THE ARGYLE SETTLEMENT 
 IN HISTORY AND STORY 
 
 I ANIEL G. HARVEY 
 
LI B HARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UN IVLRSITY 
 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 
 977. 3Z 
 H£<Sa 
 
 IlLINOiS HISTORY SUHVEY 
 
 
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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://archive.org/details/argylesettlementOOharv 
 
THE ARGYLE SETTLEMENT IN HISTORY 
 AND STORY 
 
 By 
 Daniel G. Harvey 
 
Copyright 
 
 D. G. Harvey, 
 
 Rockford, Illinois 
 
 1924 
 

 Daniel G. Harvey 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 • tMMIIKX 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. Kintyre; the Homeland 1 
 
 II. The Pioneers 10 
 
 III. Founder of Argyle Settlement 15 
 
 IV. John Greenlee Takes up Claim 30 
 
 V. Early Days 39 
 
 VI. More Emigrants 50 
 
 VII. The Schools 61 
 
 VIII. More Families from Homeland 74 
 
 IX. New Church Built 83 
 
 X. The Railroads, Towns and Miscellaneous. ... 87 
 
 XI. War Spark Set Off 107 
 
 Funeral Sermon of John Greenlee, Sr 1 38 
 
 Last words in the Old Church at Willow Creek 1 54 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 FACING PAGE 
 
 Daniel G. Harvey Frontispiece 
 
 Map Locating First Log Cabins 12 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. John Greenlee 16 
 
 Diagram of Old Willow Creek Church 60 
 
1836-1924 
 
 To the pioneers of the Argyle Settlement 
 and to all who helped me to gather the facts 
 of the Argyle Settlement in history and story, 
 I dedicate this writing. Not that it is a full 
 record as the time is far past. The pioneers 
 have all gone to their reward and there are 
 only a few now in life who were the boys and 
 girls of the pioneer days. The writer stands, 
 as it were, between two generations, having 
 known all the pioneers, also the young genera- 
 tion. In order that the trials and hardships 
 of the pioneer days may not be entirely lost 
 and forgotten, it is my desire to hand down 
 to the young people the story of their ancestors 
 that they may better understand how they 
 came into possession of the privileges and bless- 
 ings they now enjoy. 
 
 Daniel G. Harvey. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Foreasmuch as no one else has ever taken in hand to set 
 forth in order a declaration of the experiences that lie in the 
 background of the Argyle Settlement and account for its 
 splendid history, I am glad that it has seemed good to Mr. 
 D. G. Harvey, who has had a good understanding of all 
 these things, either by personal experience or by diligent in- 
 vestigation, to set them in order for the present and future 
 generations. I am sure that it is an invaluable service that 
 merits the appreciation of all who cherish even the remotest 
 interest in the Argyle Settlement. 
 
 "The Argyle Settlement in History and Story'* is a prec- 
 ious record that would have soon been lost had it not been 
 thus preserved. It will come even now as a new story to 
 many of the descendants of those rugged pioneers who laid 
 its foundations. It is a thrilling story of heroic men and 
 women, who with the blood of the Covenanters coursing 
 though their hearts and Puritanic faith stirring their souls, also 
 became pilgrims, seeking freedom from economic oppression 
 and an opportunity for self determination. The annals of their 
 experiences set forth herein present an interesting study of the 
 constructive forces that enabled a practically penniless people, 
 within the scope of a single generation, to convert a frontier 
 wilderness into an earthly paradise of rich farms, comfortable 
 homes, fine families, and a community with a spirit and a 
 Church with a stability that quicken the interest of all who 
 come in touch with them. 
 
 What are those hidden forces, those underflowing currents 
 that have carried these people on to victory? The willingness 
 to toil earnestly and the ability to cast away care and to play 
 happily at party or picnic or wedding are there. A wise and 
 careful economy and a sagacious quest for the best in method 
 and in equipment also have a place. But these forces have 
 all been united and crowned by another force that must al- 
 ways be found among a people that is permanently success- 
 
fill. That force is true religion. Go into the home life and 
 you will find there the serene influence, of the fear of God 
 and the love of His House, which makes Scottish homelife 
 'loved at home and revered abroad.' Go into the Church life 
 and you will find an institution that, like its founders, is sturdy 
 and stable and strong. It was early built and has been stead- 
 fastly maintained for well night four score years. Meanwhile 
 it has stood at the heart of the community's life, giving poise 
 and purpose to life and building men for God. 
 
 I predict that this little book, as it preserves this precious 
 story, will be a bearer of blessings as it begets and sustains a 
 reverent respect for the past with its sacrifices and hardships, 
 and also a resolution that this heritage of the past shall not be 
 impoverished in the present or the future. I predict also that 
 this book shall find its rightful place among the cherished 
 possessions of those to whom it comes, and that it will provide 
 many a happy hour beside the future firesides. 
 
 Rev. Edgar W. Smith. 
 
Chapter I 
 KINTYRE; THE HOMELAND 
 
 "We spend our years as a tale that is told." — Ps. 90:9. 
 
 In order to have a right understanding of the circumstances 
 and conditions that led to the founding of a colony of Kintyre 
 people in Boone and Winnebago counties in Northern Illinois, 
 it will be necessary to go back to the district of Kintyre in 
 Argyleshire, Scotland. Kintyre is a penisula in the southern 
 part of Argyleshire, forty-one and one-half miles long and 
 seven miles wide. To Americans, who are accustomed to 
 long distances, it may seem a small tract of country. Not- 
 withstanding this fact, Kintyre people or their descendants 
 are to be found in nearly every civilized country in the world. 
 It is divided into many parishes. Campbeltown and South- 
 end are the parishes that the pioneers of the Argyle Settle- 
 ment came from. As regards the size of the district of Kintyre, 
 is it not true that small countries have often been the scene in 
 making the history of the world? Belgium is a little country 
 yet it has been the battle ground of Europe. Likewise Scot- 
 land, though small, has been the battle ground of religious 
 liberty. 
 
 A short description of the country may be interesting to 
 those who have never seen it. There are no railway connec- 
 tions between Kintyre and other parts of Scotland. It is only 
 by steam shipline or coach and auto buss that travelers can 
 reach the district. Campbeltown Loch and Harbor is one of 
 the best in Scotland. The entrance to the Loch is surrounded 
 with magnificient scenery, almost mountainous, Knock Scal- 
 bert on the right and Ben Gulleon on the left as you enter the 
 harbor. Campbeltown, the largest town in the district, is 
 finely situated at the end of the Loch. It is a very old town 
 dating back to the sixth century. The historic names of the 
 town are Ginloch Kilkerran (the head of Keirans Loch), 
 Dalruadhain, Ceann Loch, and lastly Campbeltown in honor 
 of the Campbell family. Campbeltown was the original seat 
 
of the Scottish monarchy, it being the capital of Scotland three 
 centuries before it was located at Edinburgh. There is one 
 thing of which Campbeltown is justly proud. It was the home 
 of Mary Campbell, the Highland Mary of the poet Robert 
 Burns. Her father was one of the crew of a revenue cruiser 
 which was stationed at Campbeltown where the family resided 
 for a time in the Parliament close. Burn's lament over the 
 death of his Highland Mary and poem to Mary in Heaven 
 is one of the most pathetic poems in literature. 
 
 TO MARY IN HEAVEN 
 
 Thou lingering star, with lessening ray, 
 
 That lov'st to greet the early morn, 
 Again thou usher'st in the day 
 
 My Mary from my soul was torn. 
 
 O Mary! dear departed shade! 
 
 Where is they place of blissful rest? 
 Seest thou thy lover lowly laid? 
 
 Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast? 
 
 That sacred hour can I forget, 
 
 Can I forget the hallow'd grove, 
 Where by the winding Ayr we met, 
 To live one day of parting love? 
 
 Eternity will not efface 
 Those records dear of transports past; 
 Thy image at our last embrace; 
 
 Ah! little thought we 'twas our last! 
 
 Ayr gurgling kiss'd his pebbled shore, 
 
 O'er hung with wild woods thickening, green, , 
 
 The fragrant birch and hawthorne hoar, 
 Twined amorous round the raptured scene. 
 
The flowers sprank wanton to be press'd, 
 
 The birds sang love on every spray, 
 Till too, too soon the glowing west 
 
 Proclaimed the speed of wing'd day. 
 
 Still o'er these scenes my memory wakes, 
 
 And fondly broods with miser care! 
 Time but the impression deeper makes, 
 
 As streams their channels deeper wear. 
 
 My Mary, dear departed shade! 
 
 Where is thy blissful place of rest? 
 Seest thou thy lover lowly laid? 
 
 Hear' st thou the groans that rend his breast? 
 
 — Robert Burns. 
 
 The mail service for the district of Kintyre is by steamship 
 and auto bus via Tarbert. About the year 1915 the coach 
 that carried mail and passengers for forty years between 
 Campbeltown and Tarbert was substituted by an auto bus. 
 Some one asked an old Scotchman what he thought of the 
 auto bus. He shook his head and said, "Well — wait tull the 
 snaw comes. We can tell better then." Campbeltown is well 
 supplied with schools and churches, some of the finest in 
 Scotland. Among many distinguished grammar school pupils 
 of the town was Dr. Norman MacLeod, the famous preacher 
 and author. 
 
 The public library contains 12,000 books, and all the 
 principal newspapers and magazines in the reading room. 
 The principal industries of the town are the rope works, 
 the ship building yard, distilleries and breweries. Also, about 
 500 men are engaged in the herring fishing. Located within 
 the harbor is the life-saving station. The crew of the life 
 boat have a number of remarkable rescues. From Campbel- 
 town, west towards Machrihanish Bay is a fine tract of level 
 country called The Lagan. It is here that some of the best 
 
farms are located. The west coast of Kintyre is said to be the 
 roughest in Scotland. There is something grand, wild, and 
 majestic in the way the mighty waves of the Atlantic lash 
 against the rocks. On a calm day before a storm the roar of 
 the waves can be heard for a long distance. Some people 
 claim to have heard them fifteen miles, others forty miles. "It 
 is like the sound of many waters." — St. John 1:15. Of late 
 years the west coast has become a great summer resort. There 
 is a large hotel at Machrihanish and one of the best golf links 
 in Scotland. There is a narrow gage railway which connects 
 with the coal fields and also carries passengers in connection 
 with the steamboat line. 
 
 The district of Southend is more hilly and in some 
 parts even mountainous. It is estimated that for one acre 
 of arable land there are six acres of pasture land. This 
 was historical ground at the time of the clan wars in Scot- 
 land. The McDonalds of the Isle made their last stand 
 against the Campbells at the fort at Dunaverty Rock near the 
 village of Southend. The village is located near the sea. 
 There are two churches, one the Established Church, the other 
 the U. F. Presbyterian, also a good school. There is a life- 
 saving station at Dunaverty Rock. It was in this district that 
 the majority of the people who came to the colony made their 
 homes and where they received their education. There is no 
 doubt these places were dear to them, the home, the church, and 
 the school, also the old Keil churchyard where their relatives 
 are buried. In the parish of Southend there is a small district 
 called Kildavie in which a colony of people lived who kept 
 themselves apart and did not associate much with the rest of 
 Kintyre people. They were Covenanter followers of Ralston 
 who, with his people, fled from Renfrewshire at the time of 
 the persecution to find shelter in Argyleshire. They were 
 Lowlanders who spoke with a broad accent. The following 
 story is told of their manner of courtship and love-making. 
 
The lover said to his sweetheart, "Dae-ye-tak-me Jeanie?" 
 She answered in bashful reply, "Aye-Some." "Will ye gie 
 me a kiss, Jeanie ?" was the next query. Her answer was, 
 "Nae a'll nay gie-ye a kiss — but ye can tak it if ye lake." 
 
 There are three lighthouses on the south coast of Kintyre 
 that are worthy of mention. The Mull Lighthouse, which is 
 built on the Mull Rock on the most southern point of Kintyre 
 being only thirty miles across the North Channel to the coast of 
 Ireland. It was built by Peter Stuart of Campbeltown in 1 788 
 and was re-modeled in 1820 by Robert Stevenson who was 
 engineer for the Northern Light Company. The light can be 
 seen for a distance of thirty miles. The second lighthouse is 
 on the Island of Sanda erected in 1850 as a protection to 
 vessels from Patterson's Rock, a submerged rock off the south 
 coast of Kintyre. It is built in three circular towers on the 
 side of the Rock. The third lighthouse was built in 1854 on 
 Davaar Island to guide mariners into Campbeltown Harbor. 
 
 This Island has gained notoriety within the last thirty years 
 because of the cave picture. On this Island is a number of 
 caves and on the wall of one of the caves an artist painted the 
 greatest of all human tragedies, "The Crucifixion of Christ." 
 When it was discovered by fishermen entering the cave for 
 protection from a storm it caused a great sensation. It was 
 some time before they knew who the artist was. It proved to 
 be Mr. Archibald Mackinnon, a Campbeltown man now 
 a resident in Reading, Pa., U. S. A. Thousands of visitors 
 from all parts of the world have journeyed to Davarr to visit 
 the cave picture and read its sermon on stone. 
 
 In the early days of Scottish history the clans held the 
 power in the highlands. They were of the Celtic race. There 
 are two hundred and forty different clan tartans or plaids 
 representing the different clans, so we have some idea what 
 the clan wars meant in those early days. "The Fiery Cross" 
 represented by the Ku-Klux-Klan in D. W. Griffith's play 
 
"The Birth of a Nation" was taken from the clans of Scot- 
 land. When a highland chief wished to gather the clans to- 
 gether for some great event or battle he made a cross of some 
 light wood, seared it in fire, then extinguished the fire by dipping 
 it in the blood of an animal. This was called "The Fiery 
 Cross." This cross was sent by messengers to the different 
 hamlets and villages for the gathering of the clans. The high- 
 land chiefs of the early times were said to be the kindest of 
 friends and the fiercest of foes. Many of them were proud 
 and revengeful and quick to resent an injury. A story is told 
 of an old lady by the name of McPherson who belonged to 
 the McPherson Clan. She was reading in her Bible where 
 Peter drew his sword and smote the servant of the high priest 
 and cut off his ear. She closed the book, and said, "Weal- 
 weal-he wasna' a McPherson or he would ha taken the heid 
 off him." During the clan wars in Scotland castles were built 
 in different parts of the country. They were used as signal 
 towers, strongholds, or forts where the chiefs made their homes. 
 There are two of these castles in the District of Kintyre, viz; 
 Skipnis and Saddell. They are both built in the same archi- 
 tectural style. Skipnis is the largest being several stories high 
 and the walls are five or six feet thick. This castle is located 
 at Skipnis Point near the sea. Saddell Castle is built on a 
 rock by the seaside on the Firth of Clyde, ten miles northeast 
 of Campbeltown. There are many traditional stories told 
 about this castle and many cruel crimes committed there. 
 
 The farms in the District of Kintyre are all named mostly 
 from the Gaelic language and it is difficult for Americans to 
 pronounce, much less spell them. The following poem con- 
 tains a number of names of the farms. 
 
 FLORY LOYNACHAN 
 
 (A most pathetic ballad, the composition of Douglie Macil- 
 reavie of Corbett's Close, in the Balgom Street, Campbeltown, 
 inscribed with affectionate regards to the members of the 
 
7 
 
 Kintyre Literary Association, is an illustration of the common 
 conversational idiom of the dear, old town half a century ago.) 
 
 By an Old Campbeltonian. 
 
 O ! it buitie be an ogly thing 
 That mougres thus o'er me, 
 For I scrabed at myself yestreen, 
 And could not Bab an e'e, 
 My heart is all to muilins munched, 
 Bryce, Smuirach, daps and gum, 
 I'm a poor cruichach, spalyin' scrae, 
 My thorts have struck me dumb. 
 
 Dear Flory Loynachan, if thou 
 Through Saana's soun' wert toss'd, 
 And rouchled like a shougie-shoo, 
 In a veshal with one mast, 
 Though the night were makan' for a roil, 
 Through ralliach were the sea, 
 Through scorlins warpled my thowl pins, 
 My shallop would reach thee. 
 
 Thou're not a hochlan scleurach, dear, 
 
 As many trooshlach be; 
 
 Nor I a claty skybal, thus 
 
 To sclaffer after thee; — 
 
 Yet haing the meischachan, when first 
 
 I felt love's mainglin' smart, 
 
 And haing the boosach dyvour too, 
 
 Who spong'd from me thine heart! 
 
 O rhane a Yolus Cromic — quick — 
 Across this rumpled brain! 
 Bring hickery-pickery bring wallink 
 Droshachs, to sooth my pain! 
 Fire water-fire a spoucher full — 
 
These fry than stouns to stay! 
 For like a sparrows scaldachan 
 I'm gosping night and day ! 
 
 Were I the Laird of Achnaglach, 
 Or Kilmanshenachan fair, 
 Crockstaplemore, Kilwheepnach, 
 Foechag, or Ballochgair; 
 Did I inherit Tuyinroech, 
 Drumgarv or Ballochantee, 
 Creishlach, or Coeran daing the bit, 
 I'd fauchat them for thee! 
 
 O, the Clabbydhu, it loves the Trencr . 
 
 The Crouban, the quayneb, 
 
 While the Anachan and Brollochan, 
 
 They love the Mussle-ebb. 
 
 The Muirachbaan the Dorling loves, 
 
 And the Gleshan, and Guildee, 
 
 They love to plouder through the loch; 
 
 But, Flory, I love thee! 
 
 It was here in the District of Kintyre that Christianity first 
 took root in the western highlands of Scotland. St. Columba, 
 who came across the channel from Ireland, landed at Keil 
 where he built a church and preached the gospel. The walls 
 of the church stand to-day in the old Keil churchyard. Foot- 
 prints are cut out on the rock to mark the spot where St. 
 Columba landed at Keil near the village of Southend. 
 
 Going back in history to the year 1666, a great plague 
 broke out in the city of London, which they called the Black 
 Plague. It was infectious and great numbers died. It spread 
 through England and parts of Scotland, especially to Argyle- 
 shire, and almost depopulated the peninsula of Kintyre. Old 
 people spoke of it coming in a white cloud and hovering over 
 the district. Whether this was a superstition or not is not 
 
9 
 
 known. Under these conditions the Marquis of Argyle en- 
 couraged people from Renfrewshire, Ayrshire and Gallway 
 to come and settle on the vacant farms. These were the 
 Covenanters of Scotland. The Marquis of Argyle, being a 
 Covenanter himself, gave them every opportunity in his power. 
 The pioneers of the Argyle Settlement were the direct de- 
 scendants of the Covenanters. Some may boast of royalty, 
 others can trace their ancestors back to the Pilgrim Fathers at 
 Plymouth Rock, but to be in the line of the Covenanters is as 
 great an honor. Men and women, many of whom gave their 
 lives for the cause of the truth. "Being destitute, afflicted, tor- 
 mented, of whom this world was not worthy, they wandered 
 in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth." 
 In Gray Frier's Churchyard in Edinburgh, Scotland, is a tomb 
 known as the tomb of the Martyrs where those who were 
 executed at the grass market near Edinburgh Castle were 
 buried. It is one of the historical sights of old Edinburgh. At 
 the Antiquarian Museum, in Edinburgh, are a number of 
 relics of the Covenanter Days. Among them are John Knox's 
 pulpit, Jenny Giddies' stool, and the old flags of the Coven- 
 anters. After the settlement of Kintyre by the Covenanters, 
 the population increased up to the year of 1830. The popu- 
 lation of Southend alone, a district of country not any larger 
 than the Argyle Settlement, was over two thousand. 
 
10 
 
 Chapter II. 
 The Pioneers. 
 THE SCOTTISH EMIGRANTS FAREWELL 
 
 Farweel, a lang, a last farweel, 
 
 Auld Scotland, unto thee; 
 
 The coming night cloud soon will hide 
 
 Thy dark green hills frae me. 
 
 The breeze blaws freshly frae the shore, 
 
 The barque bounds o'er the wave, 
 
 I go to seek a distant hame, 
 
 Tae fill a distant grave. 
 
 Lang, lang I strove wi' adverse fate, 
 
 Lang, land I strove in vain 
 
 'Tis stern necessity that cous's 
 
 Me cross the briny main. 
 
 But gentle hopes still cheer my heart 
 
 Wi' prospects bright and gay, 
 
 And independence sends me forth, 
 
 And seems to lead my way. 
 
 Then fare thee well, my native land, 
 
 Now faded in the night, 
 
 Thy dark green hills have passed away 
 
 For ever from my sight. 
 
 But death's dark night shall fall on me, 
 
 And memory frae me part, 
 
 Before the thoughts of thee or thine 
 
 Can ever leave my heart. 
 Do not think that the Pioneers of the Argyle Settlement 
 emigrated because they did not love their native land where 
 in their youth they climbed the hills and roamed through the 
 glens of Bonnie Scotland. There were ties of kindred that 
 bound them together. Among the young people there were 
 school mates and companions, among the older people there 
 were church ties where they met to worship God in the old 
 
11 
 
 Southend Church and the Long Row Church in Campbeltown. 
 It was sad, the parting of friends and relatives who never ex- 
 pected to see each other again. 
 
 There was a combination of circumstances that led to the 
 emigration of these Pioneers. First, a number of small farms 
 were put together by the Duke to make larger farms that 
 deprived a number of farmers of a place. Again, there were 
 a series of poor crops, dull markets, and low prices, making 
 it difficult for the tenants to pay their rents. It was not always 
 the landlord's fault. It was often the fault of the factor or 
 agent for the Duke of Argyle. John Stewart, the factor, 
 showed no leniency to the poor tenants. It was said he 
 oppressed them shamefully by taking away the little they had. 
 At that time in Scotland there was a debtors room in connec- 
 tion with the prisons where debtors could be confined for a 
 time. That law has been done away with long ago. 
 
