were inconsistent with an enlightened conception of God. For this position they were not infrequently charged with heresy. Dr. Bushnell's later book, Forgiveness and Law, is believed to contain some modification of his former radical views. But Dr. Goodwin reverently and earnestly preached this doctrine of the divine sacrifice during his entire pastorate; and since his day it has been taught by many progressive thinkers in the Congregational church; and during the last ten years it has gained rapidly in other evangelical bodies. Dr. Goodwin testified to his regard for his illustrious teacher by naming his son Horace Bushnell Goodwin.

Dr. Goodwin's pleasant home while in Rockford was on Kishwaukee street. His lots extended from the corner on First avenue to Col. Lawler's home. The house, which stood near what is now 206 Kishwaukee street, now stands in the rear of the Carpenter Block, and fronts on First avenue. Mrs. Goodwin was an aunt of Mrs. Clara G. Sanford and Miss Blanche Goodall. Before her marriage she was a teacher at the seminary.

Many of the young men and women of that period, whose faces are now turned toward life's setting sun, are sure that of Dr. Goodwin it could be said: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

Soon after leaving Rockford, Dr. Goodwin wrote a book entitled Christ and Humanity, which was published by the Harpers. It was dedicated to his friend in these noble words: "To Horace Bushnell, my revered friend and teacher, whose profound and sanctified genius has made the world his debtor, and whose eminent services to Christianity in the reconciliation of faith and reason await the verdict of the future ages, these later studies of Christian doctrine are filially and affectionately inscribed by the author." This work was written while the author was enjoying an extended sojourn in Germany. In 1875 Dr. Goodwin was called to the chair of English literature by the college at Olivet, Michigan, which he filled for several years. His death occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Weld, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, March 1, 1893. Dr. Goodwin was seventy-one years of age. His remains were brought to Rockford for burial.

CHAPTER XIX.

FIRST PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION.—THE POSTOFFICE.—FIRST COURTS.

HE patriotism of the little village did not differ essentially from the prevailing type. It necessarily found its expression in more primitive ways than it does at the present time. There was such a display of eloquence and gunpowder as the times afforded; and the amusements differed somewhat from those of today.

The morning of July 4, 1837, was welcomed with the boom of all available artillery. William Penfield's blacksmith's anvil did heroic service. The "boys" spent a long time in drilling a hole for priming. One held a drill down with a lever, while another drilled. (The subsequent owner of the anvil would not allow the patriots to use it in later years for salutes; but they took it, nevertheless, and made it ring.) A hickory liberty-pole was raised near what is now 310 East State street. Patriotic exercises were held in Mr. Haight's barn, which stood in the grove near the intersection of State and Third streets. The bay was floored for the speakers, and the threshing-floor was occupied by the ladies. Charles I. Horsman read the Declaration of Independence, and Hon. John C. Kemble was the orator of the day. Dinner was served in the old Rockford House, by the proprietor, Henry Thurston. The main part of the building had been covered with a roof, and was sided to the first-story windows. Loose boards were laid for a floor, tables were arranged, and, in the absence of crockery, the cold meat was served on shingles. The tickets for this dinner were sold at one dollar each, and this feature of the celebration was a financial success. J. Ambrose Wight, in a letter written many years later, referred to the celebration in this wise: "The seventeenyear locusts were on hand and gave us such music as they had; sufficient at least in quantity. And in seventeen years again they were on hand in the same vicinity; that is, their successors were. After the celebration there was a dinner with toasts given

G

and liquors swallowed. But a temperance society was organized in the barn during the afternoon. The elder Mr. Potter, Eleazer or Herman, I forget which—but who lived near by in the grove, was the leader in the movement."

The celebration was concluded with a public ball, the first in the county, given in Mr. Haight's barn. John H. Thurston, in referring to this event, says: "Some shirting was tacked to the studding about one room for a ladies' dressing-room." The orchestra consisted of three pieces. In this day they would be called violins; but sixty-three years ago they were simply common fiddles. The leader, Mr. Thurston says, was "old Jake Miller, whose only dancing tune was 'Zip Coon.'" Thus passed the first celebration of the national holiday in Rockford.

This observance of the day, however, was not the first in the county. July 4, 1836, when Belvidere was in Winnebago county, the citizens of that village let loose their patriotism in quite unconventional fashion. Dr. Daniel H. Whitney has given this vivid pen-picture of the day: "Young Morn shook from her purple wings as glorious a Fourth as ever kissed Aurora's cheek when she unbarred the gates of light, and no more patriotic and grateful hearts beat in American bosoms on that glorious day than did those of the citizens of Boone, as with all available material at our command, an old rifle, a tolerable shot-gun and a pocket pistol, the old settlers took their position on the mound, raised a liberty-pole, from which fluttered in the breeze a pocket handkerchief having the portraits of the presidents around its border, and being the nearest approach to a national flag of anything in these 'diggings.' We read the Declaration of Independence, fired a national salute, gave three times three that frightened the Indian from his wigwam, and the red deer from his covert."

