediately set out on a campaign to that end
and by a special vote of the people it was decided to move
the seat of government the following spring.
The day set for the removal was April 13, 1841 and was a
great occasion to the residents of Little Fort who were
five in number. The day was ideal and all the rural
inhabitants for miles around in every direction were
present to witness the ceremony.
The ground for the site chosen was thickly grown up with
second growth of trees and underbrush which covered the
present business portion of Waukegan and as far west as
the ravine giving evidence of having at one time been
burned over or partially cleared.
It was the custom of the commissioners in those days to
mark the spot chosen for a county seat with a post driven
into the ground and for this part of the ceremonies a post
had been neatly turned out by a man by the name of Dewey,
who at that time was just starting a little planing mill
at Waukegan, and was made out of cedar and neatly painted.
To define the exact spot the commissioners in a body went
to what they believed the highest spot in town and there
cleared away the brush and erected the post which they
carried with them. A block of land was layed out at this
time not surveyed. A few years later when the streets of
the town were surveyed the exact outlines of the present
court house square of Waukegan were for the first time
definitely located.
Soon after this a number of people became interested in
booming the town and as the people were anxious to have a
trading post nearer than Chicago they met with the
opposition and for a time the port flourished in a manner
that gave hopes of a great future. An article which
appeared in the Little Fort Porcupine, March 4, 1845, this
being the initial number of that paper, gives an
interesting sketch of the town as it was at that time.
The article was as follows.
"The village of Little Fort is situated on the shore of
Lake Michigan, forty-five miles down the lake from
Chicago, nine and a half miles south of the north state
line, and sixteen miles up the lake from Southport. There
is nearly one-half section of land laid out in lots, a
greater portion of which are sold and improved, a court
house, the best in the state, has been constructed the
past season and sixty-one other buildings among which we
enumerate a brick block of three stories by D. S. Dewey; a
fine tavern house by Michael Dalanty; a large addition to
Dickinson & Co.'s warehouse; a warehouse 100x24 feet and
two and one-half stories high by A. B. Wynkoop.
"The place contains 452 inhabitants, three commodious
public houses, seven stores, two groceries, two blacksmith
shops, one tin, and sheet iron factory, two shoe shops,
three tailor shops, one chair and cabinet factory, one
watch maker, one gunsmith, two wheelwrights, one plow
manufactory, three warehouses, one pier and a second being
constructed by A. B. Wyncoop. The timber is now being
framed for a steam flouring mill. There is a good clay
and two yards where brick is made of a superior quality.
The facilities of this place for a heavy produce and
lumber business are not surpassed by any place on the
western shore of the lake north of Chicago. It is backed
up by the best wheat growing country in Illinois and must
become a town of considerable importance before it gets to
its teens."
In 1849 Little Fort had reached a population of about
2,500 inhabitants and in the incorporation at the time was
incorporated was a provision that at the first election of
town officers, the inhabitants might change the name of
the place to Waukegan. The election took place on the
second Monday in March that year and D. O. Dickinson was
elected President of the village, this making him the
first mayor that Waukegan ever had.
In 1875 the original court house was burned and the
present structure the following year provided for by the
board of supervisors. - Independent.
8 March 1906
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bock visited last Wednesday in Libertyville.
Mrs. C. E. Denman visited in Highland Park from Friday till
Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Marsh Odett have moved into Wm. Chopes house.
C. E. Topic--James' picture of a perfect man; How can we
realize it ourselves?
Mrs. Davis, of Waukegan, attended the funeral of Mr. Herbert
Matthews.
Mr. Cremin moved his household goods last week to his new home
on the Starkweather farm which he bought last fall.
Percy Bock of Libertyville spent a few days the first of the
week with his brother Clarence.
Mrs. Sarah Dodge and her niece Vera Worden have moved into John
Bonner's house.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Wheaton visited with the latters parents Mr.
and Mrs. A. W. Safford over Sunday.
The C. E. business meeting has been announced to meet at the
home of Miss Ethel McGuire on Friday evening, March the 9th.
The funeral services of Mrs. George Jillings were held at the
church on Friday at one o'clock. Interment at the Millburn
cemetery.
15 March 1906
JOE SMITH COMMITS SUICIDE
On Friday morning of last week word was received here that
Joseph Smith, who lives on a farm east of Loon Lake, had committed
suicide, and Coroner Taylor was notified.
It is reported that on Thursday afternoon, Smith finding his wife
in the kitchen told her that he had taken Paris green and would
soon be a dead man.
"Don't joke in that way," she said, with a laugh.
A few minutes after, when it was too late, she found the empty
poison box, one that had been put away after some of the contents
had been used last summer to kill potato bugs. Smith had taken a
full quarter of a pound of the poison at 2 o'clock Thursday
afternoon and died at 11 o'clock that evening in great agony. A
physician was summoned but nothing that he could do was available
to save his life.