 These Pioneers saw little prospect for their growing 
 families to remain in Scotland and rather than have family ties 
 sundered they were willing to emigrate with them to a new 
 country. These emigrants were men and women of strong 
 constitution, brave hearts, and willing hands with strong re- 
 ligious convictions of right toward God and man. They were 
 willing to part with friends and companions and the churches 
 to which they belonged that through toil and hardship they 
 might gain for themselves homes of their own. 
 
 That we may better understand the kind of pioneers these 
 people made, we might note some of their characteristics. 
 Some years ago Dr. Gray, a Scotchman, in an article in the 
 "Chicago Interior" gave a definition of the Scotchman as 
 "The man who kept the Sabbath Day and everything else he 
 could get his hands on." There are some exceptions to all 
 rules in regard to keeping or holding as some of the most public 
 spirited men in the world have been Scotchmen. As a race 
 they are thrifty but not stingy in a good cause. Many of them 
 
12 
 
 possess a sturdy independence and have a mind of their own 
 not willing that others should think for them or dictate to them. 
 A youth who was asked why he went to a debating society 
 answered, "Oh, jest to contradict a wee." Another quality 
 is that they are in earnest. When in the right they are per- 
 sistent almost to dogged stubbornness; we call dourness. If 
 some great principal is at stake they would die before they 
 would change their convictions. That was a wise prayer 
 which the Scotchman was said to have offered on one occasion. 
 "Lord, grant that we may be in the right for thou knowest 
 that we are very decided/' It is well that with this rugged 
 granite firmness is combined a measure of caution or in other 
 words "being canny." Add to this a quaint humor or slyness 
 and where there is need can be stinging and sarcastic. If a 
 Scotchman sees something that he does not understand he will 
 not show ignorance by asking foolish questions but will wait 
 and find out some other way. Someone has said that it takes 
 a surgical operation to get a joke through a Scotchman's head 
 and that he cannot see it until the next day and that they have 
 no sense of humor. Do not be deceived as he would not give 
 you the satisfaction of knowing whether he saw the point or 
 not. They are reserved in regard to sacred things, especially 
 of spiritual matters and often feel a great deal more than they 
 say. On one occasion a revival minister was holding an ex- 
 perience meeting when he asked an old Scotchman if he had 
 any religion. His answer was, "I hav'na ony ta blaw aboot." 
 Who can analyze or describe the Scottish character? Charles 
 Reade, the author, said that the Scotch are icebergs with vol- 
 canoes underneath ; thaw the Scotch ice which is very cold and 
 you shall get to the Scottish fire, warmer than any sun of Italy 
 or Spain. 
 
 As far as we are able to learn, the first to leave Kintyre for 
 Illinois were the Armour boys, John and George, brothers, and 
 their cousin, James Armour, who came in the year 1834 and 
 
«^J G** 0> ** <*» ** "" 
 
 1ft- o 
 
13 
 
 located at Ottawa. These young men were not farmers; they 
 were tradesmen or mechanics. At this time Illinois was the 
 farthest western state in the Union. Wisconsin was a territory 
 and Iowa was the wild west. It was said that when Illinois 
 was surveyed by the government that there was a ten mile strip 
 of land across the north end of the state that was a question 
 whether it would go to Wisconsin or Illinois. It was left to a 
 vote of the settlers. Some of the pioneers thought that if they 
 voted it to Wisconsn they could not raise corn so they voted it 
 to Illinois. The state line between Wisconsin and Illinois is 
 not very definite even at the present. 
 
 The circumstances which led to the locating of the Argyle 
 Settlement are as follows: James Armour, who was a shoe- 
 maker and worked at his trade at Ottawa, came north with 
 other gentlemen prospecting for land. He took up a claim to 
 some prairie timber lands located on Willow Creek on the 
 county line between Boone and Winnebago counties, after- 
 wards known as the Scotch Grove. It is now owned by the 
 Wm. A. Ralston Est., J. A. Picken Est., and Thomas An- 
 drew Est. After a time James Armour gave up his claim to 
 his cousins, John and George Armour. In order to hold the 
 claim the government made it necessary for them to build a 
 house and live on the land for a certain length of time. They 
 came to the claim and built a log cabin on the east side of the 
 Scotch Grove. This cabin was 14x14 feet square. It was 
 said that they were mowing hay on the claim one very hot day 
 when George hung his scythe on a tree and said to his brother 
 John that he thought he could make a living easier than that. 
 John said to him, "Your scythe is not hung right." He meant 
 that the blade was not rightly adjusted to the handle. George 
 pointed to the tree and said, "I think the scythe is hung right 
 now." They left the claim and went back to Ottawa and 
 from there went to Scotland on a visit. They had no thought 
 at that time of being the forerunners of a colony of Kintyre 
 
14 
 
 people in northern Illnois. On their return to Scotland they 
 found the farmers in Kintyre in a serious condition. Like 
 Caleb and Joshua of old, they reported a goodly land in 
 America and the opportunity that the government gave to 
 settlers to obtained homes of their own. John and George 
 Armour did not remain long in Scotland. They had caught 
 the western fever of adventure and returned to Ottawa. 
 
 Before going further with the history of the Pioneers it 
 might be interesting to give a short sketch of George Armour. 
 He was a wheel-wright and worked his way across the ocean 
 as a cooper or ship carpenter. On his return to America he 
 got his start in life by taking contracts on the Illinois and Michi- 
 gan Canal work and on grading railroads. Later he took in a 
 partner and owned and operated a number of grain elevators 
 in Chicago and Ottawa. The name of the firm was "Armour 
 and Doal" and later, "Armour and Munger." He became 
 a millionaire, one of the merchant princes of America. Al- 
 though he became so wealthy, he did not forget his native town 
 and visited it often. He presented the town of Campbeltown 
 with a red granite drinking fountain which stands today at the 
 head of the quay, a useful monument to his memory. He con- 
 tributed $500 to the building fund of the present Willow 
 Creek church. He died at Brighton, England, a watering 
 place twenty miles from London. Mrs. Armour died on their 
 son's yacht in Cuban waters. Alison V. Armour, their son, 
 became an artist and lived in Rome, Italy, being one of the 
 founders of the art school at Rome. 
 
15 
 
 Chapter III 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. John Greenlee, Pioneers and founders of 
 the Argyle Settlement 
 
 John Greenlee was born August 16, 1791, at Southend, 
 Argyleshire, Scotland, and died at Belvidere, Boone County, 
 Illinois, U. S. A., December 30, 1882. He is of an ancient 
 family and can be traced back to the time of Queen Eliza- 
 beth. The Scotch branch was located in the parish of Loch- 
 rannoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He was married at South- 
 end about 1820 to Helen Brown. Her father was Charles 
 Brown and her mother, Elizabeth Ralston. Mrs. Greenlee 
 died March 1 8, 1 865 at Argyle, Winnebago County, Illinois. 
 The story of John Greenlee leaving Scotland was told by the 
 Pioneers to their children at the fireside in the early days, but 
 it was not published except in a poem by the Reverend James 
 Breckenridge, late minister of Streetsville, Canada. His book 
 of poems was published in Toronto in the year 1 860 but was 
 written at an earlier date. John Greenlee had leased the farm 
 five miles north of Campbeltown, known to-day as the Park 
 Farm. Through a series of crop failures he was unable to 
 pay his rent in full. The Duke of Argyle's Chamberlain, 
 factor or agent, showed no mercy and levied on his stock and 
 farm implements which were sold at auction. The amount 
 of the sale was sufficient to pay the balance of the rent due 
 but the factor was not satisfied. He wanted Mr. Greenlee to 
 pay for the upkeep of the buildings and fences. This he could 
 not do. The factor, John Stewart, got up a great report that 
 John Greenlee had sown his fields with shelling seeds being the 
 refuse from the meal. The farmers who knew John Greenlee 
 and the farm said it was the greatest lie the factor ever told. 
 
 The Armours, who were nephews of Mr. Greenlee, had lo- 
 cated at Ottawa, Illinois, before this time and had sent him 
 word to come to America and had provided for the journey. 
 It was the custom in Scotland for tradesmen to go to the farm 
 
16 
 
 house and make shoes or clothes for the family. Two trades- 
 men were employed at the Park Farm getting the Greenlee 
 family ready for their journey, the shoemaker being his 
 brother-in-law, James Armour, father of the Armours who 
 were at Ottawa. We can picture the household leaving the 
 home in the evening coming to the main road at Pineiver five 
 miles east of Campbeltown, then ten miles to Carradale where 
 they would board the Campbeltown boat where they were to 
 ship from Liverpool for New York. At Liverpool they were 
 met by Hugh Gould, land Stewart to the Duke of Argyle, 
 who took Mr. Greenlee back to Campbeltown. John Green- 
 lee bade his wife and family to go on. He knew that their 
 friends and others in America would take care of them. Was 
 not this a trying situation for them all, the family to proceed to 
 a foreign land and the father taken back to be imprisoned in 
 Campbeltown? 
 
 Mr. Greenlee did not lose heart. Accounts differ as 
 to his getting free. One account was that when he and 
 his guard returned to Campbeltown they were too soon 
 for the opening of the public buildings and they had a room at 
 the White Heart Hotel, corner of Main and Argyle Streets. 
 Some claim that it was from the debtor's room he came out in 
 the same way. A servant asked Mr. Greenlee if he would 
 like to make his escape and he was told of an out building 
 that had two doors. He asked to go and was allowed by the 
 guard. He passed through another door from the court or 
 coach yard. He then reached a friend's house where he stayed 
 until darkness came, and getting the use of a ladies' long cloak 
 and hood he and his friend ventured out. They had not gone 
 far when they were met by one of their pursuers who did not 
 recognize Mr. Greenlee. His friend exchanged greetings and 
 they passed on. They got clear of town and went to South- 
 end to his brother-in-law's, John Ralston (Elder), on the 
 farm of Acharuah and remained there for a few days. Dur- 
 
Mr. and Mrs. John Creenlee 
 
17 
 
 ing this time the factor called out the farmers to search for Mr. 
 Greenlee, John Thompson, who was father of Robert and 
 John and grandfather of John W. Thompson of Caledonia, 
 with a helper, thought to be Mr. McEachran, taking a row boat 
 they ferried Mr. Greenlee across from Dunaverty Rock on the 
 southern part of Kintyre to the coast of Ireland, a distance of 
 thirty miles. The revenue boat was in pursuit. It appears 
 here that Providence intervened in their behalf for there arose 
 a dense fog and their pursuers lost sight of them. It is un- 
 certain whether he landed in Ireland or boarded in the channel 
 a large sailing vessel bound for New York. After four weeks 
 on the ocean he landed in New York and was waiting to wel- 
 come his family. We have followed John Greenlee's journey 
 from the Park Farm five miles north of Campbeltown, Argyle- 
 shire, Scotland, to New York. Let us return to his wife and 
 family. 
 
 They sailed from Liverpool as had been arranged. Mrs. 
 Greenlee was in a distressed state of mind and on nearing 
 New York she was crying saying "what was she and her young 
 family to do on reaching a foreign land and her husband a 
 prisoner in Campbeltown." Her daughter came to comfort 
 her and having clear vision she saw her father standing on the 
 pier. She said, "Cheer up, Mother! Who is that on the 
 pier! It is Father!** We can imagine the happy reunion of 
 father and mother and children. From New York they went 
 to Buffalo remaining there with friends for a time before com- 
 ing to Chicago where they arrived in the early autumn of 1 836. 
 From there they went by wagon to Ottawa, Illinois, their 
 destination. The following poem, written by Reverend James 
 Breckenridge, late minister of Streetsville, Canada, was pub- 
 lished in 1 860 at Toronto will further explain the situation. 
 JOHN GREENLEES, THE PIONEER 
 
 1836 
 of the Kintyre Settlement, Illinois, U. S. A. 
 
18 
 
 Lines written by a friend (J. B.) 
 It was in a delightful spot, 
 Of Caledonia's far-famed Isle; 
 That once had been my humble lot, 
 To plough the land, and till the soil. 
 At twenty-four — I mind it well, 
 Possessed of every youthful charm ; 
 My father bade this earth farewell, 
 And I succeeded to his farm. 
 So then to farming I inclined 
 And farming was my native bent; 
 No ill forebodings filled my mind, — 
 I had no care, but pay the rent. 
 Both late and early at my work, 
 Bound, if I could, to make it pay; 
 I oft was up before the lark, 
 And long before the break of day. 
 And when the sun sunk in the west; 
 And brought my labours to a close; 
 Exhausted nature needed rest, 
 And then how sweet was calm repose! 
 My youth and vigor thus were spent, 
 An honest livelihood to gain; 
 The care and toil I underwent, 
 I little dreamed were all in vain. 
 From day to day, from year to year, 
 I struggled on to pay the rent; 
 But still more hard it did appear, 
 The more anxiety I spent. 
 Cold, wet and dreary summers came, 
 My crops were small and poor in kind; 
 Low prices too; was I to blame, 
 If I should fall somewhat behind? 
 Our landlord was a man — in fact, 
 
19 
 
 Just like most others of his kind ; 
 
 The rigid sum he would extract, 
 
 And oust you if you fell behind. 
 
 Not that I mean to charge his Grace, 
 
 With all my troubles and my cares; 
 
 For he knew nothing of my case — 
 
 His factor managed his affairs. 
 
 And he like other little men, 
 
 Who will their own importance know ; 
 
 Was so delighted, now and then, 
 
 His great authority to show. 
 
 All knew him haughty and severe, 
 
 No one his clemecy besought; 
 
 In his dread presence to appear, 
 
 Has cost me many anxious thought. 
 
 For when that dreaded day would come 
 
 On which we used the rent to pay 
 
 How he would wrench the stated sum 
 
 And would admit of small delay! 
 
 Yea, sometime, yet I think I see, 
 
 The haughty and contemptous frown; 
 
 How he could scorn the like or me, 
 
 As a poor low-lifed rustic clown. 
 
 And we, poor tenants at his bar 
 
 'Would stand appalled our fate to know! 
 
 As if his breath could send us far, 
 
 Into the pit of endless woe ! 
 
 Who dared to act a manly part? 
 
 Meet scorn with scorn, and pride with pride? 
 
 Alas! each manly, noble heart, 
 
 That scorned to creep, had crossed the tide. 
 
 And such the case will always be, 
 
 Till freedom breaks the clanking chain; 
 
 The mind unfettered then and free, 
 
20 
 
 Its independence will gain. 
 It will not stoop then to adore, 
 A man for wealth or lofty birth; 
 Undoubtedly will value more, 
 A man for real moral worth. 
 But to return — with anxious care, 
 From year to year, I struggled on; 
 But naught was for me but despair, 
 For every ray of hope was gone. 
 No sooner did my master know 
 That my affairs became so bad ; 
 Than he like a relentless foe, 
 Sequestered every thing I had. 
 And soon it publicly was told 
 That I insovent had become, 
 And all I had was to be sold, 
 To pay up the indebted sum. 
 But one thing — though I had been poor 
 My stock had always been complete 
 And that I always hoped as sure, 
 The just demands of debt to meet. 
 The day of public sale arrived ; 
 And I dejected and depressed 
 Behold myself of all deprived, 
 That ever I had once possessed. 
 When ascertaining the amount 
 Of what my whole effects came to, 
 I found when squared with my account 
 It covered more than what was due. 
 Just at this juncture, I would say, 
 Let all this simple lesson read: — 
 When man becomes the spoiler's prey, 
 No limits can be set on greed. 
 For he was not content to claim, 
 
21 
 
 What I had owed him of the rent; 
 While one bare farthing did remain, 
 He swore he would not be content. 
 My house he did examine well; 
 And when he spied out a defect 
 His wits were set at work to tell 
 If it was caused by my neglect. 
 And hedges, ditches, fences too, 
 That long had fallen to decay; 
 For what would almost make the new, 
 I every farthing had to pay. 
 Law for each action he might show, 
 And screen himself that fair plea; 
 
 But thus to skin a mortal so, 
 Could never, never, justice be. 
 This cast upon the world wide 
 Of every earthly stay bereft; 
 And for dependents to provide, 
 Without a single fraction left. 
 But though reduced to that extreme, 
 Did that my happiness destroy? 
 Ah, no there is a sacred stream, 
 Of never failing heart-felt joy. 
 It gave me pleasure to reflect: — 
 — Though want did stare me in the face — 
 No sloth — no criminal neglect 
 On my part brought me to disgrace. 
 And this in conscious innocence, 
 How cheerfully I could submit 
 To what an all wise Providence 
 For my disposal had seen fit. 
 I fancied after proper thought — 
 Two schemes presented to my view ; 
 And to a sad dilemma thought, 
 
22 
 
 The one or other had to do. 
 
 To earn my bread by servile toil 
 
 By patient and industrious hand 
 
 Or leave my native lovely isl 
 
 And venture to a foreign land 
 
 The former I was loth to do , 
 
 If I could find a better way; 
 
 The latter had its dangers too 
 
 And what had I the cost to pay ? 
 
 I had relations then who trod, 
 
 America's far distant west; 
 
 And when my hopes were turned abroad 
 
 To them a letter I addressed. 
 
 And unto them though far away, 
 
 I humbly stated all my case ; 
 
 Harassed with rent, unfit to pay, 
 
 I humbly asked their advice. 
 
 It happened well ! just on those days, 
 
 A letter I from them received, 
 
 Which gave to Canada great praise 
 
 Though little of it I believed. 
 
 And more than that, the money sent, 
 
 Enough my passage out to pay; 
 
 And bade me take the money lent, 
 
 And cross the sea without delay. 
 
 My object was plain to all — 
 
 To honest friend and ruthless foe: 
 
 Through hardship, and danger great or small 
 
 I firmly was resolved to go. 
 
 But ah ! how did the thoughts create, 
 
 A feeling of sincere regret 
 
 Alas ! thought I hard is my gate 
 
 And sad the tear it does beget. 
 
 Acquaintances I've here secured, 
 
23 
 
 Whose love is twined around my heart 
 
 Whose friendship has from youth endured 
 
 And must we now forever part? 
 
 O, Scotland! must I now forsake 
 
 Thy lovely vales and towering hills; 
 
 Thy shady grove, thy silvery lakes, 
 
 Thy naked rocks and flowing rills? 
 
 To leave old Caledonia's strand, 
 
 To bid adieu to Scotia's shore ; 
 
 The beauties of my native land, 
 
 Most likely to behold no more ! 
 
 Far in the regions of the West, 
 
 To tread an unfrequented wild; 
 
 Perhaps by social joys unblessed 
 
 For human intercourse exiled. 
 
 By day and night pursue my way 
 
 By weary, anxious toil ; and then 
 
 To dwell with howling beasts of prey 
 
 And what is worse with savage men. 
 
 To toil beneath a scorching sun, 
 
 To shrink before a wintry blast; 
 
 And when life's latest sands have run, 
 
 There lay my weary bones at last. 
 
 Such were the notions I had 
 
 Such were the thoughts that filled my mind 
 
 No wonder then, my heart was sad 
 
 To leave my native land behind. 
 
 The time arrived — I stepped on board, 
 
 A large and splendid sailing ship ; 
 
 And the Almighty's care implored 
 
 We launched upon the stormy deep. 
 
 Four weeks had quietly glided by; 
 
 One morning as I lay in bed, 
 
 I was awakened by the cry, 
 
24 
 
 "Awake! awake! there's land ahead." 
 
 I hastened up to get a sight, 
 
 Of that great land I journeyed to ; 
 
 The morning was serene and bright 
 
 And nothing to obscure my view. 
 
 Far as the vision of my eye 
 
 A pleasing prospect could sustain 
 
 Wide stretched along the verging sky — 
 
 All seemed one vast extended plain. 
 
 A sylvan scene fair to the eye, 
 
 Leaves gently quivering in the breeze; 
 
 While here and there I could descry, 
 
 White houses peeping through the trees. 
 
 Before me, smoke I saw arise, 
 
 Up curling in high career ; 
 
 And spires unnumbered pierced the skies- 
 
 Without a cloud, so bright and clear. 
 
 But to describe the lovely scene, 
 
 How impotent is all my skill ! 
 
 Though many years now intervene, 
 
 I see it plain before me still. 
 
 Doubtless the pleasure it inspired, 
 
 Could partly to this cause be traced — 
 
 That any scene may be admired, 
 
 Compared with the wide oceans waste. 
 
 And this will just explain as well, 
 
 Why pleasures never felt before ; 
 
 Is felt by those, who then inhale, 
 
 The balmy odours from the shore. 
 
 "Is this the land at last?" I cried, 
 
 Which Fancy pictured out so wild 
 
 My ill forebodings all had fled, 
 
 And I at once was reconciled. 
 
 The dangers of the sea were o'er, 
 
25 
 
 When anchored safe in New York bay; 
 
 And glad to safely reach the shore, 
 
 And further still pursue my way. 
 
 O'er rivers, forests, lakes and plains, 
 
 My route I carefully did trace; 
 
 Till after all my toils, and pains, 
 
 I safely reached my destined place. 
 
 Each varied incident since then, 
 
 Is not my object to unfold ; 
 
 Each honest man can well attain, 
 
 The same position I now hold. 
 
