the spring and autumn months, when the deep soil of the prairies was saturated with water, the journeys were slow and tedious. A farmer who had drawn a load of produce to Chicago often received a discouraging margin of profit. A charter had been obtained in 1836 for a railroad between Chicago and Galena. The county, however, was thinly populated, and the people were too poor to make subscriptions. Moreover, eastern capitalists had little confidence in the future of Illinois. The state was burdened with debt; and many of the people openly advocated repudiation. This uncertainty about a railroad continued more than ten years. Meanwhile the citizens were considering other plans. In 1844 preliminary surveys were made for a plank road from Chicago to Rockford.

A committee of citizens residing on the proposed route was held at Elgin September 20, 1844. This committee had been chosen to collect facts relating to plank roads, and to furnish estimates of cost. J. Young Scammon, of Chicago, and Jason Marsh were members of this committee. Edward B. Talcott, an experienced engineer, was sent by the committee to Canada to examine the plank roads there in use, and to ascertain their cost and manner of construction. On the 19th of November the committee submitted its report, also a detailed statement prepared by Mr. Talcott. He estimated the cost of the road at three hundred and twelve thousand seven hundred and thirty-one dollars and twenty-nine cents. Public meetings were held along the line.

January 21, 1845, the Chicago and Rock River Plank Road Company was incorporated by special act. The commissioners appointed to receive subscriptions in Belvidere and Rockford were Alexander Neely, Lyman Downs, Joel Walker, Daniel Howell, C. I. Horsman and Jason Marsh. Among the commissioners from Chicago was Walter L. Newberry, who became the founder of the magnificent Newberry reference library in Chicago. The corporation was given absolute right of way, with power to institute condemnation proceedings when necessary for the purchase of land. The demand for plank roads became general throughout the state; and in February, 1849, an act was passed for the construction of plank roads under a general law.

Mr. Colton, in his Forum, discouraged the construction of a plank road from Chicago to Rockford. He said eastern capital could not be secured for such a doubtful enterprise; and

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predicted that "sooner far could it be obtained for a railroad on the same ground, and we fully believe that one will be built before a plank one will be completed." Public sentiment showed that Mr. Colton was a prophet without honor in his own country; but time vindicated his claim to the gift of prophecy. No plank road was constructed, under the provisions of the charter. The thunder of the iron horse was heard in the distance; the day of the railroad was at hand.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

NEW ENGLAND UNITARIANISM.—FIRST CHURCH.—REV. A. H. CONANT.

A

NUMBER of the early settlers from New England were Unitarians of the old school. An effort to organize this sentiment was made as early as 1841. The first meeting for this purpose was held February 3d. A subscription list of this date was found among the papers of the late Francis Burnap. It contained pledges amounting to one hundred and sixty dollars for the support of a Unitarian clergyman. At the same time a committee was appointed to promote this interest. An adjourned meeting was held on the 13th at the West side schoolhouse, and an organization completed. Richard Montague, Isaac N. Cunningham, Francis Burnap, Ephraim Wyman and James M. Wight were elected trustees. A statute of 1835 concerning Religious Societies provided that immediately after an election of trustees, a certificate of the same should be filed for record with the recorder of the county. The filing of such record constituted the trustees a body corporate and politic. The trustees complied with this law. The Rock River Express of February 20th announced that Rev. Joseph Harrington would preach at the court house on the following Sunday.

There is no record of any progress during the next two years, and it may be concluded that there was only an occasional preaching service. Early in March, 1843, Rev. Joseph Harrington, of Chicago, came to Rockford and preached every even. ing of one week on the distinctive doctrines of Unitarianism. The meetings were well attended, and a new interest awakened. On the following Sunday, March 9th, a church was organized, with the following covenant: "We whose names are subscribed, do unite ourselves together in Christian fellowship to partake of the Lord's supper, and to receive the spiritual benefit that may be derived from membership with Christ's visible church on earth. And may God grant his Spirit to help our manifold infirmities, and lead us in heart and in practice unto him who is the 'way, the truth and the life.'" This language is decidedly

evangelical in spirit. It is Unitarianism as interpreted by William Ellery Channing and James Freeman Clarke. It differs little from the progressive orthodoxy of today. The constituent members of the church were: Joseph Harrington, Sarah F. Dennis, Isaac N. Cunningham, Nancy G. Cunningham, James Cunningham, Sarah M. Cunningham, Samuel Cunningham, Emily C. Cunningham, John Paul, R. B. Paul, W. D. Bradford, Catherine F. Goodhue, Ephraim Wyman, James M. Wight, John R. Kendall, Susan Goodrich.

