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the same block, was a dwelling owned and occupied by Nathaniel Wilder, a good blacksmith, from Keene, New Hampshire. He was a genuine New England Yankee. Block seventeen, next north, was covered with a fine growth of oak, with no buildings. On the corner north of the postoffice was a dwelling built by Mr. Brinckerhoff. It was the first house for a great many new-comers until they could build. Sometimes three families were thus accommodated at the same time. The building still stands on the same ground. The prettiest building on the street was called "The Cottage," and was occupied by John W. Taylor, who came here with his young wife from Albany, New York. They were genteel, excellent people. For a time Mr. Taylor sold goods in a store on the corner of Main and Chestnut; but it was closed when I came. David D. Alling's carpenter's shop, a little north of it, still stands. His dwelling was near it. Mr. Alling was fond of hunting, and very successful. He usually had some dried venison hams hanging in his shop. Mr. Alling built the house for W. A. Dickerman, on North Main street, before that street was opened. The house was one of the best, and almost the first that was covered with pine lumber. This house is now owned by William F. Woodruff. A house where the Blaisdell block now stands completed the buildings on South Main street, which was the most thickly settled of any part of the West side.

We have very pleasant recollections of the Congregational church, a building forty feet square, on the corner of Church and Green streets, which was then attended by all the Congre. gationalists and Presbyterians on both sides of the river, as well as by many Unitarians. The New York friends of Kent and Brinckerhoff, who principally furnished the funds for the erection of the little church, knew but little of its power for good in laying the foundations of a prosperous Christian community. The attendance there embraced all the church-goers except the Baptists and Methodists. Let us go down to the ferry-boat Sunday morning, and see who come across the river. Among our acquaintances who attend this church are: Charles Works and family, James Works, Peter B. Johnson and James B. Johnson and their families, Gabriel Dunning and family, Deacon Ira Baker and family, Alfred P. Mather, Horace Foote, William E. Dunbar, Jason Marsh, Volney A. Marsh, James M. Wight, Charles H. Spafford, John Spafford, E. H. Potter, Herman Potter, Joel B. Potter, Asa Crosby, B. G. Wheeler, Dr. A.

M. Catlin, and their families; the Herrick family, Lewis Gregory, Judge Bela Shaw, William P. Dennis, Anson Barnum, Henry Silsby, Mr. Tinker, and H. Burrows and family The statement was made some time ago that the first church bell used in Rockford was placed on the Presbyterian church. I do not know of any such bell; but I do know that Rev. Mr. Norton, who preceded Rev. William Curtis in the Congregational church, brought a bell and had it placed and used in that church. When he left, the church did not purchase it, and he took it away. I also know of a Meneely bell, weighing six hundred and forty pounds, which I purchased in New York. This was for the brick Congregational church on the corner of First and Walnut streets.

On North Main street a brick blacksmith's shop stood on the site of Louck's restaurant, occupied by Stephen Skinner, a good blacksmith, a man of strict integrity, and a deacon in the Congregational church. His residence was just north of the shop. On the west side of Main street, at the north end of the Winnebago House, Cyrus F. and Anson S. Miller had a law office. They were good lawyers. Anson S. was quite prominent as a politician. Adjoining their office, in the same building, Isaac Andrus had a small store. He was quite an active man in the First Baptist church. Where the Presbyterian church now stands, Michael Burns, a tailor, resided. He was always posted in the news of the town, attended closely to his business, and was active in church work. Near by was Austin Colton's residence, which may now be seen just north of the Presbyterian church. He was editor and proprietor of the Rockford Forum, a good weekly paper for the time, creditable to himself and to the village. On the north side of North street was John Beattie's residence, where his family still resides. Main street ended at William A. Talcott's residence. A road ran east about a block, then north, following about that distance from the river, to the entrance of Dr. Haskell's residence, fronting the river, now occupied by George Forbes. He selected the highest part of this ground, which slopes to the west, south and east. There were no buildings to obstruct, and it was a beautiful view, surrounded with an orchard of thrifty fruit trees. Apples were in great variety, early and late, and pears, peaches and plums just coming into bearing. I think it extended to Court street, and north to Fisher avenue. The Doctor was closely identified with the interests of the town. He had a fair

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'medical practice, from which he was retiring. It was the custom to be very generous in doses of medicine. His hand-made pills assured his patients that he had not called simply for a visit. As there were no dentists, the only remedy for aching, decayed teeth was to extract them, and that with turnkeys. All physicians were experts in this line of torture. The memory of experience in that line is not at all effaced by years. I made a friendly call at the house, and found Mrs. Haskell and her daughter preparing and knitting silk stockings for themselves. Silkworms had been fed from mulberry leaves grown on their own trees, and the silk wound and twisted from their cocoons. The daughter is the mother of Dr. F. H. and Willis Kimball. The family were genuine New Englanders, industrious and economical. There had been quite an excitement over growing mulberry trees, for ornamental, shade and fruit trees, and silk culture. They made a quick growth, but did not prove a profitable investment.