 I laboured hard at first a while, 
 
 And by that means myself sustained 
 
 And through some years of patient toil 
 
 An independence I have gained. 
 
 Though once if I the rent coul dpay, 
 
 I thought my prospects fair and bright; 
 
 I have now a farm which I can say, 
 
 It is my own indisputed right. 
 
 To cultivate it as I please, 
 
 To work it just as I think fit; 
 
 To raise a crop of corn or peas, 
 
 Of oats, of barley or of wheat. 
 
 No longer to be dispossessed, 
 
 At a capricious tyrant's will; 
 
 Obsequious wait his high behest, 
 
 Or his revengeful ire to feel. 
 
 I pass not sleepless nights of woe, 
 
 Permeditating on my fate; 
 
 I covet no man's lot below — 
 
 I envy not the rich or great. 
 
 Hive not for ambition's sake; 
 
 Vain are the hopes she does inspire ; 
 
 An honest living I can make, 
 
26 
 
 And that is all that I desire. 
 
 My children are not now compelled 
 
 To wander on a foreign shore; 
 
 And I myself in bondage held, 
 
 To meet with them again no more. 
 
 What it gives a parent's heart, 
 
 To see his offspring place around! 
 
 What pleasure from that source apart, 
 
 Can in this callous world be found. 
 
 My vague ideas of this land, 
 
 Were all unfounded and untrue; 
 
 The comforts of my fatherland, 
 
 I can enjoy in this place too. 
 
 Of social pleasures we can taste, 
 
 Which unto many are denied, 
 
 By every fond endearment blend 
 
 Unmissed by ostentatious pride. 
 
 I rarely hear a savage howl, 
 
 That would produce the slightest fear ; 
 
 Naught but the solitary owl, 
 
 In the midnight silence I can hear. 
 
 And as for savage men, there's none, 
 
 That by that name I'm free to call, 
 
 Save some stray Indian with his gun 
 
 And he is harmless unto all. 
 
 Surrounded by the lonely wood, 
 
 I offer up my fervent prayer ; 
 
 Here I can humbly worship God 
 
 Free from distracting worldly care. 
 
 Some discontented here I see; 
 
 No state is wholly free from cares; 
 
 Methinks they would contented be 
 
 If my experience had been theirs. 
 
 There is one thought that gives one pain, 
 
A J T 27 
 
 And it is one 1 may express — 
 How many honest men remain, 
 In Scotland still, in dire distress. 
 Industrious, careful, hard wrought men 
 Who toil, and strive with ceaseless care 
 To earn their scanty bread; and then 
 Contempt and cruel scorn to bear. 
 Their strength and vigour they engage, 
 To feed some worthless lordling's pride; 
 And then perhaps in helpless age 
 Be cast adrift on life's rough tide. 
 O, Scotland! when wilt thou be found 
 To slack thy overbearing reins? 
 The prowess of thy sons is bound, 
 By the most cruel, servile chains. 
 Thy sturdy sons from thee are torn 
 Who might have been thy flower and pride 
 Far o'er the raging billows borne 
 To earn that bread thou hast denied. 
 And welcome to our western clime, 
 Their native vigour to put forth ; 
 And may the testing march of time, 
 Annex a tribute to their worth. 
 Such men indeed are just the stuff, 
 Our heavy timbered lands to clear; 
 There's room enough and land enough 
 And peace, and joy and plenty here. 
 For my own part, I bless the day — 
 Yea I have reason to rejoice 
 That when I crossed the stormy sea 
 And did make Belvidere my choice. 
 Here — till this transient life shall end; 
 Here — till its toils and turmoils cease; 
 Here — may it be my lot to spend, 
 My few remaining days in peace! 
 
28 
 
 The following is a copy of the indictment in the Sheriff's 
 Court in Campbeltown, Argyllshire, Scotland, taken from the 
 public records. It is recorded here for the purpose of show- 
 ing the conditions and laws that existed in Scotland in 1834, 
 in regard to landlords and tenants. 
 
 At Campbeltown 4th day of December, 1836. Sitting in 
 judgment Dugald MacTavish substitute of the District of Kin- 
 tyre to Robert Bruce advocate sheriff of the County of Argyll 
 in an action before the sheriff court of the said district at the 
 disposal of Charles Telkrig, accountant in Edinburgh, trustee 
 for his Grace George William, Duke of Argyll, pursuer 
 against John Greenlee's tenant in the farm of Keroblinraid, 
 and James Brown and Arch'd Brown tenants in the farm of 
 Keroblinraid (now known as Park Farm) defenders, the 
 sheriff substitute in absence decreed and ordained and hereby 
 decerns and ordains the said defenders to make payment to 
 the said pursuer of the respective sums of money after men- 
 tioned as follows visit the said John Greenlees of the sum of 
 £110 sterling, being the balance of rent of said farm of 
 Keroblinraid (or Park Farm) due at the term of Martin- 
 mas, 1834, still un-in manner libelled item of the lawful in- 
 terest of the said sum from and since the same became due 
 and till paid item of the sum of £1-1-6 sterling being his pro- 
 portion of the expenses of process item of the sum of 31 ster- 
 ling further as his proportion of the expenses of extracting this 
 decreet and recording the same, and the said James Brown 
 and Arch'd Brown of the sum £65 pounds sterling being the 
 year's rent of the said farm of Kerblinraid, due at the term 
 of martinmas, 1 834, in manner libelled item of the lawful in- 
 terest of the said sum from and since the same became due 
 and till paid item of the sum of £1-1-6 sterling being their 
 proportion of expenses process item the sum of £31 sterling 
 further being their proportion of the expenses of extracting 
 this decreet and recording the same and ordains instant execu- 
 
29 
 
 tion by Anestment and also excution by pounding to pass here 
 on after a charge of fifteen days hereby Wanandted be given 
 is orderly given and expired also ordains att to here execution 
 necessary to pass and be direct her on in form as affairs extract 
 written and signed by Lachan Mclsaac Depute clerk 19th 
 June, 1836. 
 
30 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 JOHN GREENLEE TAKES UP CLAIM 
 
 In the month of December, 1836, John Greenlee, accom- 
 panied by his nephew, John Armour, and two helpers, started 
 for the Armour claim. The weather was very cold and the 
 streams were high and difficult to cross. There were no 
 bridges those days and one of the helpers fell through the ice 
 and was nearly drowned. He begged of them to let him 
 sleep. Mr. Greenlee knew that if they let him sleep that 
 meant death. They tormented him until he became angry 
 and in that way saved the man's life. They came to the 
 claim and erected a log cabin, 14x14 feet, on the north side 
 of the grove. There was also an Indian wigwam built of 
 poles. Then they returned to Ottawa for the winter. There 
 are two branches of Willow Creek and the Scotch Grove is 
 located between them, mostly in Boone County. 
 
 In the year 1827 a bill was passed in Congress which 
 granted to the state of Illinois, government lands for the 
 construction of a canal. This was a strip of land ten 
 miles wide, giving every alternate section from Lake Michigan 
 to the Illinois river, being from Chicago to Ottawa. When 
 these public lands were sold the proceeds were to be used 
 for the construction of the canal in much the same way as 
 school sections were disposed of. After a great deal of 
 legislating and delay, the work of constructing the canal 
 actually began July 4, 1836, at which time a public cele- 
 bration was held in Chicago. This was the first boom 
 that Chicago had in the sale of town lots. It was known as 
 the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and was completed in the 
 year 1 848. It connected the Illinois River with Lake Michi- 
 gan, south of Chicago. In the winter of 1836, Mr. Greenlee 
 worked as a stone mason on the aqueduct of the canal at 
 Ottawa. Many of the pioneers were experts at laying stone 
 as some of the houses and basements for barns still remain in 
 
31 
 the colony which were built by them. 
 
 In the spring of 1837, during the month of March, through 
 the advice of the Armours, Mr. and Mrs. John Greenlee and 
 their young family came to the Armour claim and occupied 
 the Armour log cabin, as the pioneers of the Argyle Settle- 
 ment. All the land in this vicinity had been the hunting 
 grounds of the Winnebago tribe of Indians after which this 
 county was named. The government had bought it from them 
 and paid them at Fort Dearborn, Chicago. At the junction 
 of the Boulevard and River Street is a tablet that marks the 
 site of old Fort Dearborn. The Indians passed through this 
 locality on their western march before the tide of emigration 
 to other reservations west of the Mississippi River. The ashes 
 of their campfires were still on the ground when our pioneers 
 located on this colony. There was something pathetic about 
 the way the Indian migrated, going single file across the 
 prairie, carrying their children and little belongings. Indian 
 trails could be traced years afterward. 
 
 The first night in the cabin had its terrors for the Greenlee 
 family. There was no door in the cabin and a woolen 
 blanket was hung across the entrance to keep out the cold. 
 Wolves were plentiful in the country at that time. During 
 the night, the wolves gathered near the cabin and howled 
 dismally. We can imagine the terror of our pioneers, knowing 
 how little protection they had from the savage beasts. Al- 
 though game was plentiful in the country at that time, other 
 food was scarce. There was no grain raised in this locality 
 except a little corn that the Indians had planted. Mr. Green- 
 lee bought corn from an Indian, paying a high price and 
 husking it himself, grown on the ground where the Catholic 
 church now stands on North Second street, Rockford, Illinois. 
 
 That the young people may have a better understanding 
 of the hardships of the early settlers, the following incident 
 will illustrate. Mr. Greenlee, not having oxen or wagon, 
 
32 
 
 carried a sack of grain on his back to a mill at Newberg on 
 the Kishwaukee River, there being no provisions for the 
 family until his return. Speaking of the incident years after- 
 wards, Mr. Greenlee said that he shed tears as he went with 
 the grain. The promise was fulfilled in that "they who sow in 
 tears shall reap in joy." 
 
 In these days we hear people spoken of as having an iron 
 will. If anyone possessed an iron will it was Mr. and Mrs. 
 Greenlee, for to their heroic endurance and untiring energy 
 is due, in a large measure, the success of this colony. 
 The first white man to call at the Greenlee cabin was 
 Horace Dyer who later settled on the spring about a 
 mile west of Argyle. A few weeks after their arrival, 
 one still morning, Mr. Greenlee heard the sound of some 
 one chopping wood north of the claim. He thought it 
 could not be Indians as they were not noted for doing such 
 work so he decided to investigate. It proved to be Henry 
 and Charles Babcock who had taken up a claim. Their 
 claim later was the Alexander McNair and John Ralston 
 farms, extending as far north as the Kinnikinnick Creek. The 
 Babcocks proved to be the kindest of neighbors and Christian 
 men, Henry Backcock being a lay Methodist and held re- 
 ligious services in the colony years afterwards. About this 
 time the Enoch family had located on the south side in Guil- 
 ford. With the Babcock family on the north and the Enochs 
 on the south, our pioneers took courage feeling that they were 
 not entirely alone. 
 
 In the summer of 1837 Mr. Greenlee took up a claim 
 for himself. It was the land joining the Armour claim 
 on the west side, now owned by the Charles Andrew Est. 
 and Thomas Andrew Est. During the summer months 
 he was busy preparing logs to build a larger house on 
 his claim. Mr. Greenlee had made a wagon of hard wood 
 having solid wheels sawed from logs, with wooden linch pins. 
 
33 
 
 There was not a nail or bolt in the wagon. He had purchased 
 a team of oxen. Their names were Lion and Brown and 
 were the pioneer ox team of the Argyle Settlement. They were 
 large, well-built animals nearly black with white markings like 
 the modern Holstein cattle and had fine large curving horns. 
 How many boys and girls of to-day have seen an ox team at 
 work in the field? There may be one or two yokes with the 
 bows to be found yet in the garrets of some of the farm houses. 
 Mr. Greenlee had a horse, a bay, with which he drew the logs 
 to the site of the log house by means of a log chain. He also 
 made a sort of sled to which he could hitch the horse and in 
 this way draw the material for the roof and the smaller 
 timbers. Afterwards this horse and sled proved a great help 
 in moving the old country chest from the cabin to the double 
 log house. 
 
 With the assistance of the Babcocks and the Enochs, Mr. 
 Greenlee erected the double log house with a fireplace at 
 each end. It was a good thought for him to build such a 
 large house as it was a welcome resting place for many 
 families who came later. The men who assisted Mr. Greenlee 
 in building the house were from the New England States and 
 were experts with the axe and knew how to fit the corners and 
 finish the roof. There are a very few of these log houses now 
 standing. There is one near the Sanitarium, North Second 
 street, Rockford, Illinois. The exact location of the Greenlee 
 double log house was at the northeast corner of the John 
 Andrew farm now owned by Thomas Andrew, Est. Mr. 
 Greenlee having sold eighty acres of his claim to John Andrew 
 at a later date which included the site of the double log house. 
 Whatever else the pioneers might lack, they had plenty of 
 wood to burn and plenty of water to drink. As a rule the 
 pioneers settled near springs or creeks. Water and wood 
 could be had without much regard to the quality of the soil. 
 That is one reason why some of the best farms were left for 
 
34 
 
 those who came later. In this humble home in the Scotch 
 Grove on June 27, 1837, Ellen Greenlee was born, being 
 certainly the first child of the colony and many believe the 
 first in the county. She was later known as Mrs. James Ral- 
 ston of Guilford. Three of her sons survive her, William 
 Ralston, John G. and Earl. 
 
 The next family to emigrate from Kintyre to Illinois was 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Reid. They followed nearly the same 
 journey as the Greenlee family, leaving the home land in 
 1837. They spent the winter at Ottawa where Mr. Reid 
 worked on the canal. Wm. H. Reid, their son, was 
 born at Ottawa. In the spring of 1838, they came 
 to the Armour claim and occupied one of the cabins, re- 
 maining there until they moved to their own farm. George 
 Greenlee of Belvidere told the following incident when these 
 two families lived in the Scotch Grove. One day the prairie 
 got on fire and threatened to run through the timber and burn 
 the cabins. Hugh Reid had bought a calf which he had 
 tethered near the cabin. He removed the calf to a place of 
 safety and on his return his good wife accosted him by saying, 
 "Ye think mar o' the safety o' the sturk as ye da o' the bairns." 
 The first corn that Mr. Greenlee and Mr. Reid planted was 
 put in the ground with a spade. What would the young 
 tarmer of to-day think of planting corn with a spade. In the 
 summer of 1 839, James S. Reid was born, being the first male 
 child of the colony. 
 
 In the year 1839, the following families emigrated from 
 Scotland: George Picken, Robert Howie, James Picken, 
 Andrew Giffen, and Alexander McDonald. George Picken, 
 leaving his family with Uncle Greenlee, went to Cincinnati, 
 Ohio to see the country before settling on a farm. Later, 
 they bought part of the Armour claim, the farm now owned 
 by the John A. Picken, Est. 
 
 The following is taken from a letter of the Rev. John 
 
35 
 
 Giffen in regard to the coming of his father's family and rela- 
 tives, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Giffen and six children. "James 
 Picken and family, Robert Howie and his mother and Mrs. 
 Janet Howie, Alexander McDonald and family sailed from 
 Greenock, July 4, 1839, in the sailing vessel named Marion 
 under Captain Pearson. It took fifty-three days to Chicago 
 and a week longer to reach Rockford and the Argyle Settle- 
 ment. We were about one hundred days from Argyleshire, 
 Scotland to Argyle, Illinois, a journey that can now be made 
 in less than fourteen days. 
 
 Alexander McDonald and family settled on eighty acres 
 of land being the southern part of the farm now owned 
 by Hugh Smith. About this time there was a saw mill 
 near the Abbie Farm on the Beaver Creek where the 
 settlers could bring logs and have them sawed into lumber. 
 The McDonald house was framed like a barn and bricked on 
 the inside. The McDonald family consisted of six sons and 
 one daughter, the youngest who died in infancy. The parents 
 both died, leaving six orphan boys. The family had to be 
 separated. William, the oldest, made his home with James 
 Picken, Alexander with William Harvey, Robert and John 
 lived with their Uncle Robert Howie, James made his home 
 with Hugh Reid, and Andrew, the youngest, with Andrew 
 Giffen. The farm was sold to William Ferguson and the 
 house was used for a school for a time. 
 
 James Picken had his share of trouble on leaving Scotland 
 with the Giffen family on July 4, 1839. His wife died on 
 the ocean and was buried at sea, leaving the husband with 
 three young children. They stayed in Ohio one year before 
 coming to the colony. 
 
 In the year 1 840, the following families came to the colony. 
 William Ferguson, John Andrew, Alexander Reid, Robert 
 Armour, and Samuel Howie. William Ferguson was a carpen- 
 ter to trade and made some of the tables and other furniture 
 
36 
 
 that was in use in the early days and also made the caskets that 
 were required. Lumber was kept in the loft of the log school 
 house for that purpose. John Andrew bought part of the 
 Greenlee claim, the farm now owned by Thomas Andrew, Est. 
 He was an enterprising man and was the founder of the village 
 of Argyle. Robert Armour was a cousin of George and John 
 Armour and settled on part of their claim. He was a shoe- 
 maker to trade before coming to America. Samuel Howie and 
 family emigrated to Canada in 1836 coming to this locality 
 in 1840. They located on the farm now owned by William 
 Smith. Alexander Reid left Scotland a single young man. 
 He worked a year in Cincinnati, Ohio, before coming to the 
 colony. Sandy, as he was called, was a typical Scotchman. 
 His marriage to Miss Jenny Picken was the first marriage in 
 the settlement which took place March 25, 1842. Sandy 
 often wore an overall jacket with band and frill and when in 
 earnest conversation would hold the corners in his hands. He 
 used to tell the young men that he never went to see his girl 
 friend at night, that he asked her in broad day light if she 
 would marry him and she said yes, and that he did not wear 
 out any sole leather in his courtship. 
 
 In the year 1841 the following families came: Mr. and Mrs. 
 Gavin Ralston and family and two brothers, David and John, 
 who were single. They owned the land where the village of 
 Caledonia is located. Mr. Ralston told his friends that he had 
 twenty-five cents in silver left after his long journey. He had 
 five sons, Robert, John, Gavin, Alexander, and William. 
 They were all successful in life. The same year, John Picken, 
 who was a brother of George Picken, came and located on the 
 land adjoining his brother. Mr. and Mrs. John McEachran 
 and two sons left Scotland in 1 838. They were six weeks on 
 the voyage coming in the same ship as John Picken. They 
 went to Michigan, located near Detroit where James Mc- 
 Eachran was born. Mr. John McEachran received no pay for 
 
37 
 
 his first year's work, the man he worked for having failed. All 
 he received was an axe. Like many of the pioneers he had to 
 hue his way to success with his axe. He worked another year 
 in Michigan, coming to the colony in 1841 locating on the 
 east lane. In 1862 Mr. McEachran was elected an elder in 
 the Willow Creek church. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. William Harvey and family of three sons 
 and four daughters crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel 
 named the Czar. They arrived at the John Greenlee home 
 on the seventeenth of July, 1841. Mr. Harvey was a tanner 
 to trade and had a leather store in Campbeltown before com- 
 ing to Illinois. Mrs. J. O. Gregory of N. Horsman street, 
 Rockford, Illinois, relates the following incident. She was a 
 young girl attending school in the village of Rockford and 
 staying with a married sister, Mrs. Parker. Her father, John 
 Greenlee, came to Rockford with the oxen and wagon to bring 
 her home. At that time there were no roads or fences in the 
 country. They could drive across the prairie. They were a 
 long time on the way home. Her father told her that another 
 family had arrived from Scotland. When she got home that 
 evening she saw a little infant child asleep on the lid of an old 
 country chest and the mother standing by its side. That child 
 was Margaret Harvey, who years later was Mrs. William 
 Giffen. 
 
 There were seventeen families located in the colony 
 in 1841. They did not neglect their religious obligations and 
 met for Sunday service at the home of John Greenlee or 
 Andrew Giffen, slab benches being used for seats. Mr. 
 Babcock, a lay Methodist and Rev. Forte, a Baptist minister, 
 living near the Sanitarium, also Isreal Soverign of New Mil- 
 ford, supplied them. Two Methodist circuit ministers, Rev. 
 Cain and Rev. Bronze, preached for them at different times. 
 The weekly prayer meeting was held on Wednesday evening 
 at one of the settler's homes. They often went with oxen and 
 
38 
 
 sleigh on such occasions. It was the custom for the head of 
 the house to read a chapter in the Bible by way of opening 
 the meeting. 
 
 The first school in the colony was a private school 
 taught by Miss Janet Giffen, who later was Mrs. Birdsall 
 of Chicago. It was intended at first for their own family, 
 but took in a number of the neighbor children. In the spring 
 of 1 84 1 , logs were cut by the settlers for the purpose of build- 
 ing a school-house. They were hauled by oxen to a site near 
 the John Greenlee quarry on the farm now owned by the 
 Charles Andrew, Est. The following year a meeting was 
 called to take further action in regard to the building. It was 
 decided to move the logs to a more central location. Some 
 thought that the logs were too long and the building would be 
 too large and difficult to heat. John Andrew advised them 
 not to cut the logs any shorter as more families were expected 
 from Scotland. In 1842 the log school-house was built on 
 Robert Howie's farm, south and west of where the church 
 now stands. The building stood with gable ends east and 
 west, one door on the south side, three windows, one on the 
 north, south, and east, with a fireplace in the west end. The 
 seats, or benches, were slabs hewn from logs, each family 
 providing a seat. This building was used for a day school, 
 Sunday school, and church service for a number of years. It 
 was in this building that the Willow Creek church was or- 
 ganized. 
 
