HISTORY OF ROCKFORD

CONTENTS

CHAP.

I. GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

II. GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
III. THE MOUND-BUILDERS AND THE WINNEBAGO INDIANS
IV. THE BLACK HAWK WAR

V. STEPHEN MACK.-JOHN PHELPS.-JOSEPH KEMP
VI. GERMANICUS KENT AND THATCHER BLAKE

PAGE

1

6

10

16

22

26

VII. PICTURESQUE ROCKFORD.-ITS FLORA AND FAUNA
VIII. DANIEL SHAW HAIGHT.-OTHER SETTLERS OF 1835
IX. THE PIONEERS OF 1836

32

35

40

X. JOHN C. KEMBLE: THE FIRST LAWYER.-OTHER SETTLERS OF 1837 45
XI. ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.-THE FIRST ELECTION.
XII. LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT AT WINNEBAGO
XIH. THE FERRY.-EARLY STATE AND COUNTY ROADS
XIV. THE VILLAGE CHRISTENED. THE FIRST SURVEYS

51

58

61

65

XV. THE RISE OF METHODISM.-FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
XVI. FIRST CRIME.-FIRST MARRIAGES AND BIRTHS.-CLAIM FIGHTS
XVII. THE COUNTY DIVIDED.-" MILE-STRIP CONTEST."-MINOR NOTES
XVIII. NEW ENGLAND CONGREGATIONALISM.-THE FIRST CHURCH
XIX. FIRST PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION.-THE POSTOFFICE.-FIRST COURTS 97
XX. THE STAGE COACH.-EARLY HOTELS.-VILLAGE PLATS

XXI. DR. A. M. CATLIN.-THE FOOTE BROTHERS.-FIRST SEMINARY IDEA 107
XXII. DR. JOSIAH C. GOODHUE.-DR. ALDEN THOMAS
XXIII. DR. GEORGE HASKELL.-THE GIPSY: THE FIRST STEAMBOAT
XXIV. JAMES M. WIGHT.-JASON MARSH.-OTHER PIONEERS 1838-39
XXV. TRIALS OF THE PIONEERS.-SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS
XXVI. ROCKFORD HOUSES IN 1838.-LATER BUILDINGS.-H. H. SILSBY 134
XXVII. THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.-JACOB KNAPP.-DR. THOMAS KERR 138
XXVIII. VILLAGE INCORPORATED.-LAND SALE.-FIRST TEMPERANCE CLUB
XXIX. ROCKFORD CEMETERIES

XXX. THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR OVER THE SITE OF THE COUNTY SEAT
XXXI. PLAN OF SECESSION AND PROPOSED ANNEXATION TO WISCONSIN
XXXII. ROCKFORD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD REPUDIATION OF STATE DEBT
XXXIII. THE LYCEUM.-SETTLERS OF THE EARLY FORTIES.-MINOR NOTES 168
XXXIV. ORGANIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.-THE FIRST FAIR
XXXV. THE REIGN OF TERROR-THE Banditti oF THE FRONTIER
XXXVI. ROBBERY OF MCKEnney and MuLFORD.-COLONEL DAVENPORT

154

160

166

172

174

182

CHAP.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

XXXVII. TRANSPORTATION: NAVIGATION OF ROCK RIVER.-PLANK ROADS 188
XXXVIII. NEW ENGLAND UNITARIANISM.-FIRST CHURCH.-REV. A. H. CONANT
XXXIX. EARLY ELECTIONS.-POLITICAL REMINISCENCES

194

201

208

210

215

226

229

231

XL. LOUIS KENT: THE ONLY SLAVE IN THE COUNTY
XLI. THE POLISH CLAIMS.-DELAY IN OBTAINING LAND Patents
XLII. PIONEERS IN LOCAL JOURNALISM
XLIII. THE FIRST DAM.-THE WATER POWER.-HIGH WATER OF 1844 222
XLIV. POSTMASTERS OF ROCKFORD.-ITS ONLY POSTMISTRESS
XLV. ORGANIZATION OF THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
XLVI. FIRST BRIDGE.-FIRST FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOP
XLVII. WORCESTER A. DICKERMAN.-ROCKFORD AS HE SAW IT IN 1844. 235
XLVIII. THE SOCIAL LIFE OF ROCKFORD IN THE EARLY FORTIES
XLIX. PREDOMINANCE OF THE NEW ENGLAND TYPE IN EARLY ROCKFORD 253
L. RIVER AND HARBOR CONVENTION.-WINNEBAGO Delegates 257
LI. THE "REFORM" OF THE JUDICIARY.-CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 260
LII. THE GAlena and CHICAGO UNION: THE FIRST RAILROAD
LIII. REPRESENTATIVE ROCKFORD CITIZENS: 1842-50
LIV. DEPARTure of Mr. HAIGHT.-LOCAL STATISTICS.-OTHER NOTES 281
LV. EMMANUEL CHURCH (EPISCOPAL)

ROCKFORD FEMALE SEMINARY,-ANNA P. SILL.-ARATUS KENT
LVII. STATE AND LOCAL SCHOOL FUNDS.-EARLY ROCKFORD SCHOOLS
LVIII. ADOPTION OF TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION

248

266

273

284

287

296

304

LIX. SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

306

LX. INCORPORATION OF ROCKFORD AS A CITY.-MINOR NOTES
LXI. ELECTIONS OF 1852-53.-ELIHU B. WashburNE

313

319

LXII. THE WATER POWER.-THE MANNY-MCCORMICK SUIT

321

LXIII. EMERSON, LOWELL, WHIPPLE AND OTHERS LECTURE IN ROCKFORD 326
LXIV. A FRAGMENT OF POLITICAL HISTORY.—Rockford Banks.—Notes 329
LXV. ROCKFORD SETTLERS 1851-54

LXVIII. BAYARD TAYLOR'S TRIBUTE.-FRATERNITIES.-NOTES

347

LXIX. MURDER OF SHERIFF TAYLOR.-EXECUTION OF COUNTRYMAN
LXX. KENOSHA AND ROCKFORD RAILROAD.-EARLY MANSIONS.-NOTES

350

352

LXXI.

LXXII.

LXXIII. ROCKFORD SETTLERS 1855-59

FATALITY AT A CHARIVARI.-TRIAL OF GOVErnor Bebb.-NOTES 358
THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE

360

362

LXXIV. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 1850-60

368

LXXV. CONCLUSION

378