Following the river road from the Beattie grounds north, near the river bank, was a beautiful boulevard, of which we would be proud today. The next house was near T. D. Robertson's residence. Continuing north on Main street, was a house occupied by James Taylor, an industrious farmer. He did express work about town occasionally, with his oxen and cart. Farther north, on the line of Harlem avenue, near Auburn street, was a large two-story building, erected for a hotel by Charles Reed, who was so confident that the State road from Chicago to Galena would cross the river at this point, that he not only put up the hotel, but had a full section of land laid off into blocks and lots, and called his village Winnebago. In his opinion, it was a very unwise thing when the state road was laid across the river at Rockford. About the 20th of October we had a heavy snowstorm. We fitted up a lumber wagon box on a sleigh, took in a jolly company of young ladies and gentlemen, and had a genuine enjoyable sociable, or "sewing society," as it was then called, at the Reed house.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

THE SOCIAL LIFE OF ROCKFORD IN THE EARLY FORTIES.

THE

HE aristocracy of a community is always founded upon what its people believe to be the chief good. Whenever the emphasis is placed upon noble family descent, the aristocracy is founded upon blood. If intellectual culture is the summum bonum, the charmed circle will be composed of artists, poets and literati. When money is considered the first object of pursuit, wealth will be the basis of aristocracy. In the social life of ancient Rome, the patricians were the descendants of the first settlers. From that day to this aristocracy has rested in a measure upon good birth. The fact that a man is well born is accepted as a letter of credit the wide world over.

The "open sesame" to good society in the early days of Rockford was not noble blood, nor culture, nor wealth. If any aristocracy had developed, it rested upon common respectability. The society of Rockford from fifty to sixty years ago was of the highest class. It was characterized by a delightful Arcadian simplicity. The settlers were not burdened with the care of large houses, and costly furniture, and expensive wardrobes. The axiom that one might as well be out of the world as out of fashion was the invention of a later date. It was not considered good form for a lady to make a formal afternoon call when she might suppose that the lady of the house would be absent, and leave her card with the maid, with solemn protestations of regret that the lady of the house was not at home. In fact, there were no domestics; hence the servant girl problem did not threaten domestic tranquility and the general welfare. Instead of a large number of calls in an afternoon, friends would make an afternoon and evening visit. Gentlemen were allowed at these functions. Meetings for benevolent purposes were held at private houses, and substantial refreshments were served which the guests could eat. Societies were then founded which still have an existence. Hospitality was of the true and genuine sort. A walk of two or three miles did not require much

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effort, although there were no sidewalks nor street lamps. A hand lantern, brilliantly illuminated with a candle or oil lamp, and cheerful company, would dispel the most dense Egyptian darkness. Sometimes a little company would go in lumber wagons three to five miles into the country for a rehearsal of church music with a friend. The music and the social converse were alike enjoyable. Literary entertainments were occasionally given at the court house.

Weddings were not of very frequent occurrence; but they were the large social gatherings, and the invitations were quite general. The marriage of M. H. Regan and Miss Louisa Dewey occurred in 1845. He invited the young people to a wedding supper at the American House in Belvidere. They made quite an attractive appearance, writes Mr. Dickerman, as they started in their private conveyance. There were no top buggies or carriages in Rockford at that time.

The wedding of Charles H. Spafford and Miss Abby Warren was solemnized March 8, 1842, at the residence of Jason Marsh. The Rockford Pilot says the party was large and brilliant. The bride had come to Rockford in the autumn of 1841, to keep house for her brother, Edward Warren, the second postmaster of the village. Mr. Warren had built the upright part of the present residence of Dr. Lichty, on the corner of Third and Walnut streets. It was built of brick, and entirely finished in black walnut. Mrs. Spafford's father, Joseph Warren, was a son of Dr. John Warren, who was surgeon-general in Washiagton's army, and a brother of General Joseph Warren, who was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. Mrs. Spafford's father received his education at Cambridge. His death occurred when his daughter was five years of age. Mrs. Spafford was also descended from Governor John Collins, the last colonial governor of Rhode Island. She was educated in the east and upon her settlement in Rockford she became prominent in the social life of the village. Her religious sympathies have always been with the Unitarian church.

May 20, 1845, Selden M. Church and Mrs. Mary Preston were united in marriage. Mr. Thurston gives this incident in his Reminiscences: "At one p. m. sharp that day, I drove up to the front of the Rockford House with 'Black Lucy,' the handsomest horse in the town, hitched in the shafts of an open buggy with wood axles, basswood dash, seat upholstered with a buffalorobe, and clean harness—the best in town—from the livery of