39 
 
 Chapter V 
 EARLY DAYS 
 
 The late Mrs. J. O. Gregory of Rockford, Illinois, who 
 was an eye witness and experienced the trials and hardships 
 of the pioneer days describes the country as it appeared at 
 that time and notes the changes that have taken place since the 
 early days, she tells her own story in a very interesting way. 
 
 "Some reminiscences of the early days by Mrs. Jeanette 
 Greenlee Gregory, daughter of John Greenlee, the pioneer of 
 the Scotch Settlement. 
 
 It was in 1836 that Father and his family came from 
 Argyleshire, Scotland, to America, landing in New York City 
 in July. From New York City, the route was up the Hudson 
 River to Albany, then across the state to Buffalo by the Erie 
 Canal, thence around the Great Lakes down to Chicago. At 
 Chicago, Father hired two men with their teams and covered 
 wagons to take us to Ottawa, Illinois. 
 
 The family at this time consisted of Father and Mother and 
 six children, the eldest, sister Martha, being about thirteen 
 years old, then Elizabeth, George, Charles, Jeanette (myself) , 
 about three, and John, about one year old. Mother had also 
 brought with her to the new country a servant girl, Christina 
 Galbraith, who had been with her all her married life in 
 Scotland. 
 
 It was on this journey from Chicago to Ottawa by wagon 
 that Father had the first experience with the Indians. The 
 country outside of Chicago was exceedingly muddy and the 
 second day out one of the heavily loaded wagons stuck in the 
 mud and the neck yoke, or something about one of the wagons, 
 broke, making it necessary to hunt up some one to repair it, 
 which was no easy matter. We must remember that in 1836 
 this region was almost unbroken territory. The few settlers 
 scattered far and wide and the country entirely unknown to 
 Father. It was getting late in the afternoon. Leaving one of 
 
40 
 
 the teamsters to protect the family and wagons, Father started 
 out with the other man and had travelled a long distance when 
 suddenly he came upon a camp of Indians, sitting around their 
 campfire. Father thought the best thing to do was to walk 
 up fearlessly and show that he had no weapons and only 
 wanted help. But the instant they heard footsteps every brave 
 jumped to his feet and seized his gun. Father said afterwards 
 that his heart stood still, for he knew that he was entirely in 
 the power of the savages. However, he had the presence of 
 mind to take out his pipe and light it at their campfire and then 
 to give them all the tobacco he had with him and to show them 
 the broken neck yoke and make signs as to what he wanted. 
 Then gradually the Indians calmed down and seemed satisfied 
 that he intended no harm and by signs directed him to a white 
 man who could help him out. So the yoke was repaired and 
 we resumed our journey, reaching Ottawa in safety, where we 
 remained that fall and winter. 
 
 It was while staying in Ottawa and waiting to locate his 
 new claim that Father worked on the Aqueduct of the Illinois 
 and Michigan Canal as a mason. In December he came up 
 from Ottawa with John Armour and two workmen and located 
 his claim in what is now known as the Scotch Settlement, 
 Winnebago County. 
 
 Early the next spring he moved up the family and we lived 
 in a cabin temporarily until our own log house should be built. 
 This was the Armour cabin on the east side of the grove. 
 Everything was new and strange to the family and mother 
 must have spent many lonely days that first summer. Father 
 was very busy getting material ready for the new log house 
 and there was a good deal of work to be done. Fortunately he 
 had taken with him from Scotland quite an assortment of tools 
 which he knew would be needed in a new country. He was 
 very skillful in using them and making things, so in this way our 
 house was better equipped with conveniences than it otherwise 
 
41 
 
 would have been. He also brought with him a compass which 
 proved invaluable, enabling him to keep his directions in a 
 country without roads or landmarks of any kind. 
 
 To show that children in those days had to be brave and 
 manly beyond their years, I will relate a little incident about 
 brother George which occured that first summer of 1837 
 shortly after we came from Ottawa. A man by the name of 
 McBride had come into the country and taken up land and 
 was building a house a mile and a half north of Belvidere. 
 Hearing of Father he came and asked him to build his chim- 
 ney. Father walked to Belvidere prepared to stay one night. 
 He took George, then about eight and a half years old, with 
 him, as it was necessary to send him back alone that same day 
 with some things necessary for the family. It was a long lone- 
 some walk for the small boy, over a trackless country of wood 
 and brush and not a habitation between our cabin and what is 
 now Belvidere, and George had never been far from home be- 
 fore. So Father thoughtfully took his hatchet with him and 
 "blazed a trail" as they walked along so that George could find 
 his way home, which he did in safety, for he was a brave son of 
 a brave pioneer father. As I think of it now, after all these 
 years, it was taking a great risk, as there might have been 
 Indians lurking about, or wild beasts. 
 
 I think it was on this same trip that Father took George to 
 see Big Thunder on his burial mound on the very site where 
 the Court House now stands in Belvidere. Big Thunder was 
 an Indian chief who had recently come to his death and as 
 was the custom of the Indians, he was buried above ground in 
 a sitting posture, dressed in his blanket and war paint and 
 headdress of feathers and surrounded by his tomahawks and 
 knives, pipes and tobacco. The whole space was enclosed in 
 a palisade of heavy split pickets, strong enough to keep out 
 wild beasts. The sight made a vivid impression on the little 
 boy and he often described it afterward. Squaw Prairie on 
 
42 
 
 which Belvidere is now located was a favorite summer camp- 
 ing ground of the wandering tribes of the Winnebagoes. 
 
 As I look back now, I sometimes wonder how Father and 
 Mother were able to supply the daily needs of the family in 
 that first year or two in the new world. I am sure that none 
 of us suffered from cold or hunger. There was always plenty 
 of wood provided for the fireplace and as for clothing and 
 bed-furnishings, those great chests which we brought from 
 Scotland contained enough to last us several years. But food 
 supplies were high and scarce and difficult to obtain, nothing 
 being raised here yet and we were many miles from any base 
 of supplies, Chicago and Ottawa being the nearest. I have 
 heard father say that he paid $25 for a barrel of pork and $2 1 
 for a barrel of flour, the pork coming from Indiana. It must 
 have required a good deal of fore-thought to see that there 
 were enough provisions on hand, as it would have been dis- 
 astrous in the wilderness to let the food supply run out. 
 Fortunately wild game was abundant and that helped out 
 with the meat supply. 
 
 It was while Father was working in the grove, getting out 
 timber for the new log house, that he observed bees flying 
 about and traced them to hollow trees where they were storing 
 their honey. So the family had plenty of honey for the getting. 
 In the grove the wild game was plentiful, especially prairie 
 chickens, quail and pigeons. Pheasants and partridges were 
 quite numerous also. There were wild turkeys too, but they 
 were more shy. 
 
 I remember well one of the older children showing me the 
 nest of a wild turkey under a brush near where Father was 
 working. We did not know till afterwards that those large 
 speckled eggs, so different from hen's eggs, were those of a 
 turkey. 
 
 Then there were hawks and owls in great variety, also 
 crows and sand-hill cranes. We often saw and heard great 
 
43 
 
 flocks of wild geese flying over and alighting in the sloughs. 
 
 The native animals, I remember, were the deer, which were 
 quite plentiful, wolves, wild cats, mink, weasel, rabbits and 
 squirrels. Also large land turtles and last of all plenty of 
 snakes, the bane of a new country. I have said the deer were 
 quite plentiful and I think this particular place must have been 
 their favorite haunt, at least one of them. There was a spring 
 on Father's claim near the stone quarry where the deer came 
 every morning to drink. I can still see in memory the grace- 
 ful creatures as they left the spring or lingered to browse on 
 the hazel brush near where Willow Creek church now stands, 
 before they disappeared into the big grove farther south and 
 east. As more settlers came into the country these shy animals 
 grew more and more scarce and finally disappeared altogether. 
 
 There were also the beautiful song birds with their brilliant 
 plumage but Mother thought their song did not sound as sweet 
 to her as that of the mavis and laverock of "Bonnie Scotland." 
 
 I must make mention of the beautiful flowers that grew 
 wild, carpeting the prairie with their brilliant coloring, red, 
 pink, purple, white, blue, and yellow, each in its season. There 
 were asters, cardinal flowers, wild tiger lilies, shooting stars, 
 lady slippers, cranes-bill geraniums and Indian compass. 
 
 The air was fragrant in spring with blossoms of the wild 
 crab apple, wild plums, cherry, blackberry, and red raspberry. 
 There were also juniper berries, thorn apples and abundance of 
 wild strawberries. 
 
 THE PRAIRIE FIRE 
 
 An experience of that first summer (1837) that is stamped 
 on my memory from hearing it related, is the prairie fire. 
 Father and Mother were awakened about midnight by a roar- 
 ing noise and on getting up and looking out they saw, to their 
 horror, a great fire off towards the south, driven by the wind 
 towards the house. On and on the fire came with great leaps 
 and bounds, over the prairie, licking up the long prairie grass 
 
44 
 
 and brush and running up the trees as it came into the grove. 
 It was a terrifying sight and father fully realized that there 
 was no way of escape unless a higher power intervened. 
 Father and Mother gathered the children together and waited 
 in an agony of mind, for they knew not what. When the fire 
 was nearly upon us, seemingly from a clear sky came a deluge 
 of rain, like a cloud burst and extinguished the flames. Father 
 always said "It was the Hand of God" and counted it one of 
 his merciful providences that the family was saved on that 
 awful night. When the light of the next morning came, the 
 bare, black ground and the blackened tree trunks, in the wake 
 of the fire, testified to our narrow escape. 
 
 As I have said it was very lonely for the family in the cabin 
 that summer as, for the first fourteen weeks after coming from 
 Ottawa, Mother had not seen a person except her own family. 
 One day sister Martha came running in exclamaing, "Mother, 
 there's a man coming through the brush," and she hastily added 
 "He is a white man at that." For she knew Mother had a 
 fear of the Indians. The white man proved to be Horace 
 Dyer, who was prospecting for land. 
 
 The summer of 1837 wore away and the time was drawing 
 near for the completion of the log house. Father's was still 
 the only Scotch family here, but a few other settlers had been 
 coming in, and by this time there were five men within a radius 
 of six miles who came to help Father with the raising of the 
 logs and putting on the roof. These men were all Americans, 
 and they were exceedingly kind and helpful and knew how to 
 take told of things in a new country. The spot where Father 
 chose to locate the log house was near the Boone County line, 
 between a quarter and a half mile northeast of the present 
 Willow Creek church and back in the field from the present 
 State Road, which was not then laid out. Father afterward 
 sold the eighty acres on which the house stood to Mr. John 
 Andrew, Sr. 
 
45 
 
 We moved in October and here we were to make our home 
 for a number of years. 
 
 I remember perfectly the log house with its two great 
 chimneys and fire-places and its two large rooms, but will 
 not take space to describe it here. 
 
 Many are the memories that cluster about the home. It 
 was here that my two younger sisters, Helen and Ann, were 
 born, and here that my two elder sisters, Martha and Eliza- 
 beth were married. Helen was the first child born in the 
 Scotch Settlement. It was in this house also that so many 
 families coming from Scotland in the next few years found a 
 hearty welcome and a home with our family until their own 
 houses were built. 
 
 I never remember the time that Father did not have daily 
 family worship in the home. He read a chapter from the 
 Bible, then all joined in the singing of a hymn or psalm after 
 which Father offered prayer. Each of the older children had 
 a Bible of his own and followed the reading carefully, while 
 the little ones, who could not yet read looked on with an older 
 brother or sister, tracing the words with a finger. It was in 
 this way that I learned the way to read for we had no school 
 books. 
 
 The first school I attended was that of Miss Janet Giffen, 
 who had opened a private school in her father's house shortly 
 after they came from Scotland. That was in the summer. 
 The next winter, brother George and I were sent to Rockford 
 to attend a school there and stay at sister Martha's, who by 
 this time had married Mr. Parker and was living in Rockford. 
 The school was located south of State street near where the 
 City Hall now stands and the teacher was Miss Hutchinson, 
 a lady from the East. The next summer I went to a school in 
 Rockford taught by Miss Barnum, who also came from the 
 East. The school was located north of State street on the 
 present site of the East Side Park. 
 
46 
 
 I recall that it was when I came home from attending this 
 school in 1841 that the William Harvey family had arrived 
 from Scotland and were staying at father's and how delighted 
 I was to see so many children, and that there were girls in the 
 family who would be companions for me. 
 
 In 1 842 the log school house was built and we then attended 
 there, Mr. Lovesee being the first teacher. I distinctly re- 
 member an incident that happened one day at this school dur- 
 ing Mr. Lovesee's term. I refer to the passing of a long line 
 of Indians. The teacher dismissed his school so that the 
 children could go outside and get a good view of the interesting 
 spectacle. We could see the Indians in the distance winding 
 along the trail towards the school house after crossing Willow 
 Creek. They passed right by the east end of the school house. 
 The braves were mounted on their Indian ponies, carrying 
 their guns, and I recall how straight each one sat looking 
 stolidly ahead, neither to right or left. Straggling along after 
 them, on foot, of course, came the squaws, carrying the 
 burdens, and many a one had her papoose strapped on her 
 back. It was in early spring, a cold bleak day, and the women 
 were thoroughly chilled. We saw three of the squaws leave 
 the procession and go down to Robert Howie's house. A few 
 of the little school girls, including Elizabeth and Mary Picken 
 and myself, followed at a distance and went in after them. 
 They had come to beg, and Robert Howie's sister, Mrs. 
 McDonald, kind-hearted woman that she was, had given 
 them bread and allowed the poor creatures to come and warm 
 at the fire. We saw one squaw unstrap the board from her 
 back with the baby on it and set it upright against the wall, 
 baby and all, while she warmed herself. The baby was as 
 stolid as the rest and never uttered a cry. These Indians were 
 some of the scattered tribes of the Winnebagoes, who had 
 wintered in the woods in the vicinity of the Beaver, and were 
 on their way north to join the rest of their people before 
 
47 
 
 crossing the Mississippi. 
 
 During our last years in the log house, Father had been 
 erecting, mostly with his own hands, a more permanent dwell- 
 ing on another part of his farm. This was the large two story 
 stone house into which we moved about the year 1844. It 
 was located about half a mile directly north of the spot where 
 the church now stands, and it remained standing as many of 
 the people of the vicinity remember until quite recently, when 
 it was taken down. The site is now occupied by Mr. Charles 
 Andrew's new home. 
 
 The Scottish Cemetery is located on ground one half of 
 which was originally the extreme northeast corner of Father's 
 farm in Winnebago County, and the other half lying in Boone 
 county was the northwest corner of the George Picken farm. 
 
 As I think of the stone house a flood of memories comes 
 over me, of things that occured while this was our home. Here 
 it was that the three younger daughters, including myself, 
 were married. And from this home it was that my three 
 brothers went to make homes of their own. To this house 
 also father brought home his two young grandsons, John and 
 George Parker, upon the death of their mother, my sister 
 Martha, Mrs. Frank Parker, in Rockford. Here they made 
 their home with our family until they grew to manhood and 
 John Parker enlisted in the Civil War. 
 
 Among other memories, I recall the time when Willow 
 Creek church was organized in 1 845 by the Rev. Mr. Norton, 
 and their meetings in the log school-house. We came to know 
 Mr. Norton very well, as he preached there often and always 
 stopped at Father's house on his way coming and going, Father 
 being one of the three first elders. Then there was the Rev. 
 Mr. Walker, who boarded with us until he was married and a 
 parsonage was fitted up for him in half of Mrs. Smith's house. 
 I remember perfectly all the early ministers, as Father and 
 Mother were very hospitable and the ministers found always a 
 
48 
 
 welcome in our home. Among them one stands out more 
 distinctly in my mind than the Rev. Mr. Ustick. 
 
 I have vivid recollections of my going away to Rockford 
 Seminary (now college) just opened by Miss Sill, and a little 
 later, of brother John entering the Academy at Marengo in 
 company with four other young men of the settlement, namely, 
 Andrew and John Giffen, David Andrew, and Archie 
 Armour. Mr. Ustick was our minister at that time and I 
 recall many of his sermons preached in the new brick church. 
 
 Later memories are of the Singing Schools and the popular 
 musical Geography School held in the evening, and I can 
 still see in imagination one of the young people stepping up to 
 the map and pointing out the place while the whole school 
 sang, perhaps: — 
 
 "Now the Peninsulas we sing, 
 Alaska leads the rhyme, sir. 
 Then Melville, Nova Scotia, come, 
 All in a northern clime, sir." 
 
 The following is taken from a newspaper clipping, Novem- 
 ber 28, 1917, regarding the death of Mrs. J. O. Gregory: 
 
 The kindly spirit of Mrs. Janette Greenlee Gregory, widow 
 of James O. Gregory and resident of this section for over 
 eighty years, deserted its tenement of clay yesterday afternoon 
 at 4 o'clock at her home, 603 Horsman street, after an illness 
 of two weeks of infirmities of age. 
 
 She was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, a daughter of John 
 and Helen Brown Greenlee. She came to this country with 
 her parents when three years of age and in 1836 the family 
 located in what is now Argyle and founded what became 
 widely known as the "Scotch Settlement." 
 
 She was one of the early day graduates of the Rockford 
 Seminary conducted by Miss Anna P. Sill and her marriage 
 to James O. Gregory, of Delavan country, New York, was 
 an event of April 19, 1855. After spending ten years on the 
 
49 
 
 farm owned by the groom they moved to Belvidere, where 
 Mr. Gregory engaged in the hardware business for four years. 
 
 They located in Rockford in 1871, purchasing the home at 
 603 Horsman street which has since been their home and 
 where Mr. Gregory passed away four years ago. Mr. 
 Gregory embarked in the hardware line in West State street 
 and conducted a successful business for many years, retiring 
 some years ago to enjoy a well earned competency. 
 
 Mrs. Gregory is survived by two daughters, the Misses 
 Helen and Elizabeth Greenlee Gregory, and one son, Wilbur 
 J. Gregory, of Manistee, Mich. She also leaves a sister, Mrs. 
 Ann Turner, of this city. She held membership of long 
 standing in Court Street M. E. Church. 
 
 Mrs. Gregory exemplified in a high degree the virtues that 
 brighten the home and make it the dearest spot on earth. As 
 a daughter, wife and mother she measured up to the best 
 ideals of Christian womanhood. She was possessed of a keen 
 mind and sound memory and her recollections of early days 
 in this section were of absorbing interest to the present genera- 
 tion. She was gentle in manner and attracted into the circle 
 of her friendship old and young, through the charm of her 
 genial personality. Her passing will be sincerely mourned by 
 a wide acquaintanceship. 
 
50 
 
 Chapter VI 
 MORE EMIGRANTS 
 
 For the date of the sailing of the good ship Gleaner, we 
 are indebted to James Montgomery of Rockford, Illinois, he 
 having found it among his father's papers. The Gleaner was 
 the only vessel or barque that sailed direct from Campbeltown 
 to New York, all the others having sailed from Glasgow or 
 Greenock. 
 
 "The following people sailed in the barque, Gleaner, from 
 Campbeltown, under Captain Gale for New York on the fourth 
 day of June, 1 842, Saturday, about eight o'clock in the evening. 
 William Montgomery, James Montgomery and family, three 
 sons and four daughters, and John Montgomery, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Daniel Smith and family, six sons and three daughters, and a 
 sister's daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Neil McKay and family, four 
 sons, Robert, John, Alexander, and Neil, two daughters, Flora 
 and Agnes, Mr. and Mrs. John Caldwell, his mother and 
 mother-in-law, David C. Ralston, his brother-in-law, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Peter Greenlee and family, four sons and three daugh- 
 ters, and his mother, Archie McNair and family, Mr. and 
 Mrs. David Andrew and family, six sons and three daughters, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Mathew Howie, two sons and one daughter, 
 Mr. and Mrs. William Ralston, two sons and five daughters, 
 Campbell Kelley, and Angus Cummings. 
 
 There were about one hundred passengers, most of them 
 going to Illinois and some to Ohio. It blew a heavy gale of 
 wind from the west continuing until the 27th. They arrived in 
 New York on June 28, all in good health. The same year 
 the family of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Reid came. Mrs. 
 Reid's maiden name was Elizabeth Park. They were a 
 typical old Scotch couple. All the young people called them 
 Granddaddy and Granny Reid. Accompanying theme were 
 James Reid, Mrs. McNair and her two children, one son, 
 Alexander and one daughter, Elizabeth, who afterwards was 
 
51 
 
 Mrs. D. C. Ralston. Mrs. McNair's second husband was 
 James Picken. Their family was Hugh, Mary and Margaret 
 Picken. The Reids and McNairs located on part of the 
 Babcock claim, being the farm now owned by James McNair. 
 
 In 1843 came Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ralston and family of 
 three sons and two daughters. He was a brother of William 
 Ralston who came with the Gleaner. They located on West 
 Lane on the farm later owned by J. R. McDonald. Mr. 
 Ralston was elected an elder in the Willow Creek church. 
 The same year came Charles Picken, brother of James 
 Picken. He owned the farm on West Lane afterwards owned 
 by Thomas Ralston, now in the possession of Robert Irvine. 
 
 Alexander Ralston, who was a brother of Robert and D. 
 C. Ralston, on leaving Scotland came to St. Johns, New- 
 foundland. From there he went to Ohio, coming to the settle- 
 ment in 1843. He owned the farm on West Lane, now 
 owned by James Greenlee. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Henderson, with their two sons, John 
 and Robert, emigrated from Kintyre to Canada in 1841. 
 They remained there for two years coming to the colony in 
 1843, locating on farms south of Caledonia. Mr. Henderson 
 was a shoemaker by trade. At this time there was thirty 
 families located in the colony. 
 