The first postmaster was Daniel S. Haight, who served from August 31, 1837, to June 26, 1840. The first mail arrived about September 15th. Previous to this time the small packages of mail had been brought from Chicago by parties who made trips to that city for supplies. An order for mail upon the postmaster at that office, to which each man attached his name, was left at Mr. Haight's house. The first mail was brought on horseback, the second by a carrier, and the third by open wagon with two horses. After the postoffice had been established, the contract for carrying the mail was made with

ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST MAIL.

99

John D. Winters. About this time Winters became associated with Frink, Walker & Co. Still later Winters was on the line west from Rockford, and finally Frink, Walker & Co. carried the mail on the through line. Previous to January, 1838, the mail arrived from Chicago once a week. In 1839-40 the mails arrived from the west and east each three times a week. The northern and the southern mails came once a week; the mail from Mineral Point arrived on Saturday, and the mail from Coltonville came on Wednesday.

The first mail, in September, arrived with no key, and it was returned unopened. When the second mail arrived a key had been provided, but the postmaster was not equal to the combination, and he turned it over to Giles C. Hard, who solved the problem. Its contents, about a hatful, were received with a general handshaking. The postage was twenty-five cents for each letter, and stamps were unknown. That amount of money then represented the highest respectability; the mail-bags were therefore lean, while the letters were plump. These missives were read and re-read until they were almost committed to memory. They came from loved ones far away, and were regarded with a degree of sanctity. Letters from the east were from fifteen to thirty days in transit. Should the postmaster find that letters had been written to several persons, and enclosed in one envelope as a measure of economy in postage, he was supposed to collect twenty-five cents from each person so receiving a letter. Mr. Haight erected a small building sixteen by twenty-six feet, one and a half story, in the summer of 1837, for a postoffice, near 107 South Madison street. There were about twenty-five boxes. This building was used until the following year, when Mr. Haight erected a more commodious structure, near 312 East State street, with ante-room and boxes. This building was used for this purpose during several administrations.

The act establishing the county had provided that until public buildings should be erected, the circuit courts should be held at the house of Mr. Kent or Mr. Haight, as the county commissioners should direct. At the first session of this court it was ordered that, pending the location of the county seat, the circuit courts should be held at the house of Mr. Haight. An examination at the circuit clerk's office reveals the almost incredible fact that no records of this court previous to 1854, except the simple dockets of the judge, have been preserved.

390539

The conclusion must be drawn that this docket was the only record made at the time. Memoranda kept by individuals have given facts upon which the official records are silent.

The first circuit court convened at the house of Daniel S. Haight, October 6, 1837. This is the frame building which stood on the northeast corner of Madison and State streets, and a part of which is now on the northeast corner of Second and Walnut streets. At that time there was no elective judiciary. Under the old constitution, the justices of the supreme court and the judges of the inferior courts were appointed by joint ballot of both branches of the general assembly. Under this same fundamental law, these courts appointed their own clerks. The state's attorney was also appointed. The statute of 1835 provided that the general assembly, on joint ballot, at that session, and every two years thereafter, should choose one state's attorney for each judicial circuit.

At this first court Hon. Dan. Stone, of Galena, was the presiding judge. Seth B. Farwell was appointed state's attorney pro tem; and James Mitchell, then of Jo Daviess county, clerk. Mr. Mitchell held this position until 1846, when he was chosen superintendent of the lead mines. He was succeeded as clerk by Jason Marsh, who was appointed by Judge Thomas C. Brown. The offices of circuit clerk and recorder were separate until the second constitution went into effect, when they were united, and this officer was made elective.

The petit jurors on duty at the first term were: Edward Cating, James B. Martyn, Joel Pike, William Pepper, Richard Montague, Isaac N. Cunningham, Thatcher Blake, Henry Thurston, Charles I. Horsman, David Goodrich, James Jackson, and Cyrus C. Jenks. There were but two trials by jury, and these were of very little importance.

The sessions of May, 1838, and April 18, 1839, were also held at Mr. Haight's house; although, for convenience, a room in the Rockford House, on the corner west, was actually used when more room was required. The first grand jury was impaneled at the May term, 1838. The names of this jury were: Anson Barnum, Lyman Amsden, Isaac Johnson, James Sayre, H. M. Wattles, Asa Daggett, H. W. Gleason. Samuel Gregory, Asa Crosby, Daniel Beers, Walter Earle, Isaac Hance, Benjamin T. Lee, E. H. Potter, Paul D. Taylor, Lyman B. Carrier, Aaron Felts, Cyrus C. Jenks, James B. Martyn, Livingston Robbins, Henry Enoch, and Luman Pettibone. Anson Barnum was