Smith was a farmer and was about sixty years of age, and leaves a
wife and six children.
E. A. Martin was a Chicago visitor Monday.
A. W. Safford spent the fore part of the week in Chicago.
Mrs. W. B. Stewart entertained the Ladies Aid Society on
Thursday, March 8.
Mrs. A. H. Stewart, Mrs. C. E. Denman and Mrs. Sarah Dodge have
been on the sick list the past week.
Mrs. G. H. Harris and son Harold were Chicago visitors the
latter part of the week.
Chase McGuire of Hickory spent last Wednesday with his uncle,
Wm. McGuire.
George Dodge, Clarence Bock and Mr. Widger started last Tuesday
night for Davidson, Canada.
Mrs. Safford and her sister, Miss Foote, went to Chicago last
Friday where Mrs. Safford was to undergo an operation.
A number of young people braved the road last Saturday night to
attend the party given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George B.
Stephens.
The community was shocked to hear of the death of Mrs. H. Shaw
on Tuesday morning, March 13. The cause of her death being
pneumonia.
Mrs. Libbie Padgett and her sister Jessie Jamieson, of
Charleston, Ill., are here on a visit with their parents, Mr. and
Mrs. James Jamieson.
from the pages of the Waukegan Daily Gazette 15 March 1906
There was a very pleasant party gathered at Mrs. Geo.
Stephens Saturday evening to celebrate Johns, twenty first
birthday, March 10th, John is a voter now, and a regular
hustler at all times. Bruce who is in bank in Waukegan
was home on that occasion.
George Dodge and Clarence Bock started for their new
farms in Canada last week, the women and children will go
to join them in the summer when the houses are built.
Word reached Miss Mabel Young this morning that her
mother, Mrs. Hifman Shaw of Wadsworth had died suddenly,
Mrs. Peter Duncan is a daughter of Mrs. Shaw also.
Mr. Pollock was in Waukegan a day or two last week,
settling Mrs. Herbert Mathews' business.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Duncan have a young daughter about a
week old.
Mrs. A. H. Stewart was quite sick last week not able to
be out at all, but is much better at present.
The C. E. business meeting was held at Ethel McGinnis
home last Friday.
Mr. Galagher, of Fox Lake, has hired with Alfred
Spafford.
from the pages of the Waukegan Daily Sun 15 March 1906
Mr. Holmes was in Chicago Thursday and Friday of last
week.
Mrs. G. A. Harris and son Harold were visiting three or
four days in Chicago this week.
Mrs. Libbie Padgett, nee Jamieson, of Charleston, and
also Jessie Jamieson are home visiting their parents, Mr.
and Mrs. James Jamieson.
Mr. Geo. Duncan and family have left for their future
home in North Dakota.
Miss Mary Eichinger is visiting friends and relatives
in Chicago.
Chase McGuire spent last Thursday with his uncle, Wm.
McGuire.
Frank Newell of Russell, our tax collector, was a
Millburn caller Wednesday of this week.
Mrs. A. M. Safford spent the fore part of last week
with her daughter, Mrs. Wheaton, of Wheaton, Ill.
Mr. and Mrs. John Thain gave a party in honor of their
daughter, Miss Hazel's birthday last Tuesday evening.
Mr. Preston has moved his family to John Thain's tenant
house. Mr. Preston will work for Mr. Thain.
Rev. Safford was called Sunday to preach the funeral
service for Mr. Smith of Loon Lake. Mr. Smith committed
suicide.
As noted in the Sun of last week Lloyd White of Kenosha
has bought out J. R. Bowers. Lloyd White is a son of Mr.
and Mrs. Wm. J. White of Millburn, Lake county, Ill. He
has bought out J. K. Bower's undertaking business. He is
a young man of sterling worth and has two state licenses,
one for Illinois and one for Indiana. He has just come
from Michigan City, Ind., where he has been working for
the past year, getting good experience for his present
undertaking.
Mrs. A. W. Safford went last Friday to have an other
operation on her face. Her sister, Miss Foote accompanied
her.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Duncan are rejoicing over the
arrival of a little daughter last Thursday.
The young people of this vicinity were invited to a
card party last Saturday evening at the home of Geo.
Stephen's.
Mr. Safford has gone to Chicago for three or four days.
Monday, March 12, while Wm. McGuire and Arthur Clarke
were hauling straw for J. A. Strang the rack tipped over
throwing them both off of the load. Mr. McGuire fell on
his head and shoulder on the hard frozen ground and cut
his face quite badly. It is feared that he has fractured
his skull. He was taken to his brother James at Hickory
and the family sent for. Arthur Clarke sprained his
ankle. Mr. McGuire was unconscious for many hours.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones are loading their car at Gurnee.
Mr. Jones will leave soon for northern Wisconsin Mrs.
Jones and the family will follow soon.