 In the spring of 1843 a Sunday School was organized in 
 the log school-house. Daniel Smith was the first superintend- 
 end and continued to be until his death. Those who succeeded 
 him were Robert Howie and Alexander Ralston. As near as 
 can be ascertained the teachers of the first Sunday School were 
 Mrs. William Harvey, Flora Smith, Janet Giffen, Robert 
 Smith, Robert Montgomery, Alexander McNair, and later 
 Mrs. Walker and T. L. Breckenridge. Daniel Smith brought 
 a number of books with him from Scotland which he kindly lent 
 to the school. During the week the books that were not in use 
 were kept in a "maan" or creel (a willow basket) in Robert 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 ILLINOIS LIBRARY 
 
52 
 
 Howie's house. 
 
 Thomas L. Breckenridge, one of the Sunday School 
 teachers, had a peculiar and romantic history. He was 
 a school teacher and lawyer and often in the absence of a 
 minister would read a sermon. He was a natural orator and 
 public speaker. His reading of the psalms and hymns were 
 very impressive, especially the hymn, "Jesus shall reign where 
 e'er the sun doth his successive journeys run." His advent to 
 the Argyle Settlement was rather romantic, appearing one day 
 at the John Greenlee home apparently in destitute circum- 
 stances, being poorly dressed and exhausted by long travel. 
 He was cordially welcomed by Mr. Greenlee who remembered 
 him as a little boy with his father at the old Southend church. 
 After a time he confided to the Greenlee family that he had 
 come to them direct from Nauvoo where he had been teaching 
 school. About this time there was an uprising against the 
 Mormons at Nauvoo and the jail at Carthage and Warren 
 were burned. Joseph Smith and his brother, the leaders and 
 founders of the Mormon church at Nauvoo, had been killed. 
 Mr. Breckenridge was a captain or leader in the uprising and 
 was supposed to have been implicated in the plot. It was not 
 known whether he had any part in the affair or not but that 
 was the reason he left Nauvoo. No one ever came to arrest 
 him and he stayed in the settlement for a number of years. He 
 had the sympathy of the community and was an honored 
 citizen. As far as is known, he had no relatives in America. 
 He was at one time a partner with L. F. Warner, a lawyer 
 in Rockford, and was one of the prominent lawyers of the 
 county for a number of years. He had the generous qualities 
 and also the weakness that men of great genius often possess. 
 
 The history of the Willow Creek church was written at the 
 time of the Semicentenial Celebration on the sixth and seventh 
 of June, 1895, and also at the time of the seventy fifth anni- 
 versary, June 22-23, 1920. Although this is not a church his- 
 
53 
 
 tory strictly speaking, yet the church life and the social life of 
 the community has always been so closely connected that we 
 cannot mention one without the other. An effort was made 
 to organize a church in 1843. No record was kept of the 
 proceedings and no further action was taken until December, 
 1844. The Rev. Mr. Norton, a new school minister living at 
 Rockton, organized the church with fifty-one members. 
 
 The charter members of the First Presbyterian church of 
 Willow Creek are as follows: 
 
 Daniel Smith 
 Mrs. Smith 
 Flora Smith 
 Robert Smith 
 John Smith 
 John Andrew 
 Mary Andrew 
 John Picken 
 Elizabeth Ralston, Sr. 
 Ellen Ferguson 
 Robert Howie 
 Janet Howie 
 George Picken 
 Jean Picken 
 John Martin 
 Mrs. Martin 
 James Montgomery 
 Elizabeth Montgomery 
 Hugh Reid 
 Mrs. Reid 
 Alexander Reid 
 Janet Reid 
 
 Alexander McDonald 
 Margaret McDonald 
 Andrew GifFen 
 
 Charlotte Armour 
 Mary McNair 
 John Greenlee 
 Ellen Greenlee 
 Peter Ralston 
 Margaret Ralston 
 Peter Greenlee 
 Martha Greenlee 
 William Ferguson 
 Janet GifFen 
 Lionel Henderson 
 Margaret Henderson 
 John Caldwell 
 Margaret Caldwell 
 Ellen Ralston 
 Alexander Ralston 
 David Ralston, Jr. 
 Mary Harvey 
 Charles Picken 
 Samuel Howie 
 Janet Howie 
 David Ralston, Sr. 
 Gavin Ralston 
 Jane Ralston 
 Robert Ralston 
 
 John Ralston 
 As the majority of the charter members of the Willow 
 Creek Church were from the Southend Church, it may be of 
 interest to the readers to see the names of the members of the 
 Southend Church who signed the call to their first minister, 
 the Rev. Alexander Laing, M. A., which was given on the 
 25th of February, 1 799, being one hundred and sixteen years 
 
54 
 
 ago. The original call came into possession of Mr. A. D. 
 Armour through his great grandfather, Alexander Dunlop. 
 Some time ago he handed the document to Mr. William Reid 
 and Mr. James Breckenridge who saw its historical value and 
 had it mounted and framed. At a presentation gathering in 
 the Southend U. F. Church on February 25, 1915, on the 
 hundred and sixteenth anniversary, the original call was pre- 
 sented to the session of the church it being mounted and framed 
 and was to be hung on the wall of the session room. Note 
 that many of the family names of the charter members of the 
 Willow Creek Church and the Southend Church are the 
 same. The ministers who followed the Rev. Laing were 
 Rev. Lambie, Rev. Small, Rev. Young, and Rev. John G. 
 Frain. The following are the names of the members who 
 signed the original call; as taken from a newspaper clipping: 
 "In testimony whereof these presents, written by James 
 Telfer, writer in Campbeltown, are subscribed by us at the 
 Relief Church of Southend, the twenty-fifth day of February, 
 one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine years. 
 
 John Picken William McFarlane 
 
 George Greenlees Neil M'Tavish 
 
 Matthew Cordiner Archd. Watson 
 
 Andrew Ralston James Hall 
 
 Andrew Ralston Robert Allan 
 
 James Wilson William Wallace 
 
 John Reid James Caldwell 
 
 Peter Huie John Giffen 
 
 David Wyllie Alexander Reid 
 
 Andrew Breckenridge John Watson 
 
 James M'Donald Mathew Reid 
 
 William Allan James Gordon 
 
 Robert Dunlop James GifTen 
 
 David Huie William Huie 
 
 John Huie John Ralston 
 
 Edward Greenlees William Greenlees 
 
 Robert Huie Archd. Brown 
 
 John Macintyre William Andrew 
 
 James Ralston William Picken 
 
 David Andrew Robert Brown 
 
 Thomas M'Naught William Wilson 
 
55 
 
 James Drain David Hogarth 
 
 Alexander Picken John M'Donald 
 
 Malcolm M 'Bride David Reid 
 
 Hugh Reid John Reid 
 
 John Reid Andrew Reid 
 
 Thomas Brown Gavin Ralston 
 
 Donald Smith James Picken 
 
 James Mitchell John Greenlees 
 
 David Andrew Archibald Murchy 
 
 Robert M'Guinnes Daniel Murchy 
 
 Hugh Breckenridge William Reid 
 
 Robert Greenlees Archd. Paterson 
 
 James Langwill John Langwill 
 
 Charles Brown Thomas Greenlees 
 
 Robert Brown Archd. Picken 
 
 Peter Ralston Alexander Picken, Jr. 
 
 John Greenlees James Fleming 
 
 Robert Montgomery Thomas Ralston 
 
 This day, and according to appointment of Presbytery, 
 I preached to the forming Congregation of Southend, Argyle- 
 shire, and I do hereby ceritfy that this call to Mr. Alexander 
 Laing, Preacher of the Gospel, to be their Pastor, written on 
 this sheet, was subscribed in my presence by the whole of the 
 subscribers of their own free will and choice at Southend this 
 twenty-fifth day of February, one thousand seven hundred 
 and ninety-nine years. 
 
 James Pinkerton." 
 
 The first elders of the Willow Creek Church were John 
 Greenlee, Daniel Smith and James Montgomery. The first 
 officers for the year 1 845 were Robert Armour, John Andrew, 
 and Robert Howie (trustees), William Ferguson, treasurer, 
 Samual Howie, clerk. It was decided that the church should 
 be built of red brick on an acre of land given by Robert 
 Howie where the present church now stands. The plan of the 
 building was drawn by Rev. Mr. Walker which was accepted. 
 In order to raise the money to pay for the building, it was 
 decided to sell the seats at auction to the highest bidder on 
 the basis of personal property, those who purchased seats to 
 have the sole right for themselves and their heirs as long as 
 
56 
 
 they paid the yearly assessment. On October 4, 1848, the 
 seats were sold at auction by John Andrew and David 
 Andrew. 
 
 The church was built in 1849 and occupied in 1850. 
 There is no record of the church being formally dedi- 
 cated. The Rev. Ustick preached before the building was 
 quite finished. He presented the church with a pulpit Bible. 
 The building stood with gable ends east and west. It had one 
 door in the east end, six windows, three on the north and 
 three on the south, with the pulpit in the west end. It was a 
 neat, comfortable and substantial church for that early day. 
 
 The Rev. Matthew Howie, one of the young men of the 
 parish in a letter to the anniversary committee at the time of the 
 semi-centenial celebration, gave a description of the interior of 
 the first church. It had walnut pews with doors to them so 
 when all the family got in they latched the door and shut out 
 all intruders. At the west end, on an elevated platform, was 
 an inclosed box pulpit also with doors so that when the 
 preacher got inside he was secure against all inquisitive eyes and 
 could take a pinch of snuff and curl his hair or adjust his 
 white neck-tie without anyone being the wiser of it. It was 
 painted a glistening white and when I heard the preacher read 
 from John's vision about the great white throne, I wondered 
 if it looked like that pulpit. Just in front of the pulpit, on a 
 less elevated platform, stood the presenter. George Greenlee 
 led the singing in Rouse's version of the Psalms. No. instru- 
 ment was used, but he used a tuning fork to get the pitch and 
 catch the mysterious spirit of the hymn. He sometimes took 
 his brother, John up to help with the singing and then the old 
 folks would shake their heads and say that young man was 
 trying to introduce some new f angled notions; it would be the 
 first step towards a choir. But when someone proposed getting 
 a cabinet organ for the church, the air grew lurid and there 
 was thunder and lightning all around the sky. I remember 
 
57 
 
 hearing my father, Mathew Howie, Sr., and John Caldwell, 
 discussing the subject one day and they came to the conclusion 
 that it was surely the "Deil" was putting these notions into 
 the heads of the young people. My father said he would be 
 one of a committee to go and pitch the organ out into the 
 middle of the road if it was ever put into the church. My 
 sister, Martha, told them that David used a harp in praising 
 the Lord and that there were harps in heaven. "Oh yes," 
 they said, "but they were very different instruments from the 
 Yankee organs.'* 
 
 The ministers who followed Rev. Norton were Rev. Mr. 
 Tilestson for about one year and Rev. Walker for three years. 
 Rev. Ustick came to the church in 1 850 and continued for five 
 years being the first regular installed minister. It was cus- 
 tomary in the old church to hold two services on Sunday with 
 a half hour interval. In Ian Maclaren's book "Beside the 
 Bonnie Brier Bush" we read how the men in the parish of 
 Drumtouchty would meet on the kirk green during the interval 
 between the sermons and discuss the public questions of the 
 day. Did you know that we had a Drumtouchty here in 
 Illinois? During the interval the women and children would 
 visit in the church and the men would meet on the kirk green 
 and pass on public questions of the day; the question of 
 slavery, the tariff, the doctrine of election, weather conditions, 
 crops and markets. Families who were separated during the 
 week greeted each other on the church green. There is a 
 little of the Drumtouchty spirit left in the community yet. 
 There are new speakers on the green and new subjects dis- 
 cussed. It is a new blade but it is the same handle, and is the 
 same old knife of public opinion that is used to carve public 
 questions of the day. 
 
 Hearing and discussing sermons was part of the social 
 life of the settlement in the early days. Perhaps you have 
 read of Elseph McFadgen in "The Bonnie Brier Bush" 
 
58 
 
 who was the sermon taster who was blessed with a good 
 memory and kept it in fettle on sermons. There were 
 sermon tasters in the old Willow Creek Church. Any young 
 minister who could run the gauntlet of their criticisms was 
 worthy of any pulpit. If they introduced a story in their ser- 
 mon by way of illustration, the comment would be "It was gie 
 thin gruel yon." They seldom complimented their minister. 
 Rev. John Montgomery, one of the young men of the parish, 
 speaking of the old people said they put him in mind of a young 
 Scotch lad who one the eve of his wedding turned to his bride 
 and said, "Maggie, hae I no treated you reel ceevil," meaning 
 that he had not kissed her during their courtship. She replied, 
 "Aye Sandy, ya hae been senselessly ceevil." When they did 
 offer a compliment to their minister it was honest and sincere 
 and meant a great deal. 
 
 The year 1 850 was the banner year of the settlement. The 
 first brick church was completed and the community had a 
 permanent place of worship. More families came that year 
 from Scotland than any other years. Homes were located and 
 hundreds of acres of the virgin soil was broken up. Five or 
 six pair of oxen were hitched to a large breaking plow. Some 
 of the young men were experts at driving the oxen. They 
 could crack a whip as good as any cowboy or eskimo we read 
 about in story books. Some men made a business of breaking 
 new fields for the farmers. Dan Kingsly, living on the north 
 side of the settlement, did a great deal of this kind of work. 
 It was not a new custom to plow with oxen. We are told in 
 the Bible that Elisha, the son of Shapshat, was plowing with 
 twelve yoke of oxen when Elijah passed by and cast his 
 mantle upon him. 
 
 In 1850 a number of families left Campbeltown for Green- 
 ock and Glasgow to take ship for New York. The following 
 families sailed from Glasgow by the ship Sarah, commanded 
 by Captain Tims on June 6, 1850: Mr. and Mrs. Robert 
 
59 
 
 Greenlee and family, five sons and fivq daughters, Mrs. 
 William Greenlee, four sons and three daughters, and Miss 
 Katherine Greenlees, James and John Kelley, Robert Kelley, 
 and his sister, Agnes, who later was Mrs. Charles Brown, 
 Mathew Blair, Neil McMichael, David Hogarth, Lachey, 
 Boowey, Robert Maxwell, Dugal McDugal and William 
 Ryburn. On the same date, June 6, the following families 
 sailed from Greenock on the ship Charlotte Harrison under 
 Captain Mackintyre: Mr. and Mrs. John Ralston (elder), 
 two sons and six daughters, Mrs. Martha McDonald, one 
 son and two daughters, the Watson family of five sons and 
 two daughters, Mrs. Mitchell, widow, being twice married, 
 Charles and Mary Armour of the first family, and John and 
 Janet Mitchell of the second family, Duncan McDonald and 
 William Reid, the McKerrell and McDonald families who 
 were going to Canada. During the voyage, the Charlotte 
 Harrison passed through a severe storm. The passengers were 
 ordered down and the hatches were closed for a time. They 
 arrived in New York safely. The day they landed, the city 
 of New York was holding memorial service. The flags were 
 at half mast and the streets were lined with soldiers. The 
 occasion was the death of Zachery Taylor, president of the 
 United States, who died on the ninth of July, 1850, sixteen 
 months after his inauguration. This was an occasion to be 
 remembered by these emigrants. 
 
 There was a gentleman by the name of Cooper who had 
 taken a large tract of land from the government on the Kin- 
 nikinnick Creek. After Mr. Cooper's death, Mr. Robert 
 Greenlee bought the land from the heirs of the Cooper estate, 
 being the farms now owned by Thomas Greenlee and James 
 Greenlee estate. 
 
 James and John Kelley, on coming to this country, went to 
 Cincinnati, Ohio, where they remained for a few years. When 
 they came to this locality, James Kelley located on a farm near 
 
60 
 
 Caledonia. John Kelley bought a farm near Poplar Grove 
 which his son, Alex, now owns. Neil McMicheal located on 
 the George Jeffery farm now owned by his son Robert. Wil- 
 liam Ryburn was a blacksmith by trade and was in company 
 with Alex Cameron in Rockford for a number of years. Their 
 shop was located on what was called by the Scotch, Cameron's 
 close, where the Schamuss barns are now located. There was 
 an open court where farmers could leave their wagons and 
 horses. It was headquarters for the settlement folks when they 
 went to Rockford for that kind of work. Mr. and Mrs. John 
 Ralston, with their family, located on a farm on the north 
 side, being the farm now owned by the George Ralston estate. 
 The Watson family, who came with the ship, Charlotte Har- 
 rison, bought farms together in Guilford. 
 
 About the year 1 858 the population of the parish increased 
 by emigration and births so the little brick church would not 
 accommodate the congregation. On June 18, 1858, a meet- 
 ing was called to consider the building of an addition to the 
 brick church. A committee of six was appointed to take 
 charge of the work viz ; John Andrew, David Lament, David 
 C. Ralston, Charles Picken, Alexander McNair and Edward 
 Brown. The addition was a frame built across the east end of 
 the brick making the audience room in the form of the letter 
 "T." The pulpit was in the center of the east part, the pews 
 facing north, south and east. This building was in use for 
 about twenty years or to the time of the dedication of the 
 present church, which was on Thursday, February 7, 1878. 
 We are indebted to Mrs. Joseph Barnes for the following 
 diagram of the audience room of the old Willow Creek church 
 giving the names of the pew holders, she having made the 
 diagram shortly before the building was torn down. 
 
Chapter VII. 
 THE SCHOOLS 
 The Log School 
 
 The first school teacher was George Lovesee of Roscoe. 
 Following him were Darwin Blair, James Cochran, Henry 
 Bradily Whipple, Birdsall, Dresser, Armstrong, T. L. Breck- 
 enridge, James Giffen and Robert Ralston. There were no 
 lady teachers in the log school as far as is known. Mr. Dresser, 
 one of the teachers, was a married man and lived in a log 
 house on the Hugh Reid farm and taught for a number of 
 terms, being a very learned man. He gave lectures on as- 
 tronomy on different occasions. 
 
 Although the children of the early days had few books, 
 they had good teachers. That is one reason why so many 
 who received their education at the old schools were capable 
 of holding positions of trust. 
 
 Robert Ralston was born July 12, 1802, at Southend, 
 Argyleshire, Scotland. He received his education there, being 
 a graduate of Edinburgh university. Later he was in company 
 with another gentleman as ship chandlers in Greenock. He 
 took passage from Greenock August 5, 1833, in a sailing ves- 
 sel bound for Quebec, being forty days on the ocean. From 
 Quebec he went to Massachusetts where he obtained employ- 
 ment in a hardware store. He later came to Washington 
 county, Ohio, where he taught school before coming to Illinois 
 in 1 850. While in Ohio, he was united in marriage to Nancy 
 Biggings. Of their family of four sons and two daughters, 
 all were born in Ohio except the youngest daughter. They 
 lived in a house on the Robert Howie farm for two years 
 before going on their farm. During this time Mr. Ralston 
 taught in the Log School, Stone School and McDonald house. 
 "When we were at the Schule my friens 
 
 When we were at the schule 
 And aylsic merry pranks we played 
 When we were at the schule." 
 
62 
 
 Come with me once more to the old school. The boys are 
 playing shinney on the green and the girls are amusing them- 
 selves with some other game. Hear the shout of the boys as 
 they knock the ball high over their heads to its final goal. The 
 hour has come and the school is called. The children take 
 their places on the slab benches. The teacher is Robert 
 Ralston, a man who was capable of teaching in any high 
 school. He is not only a scholar, but a musician, for he teaches 
 the children the art of music. The children together read a 
 chapter in the Bible and the lessons are resumed for the day. 
 When the hour for closing comes the following roll is called. 
 Who today can answer present; only a few. The great ma- 
 jority have answered the final roll call. The years pass swiftly 
 by and we are borne on with the tide of time. "Truly the 
 places that know us now shall know us no more forever.'* 
 
 Following is the schedule of the common school kept by 
 Robert Ralston in Harlem Township, District No. 4, Town- 
 ship No. 45, Range 2 east of the third principal meridian in 
 the county of Winnebago and state of Illinois, from Novem- 
 ber 19, 1849, to March, 1850, five months. 
 
