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appointed foreman. At this term the usual order was reversed, in that the judge occupied one of the few chairs in the house, while the jury "sat on the bench."

The first building erected for the use of courts and religious meetings was built by Mr. Haight, in the summer of 1838, on the southeast corner of Madison and Market streets, on the site of the American House. It was a frame structure, about sixteen by thirty-two feet, with one story. This house, with additions, is now the residence of William G. Conick. In this building were probably held the sessions of November, 1839, and April, 1840. Several of the lawyers who attended the courts in those days attained distinction in their profession. Among these may be mentioned Judge Drummond, then of Galena, who removed to Chicago and became a judge of a federal court; Thompson Campbell, of Galena; Joel Wells, who canvassed the district for congress; Norman B. Judd, of Chicago; and Seth B. Farwell and Martin P. Sweet, of Freeport. The famous John Wentworth, "Long John," made his maiden speech in Rockford, as attorney in a case that promised to bring him prominently before the public. Mr. Wentworth made frequent visits to Rockford in later years; and for several terms he represented the Belvidere district in congress.

September 12, 1840, the county purchased the abandoned building on North First street, which had been commenced by the First Congregational church two years before. The consideration was six hundred dollars. The deed was executed by H. B. Potter, E. H. Potter and S. D. Preston. Since the building had been abandoned by the Congregationalist people it had been used as a carpenter's shop. When the county obtained possession the building was partially finished so that the courts could be held there. The session of September 10, 1840, and subsequent sessions were held at this place, until the transfer of the court house to the West side.

CHAPTER XX.

THE STAGE COACH.—EARLY HOTELS.—VILLAGE PLATS.

THE

HE state roads naturally prepared the way for the stage coach. The railroad had not then reached this western region, and the only common carrier was "the coach and four." Stage lines were then running from Chicago in several directions. They carried mails, passengers and light parcels. Frink, Walker & Co. became famous throughout this region as the proprietors of the one stage line which connected Chicago with Rockford. It is impossible to determine the precise date when the stage coach began to make regular trips on this line as far west as Rockford. It is certain that it had thus become an established institution not later than January 1, 1838. On that day the arrival of the stage coach in Rockford attracted the attention of the people of the village, and large numbers came from the surrounding country to witness the spectacle. The stage office in Chicago was for a long time at 123 Lake street, and later at the southwest corner of Lake and Dearborn.

Frink, Walker & Co. first ran their stage lines only from Chicago to Rockford. The coaches were always drawn by four horses. In 1840 the schedule time from Chicago to Rockford was advertised to be twenty-four hours. Horses were changed at intervals of fifteen miles, at stations built for this purpose. Frink, Walker & Co.'s stage barn in Rockford was the well known barn near the intersection of State and Third streets, and faced north and south. It was built in 1836 for Mr. Haight by Sidney Twogood and Thomas Lake. Few buildings in the county have served more diverse uses. It was there the first patriotic exercises were held; there the First Congregational people first held public services on the East side. When Frink, Walker & Co. purchased the building, it was moved a few rods west, and turned to face east and west. There the first quarterly meeting of the First Methodist church was held in the summer of 1838.

Coaches left the main office in Chicago every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, and returned on alternate days. The fare from Chicago to Rockford was five dollars. Mrs. Charles H.

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Spafford writes as follows of her first journey: "From Chicago I traveled by stage, one of the old 'Frink & Walker's,' stopping at night in one of the extremely primitive wayside inns of that early period. The accommodations were not extensive nor luxurious in these little hostleries. I was awakened in the night by a light in my room, and saw a man at the foot of my bed, busy with two large mail bags. It was the postmaster changing the mail. Remembering the limitations of the place, I immediately took in the situation, and made no outcry. It was a dreary ride from Chicago to Rockford in the old stage, and I was very glad to arrive at the end of my journey, where my brother was waiting for me at the Rockford House."

From Rockford to Galena the stage line was conducted for a time by John D. Winters, of Elizabeth, a little town south of Galena. The route first passed through Elizabeth, but subsequently the more direct route was by way of Freeport. The first stopping-place west of Rockford was Twelve-Mile Grove. Mr. Winters retired from the business after a time, and then Frink, Walker & Co. had the entire line from Chicago to Galena. William Cunningham, who still resides in this city, was in the employ of this firm at one time as a driver between Twelve-Mile Grove and Freeport.