In December, 1844, steps were taken to secure a place of worship. It was proposed to purchase the unfinished Universalist church, which had been abandoned. Several hundred dollars in subscriptions, conditional and otherwise, were raised, besides a sum for an organ. These subscription lists are still in existence. But the project was not successful. Another unsuccessful effort was made to build in 1846.

December 13, 1845, the Unitarian society was organized at the home of Ephraim Wyman. The trustees chosen were Ephraim Wyman, Thatcher Blake, and Richard Montague.

For a number of years little was done. The church had services whenever a traveling clergyman was available. This condition continued until 1849, when Rev. H. Snow volunteered to strengthen the waste places in this branch of Zion. The Unitarians were not sanguine, and at first Mr. Snow received little encouragement. But a new start was made. The church had hitherto held services in the court house; but now they felt the need of another place. The frame building which had been used by the First Baptist church was for sale. This old edifice may well be called a church cradle. It successively rocked the Baptists, Episcopalians, Unitarians and Presbyterians. It was an illustration of the common origin of all believers who belong to the true household of faith. At this time the Unitarians owned a lot on the northeast corner of Church and Elm streets. They had received two hundred and fifty dollars from the American Unitarian Association, and with this they purchased the old Baptist building, which they removed upon their lot. For about a year Mr. Snow preached two Sundays in the month, and the other Sundays at Belvidere. Mr. Snow invited Rev. A. A. Livermore, who was then at Keene, New Hampshire, to act the generous Christian part by presenting a communion service to the church. The ladies of Mr. Keene's church complied with the request.

Mr. Snow's health failed in the spring of 1850, and he was obliged to resign from his pastorate. He had been faithful in his efforts to lay an enduring foundation. Mr. Snow applied to the American Unitarian Association, and to Dr. Hosmer, an eminent divine and educator, to send a successor. Dr. Hosmer sent John M. Windsor, who had recently graduated from the Unitarian school at Meadville, Pennsylvania. Mr. Windsor devoted his entire attention to the Rockford church, and gave one sermon each Sunday. About this time the accession of Mr. and Mrs. Melancthon Starr inspired the congregation with new energy and courage.

The church enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity for several years. In 1853 it was proposed to build a more comfortable place of worship. A lot was purchased on the corner of Chestnut and Church streets, and generous subscriptions were secured. Mr. Windsor was sent east to solicit contributions from the Unitarians of New York and Massachusetts. Mr. Windsor went to New York early in the spring of 1854 to collect the promised money, and never returned. Work was begun on the new church in the same spring. The plan of the edifice was that of the Episcopal church in Beloit, with some changes and better workmanship.

In the autumn of 1854, when the pulpit had become vacant, the society, through Mr. Starr, began correspondence with John Murray, who had just graduated from Meadville. This gentleman was engaged as a stated supply for six months from the first of October, with a view to a call to the pastorate if it should be mutually agreeable. Mr. Murray began his labors at the time stated. Mr. Crawford, the contractor, had agreed to have the new church ready for occupancy early in October. On the strength of this promise, the old church cradle had been previously sold to the Presbyterians, possession to be given December 1st. The church kept its promise, but the contractor did not; and the services were held in Dr. Haskell's schoolhouse for a time. Before the expiration of the six months Mr. Murray had accepted an invitation to remain a year. Upon the completion of the church, the Rockford Amateurs gave a vocal and instrumental concert in Warner's hall, to aid in its furnishing. About one hundred and fifty dollars were realized. A Unitarian church in Chicago sent two massive chandeliers, pulpit and gallery lamps, a pulpit sofa and a Bible. A melodeon had been previously purchased.