 There are in all eighty-four names. Of these, at this writ- 
 ing only fourteen are in life. The Argyle Settlement had a 
 consolidated school seventy years ago, and did not realize it. 
 Albannis, James McDonald, William 
 
 Andrew, Charles McLarty, Alexander 
 
 Andrew, David McLarty, Elizbeth 
 
 Andrew, Janet Pangburn, Howard 
 
 Andrew, Mary Pangburn, John 
 
 Andrew, John Picken, Alexander 
 
 Armour, Archibald Picken, Archibald 
 
 Ferguson, Alexander Picken, Charles 
 
 Ferguson, Ellen Picken, Janet 
 
 Ferguson, James Picken, Martha 
 
 GifFen, Alexander Ralston, Agnes 
 
 Giffen, John Ralston, David 
 
 GifFen, Mary Ann Ralston, Ellen 
 
 Greenlee, Hugh Ralston, Henry 
 
 Greenlee, Jane Ralston, Jane 
 
63 
 
 Greenlee, Mary 
 Greenlee, Peter 
 Greenlee, Thomas 
 Greenlee, William 
 Greenlee, William 
 Harvey, Margaret 
 Harvey, Mathew 
 Harvey, Robert 
 Harvey, Susan J. 
 Howie, David 
 Howie, John 
 Lockie, Allison 
 Lockie, Lionel 
 McDonald, Alexander 
 McDonald, James 
 McDonald, John 
 
 Ralston, John 
 Ralston, John Caldwell 
 Ralston, Mary 
 Ralston, Thomas 
 Ralston, William 
 Reid, Ellen 
 Reid, James S. 
 Reid, Margaret 
 Reid, William H. 
 Ryburn, William 
 Sayers, Alvira 
 Smith, Archibald 
 Watson, Edward 
 Watson, John 
 Watson, Neil 
 Watson, Robert 
 
 McDonald, Robert 
 Additional names in second year, April, 1 85 1 : 
 
 Ralston, John B. 
 Ralston, Peter 
 Ralston, William 
 Smith, William 
 Watson, Martha 
 
 Andrew, Hugh 
 Ferguson, Mary Jane 
 Howie, Mathew 
 Pangburn, Cynthia 
 Pangburn, Evelin Amanda 
 Pangburn, Sarah Maria 
 Pupils residing in other districts : 
 
 Allen, Cloena Picken, Ellen 
 
 Havens, Henrietta Picken, George 
 
 McDonald, Andrew Ralston, Zillah 
 
 McEachran, George Sayers, Claira 
 McEachran, James 
 
 GREGORY, OR STONE SCHOOL, LATER 
 KNOWN AS THE BROWN SCHOOL 
 Between 1842 and 1850, the population of the Argyle 
 Settlement greatly increased, not only by families from Scot- 
 land, but people from the New England States had settled 
 in this neighborhood. Among them were the Bartholomews 
 and Jenkes, from Ohio, and Gregorys and Bathricks from 
 New York. Most of them had large families, consequently, 
 the first log school-house could not accomodate the children. 
 The stone school house formerly known as the Gregory 
 school, was built in 1 846, on land given by James O Gregory, 
 on the same ground as the Brown school now occupies. Mr. 
 
64 
 
 Gregory purchased the farm from the government which now 
 belongs to the George Greenlee heirs. No tax was levied on 
 the district for the building, funds being raised by subscription 
 and donation from families who paid in money, work, or 
 material. Those donating the building were: 
 Jehial Gregory James Siddal 
 
 James O. Gregory James Reid 
 
 Peter Ralston Martin Bathrick 
 
 John Greenlee J. Harvey Gregory 
 
 George Jeffery Charles Babcock 
 
 Elias Cady Nelson Bartholomew 
 
 The building was completed in 1846 in time for the 
 winter term. The first teacher was Mr. Hicoch. 
 
 The following is a list of the children who attended his 
 
 school : 
 
 George Greenlee Mary Ann Siddle 
 
 John Greenlee Nancy Siddle 
 
 Charles Greenlee James Siddle 
 
 Ellen Greenlee Calvin Dart 
 
 Joseph Jeffery Caleb Dart 
 
 Samuel Jeffery Ornon Dart 
 
 George Jeffery Susannah Dart 
 
 Friend Bathrick Nancy Wyman 
 
 Susan Bathrick Martha McEachran 
 
 Mary Electa Bathrick Janette Ralston 
 
 Helen Bathrick Peter Ralston 
 
 Catherine Gregory Fernando Crossman 
 
 Mary Victoria Gregory Alma Crossman 
 
 Charles Picken William Crossman 
 
 Martha Picken John Whipple 
 Archie Armour 
 
 The second teacher was Miss Emmeline Ensign, who taught 
 
 in the summer of 1847. Teachers following were James 
 
 Lamb, 1848, James Benedict, 1849, Miss Garlick, 1849, 
 
 Miss Bartlett, 1850, O. M. Crossman, 1851, Mary Jane 
 
 Warner, 1851, and Robert Ralston, 1852. Following Mr. 
 
 Ralston were Miss Nancy Cole, Miss Mears, Almond Dodge, 
 
 Joel Jenks, John Greenlee, and James Lamont, who taught 
 
 during the Civil War in 1860-1861. During the rebellion, 
 
 there were a number of patriotic songs issued that became 
 
65 
 very popular. Among them were, "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, 
 The Boys Are Marching," "Just Before the Battle Mother;' 
 "The Vacant Chair," "Yes, We'll Rally Round the Flag, 
 Boys." They would sing these songs in school and in the 
 homes to the delight of the older people. There were a num- 
 ber of good singers in Mr. Lamont's school. 
 
 The Stone School, later known as the Brown School, 
 schedule of common school taught by Robert Ralston. 
 District No. 1, Township 45, Range 2 East of third principal 
 meridian. November, December 1851, January, February, 
 1852. 
 
 John Greenlee 
 
 Ann Greenlee 
 
 John Parker 
 
 Peter Ralston 
 
 William Ralston 
 
 Ellen Greenlee 
 
 George Parker 
 
 Simeon Tuffs 
 
 Janet Brown 
 
 Edmund Slater 
 
 Elizabeth Ann Gregory 
 
 Mary Gregory 
 
 Lidia Gregory 
 
 Susannah Gregory 
 
 Jane Brown 
 
 Elizabeth Brown 
 Pupils from No. 6 and No. 2 
 
 William Kerr 
 
 Rebeca Babcock 
 
 Warren Babcock 
 
 Jane Ralston 
 
 Emelin Marion Aldrich 
 
 Jane Hickok 
 
 Mary Hickok 
 Pupils from District No. 10: 
 
 Archibald Armour 
 
 Elisabeth Ralston 
 
 John R. McDonald 
 
 Martha Picken 
 
 Archie Picken 
 
 George Picken 
 
 Jane Picken 
 
 John Mitchell 
 Janett Mitchell 
 Lucy Hannah Harris 
 Curtis Bartholomew 
 Phidelia Bartholomew 
 Daniel Siddall 
 James Siddall 
 Nancy Siddall 
 Harvey Gregory 
 Warren Babcock 
 Mary V. Gregory 
 Silass Crossman 
 Ann Helen Ralston 
 Charles Picken 
 Agnes Ralston 
 
 Harrice Hickok 
 Oney A. Harris 
 James Love 
 Sylvester Love 
 Benjamin Strachan 
 William Strachan 
 Louisa Love 
 
 William A. Ralston 
 James McKechran 
 George McKechran 
 John McKechran 
 Archibald McKechran 
 Zilla Ralston 
 
66 
 
 Pupils from District No. 4: 
 
 David Ralston Fernanda Crossman 
 
 Henry Ralston Olive V. Hickok 
 
 Ellen Ralston Caroline Babcock 
 
 Martha Brown, Harriot Brown — Mary Ann Duffy 
 Twin nieces of Rev. Ustick William Long 
 
 Ellen Long 
 
 Mcdonald house 
 
 Schedule of a common school kept by Robert Ralston in 
 District No. 4, township 45, Range 2, Winnebago County, 
 Illinois. December, 1853, January, 1854, February, 1854. 
 
 The log school-house being built of poplar logs did not last 
 long and had to be abandoned for school purposes. Owing 
 to the death of Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, as before mentioned, 
 the farm was sold to William Ferguson and the McDonald 
 house was vacant. The directors of District No. 4 engaged 
 Robert Ralston to teach school in the McDonald house for 
 a term. The following is a schedule of the pupils who at- 
 tended that school: 
 
 Margret Gilson 
 Helen Gilson 
 Eliza Gilson 
 Thomas Kewish 
 John Henry Kewish 
 Caraline Kewish 
 William Howie 
 George Higbee 
 Mary Jane Ralston 
 Isabella Ralston 
 William Ralston 
 Margret Reid 
 William H. Reid 
 James S. Reid 
 William McDonald 
 Robert McDonald 
 John McDonald 
 Helen McLarty 
 Elizabeth McLarty 
 Robert Watson 
 John Watson 
 Neil Watson 
 Edward Watson 
 
 John Howie 
 Andrew McDonald 
 Mary Ann Giffen 
 Alexander Giffen 
 James McDonald 
 Alexander McLarty 
 Ellen Picken 
 Mary Harvey 
 Jonas Randall 
 Julia Randall 
 Anderson Tofflemire 
 John Tofflemire 
 Peter Greenlee 
 William Greenlee 
 Alice Lockie 
 Clocina Allan 
 Lionel Lockie 
 David Howie 
 Mathew Howie 
 David Ralston 
 Henry Ralston 
 John B. Ralston 
 William Smith 
 
67 
 
 Martha Watson Jane Smith 
 
 James Ferguson George Magoon 
 
 Alexander Ferguson Wilder Magoon 
 
 Mary Jane Ferguson Mary Jane Hickbee 
 
 Alexander Picken Ellen Reid 
 
 Janet Picken Margret Reid 
 
 Hugh Picken John Montgomery 
 
 Mathew Harvey Mary Ann Gilson 
 
 Robert Harvey Eliza Gilson 
 
 Margret Harvey Margret Gilson 
 
 Susan Jane Harvey Henry Gilson 
 
 For the schedules of common schools taught by Robert 
 Ralston, we are indebted to Robert Ralston, his son, of 
 Rockford, Illinois, copies of which were among his father's 
 papers. 
 
 THE ENOCH SCHOOL 
 The first school in Guilford Township was held in a typical 
 building of the times, a log building twelve by sixteen feet 
 with large stone fire-place at one end. This building was 
 located at the southeast corner of the McFarland farm, one 
 half mile west of where the Bell school now stands. The 
 pupils sat on slab benches facing the outside of the room about 
 which was arranged a continous desk. The school was taught 
 by Miss Hanna Herrick. For recitation, the classes were 
 called to the center of the room where they stood during the 
 class period. Among the families who attended this school 
 were Hunters, Doolittles and Martins. Ocotber 1 7, 1 845 
 a meeting of District No. 1, Guilford, was called for the 
 purpose of building a school-house. The building was to be 
 of red brick, thirty feet long and twenty feet wide, one story 
 high. It appears from the records that the building was paid 
 for by subscription, the same as churches are generally built. 
 At a meeting of the district the following resolutions were 
 adopted; Resolved: that the said school-house when not ac- 
 tually occupied by a school shall be at all times free for the 
 inhabitants of the district to hold religious meetings of any 
 denomination of Christians without distinction ; all honor to the 
 
68 
 
 men and women who laid the foundation of our common wealth 
 to adopt the above resolution. It was their ambition that the 
 church and school should have the first place as community 
 centers. The first directors of the Enoch School were G. U. 
 Horton, J. Thomas, and John T. Enoch. The location of 
 the building was to be at, or near the junction of the cart 
 road from Thomas Lake's and the road leading from the east 
 county line to Rockford, being the present site of the Bell 
 school-house. 
 
 The following is a list of the teachers taken from the school 
 records : 
 
 J. R. Colburn, 1847 Mr. Olmstead, 1859 
 
 H. J. Herrick, 1848-'49 Miss Parker, 1860 
 
 Mr. Miller, 1850 Mr. Gusherie, 1861 
 
 Miss Lucy Danly, 1 85 1 Miss Ema L Noble, 1 862 
 
 Miss Sarah Hunter, 1852 E. A. Wanless, 1863 
 
 Miss Maria Andrew, 1852 Elvira Gilson, 1863 
 
 C. W. Sheldon, 1852 James Ferguson, 1864 
 
 Charlotte Burch, 1 852 Miss Adelia Sweezy, 1 864 
 
 M. P. Loury, 1853 Siom H. Kimball, 1865 
 
 Mrs. Baldwin, 1854 Alfrid Martin, 1866 
 
 Charles Manning, 1855 E. G. Valentine, 1866 
 
 Mary Brisban, 1855 Miss Mary Enoch, 1867 
 
 Joseph B. Alcott, 1856 Amanda McCarther, 1868 
 
 T. G. Ensign, 1857 Ellen Kirk, 1869 
 
 Margaret Breckenridge, 1858 Amasa Hutchions, 1869 
 
 The Bell School was built in 1869 and 1870. The dimen- 
 sions of the building are forty feet long by twenty-six feet 
 wide with seating capacity for seventy scholars. Not drawing 
 comparisons between the Enoch School and other schools of 
 the county, but note the young men who rose to places of 
 trust in the community. David Hunter was sent three succes- 
 sive terms to the State Legislature and was Senator from this 
 district. Abraham Enoch of Briggs Enoch Manufacturing 
 Company, Amasa Hutchens, Mayor of Rockford, Archibald 
 Andrew, county superintendent of public schools of Winne- 
 bago County, James Lamont, editor of the Monitor, a Rock- 
 ford paper of that day, Thomas and Hugh Lamont, ministers 
 
69 
 
 in the Presbyterian church, Hiram Enoch, editor and publisher 
 of one of Rockford's newspapers, Mathew Andrew, professor 
 in high school, Homer Wheeler and John Andrew, successful 
 business men in Rockford, the Gorham boys who afterwards 
 became famous in connection with the grain seeder and self 
 grain binder, and Miss Sarah Hunter, who was a teacher in 
 the public schools and later one of the earliest lady physicians 
 in the state. 
 
 In the winter of 1859, Mr. Olmstead taught in the 
 Enoch School and J. W. Boomaur taught in West Lane 
 School. Spelling schools were in vogue at that time. The 
 Enoch School came one evening with a four horse team and 
 sleigh load for the purpose of spelling down the West Lane 
 School. They were better scholars than West Lane pupils, 
 but our teacher was what one would call nowadays "A 
 bluffer." He told the teacher of the Enoch School that he 
 would put one of his school against their whole school and 
 scared them out so they did not try to spell down that night. 
 On the south side of the settlement, Miss Marcia Louise Cline, 
 who later was Mrs. Tunure, taught a private school of seven- 
 teen scholars. James Montgomery and his sister, Marion, 
 who later was Mrs. Robert Greenlee, attended this school, 
 also the Martins and Toffelmires. The first public school in 
 the district was built in 1853. It was a grout building located 
 at the corner of the Davis Watson farm. The building was 
 erected by J. M. Linnel, Mr. Cline, Mr. Ticknor, P. G. 
 Weldin, and Jonathan Haywood. Miss Marcia Louise Cline 
 taught this school for some time. It is now known as the 
 White Pigeon School on Beaver Creek. 
 
 WEST LANE SCHOOL 
 
 It appears from the old school records that when the Stone 
 
 School was built in 1 846 that district was set off from District 
 
 No. 4, that being the log school which contained West Lane, 
 
 Eagle, and Argyle Districts. The McDonald house, where 
 
70 
 
 school was kept by Robert Ralston in 1853-1854 was torn 
 down. A meeting of the district was held October 7, 1854 
 for the purpose of having the district divided into two districts, 
 four and twelve. District No. 4 took action toward building 
 a school-house. The directors obtained one eight of an acre 
 from James Picken for a site. During the time the West 
 Lane School was being built, the directors hired Andrew 
 Giffen to teach four months on the following terms: teacher 
 to furnish a room in his own house, also fire wood and to board 
 himself, for which he was to receive twenty-nine dollars per 
 month. The school-house was built by Jabez Love and was 
 to receive one hundred and fifty dollars for his work. Fol- 
 lowing is a list of teachers: 
 
 Andrew Giffen, 1855 
 Mary Hunter, 1856 
 Donald Fleming, 1856 
 Sarah Knox, 1857 
 Josephene Goodhue, 1858 
 J. W. Boomhour, 1859 
 Anna Bartholomew, 1859 
 Susan C. Gregory, 1 860 
 Mary Ann Giffen, 1861 
 Samuel Dodge, 1861 
 A. J. Cook, 1862 
 Loretta Woster, 1863 
 John Watterson, 1 863 
 Harriet Atwood, 1 864 
 Ann Eliza Bates, 1865 
 Laura Rodes, 1866 
 Harriett M'abie, 1866 
 John C Grant, 1867 
 Julia P. Homes, 1867 
 Malcom Bruner, 1868 
 Harriet H. Wheldon, 1869 
 R. J. Bears, 1869 
 Sarah Bears, 1870 
 Delia Crites, 1871 
 Frank Vincent, 1872 
 Mary E. Meach, 1872 
 Dillie Chapman, 1873 
 H. V. Vanpelt, 1874 
 Charles W. Walrath, 1875 
 
 Miss Black, 1 884 
 
 H.J. Spawn, 1884-'85 
 
 Miss Sill, 1885 
 
 Miss McDonald, 1886 
 
 Miss Edith M. Young, 1887 
 
 Miss Kelley, 1888 
 
 Alvin Wilcox, 1889 
 
 Miss Frost, 1890 
 
 Frank A. Carpenter, 1890 
 
 Miss Hattie Warner, 1891 -'92 
 
 Hugh McEachran, 1893 
 
 Miss Margret Greenlee, 1894- 
 
 '95-'96 
 Miss Nettie Alexander, 1897 
 Miss Lottie Pratt, 1897 
 Miss Rena Hardy, 1893 
 Miss Blanch Elliot, 1899 
 Mrs. L. B. Kelling, 1899 
 Miss Rena Hardy, 1900 
 Miss Myrtle Canary, 1901 
 Mrs. N. Thompson, 1902 
 Miss Maggie Mitchell, 1902 
 Miss Edith Elberts, 1903 
 Miss Josephine Swanson, 1903 
 Miss Blanche Smith, 1904-'05 
 Miss Edith Hyatt, 1906-'07 
 Miss Pauline Pearson, 1908-'09 
 Miss Martha Andrew, 1910 
 Miss Margret Greenlee, 1911 to 
 
71 
 
 Margret McAffee, 1876 1920 
 
 Miss Laura Ely, 1877 Miss Dorothy Andrew, 1920-72 
 
 Miss Lizzie Shaw, 1878-'79-*80 Miss Hazel Colville, 1921-72 
 
 Miss Jennie Blair, 1881 Miss Florence Colville, 1922- 
 Miss Jane Montgomery, 1882-'83 '23-'24 
 
 In 1 846 a vote of the district was taken to move the school- 
 house one half mile further west to the southwest corner of 
 James Picken's farm, where it now stands. 
 THE WYMAN SCHOOL 
 
 On the north side of the Scotch Settlement, the Wyman 
 Brothers had taken up a tract of land from the government. 
 Their names were Samuel, Charles, and Alford. Samuel 
 Wyman was a bachelor and owned the western eighty acres 
 now owned by William D. Ralston. The school-house was 
 built on the southeast corner of his farm and was called the 
 Wyman School. Charles Wyman owned the J. B. Mc- 
 Eachran farm and Alford Wyman owned the Thomas Brown 
 farm now owned by C. T. Brown. In an early day there was 
 a school kept in an old log cabin on this farm which was the 
 beginning of the Wyman School. The old records have been 
 lost but as near as can be ascertained the stone building which 
 still stands was built by Cornwell brothers the same season as 
 they built the Stone Manse at the Willow Creek Church in 
 1859 which was during Reverend Thomas G. Smith's 
 pastorate. 
 
 THE CUMMINGS SCHOOL 
 
 The Cummings School District was not in the original sur- 
 vey of school districts but was formed by taking part of the 
 Wyman and part of Caledonia Districts. The school-house 
 was built on land taken from the Angus Cumming's farm on 
 the East Lane. The building was erected in 1 860 and school 
 commenced in May, 1861. Following is a list of the 
 teachers : 
 
 Miss Susan C. Gregory, 1861 Miss Grace Clarkson, 1896 
 
 James Ward, 1861 Miss Grace Edgerton, 1897- 
 
 Miss Ann Elisabeth Bates, 1 862 '98-'99 
 
72 
 
 James Lamont, 1862 
 
 Mrs. Susan C. Watterson, 1 863 
 
 William Kerr, 1863 
 
 Mrs, Carie H. Lymon, 1864 
 
 Miss Laura Rhodes, 1865 
 
 Miss Adelia E. Budd, 1866-'67 
 
 Richard M. Andrews, 1866 
 
 William Kerr, 1867 
 
 Miss Hattie E. Smith, 1 868 
 
 Miss Mary Lovejoy, 1869 
 
 Robert R. Breckenridge, 1 869 
 
 Miss Sara E. Weston, 1870 
 
 Miron Brunner, 1870 
 
 Miss Jenny Irusell, 1871 
 
 William Wilson, 1871 
 
 Miss Anna Lundy, 1872-73 
 
 George Lovering, 1872 
 
 Miss Emma J. Blake, 1874 
 
 Miss Mary Ralston, 1875 
 
 Miss Kate Fatheringham, 1876 
 
 Miss Adellia Cornwell, 1879 
 
 Miss Mary J. Kelley, 1 880 
 
 Miss Julia Chandler, 1881 
 
 Miss Mary Smith, 1883 
 
 Miss May Frast, 1892-'93 
 
 Miss Katie McEachran, 1894 
 
 Miss Gertrude E. Burkman, 1 895 
 
 Miss Gertrude E. Burkman, ! 899 
 Claud Warren, 1900 
 Miss Maggie Chamberlin, 1900 
 Miss Mae Edgerton, 1901 
 Miss, Sara E. Weston, 1902 
 Miss Ruby M. Allen, 1903 
 Miss Jessie Thompson, 1903 
 Miss Belle Newton, 1904 
 Miss Maud Cummings, 1904 
 M. M. Martin, 1904 
 John McGonigal, 1905 
 Miss Lena Griffith, 1906- , 07-'08 
 Miss Catherine McCarthy, 1909- 
 
 '11 
 Miss Maud Cummings, 1910 
 Miss Bessie Ralston, 1 9 1 2-' 1 3 
 Miss Ethel Dodge, 1914-'! 5 
 Miss Margrete Brown, 19 16-' 17 
 Miss Rachel Foltz, 191 7-' 18 
 Miss Irene Wilson, 191 8-' 19, 
 
 one month 
 Miss Agnes Rislow, 191 8-' 19, 
 
 one month 
 W. R. Bosard — one month 
 Miss Golda Brown — four months 
 Miss Dorothy Andrew, 19 3 9-70 
 
 In May of the year 1920 the election was held to con- 
 solidate. No school has been held in the district since June, 
 1920. 
 
