In the summer of 1856 a movement was begun for the founding of a co-educational seminary in Rockford, under the control of the Methodist Episcopal church. February 14, 1857, an act of the legislature was approved, to incorporate the Rockford Wesleyan seminary. The incorporators were E. F. W. Ellis, T. D. Robertson, D. W. Ticknor, and W. F. Stewart. There were to be twelve trustees, appointed by the stockholders, eight of whom should at all times be members of the Methodist Episcopal church. A board of three visitors was to be appointed by the annual Rock River conference. The company was to have a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each.

A farm of about two hundred and sixteen acres was purchased of William M. Rowland. It adjoined Judge Church's farm on the west, and extended north to the State road. The purchase price and accrued interest amounted to nearly twenty thousand dollars. A large portion of this tract was platted into town lots, and it was proposed to build a college suburban town. The sale of lots occurred April 29, 1857. The subscribers to stock purchased lots. Rev. W. F. Stewart had been transferred from the Ohio to the Rock River conference, and had been assigned to the Second or Court Street church. Rev. Stewart was made purchasing agent for the seminary by the annual conference.

August 31, 1857, the ceremony of breaking ground for the seminary buildings took place under the direction of Rev. T. M. Eddy, who was in attendance upon Rock River conference, which was then in session in Rockford. Several hundred people were in attendance. An address was made by Rev. J. C. Stoughton, agent of Clark seminary; and Rev. W. F. Stewart gave a brief history of the origin of the seminary movement.

When the ground was broken, fifty-seven thousand dollars had been subscribed. The enterprise, however, was unsuccessful. Quite a number of houses were built, but in time several of them migrated into town on rollers, and the land reverted to farming purposes.

In October, 1857, Rev. Stewart began the publication of the Rockford Wesleyan Seminary Reporter, in the interest of the seminary. Only four numbers were published. Both Rev. Stewart and Rev. Stoughton have died within the past few months.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

BAYARD TAYLOR'S TRIBUTE.—FRATERNITIES.—NOTES.

BAYAR

AYARD TAYLOR, in a letter to the Tribune, published in the spring of 1855, paid Rockford this generous tribute: "I last wrote to you from Rockford, the most beautiful town in northern Illinois. It has the advantage of an admirable waterpower, furnished by the Rock river; of a rich, rolling prairie, which is fast being settled and farmed on all sides, of a fine building material in its quarries, of soft yellow limestone, resembling the Roman travertine; and of an unusually enterprising and intelligent population. Knowing all these advantages, I was not surprised at the evidences of growth since my first visit a year ago. People are flocking in faster than room can be furnished, and the foundations of two new hotels, on a large scale, show the requirements of the place. I was pleased to note that taste keeps pace with prosperity here, as elsewhere in the northwest. The new Unitarian church is a simple but very neat Gothic edifice, and the residences of Mr. Holland and Mr. Starr are very fine specimens of home architecture. The grounds of the former are admirably laid out; there is nothing better of the kind on the Hudson."

The charter of Winnebago Lodge No. 31, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was issued by Geo. W. Woodward, grandmaster of Illinois, in 1847, to the following named charter members: Selden M. Bronson, Ansel Kenfield, Dewitt Clinton Briggs, Frederick H. Maxwell, and Rev. Nathaniel P. Heath. The lodge was instituted August 11, 1847. The place of meeting was Horsman's block, on the West side.

Rockford Lodge, No. 102, Masons, was organized February 13, 1851, under a dispensation from C. G. Y. Taylor, the grand master. The following named citizens constituted its first membership: Alfred E. Ames, William Lyman, Henry Carpenter, C. H. Spafford, William Hulin, E. H. Baker, Ansel Kenfield, John Fraley, James P. Burns, W. F. Ward, Jesse Blinn, and Buel G. Wheeler. E. H. Baker was the last survivor of this original membership.

Social Lodge, No. 140, Odd Fellows, was instituted February 6, 1854.

Winnebago Chapter No. 24, Masons, was organized December 12, 1854, under a dispensation from Louis Watson, grand high priest. The following constituted its first membership: A. Clark, Chauncy Ray, W. F. Parrish, H. Miltimore, John A. Holland, L. P. Pettibone, R. H. Cotton, Abiram Morgan, G. D. Palmer, and Ansel Kenfield. This chapter was constituted under another charter in December, 1855.

Star in the East Lodge No. 166, Masons, was organized February 12, 1855, under a dispensation from James L. Anderson, grand master. The charter members were: E. F. W. Ellis, R. H. Cotton, W. M. Bowdoin, William Hulin, S. G. Chellis, Jos. K. Smith, Joseph Burns, C. I. Horsman, B. G. Wheeler, G. W. Reynolds, John A. Holland, C. H. Richings, D. G. Clark, Adam McClure, Holder Brownell.

The dispensation for Rockford Encampment, No. 44, Odd Fellows, was granted August 5, 1857, to the following patriarchs as charter members: James Fleming, J. H. Clark, Hugh Strickland, Enos C. Clark, G. A. Stiles, Joseph Schloss, and Robert Smith. The encampment was instituted by Deputy Grand Patriarch A. E. Jenner, August 26, 1857.