The first hotel in Rockford was the Rockford House. The early public houses were more generally called taverns. Before the Rockford House was built, Mr. Kent and a number of the other settlers had entertained strangers, but not as regular hotel-keepers. The Rockford House was built by Daniel S. Haight and Charles S. Oliver. It stood on the site of the Young Men's Christian Association building. The wing was finished in the autumn of 1837, when the house was opened by Henry Thurston. The third story, which was divided into two rooms, was reached by a ladder, which was made by slats nailed to two pieces of the studding, in the first story of the main building. The proprietor's son John was an important functionary. He made the beds and escorted the guests up the ladder when they retired. He was admonished by his sire not to drop the melted tallow from the dip upon his guests. Mr. Thurston's successors as landlord were Lathrop Johnson, Daniel Howell, Andrew Brown, J. Schaeffer, Abel Campbell, E. Radcliff, Major John Williamson.

The second hotel, the Washington House, was built in 1838 by two brothers, Jacob B. and Thomas Miller, and opened to

the public the following year. It stood sixty feet front on State street, with large additions in the rear, with basement kitchen, dining-room, and sleeping apartments above the dining-room. The street in front was graded down, and ten or twelve steps were built. This elevation above the street-level proved quite a serious objection, and the house was abandoned, and it stood vacant for some years. The ground was then excavated, the house turned to the street, and lowered to the grade. The name of this hotel was changed to the Rock River House. A part of the building stands on 307 East State street, and is occupied as a fruit store. Another part is the saloon building on the southeast corner of State and Madison streets. The successive proprietors of the house were: Jacob Miller, David Paul, McKenney & Tyler, E. S. Blackstone, W. Fulton, H. D. Searles, L. Caldwell.

The Log Tavern, known as the Stage House, was opened in 1838. It was built on the old Second National Bank corner. Brown's Cottage was opened in 1850, by Andrew Brown. The name was changed to the American House in 1852 by G. S. Moore. The Waverly and the Union House, near the Northwestern depot, on the West side, were opened in 1852. The Inn, which was located where the Chick House now stands, was opened in 1840 by Spencer & Fuller. The Eagle Hotel was opened in 1841. It was located on South Main street, in the third block below State.

In 1837-38 several towns were projected in Winnebago county. One was on the east side of the river, on what was called Big Bottom, nearly opposite the stone quarry. A man named Wattles staked out his farm into lots and streets, and called it Scipio; but even its classic name did not give it prestige. The proprietor built the only house ever completed. The stakes remained for several years, until they were plowed under by the owner, who could not give away his lots.

Another town was started by the river, at what is known as the old Shumway place. At one time there were from thirtyfive to forty frames erected there; but only a few of them were ever enclosed. This fact gave the place the appropriate name of "Rib-town." Later many of these frames were torn down and removed. Several were taken to new farms, and others were brought to Rockford. It is certain that two or three "Rib-town" frames were re-erected in the city. One was owned

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by Jonathan Hitchcock, and located on North Second street; and another by a Mr. Ricard, on the same street. One frame was placed beside the Shumway house, as a part of it. Mark Beaubien finished one two-story house, and occupied it with his family for two or three years, when they removed to Chicago.

In 1839-40 George W. Lee platted a town on the west or upper side of Kishwaukee river, at its junction with Rock river, in what is now New Milford township. Quite a town was actually built, with two stores and a blacksmith shop. A large building for a seminary was enclosed and partially finished, but it was never used for this purpose. Although an excellent building, and standing in a sightly place, it was allowed to remain until all the windows were broken out. The frame was finally torn down and the lumber hauled away. This first attempt to found a seminary in Winnebago county will be considered in the next chapter. Both "Rib-town" and Mr. Lee's plat were named Kishwaukee; but the former was abandoned before George W. Lee platted the second. The latter was sometimes called Leetown, in honor of its founder.

Colonel James Sayre, a settler of 1835, projected the village of Newburg. He built a sawmill and afterward put up a gristmill in the same building, which began to grind early in the winter of 1837-38. Colonel Sayre carried on the business for several years. It was the first gristmill built in the northern counties, and was of great value to the settlers. Mr. Thurston says he went there with a bushel of wheat on his pony the third day after the machinery started. There was no bolting apparatus, and the meal was sifted by hand. The machinery was crude, and the mill was abandoned. Newburg is today only a cross-roads, with nothing to remind the visitor of the time when it was considered a rival of Belvidere and Rockford.

Perhaps few persons now living have ever heard of the Vanceborough postoffice. Vanceborough was another name for Twelve-Mile Grove, on the State road, about halfway from Rockford to Freeport. Ephraim Sumner settled near there in 1835. Mr. Sumner was born in Winhall, Vermont, February 9, 1808. In 1810 his parents removed to Darien, New York, where they remained until 1821, when they settled in Massachusetts. Mr. Sumner engaged in milling and farming near Twelve-Mile Grove, and became an extensive land-owner. He represented this district in the twenty-sixth general assembly, and held several minor civil offices. Mr. Sumner married a sister of