 ARGYLE SCHOOL 
 
 The village school at Argyle was built in 1870. The 
 district was formed by taking part of West Lane and Eagle 
 Districts. The village being located on the Boone County 
 line, it was difficult to form a large district. The district 
 draws a large railway tax and have a number of tuition pupils 
 from Boone County. In this way they maintain a good school. 
 The following is a list of teachers: 
 
 S. Weston, 1871 Miss Amie Morgan, 1891 
 
 Miss Belle Chapman, 1872 E. V. Foster, 1892-'93-'94 
 
 Miss Dillie E. Chapman, 1 873 Miss Leata Adee, 1 895 
 
 Miss Laura Blair, 1 874 C. E. Alexander, 1 896 
 
 Miss Anna Lundy, 1874 Miss Daisy Dean, 1897 
 
73 
 
 M. M. Martin, 1875-77 Miss Azalin Silvernail, l898-'99 
 
 Miss L. Jinks, 1876 Guilford Wiley, 1900 
 
 Miss Mary M. Smith, 1877 Miss Amelia D. Irving, 1901 
 
 Miss Lucy Turnure, 1878-79 Miss Ada Titus, 1902 
 
 Ben E. S. Ely, 1880 M'. M. Martin, 1903 
 
 Miss Adela L. Andrew, 1880 James G. Watts, 1904 
 
 Miss Mary A. Price, 1881- Miss Grace R. Young, 1 905 
 
 '82-'83 Miss Erma J. Taylor, 1905-'06 
 
 Miss Margaret Montgomery, Miss Ella A. Barmore, 1907 
 
 1884 Miss Pearl Emery, 1907-'08 
 
 Miss Mary Glenn, 1885 Miss Julia Nye, 1909 
 
 Miss Martha Gratton, 1 886 Miss Ruth Andrew, 1 9 1 0-' 1 1 - 
 
 Miss Jennie Hubbell, 1887 ' 1 2-' 1 3 
 
 E. Worchester, 1 888 Miss Murul Vernon, 1 9 1 4-' 1 5 
 
 Miss Edith M. Young, 1888 Miss Mary G. Harvey, 191 6-* 17 
 
 Wilson Allaben, 1889 Miss Agnes Colville, 191 8-' 19 
 
 Miss Lula McDonell, 1890 
 
 The teachers following Miss Colville were: Miss Florence 
 Bennet, 1920-21, Miss Jane Jackson, 1921-22, and Miss 
 Agnes Rislow, Sept., October and November, 1922. When 
 the old building was abandoned to enter the new one. 
 
 The history of the consolidated school in brief is as fol- 
 lows : July 18, 1 92 1 — Election, voting on proposition whether 
 or not to consolidate Argle No. (53), Brown (50), and 
 Red Oak (28) Districts. Election held in Argyle Hall. 
 Result of election: Men's vote: 36 "for", 4 "against"; 
 Women's vote: 19 "for" unanimous. 
 
 August 20, 1 92 1 : Election of Board members. Matthew 
 Andrew, President, one year; Edward Ralston and Ray 
 Ralston, members, one year; Wm. McDonald and Edgar W. 
 Smith, members, two years; E. B. Reid and Howard Rogers, 
 members, three years. Of this Board, Edgar W. Smith was 
 elected Secretary. The same Board is still intact, and the 
 same officers still hold their respective positions. 
 
 February 25, 1922: An election was held to authorize the 
 Board to bond the district in the amount of $17,000, buy a 
 site and build a school house. Forty-eight votes were cast, 
 and it was practically an unanimous election on all old propo- 
 sitions. 
 
74 
 
 The building was constructed in the summer and fall of 
 1922, dedicated on Friday evening, December 1, 1922, and 
 formally entered for school purposes on Tuesday, December 
 5, 1922. Cost of building approximately $21,000. 
 
 The teachers were 1922-1923 : Miss Agnes Rislow, Princi- 
 pal, and upper grades; 1923-24, Miss Agnes Rislow, as 
 above, and Miss Edith Ralston, lower grades. 
 
 The program for the Dedicatory service consisted of a 
 main address by Judge R. K. Welsh; Remarks by County 
 Superintendent, Abbie Jewett Craig; also, by Edgar W. 
 Smith representing the Board of Education, and Readings 
 by Attorney A. V. Essington. Music was also furnished by 
 a four-piece orchestra and a male quartet. 
 
 Chapter VIII 
 MORE FAMILIES FROM THE HOME-LAND 
 Mr. and Mrs. William Ralston, of Guilford, left in 1837. 
 After arriving at New York, they came to Massachusetts 
 where Margaret was born, who later was Mrs. Thomas 
 Brown. They remained there two years then came to Wheel- 
 ing, Ohio. Later they came to Cincinnati, before going to 
 Illinois in 1855. After leaving Scotland, Thomas and 
 Charles Brown located at Cincinnati, before coming to Illinois 
 in 1856. Charles Brown brought a string of sleigh bells 
 with him from Cincinnati, being the first in use in the settle- 
 ment. It was the law in that city that they use bells on their 
 horses during the sleighing season. Mr. Brown put the bells 
 on the horses one Sunday morning and came to church. One 
 of the good fathers shook his head and said, "It was a solemn 
 mockery." This remark may have reference to Zech. 14:20. 
 Peter Ralston and family of six sons and three daughters 
 crossed the ocean in the ship, the Gleaner, in 1842, coming 
 to Marietta, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. They remained 
 there for eight years before coming to Illinois in 1850. 
 Alexander, one of the sons, was a carpenter by trade and 
 
75 
 
 worked for Cyrus McCormick, the reaper manufacturer, who 
 had a factory in Cincinnati, before he located in Chicago. Mr. 
 Ralston called on Mr. McCormick, while in Chicago, and he 
 remembered him. Mr. and Mrs. David Lamont and family, 
 and Mr. and Mrs. Watterson and family, on leaving Scot- 
 land at an early date, settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. Later 
 they came to this locality in 1 854. The Lamont family owned 
 a farm in Guilford near the Bell School. Mr. Lamont was 
 an elder and a chorister in the Willow Creek Church for a 
 number of years. John Watterson was a tailor to trade and 
 had a shop at Oxford, Ohio. Mr. Watterson made clothing 
 for the professors and students of Oxford College. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Edward Breckenridge and family left Scot- 
 land in the month of August, 1 854. They were among the first 
 to cross the ocean in a steam-ship, making the voyage in thirteen 
 days. It was considered a fast run for that time. Mr. Brecken- 
 ridge owned a farm in Guilford Township near the Bell 
 School. There were a number of Kintyre farmers who came 
 later: Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Montgomery, 1861 ; Alex- 
 ander McPhail, 1866; Mr. and Mrs. James Mitchell. 
 There were others who located near Winnebago and Rock- 
 ford: the Smiths, Kelleys, McGeachies, Hunters, Nicholson, 
 McDugals, Langwills, McLarens, Flemings, McGonigals, 
 Hills, McNairs, Templetons, Armours, Brislens, Harveys, 
 Falconers, Kerrs, McColloughs and Mclntyres. 
 
 On the north side of the settlement were a number of Scotch 
 families who were not from Argyleshire, but came from other 
 parts of Scotland: the Henderson family, who lived on the 
 Jabez Love farm, the Kerr family on the next farm east, and 
 the Richies, who lived on the Kinnikinnick Creek. There was 
 a school organized in the log house on the Kerr farm. This 
 building was used in the summer months. In the winter, the 
 school was held in a room over the kitchen in the Kerr home. 
 To this school came the Siddals, Whipples, Kerrs, and Hen- 
 
76 
 
 dersons. Hon. David B. Henderson, who was speaker of the 
 House of Representatives during the McKinley administration, 
 was a member of this school. He was known among his 
 fellows as an inveterate reader and possessed a great memory. 
 It does not make so much difference what school a boy may 
 attend, much depends on the boy whether he will make good 
 or not. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Hugh McEachran left Scotland in 1854 
 in a sailing vessel for Quebec. They were six weeks on the 
 voyage. From Quebec they went to Chatam, Canada, where 
 J. B. McEachran was born. They remained there for four 
 years, before coming to the Argyle Settlement. Mr. Mc- 
 Eachran followed his calling of contractor and carpenter and 
 built a large number of houses and barns for the people of the 
 community. Their home was near the village of Argyle with 
 land adjoining. This place was first owned by Amos Brooks. 
 At that time there was a stage coach route between Chicago, 
 Elgin, Belvidere, Beloit and Janesville. The Brook's house 
 was used for a tavern. The sign was a deer's head and it was 
 called "The Buck Horn Tavern.'* The place was sold to 
 Jessie Allen, who later sold it to Mr. McEachran, now owned 
 by Peter Stevenson. 
 
 Mrs. Marion Picken, widow, left Scotland in 1847 with 
 her young family of two sons, James and John, two daughters, 
 Margaret and Marion. They lived on the Randall farm now 
 owned by the Donald Sillars, Est. for one year before locating 
 on their farm on West Lane. Her daughter, Marion, died 
 when she was nineteen years old. John Picken bought the 
 Jessie Allen farm on West Lane where his son David now 
 lives. Margaret Picken was united in marriage to James 
 Greenlee on New Year's day, January 1, 1857. They cele- 
 brated their Golden Wedding, January 1 , 1 907. 
 
 Robert and John Thompson, who were twin brothers, and 
 their sister, Helen, who was later Mrs. McCulloch, left Scot- 
 
11 
 
 land in 1853. They crossed the ocean on the Charlotte Har- 
 rison and stayed one year in Ohio before coming to Illinois 
 settling on a farm north of Caledonia. John Thompson, when 
 a lad, was servant with Rev. Alexander Ling, M. A. minister, 
 of the Southend Church. Mr. Thompson had a literary turn 
 of mind and was correspondent for the Rockford Register 
 Gazette for a number of years. He owned the farm near 
 Caledonia which his son, John W., now owns. Their mother 
 and the rest of the family, two sons, and three daughters, 
 came a year later, coming direct to Illinois. They crossed the 
 ocean on a sailing vessel called the Albena. Archie Thomp- 
 son, one of the sons, had a fancy for boats and the sea. While 
 crossing the ocean, the captain would let him take the wheel 
 and steer the ship when the ocean was calm. 
 
 Although the Armours and John Greenlee and family were 
 the first to leave Kintyre, Scotland, and settle in Illinois, 
 Alexander Brown and Edward Brown left Scotland in 1 834, 
 being two years previous to the coming of the Greenlee family, 
 but they settled near Cincinnati, Ohio. Alexander Brown 
 married Edward Brown's sister, Margaret, on June 19, 1834 
 and came to America. In September of the same year 
 Edward Brown, with his father and mother and younger 
 members of the family, sailed for America. While on the 
 ocean, near New York, his father, William Brown, died the 
 third of September. A sister also died. They were buried 
 at New York for the time being, but were later brought to 
 Cincinnati. At this time Mr. Brown was only twenty-three 
 years old and had to take charge of his mother and younger 
 members of the family. Mr. Brown married and lived in 
 Ohio for seventeen years where four of their daughters were 
 born. They came to Illinois in 1 85 1 . Their journey from 
 Ohio to Illinois must have been novel and interesting. They, 
 with their young family, took passage in river boat having 
 with them their horses, wagon, and other baggage. They came 
 
78 
 
 down the Ohio River to the Mississippi, then up the Mississippi 
 as far as Savanna, where they landed. Taking their horses 
 and covered wagon, they came across the prairie to the Argyle 
 Settlement, arriving at the home of John Andrew. The cov- 
 ered wagon of the pioneer days was called the "prairie 
 schooner." After a time Mr. Brown bought the Jeihal Greg- 
 ory farm which was partly improved, being the farm now 
 owned by his son William Brown. 
 
 Robert Colville emigrated with his parents from Scotland 
 in 1 842 and settled at Marietta, Ohio, where they rented land 
 for a number of years. Later the family moved to Cincinnati. 
 Mr. Colville married Agnes McKay, who had come over in 
 the ship, Gleaner, in 1842. They came to the settlement in 
 1852 and lived on their farm until 1897, when they retired to 
 Rockford. 
 
 James Reid, who was a brother of Hugh and Alexander 
 Reid, came with his family in May, 1858. They had quite 
 an experience on their journey. They took passage on the 
 steam-ship, New York, from Glasgow to New York. The 
 first night out in a dense fog the ship went on the rocks at the 
 Mull of Kintyre on the south coast of Scotland. By means 
 of ropes, all the passengers were saved. They walked across 
 the hills to their old home again. They were not discouraged 
 and tried once more. In mid ocean their ship was struck by 
 another ship, doing some damage. They finally reached New 
 York safely. Mr. Reid was a tailor to trade. He was the 
 first janitor of the Willow Creek Church. 
 
 Mathew McMillan left Argyleshire in 1852 and came 
 to Ohio remaining there a few years before coming to Illinois. 
 He owned the farm near Caledonia where his sons now live. 
 He was a Highlander and could speak the Gaelic language. 
 It was his custom to give grace at his own table in the Gaelic 
 language. It is said that the Gaelic language is more impressive 
 when used in worship and contains more words that express 
 
79 
 
 love and adoration than are to be found in the English 
 language. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Edward Watson and family of four sons 
 and two daughters came to Illinois in 1 847 coming in the same 
 ship as Mrs. Marion Picken. Shortly after coming here, Mr. 
 Watson was taken sick with typhoid fever and died at the 
 home of Mrs. Daniel Smith, leaving the widow with the 
 young family. 
 
 James and Hugh Brown left Scotland in 1854 coming 
 direct to Illinois, taking up land in Guilford Township. Ac- 
 companying them to this country was Miss Agnes Hamilton, 
 who later was married to David Brown, a half brother of 
 James and Hugh. 
 
 Mathew Ralston was born in Scotland in 1843. After 
 the death of his father and mother, the family emigrated to 
 Australia in 1864. They took passage in a ship called 
 Southern Ocean, under Captain Craige. They were ninety 
 days on the voyage. Mr. Ralston remained in Australia for 
 over three years. He returned to Scotland with the ship, 
 Essex, commanded by Captain Evens. They were ninety 
 days on the return voyage. In 1868 he married Miss Janet 
 Lightbody and came to Illinois. They lived for a number of 
 years on the David Picken farm on West Lane before going 
 on their own farm in Guilford. 
 
 Archie Smith left Argyleshire in April, 1856, going to 
 Australia where he stayed for three years. He came back to 
 Scotland and spent the winter before coming to Illinois in the 
 summer of 1860. Mr. Smith bought eighty acres of land 
 known as the Bridgeland farm, south of Winnebago, near 
 Middle Creek Church. He was married to Miss Martha 
 Greenlee, June 19, 1865. In the spring of 1869 they moved 
 to the William Ferguson farm in the settlement, being the 
 farm now owned by his son, Hugh Smith. 
 
 Charles and Peter Ralston, who were sons of Elder Peter 
 
80 
 
 Ralston who owned the farm on West Lane formerly owned 
 by J. R. McDonald, emigrated to California in the spring of 
 1864. On leaving the settlement, they went to New York 
 and took passage on a boat for Panama to sail on the fourth 
 of May, 1864. They were ten days in going from New 
 York to Panama. They crossed the Isthmus by rail, there 
 being a railway across to the Pacific Ocean at that time. 
 From there they took ship to San Francisco, arriving on June 
 6, 1864. They remained during the summer then went to 
 Oregon. Later they came to Kansas where they bought a 
 farm four miles from Lawrence. Charles Ralston married, 
 and the brothers lived together for a number of years. The 
 later years of Charles' life were devoted to earnest Christian 
 work. When a child he was baptised in the Presbyterian 
 Church. In later years he united with the Baptist Church 
 and was immersed believing that to be the true rite of Baptism. 
 He died some years ago. He had one son, Ernest Ralston, 
 who is on his father's farm. Peter Ralston never married and 
 lived with his nephew until his death which was in the month 
 of March, 1916. 
 
 Caldwell Ralston, who was a son of Alexander Ralston, 
 lived on a farm on West Lane now owned by James Greenlee. 
 Owing to some misunderstanding with his father, he left home 
 without telling anyone of his intentions. Years passed by 
 without any word from him of where he was located. It 
 was the cause of a great deal of grief and anxiety to his only 
 sister, Mary, who missed him more than any one else. After 
 a lapse of thirty years, being in Chicago, he came to Roscoe 
 coming to the old homestead on West Lane. He found the 
 house empty as his father had gone to Rockford to live. He 
 called on his uncle, D. C. Ralston, but they did not know him, 
 as thirty years had made a great change in his appearance and 
 he did not make himself known. He called at a few of the 
 neighbors, visited the church and Scottish cemetery, and went 
 
81 
 
 to Caledonia intending to take the train for Chicago. It 
 happened that day that there was a wreck on the North 
 Western line and there was no train leaving that afternoon for 
 Chicago. He stayed at the Chamberlain Hotel for a while 
 and got into conversation with Mrs. Chamberlain. He was 
 not aware that she knew of his father's family. He inquired 
 about Mary Ralston. She told him that Mary was dead. 
 Before he thought, he said, "Is my sister really dead." She 
 knew at once that he must be Caldwell Ralston who had gone 
 away so long ago. She called his cousins, John C. and 
 James R. Ralston. After a short conversation with them, 
 he acknowledged that he was Caldwell Ralston. Truth is 
 sometimes stranger than fiction. Owing to business appoint- 
 ments, he could not stay longer at that time and returned to 
 Chicago. After a time he came back and visited his father, 
 uncles, cousins, and old school mates. He had been through 
 the Civil War, after which he married and settled in St. Louis 
 as a contractor and builder. He had two sons and one daugh- 
 ter. His wife and daughter visited relatives here later. He 
 died a few years ago. His daughter, Bessie, married a Mr. 
 Gunn and went to Errun, Huston County, Tennessee, to live. 
 His two sons, at this writing, are in business at St. Louis. 
 
 John Caldwell, when a young man in Scotland, studied 
 for the ministry, but having the misfortune of being deaf he 
 had to abandon his studies. Although not a graduate of the 
 schools and not ordained, yet he was truly a minister of the 
 Gospel. Few men had the natural gifts and ability to ex- 
 pound the word of God that he possessed. In the absence of 
 a regular minister, he would take their place. When it was 
 known that he was to address the meeting, old and young 
 would come to hear him. His lectures on the revelations of 
 St. John were very interesting. He always took charge of 
 the cottage prayer meetings in his neighborhood. To the 
 young people he was the story teller. He would take them on 
 
82 
 
 his knee and tell them some story of the Covenanters, the 
 Crusaders, or some Bible story. To the older people he was 
 a Bible student, a philosopher, and a theologian. 
 
 The Reverend John E. Montgomery paid him the following 
 tribute while speaking of the old people of the church. "There 
 was Uncle John Caldwell, whose name I have the honor to 
 bear. You cannot speak of him too highly; his natural abili- 
 ties were of such a high order." In the absence of the regular 
 preacher he was often called to conduct the Sunday service 
 and on such occasions his Scriptual expositions were wonder- 
 fully clear, cogent, and spiritual. But especially were his 
 prayers inspired by that indescribable pathos and eloquence 
 that carried all hearts up with him to the throne of grace. One 
 of the happiest recollections of my boyhood was climbing on 
 his knee, when he was visiting my father, and urging him to 
 tell me a story which he could do in a way that surpassed 
 imitation. 
 
 The following incident was told of John Caldwell. 
 While in Scotland one of his friends in Illinois wrote him 
 that Providence was holding eighty acres of land for him. 
 Shortly after his arrival here he went out one morning on the 
 eighty with his old country axe with a straight handle. Mr. 
 Caldwell was not accustomed to chopping wood in his native 
 land. He started to cut down a large white oak tree about 
 four feet through. He hacked all day at the tree but did not 
 succeed in getting it down. When he returned in the evening 
 he said to his friend, "Weal, if Providence is keeping that 
 eighty for me, he is cheated for once." He, with his brother- 
 in-law, D. C. Ralston, came to the West Lane and took up 
 three eighties which is the farm now owned by Andrew Smith. 
 
83 
 
 Chapter IX 
 NEW CHURCH BUILT 
 
 The present church was built in 1877 and was dedicated 
 on Thursday, February 7, 1878. The dedication sermon 
 was preached by Professor F. L. Patton, of Chicago. The 
 Congregation accepted a gift of land and manse from Robert 
 Howie at the present location. The Reverend Ben. E. S. 
 Ely, a former pastor, paid the following tribute to the memory 
 of Robert Howie. "I knew him well. It was my privilege 
 to be with him at his death bed and preach his funeral sermon. 
 I think he might be justly called the John Knox of this church. 
 He was made of the same kind of material that the reformer 
 was. He was as stiff as a ramrod, so straight in his orthodoxy 
 that he bent back, but although he was an austere man and 
 thus made some enemies, he was a pillar of strength to the 
 church and to no one perhaps is the church more indebted than 
 to him. I first learned from him that when a Scotchman 
 wanted to say *no' with a vengence, he said, *na' with a 
 snap." 
 