The Rockford Burns Club was organized November 5, 1858. It is an association of Scottish-Americans, who meet annually on the birthday of Robert Burns.

John A. Phelps, a Rockford attorney, died July 28, 1854. The bar of the city adopted resolutions of respect, and attended his funeral in a body.

September 6, 1854, the city council passed an ordinance for the construction of sidewalks.

About 1855 James S. Ticknor was appointed agent of the American Express Company, and held this position until 1881. Mr. Ticknor came to Rockford in 1854. He was preceded by his brother, D. W., who came in 1846, and taught school. The brothers were in the drug and book business a short time. J. S. Ticknor died September 18, 1899.

February 15, 1855, a charter was granted the Rockford Central Railroad Company. The incorporators were Rockford citizens. It was proposed to make a connection with the Illinois Central at Mendota, and run through Rockford to the Wisconsin pineries, and make a north and south line to Cairo.

DEATH OF JOHN A. HOLLAND.

349

Piles were driven in Rock river at Rockford, for a bridge, which are now used by the Burlington company. The route was surveyed, but no track was laid.

In February, 1855, the Rockford Gas Light and Coke Company was incorporated. The incorporators were Simon M. Preston, William Lyman, John Platt, Henry Fisher, and Jesse Blinn. A few years later Thomas Butterworth was made its manager, and he finally became the owner of the plant.

May 17, 1855, occurred the sale of several hundred acres of canal lands in Winnebago county. These lands were selected as a part of the grant to the state of Illinois by the general government, to aid in building the Illinois and Michigan canal.

In 1855 the legislature passed a very stringent prohibitory liquor bill, known as the Maine law. The bill was not to go into effect unless approved by a majority of the popular vote at an election to be held June 4th of that year. The vote in Winnebago county was a splendid endorsement of the bill. Every township in the county sustained the measure. The vote in Rockford was as follows: for the law, 752; against, 71. The vote of the county was: 2,153 in favor of the law; against it, 363. The bill was lost, however, in the state.

July 14, 1855, the starch factory belonging to Lewis, Smyth & Company was destroyed by fire. The loss was about $15,000. The death of John A. Holland occurred September 29, 1855, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, while he was on a visit to his father-inlaw, who resided there, in company with his family. The remains were brought to Rockford for burial. Resolutions of respect were adopted by the Masonic bodies and by the bar of the city. The funeral was held at the Unitarian church on Sunday. Rev. Mr. Murray, the pastor, preached the discourse. John A. Holland was born in what is now West Virginia. He came to Rockford in 1845, from Worcester, Ohio, where he had practiced law. He formed a partnership with T. D. Robertson in the practice of his profession. He was the attorney for the Galena & Chicago Union railroad, and assisted the Illinois Central in securing the right of way from Chicago to Cairo. Mr. Holland was an attendant at the Unitarian church, but was not a member. He was a man of comprehensive mind, great energy and sagacity, and always operated upon a large scale. He was a leading spirit in every public enterprise. The Holland House was named in his honor. Mr. Holland was father of Hosmer P. Holland. His second wife was a daughter of Dr. J. C. Goodhue.

CHAPTER LXIX.

MURDER OF SHERIFF TAYLOR.—EXECUTION OF COUNTRYMAN.

UESDAY, November 11, 1856, John F. Taylor, sheriff of Winnebago county, was instantly killed by Alfred Countryman. On that day Alfred and John Countryman came to Rockford from Ogle county with some cattle, which they offered for sale at such low prices as to arouse suspicion. The cattle were sold for a sum below their market value. The purchasers delayed payment until notice had been given the sheriff, and papers made out for the apprehension of the brothers, which occurred about nine o'clock in the morning. They were then arrested on suspicion; and before they were taken to jail Sheriff Taylor searched them for concealed weapons. He found pistol balls in Alfred's pockets, and upon inquiring for his revolver the prisoner replied that he had none. Sheriff Taylor, assisted by Constable Thompson, then started with the prisoners for the jail. Just as they reached the steps Alfred Countryman broke away from the sheriff, leaped over the fence on Elm street, and ran down that street, with the sheriff in pursuit. At the next corner, near the livery stable of Hall & Reynolds, the sheriff had nearly overtaken Countryman, and was about to seize him, when the latter drew a pistol which he had concealed, and fired. The sheriff staggered a few paces, and fell. His only words were: "I'm shot; catch him."

Countryman ran to the woods north of Kent's creek, with hundreds of infuriated citizens in pursuit. John Platt was the first to overtake him. He took his pistol from him, and, with assistance, secured his arrest. Amid threats of lynching, the prisoner was placed in jail and securely ironed. Samuel I. Church, the sheriff-elect, briefly addressed the crowd and assured them that the prisoner was secure.

Sheriff Taylor was thirty-one years of age, and left a wife, and a son a year and a half old. He was an excellent officer, and was held in high respect by the community. The funeral was held Thursday on the public square, adjoining the jail,