Miss Marie Harris daughter of Mrs. Jones, is very sick
in the hospital in Chicago.
Word came Tuesday to Mr. and Mrs. Mabel Young that her
mother, Mrs. Shaw, died that morning at Wadsworth. She is
also mother to Mrs. Peter Duncan.
Mrs. A. H. Stewart and Mrs. C. E. Denman are on the
sick list with the grip.
22 March 1906
The postmaster general has issued a notice that all rural mail
carriers have the right of way on all country roads and that all
other carriages or conveyances must surrender the right of way to
the rural carriers. This order was issued as a result of numerous
complaints on the part of the carriers who were not able to
deliver their mail in the specified time because carriages and
conveyances which they met refused to give them the right of way
and often made it necessary for them to drive slower or to wait
until the road was clear before they could proceed.
Miss Carrie Bater has gone to Evanston on a visit.
Miss Alice Jamieson, of Berwyn, visited over Sunday with her
parents.
Mrs. G. H. Harris and son Harold have returned home from their
visit to Chicago.
Miss Foote returned from Chicago last week.
Miss Sadie Irving is able to be out again after an operation
for appendicitis.
Wm. McGuire is improving from the fall he had last Monday.
R. L. Hughes, of Chicago, was home over Sunday.
Miss Vera Worden has closed school for a two week's vacation.
Mrs. Cooke, of Lamb's Corners, was a Millburn called Saturday.
Miss Mary Eichinger returned home last Saturday from Chicago
where she has been visiting relatives.
Earl Crawford, Orin Cleveland and Leslie Cannon are home for
their spring vacation from Rochester, Wis.
Mrs. John Buss and little son of Rochester, Wis., are here on a
week's visit with Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Jamieson.
Mr. and Mrs. James Armour are rejoicing over the arrival of a
son on Sunday, March 18.
C. E. Topic, march 25--"Beautiful sowing; Our gifts to Christ;
Cause" A Missionary topic. Annie L. McCredie, leader.
The Y. P. S. C. E. will give a basket social in the church on
Friday evening, March 23. Everybody invited. Ladies please bring
lunch for two.
Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Hook, of Lambs Corners, and Mr. John McGuire
and son Chase, of Antioch, spent Sunday with Mr. Wm. McGuire.
Miss Annie McCredie was home over Saturday last week. On
account of bad roads she has not been home for three weeks.
The Misses Margaret and Bertha White, Pearl and Ruby Cleveland
and Helen Spafford returned Friday from the
Rochester Acadamy to spend their "one week" vacation at home.
from the pages of the Waukegan Daily Sun 27 March 1906
Miss Foote returned Tuesday night from Chicago.
John Jones and family left Friday for their new home in
Wisconsin.
Roy Hughes of Chicago was a Millburn caller over
Sunday.
Mr. Oden has rented the Harris place and will move his
family this week from Waukegan.
Miss Anna McCredie of Deerfield spent Saturday and
Sunday at home.
John McGuire and son Chase spent Sunday with Wm.
McGuire.
Miss Alice Jamieson of Berwyn visited a few days with
her father.
A. W. Safford spent last week in Chicago.
Misses Ruby and Pearl Cleveland, Helen Safford,
Margaret and Bertha White, Olin Cleveland, Earl Crawford
and Leslie Cannon of Rochester academy are home for a few
days vacation.
C. E. topic Bountiful sowing. Annie McCredie, leader.
Mr. and Mrs. James Armour are rejoicing over the
arrival of a son who came Sunday morning, March 18th.
Victor Strang of Beloit academy will be home for a ten
days vacation.
The C. E. society will give a basket sociable this
Friday evening, March 23. Be sure and come. Bring lunch
for two.
29 March 1906
Mr. McGuire is able to be out again.
Victor Strang is spending his week's vacation at home.
The Rochester students returned to their work on Monday.
Mrs. John Buss and little son returned to Rochester last
Friday.
Wm. Thom was a Chicago visitor last Friday.
E. A. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. George Gerrity were Chicago visitors
last week.
Wm. Thom Jr. has sold his farm to a Chicago party and has
rented his fathers farm and will move there this week.
Horace H. Tower went to Englewood last Saturday to visit with
his parents Mr. and Mrs. Will Tower.
Miss Emma Spafford was visiting in Chicago a few days last
week.
George Dodge and Clarence Bock arrived at the end of their
journey by railroad on Saturday morning, March 17,. They then had
twenty miles further to go by sled before reaching their farms.
At last reports of them they were all getting along nicely.
Miss Helen Safford spent last week with her sister Mrs. Ralph
Wheaton at Wheaton, Ill.
Mrs. A. W. Safford is gaining very slowly, she has been removed
from the hospital, but it will be some time before she will be
able to return home.
Several young people on the north side of Millburn attended the
party given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Crawford last
Thursday evening.