 No one knew until he was on his death bed that he had 
 broken two of his ribs while returning from a prayer meeting 
 by his horse falling into a ditch. Mr. Howie was a bachelor 
 and had no one to keep him right on the days of the week. 
 One Sunday morning he harnessed his horses and went to 
 plow in the field. Mr. Ferguson, his neighbor, told him that 
 it was Sunday. Robin said, "na." He was not willing to 
 believe it as Mr. Ferguson was a humorous man, but, like 
 Jacob of old, when Robin saw the wagons coming to church 
 he believed. The following incident, which was taken from a 
 newspaper clippings, is credited to Mr. Howie: 
 
 "When the big emigration took place from Kintyre sixty 
 or seventy years ago, the emigrants settled here and there in 
 small colonies, and townships sprang up which were given the 
 old familiar names in the homeland. These settlers preserved 
 
84 
 
 the customs of the district from which they came in the old 
 country with remarkable fidelity, and it was characteristic of 
 them that this was peculiarly so in the matter of religion. 
 
 "Recently at a dinner party in New York a story was told 
 relating to the settlement of Argyle, where up till a few years 
 ago practically every resident was of Kintyre extraction. 
 
 "The conversation had turned on the proper length of 
 sermons, and one of the guests at length attempted to sum up 
 the discussion by remarking: 'At least none of us have ever 
 heard of anybody in church objecting because the sermon was 
 too short.' 
 
 "Dr. Mackenzie, secretary of the Presbyterian College 
 Board, was at the table, and he quietly accepted the implied 
 challenge. 
 
 'Yes/ he said, 'I have heard of a sermon that was too 
 short. And it was my sermon. It was in the spring of 1873, 
 when I was just about graduating from M'Cormick Seminary 
 in Chicago. I was invited to preach in the country church of 
 Argyle, Illinois — a church in the midst of one of the most re- 
 markable Scotch settlements in the United States. The house 
 of worship was a substantial building of brick, the manse was 
 of stone, and had a 'glebe' of perhaps five acres attached to it. 
 It all looked good to me. Their pulpit was vacant and I was 
 engaged to be married ; and I was hoping for a call. 
 
 ' 'But when morning service was ended a silent, rigid old 
 elder, typically Scotch, took me home with him. After dinner 
 he said solemnly: 
 
 ' 'I'm thinking there is something I should be say in' to ye.' 
 
 ' 'I shall be thankful to hear it,' I responded. 
 
 ' 'I'm thinkin' ye'll no like it,' he went on. 
 
 ' 'I told him I was prepared for anything. 
 'Well,' he went on more solemnly still. 'I'm thinkin' 
 ye'll no do. Ye see,' he went on, 'ye preached only thirty 
 minutes, and there's many of our people drove six miles to sit 
 
85 
 
 under ye. They'll no be thinking it's worth while to drive so 
 far to hear so little.' ' 
 
 "And Dr. Mackenzie's first call came from another church. 
 His brevity was fatal in Argyle. 
 
 Account of the drowning of Archibald Armour and Daniel 
 McDermaid, on June 18, 1868: 
 
 Mrs. Robert Armour, a widow, and her son, Archibald, 
 owned a farm on the East Lane, which was part of the original 
 Armour claim. They were having their barn repaired by 
 Thomas Chapel and Richard Lawer. The eighteenth of 
 June, being a very hot day, they stopped* working. Daniel 
 McDermaid was working for the Armours at that time. They 
 all went to Caledonia and on their way home, they thought of 
 taking a swim at the culvert, about one mile north of Caledonia. 
 Previous to this time there had been a freshet and the water 
 was high. Planks had been laid under the culvert for the 
 water to run through and the freshet had undermined them. 
 They all had their plunge and came out except Archibald 
 Armour, who on his way out, accidently slipped off the end 
 of the planks into a deep hole under them. When he came up, 
 Mr. Lawer caught him by the hair and Mr. McDemaid by 
 his arm but all three went down. Mr. Lawer got himself 
 clear of the others, one of them having their arm around his 
 neck. He came up and went down again. When he came 
 up the third time, he succeeded in swimming out. The others 
 did not rise again. They called for help and John McEach- 
 ran, Mr. Wellington, and Colin Lang came to their assistance. 
 They took the reins from the horses and tried to locate the 
 bodies but the water was too deep. They sent to Caledonia 
 for help. James McMillan, son of John McMillan, who was 
 a clerk in William Ralston's store, dived down and located 
 the bodies. By this time a number of people had come to their 
 assistance. They recovered the bodies but they had been in 
 the water too long, and could not be restored to life. Funeral 
 
86 
 
 service was held from the Armour home for both deceased at 
 the same hour. Rev. R. G. Thompson, being pastor of the 
 Willow Creek Church at that time, conducted the service. 
 This occasion was peculiarly sad as Mr. Armour was the only 
 son of this widowed mother and Mr. McDermaid was engaged 
 to Miss Isabelle Ralston, and was to have been married soon. 
 It was a sad day in the history of the Argyle Settlement. 
 
 In 1849 great excitement was caused by the discovery of 
 gold in California. From all parts of the country men flocked 
 to the gold diggings. Some went by steamer from the Isthmus 
 of Panama and by sailing vessels around Cape Horn. Others 
 went by the over land route to California in "The covered 
 wagon." Among those who went from this community to 
 seek their fortunes were the following: Charles Kelley, James 
 Watson, Ralph Liddister, Robert Henderson, Daniel Mc- 
 Millan, J. C. Tripp, and James McGeachie. 
 
 Charles Kelley was with a surveying party on the Southern 
 Pacific railway for a number of years and had quite an ex- 
 perience in camp life. He was a crack shot and was one of 
 the best marksmen in this part of the country. James Mc- 
 Geachie went to Panama and walked across the Isthmus camp- 
 ing out as he went and took ship for California. Charles 
 Kelley and James Watson met Buffalo Bill on one of his 
 scouting trips. Mr. Kelley met him later at one of his shows 
 and he remembered him. 
 
 On the south side within bounds of Argyle Settlement were 
 a number of families who came from the New England States. 
 They were Jonas Tofflemire, David Highbee, Samuel Session, 
 Horace Magoon, Mr. Cook, James Randall, George Early, 
 and Horace Dyer. Mr. Tofflemire owned the J. C. Tripp 
 farm and at an early day donated land for a cemetery, it 
 was in use as far back as 1842. The majority of the men 
 mentioned were buried at this place. They were located on 
 farms as follows: David Highbee, part of Donald Sillars's 
 
87 
 
 farm; Samuel Session, south eighty of J. C. Tripp farm now 
 owned by J. C. Greenlee; Horace Magoon on the Brown- 
 Renwick farm; Horace Dyer on farm now occupied by 
 Mr. Anderson; James Randall known as Squire Randall 
 owned the Donald Sillar's farm, and Mr. Cook on the land 
 later owned by Robert and John Smith, which is now owned 
 by Dr. Shallenberger. Mr. Cook built a small distillery near 
 a spring where he distilled whiskey from corn. 
 
 Chapter X 
 THE RAILROADS, TOWNS AND 
 MISCELLANEOUS 
 In 1 850, the Chicago and Northwestern Railway was built 
 as far as Elgin and was completed to Belvidere in 1851-1852. 
 The farmers in this vicinity took a holiday and went to see 
 the first engine that came into Belvidere. They realized that 
 the time was at hand when they would have a market for their 
 grain and stock without going the long journey to Chicago. 
 A company was organized in 1 85 7 to build the Kenosha and 
 Rockford Railway. Mr. Charles Spafford of Rockford was 
 president of the company. The object claimed was to get 
 another outlet to Lake Michigan, other than Chicago. Five 
 year bonds were issued and the company sent out agents to 
 interest the farmers and get them to buy stock. The induce- 
 ments or bait held out to the farmers was that the earnings of 
 the road would pay for their stock before the five years was 
 up; but the result was different. Many of the farmers bought 
 stock, some giving their notes secured by a mortgage on their 
 land. These notes were used as collateral at the banks for 
 money to build the road. Before the road was finished, the 
 company failed and the road was sold at auction to the highest 
 bidder and the North Western Company bought it. Like a 
 great many other swindles, the farmers had to pay up their 
 bonds and had no share in the North Western Company. The 
 Kenosha Railway, which was intended for a rival line, became 
 
88 
 
 a feeder for the North Western Railway. Some farmers nearly 
 lost their farms by the Kenosha and Rockford Railway. 
 (Will we farmers ever learn to leave these things alone?) 
 
 The labor of building the Kenosha and Rockford Railway 
 was done by Irishmen from Wisconsin, who came here and 
 brought their families with them. They built a village of 
 shacks or shanties, about fifty in number. This village was 
 located on the hill on the south side of the railroad on the 
 Picken and Sillar's Road on land now owned by Hugh Smith, 
 about one mile west of Argyle. There was a supply store 
 where the workmen could get groceries, tobacco, and other 
 articles. Every family kept a number of dogs, so the boys 
 called it "Dog Town'* and the name stuck. At that time the 
 farmers churned and made their own butter. The Irish women 
 would go among the farmers and get the buttermilk ; would set 
 the pail of milk on top of their heads and walk home as straight 
 as a bee line, much to the astonishment of the younger people. 
 After the railway was finished, they moved away except a few 
 families who located on land east of Argyle and the name of 
 their town followed them there. Be it said to their credit that 
 they always took it in good nature when joked about their 
 town. When the railroad was completed in 1859, John 
 Andrew, the founder of the village of Argyle, bought forty 
 acres of land from Alexander Reid in order to get a site for 
 a depot. He then petitioned the railway company for a station 
 and when word came granting the request, he was so excited 
 that he got on his horse and rode to the neighbors to tell the 
 good news. When within calling distance he shouted, "We 
 have got it. We have got it." On being asked what he had 
 gotten, he replied, "Oh, the depot, the depot.'* 
 
 The name of the postoffice was first called Kintyre, in honor 
 of the district they had come from in Scotland, but later there 
 proved to be another Kintyre in the state so the name was 
 changed to Argyle, in honor of the shire or county they came 
 
89 
 
 from. Mr. Andrew, with his sons, built a store and grain 
 elevator. They conducted a general business in lumber, coal, 
 and live stock up to the time it was sold to Ralston Brothers. 
 The year 1 860 was the beginning of the Civil war and these 
 were stirring times in the country. It was also the year of the 
 big crops so often referred to. Wheat went up to $2.50 a 
 bushel and corn to $1 and other grain and stock in proportion. 
 When green backs were made a legal tender for the payment 
 of all debts, farmers who had gone in debt for land had a good 
 opportunity to pay for it. Thomas Jackson, a gentleman who 
 was a clerk in the store at Argyle, organized a company of 
 home guards of the young men of the community who met 
 Saturday evenings and drilled for an hour. Mr. Jackson was 
 their captain. They had blue uniforms with brass buttons and 
 made a fine appearance. When the call came for men to 
 enlist in the regular army, a number of this company joined. 
 Camp Fuller, in Rockford, was located where National Ave- 
 nue, Harlem Avenue and Camp Avenue now are, it being all 
 vacant at that time. It was a sad day in Rockford when the 
 soldiers left for the front. They marched from the Fair- 
 ground's Park to the North Western depot. They later joined 
 the lead mine regiment, which was under General Grant. Some 
 will remember seeing mothers, wifes and sweethearts coming 
 out of the houses along the street to say good-bye. Some of 
 them could not do it, they were so overcome. They had to 
 turn back to the house. The following is a list of the young 
 men who went from this locality. It is not a complete list 
 but will give the reader an idea of conditions at that time : 
 
 Capt. Thomas Jackson Alex Jackson 
 
 James Waterson Sylvester Jackson 
 
 Thomas Lamont Charles Jackson 
 
 Warren Anderson Newell Joslin 
 
 Hugh McMichael Senel Vinolstine 
 
 Neil Watson Henry Morgan 
 
 John Lockey Joseph P. Whalen 
 
 Daniel McNeilage Dennis Lane 
 
90 
 
 John W. Parker Daniel Halley 
 
 Alex Lockey Malancthon Smith 
 
 Lionel Lockey William Kerr 
 
 Malcolm Bruner Charles Magoon 
 
 Wm. E. Turner Andrew Sullivan 
 
 Near the close of the war, the government issued a call for 
 100,000 men. Each county had to furnish a certain number 
 of men. The town of Harlem had to furnish twenty-three 
 men. In order to prevent a draft, a meeting was called of the 
 residents and voters of the township at the home of Robert 
 Ralston, town clerk. They voted to raise money by tax levy 
 to hire substitutes to fill their quota. Ten thousand and forty- 
 five dollars was raised to pay a bounty to men to go as substi- 
 tutes. John Smith and E. S. Bartholemew had charge of the 
 work. The following is a list of the men who went for the 
 last call : 
 
 Edwin Dooiittle Hezekiah H. Turner 
 
 Henry Turner Amos Haskins 
 
 James Heffran Russell Dooiittle 
 
 John Darville John Cooney 
 
 Jeremiah Johnson Steaphen Youngman 
 
 John L. Fisher Charles A. Tample 
 
 Daniel Clark C. H. Austin 
 
 Henry F. McKnight William A. Moore 
 
 Frank McAvoy David Johnson 
 
 George H. Hopkins George M'. Dell 
 
 Isaac Watts George A. Parker 
 
 Alonza P. Dooiittle 
 James Watterson and Daniel McNeilage were killed at 
 the battle of Shiloh and Thomas Lamont and Hugh Mc- 
 Micheal were severely wounded. 
 
 THE TOWNS 
 Caledonia is one of the poetical names of Scotland. It was 
 given to the village of Caledonia by Gavin Ralston, the 
 pioneer. He, with his brothers, owned eighty acres of land 
 where the village now stands. The Chicago and North West- 
 ern Railway was built through in 1852. In the recorders* 
 office in Belvidere is an old plat of the village given by Gavin 
 Ralston, being all on the north by the east side of the railway. 
 
91 
 
 The second plat was given by J. A. Cornwell being on the 
 south by west side of the railway. A man by the name of 
 George Watterman came from one of the eastern states and 
 taught in the Morgan school in 1844-1845, being the first 
 school in the township. It appears that he jumped the claim 
 of the Ralston eighty acres and they were obliged to buy it 
 back for a consideration of $150. Among the first families 
 in the vicinity of Caledonia was Robert Morgan. Others were 
 Isaac Sewell and Mr. Whiting who planted the first nursery in 
 this locality; Solomon Greeley, who had a claim on the farm 
 later owned by Robert Henderson; Mr. Degroff, Abraham 
 Drake, and Mr. Hoalt, who owned the Alexander Ralston 
 farm. Ermerson and Guilkerson built the hotel and managed 
 it for a number of years. They sold it to Mr. Montanna, who 
 later sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain. John Arnott, who 
 owned the James Hamilton farm, was a grain and live stock 
 merchant. Mr. Tuffelmire managed a store in a grout build- 
 ing on the east side of the railway, which is now owned by 
 Jerome Sweeney. Dr. Renyolds built a two story building on 
 the corner where the Condon store now stands, where he man- 
 aged a store. He was succeeded by Emerson and later by 
 Henry Morgan. Some time after this building was burned 
 down. Hugh Cunningham of Belvidere conducted a store in 
 the brick building and was succeeded by William Ralston, 
 who managed a general store. Later the store was sold to 
 Thomas Willson and Son, who also built and managed a 
 creamery for a number of years. Other business men of a 
 later date were William Cunningham, J. C. Kelley, Mr. 
 Clarkson, Wm. McNeilage and Colin Lang and Son. Ral- 
 ston Bros, located in Caledonia in 1880 which gave the vil- 
 lage a new start. They built an up-to-date grain elevator and 
 conducted a general business in grain, lumber, coal and agri- 
 cultural implements. The elevator was burned in the month 
 of March, 1901. It was rebuilt with mill adjoining; this 
 
92 
 
 building stood for ten years and was destroyed by fire on the 
 evening of April 18, 1916. Ralston Brothers for the third 
 time built an elevator and mill with electric power for elevating 
 and grinding feed. The central of the Boone County Tele- 
 phone Company is located in the village and has proved a 
 great benefit to the community and a success financially. The 
 Congregational church, in the village, was built in 1894. It 
 is a credit to the community and is a religious and social center 
 for the people. Caledonia, being a junction on one of the 
 main lines between Chicago and St. Paul, is quite a busy rail- 
 way center and some of the finest and fastest trains pass 
 through the village. This year, 1922, the new consolidated 
 school has been built. 
 
 The dedication of the Caledonia Consolidated School was 
 held on Thursday evening, May 31, 1922, in the auditorium. 
 The building was erected on a four acre plot of ground by the 
 Security Building Company of Rockford. Members of the 
 school board are John A. Kellley, president ; John W. Thomp- 
 son, secretary; John R. Ralston, Mathew J. Andrew, J. V. 
 Beynon, Carlyle Ralston, and Robert Cummings. Addresses 
 and readings were given by Miss Elizabeth B. Harvey, John 
 W. Thompson, William Bowling, and Miss Gladys Whiting. 
 Songs were given by school children. 
 
 The meeting concluded with a dance. 
 
 The Caledonia National bank received their charter June 
 22, 1914, and was opened for business December 1, 1914. 
 The capital stock is $25,000. The officers are J. A. Brown, 
 president, and J. C. Ralston, vice president. W. B. Strong, 
 who was cashier, resigned in February, 1916, and John A. 
 Greenlee was elected to fill the vacancy. The directors are 
 J. C. Ralston, F. W. Marriett, W. D. Ralston, W. S. Erick- 
 son, J. A. Kelley, and J. A. Brown. Mr. Erickson resigned 
 and E. T. Griffith was elected to fill the vacancy. 
 
93 
 
 OTHER NEIGHBORING TOWNS 
 
 Belvidere was named by Samuel P. Daty, who was the 
 first white settler. He claimed the name was suggested to him 
 by Mark Reublen, an early French settler of Chicago who 
 fancied the country around as it resembled Belvidere, near 
 Weimer, in Saxe Gotha, Germany. 
 
 Roscoe derives its name from the township of Roscoe, which 
 was named by Ralph Abell in honor of William Roscoe, the 
 English historian. It is said that the first bridge across Rock 
 River in Winnebago County was built at Roscoe. 
 
 Beloit, Wisconsin, was first named by the settlers in 1836, 
 New Albany. They were not satisfied with the name so they 
 called a meeting to have the name changed. Several names 
 were proposed and rejected. One of the settlers tried to sound 
 a French word meaning handsome ground, uttered the sound 
 Bellotte. Another settler modified this to Beloit, which was 
 like Detroit in sound and was thought pretty and original, so 
 the newly coined name was adopted and by it New Albany 
 has ever since been known. (Wisconsin History Bulletin). 
 
 The village of Harlem derives its name from the township. 
 The town hall is located there. The grain elevator, built by 
 L. A. Fabrick and managed for a number of years, is now 
 owned by Patterson and Company. There is a general store, 
 a good school, blacksmith shop and lumber yard. 
 
 ROCKFORD 
 The name given the city was from the ford where they 
 could drive across, which had a rock bottom. In the old stage 
 coach days, the arrival and departure of the coach was of 
 public interest. When the stage road was surveyed from 
 Chicago, via Elgin, Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport and Ga- 
 lena, it opened a way for a regular line of stage coaches leav- 
 ing Chicago on Sunday. The schedule time between Chicago 
 and Rockford was twenty-four hours. They used four horses 
 on the coach and changed every fifteen miles. They carried 
 
94 
 
 mail, passengers, and light parcels. Frank & Walker Com- 
 pany owned the first stage line. Their barn was on the corner of 
 State and Third streets. 
 
 In John H. Thurston's book "Early Days in Rockford" 
 he states that the first Fourth of July celebration held in 
 Rockford was in 1837. Dinner was cooked in Mrs. Hight's 
 iron kettle. The speaking and program was held in Mr. 
 Hight's barn. John C. Kimble was the orator of the day. 
 The celebration finished with a grand ball, the first in the 
 county, which was held in Mr. Hight's house. He was the 
 original owner of the land where Rockford now stands. There 
 were three fiddlers and "Old Zip Coon" was the favorite. 
 Mirth and fun grew fast and furious. 
 
 The first religious services held in Winnebago County, by 
 a white congregation, were in Germanicus Kent's log house 
 in June, 1835. Reverend Aracus Kent, a Presbyterian 
 minister of Galena, was the preacher and the families of 
 Daniel S. Hight and Mr. Kent, seventeen in number, being 
 all the white inhabitants in the county except Stephen Mack, 
 were present. 
 
 The first county fair was held on the east side of the river in 
 1 84 1 . The first cannon used in Rockford was made there and 
 was fired to celebrate July 4, 1837. In the pioneer days the 
 nearest market was Chicago, Illinois, and Racine, Wisconsin. 
 The farmers would form a party and go with their oxen teams. 
 In this way they could help one another if they had any mis- 
 fortune or got stuck in the mud. They sometimes got stalled on 
 State Street, Chicago. If the trip was made in a week, they 
 thought they had done well, and in later years when horses 
 were used, the trip could be made much faster. A few of the 
 farmers had one horse that they could use to plough corn as the 
 oxen would tramp and eat the growing corn. The first to own 
 and drive a pair of horses in Argyle Settlement was William 
 Ferguson and Robert Armour. On a still, frosty night, when 
 
95 
 
 the home folks were expecting their fathers or brothers from 
 Chicago, they would listen for the noise of the wagons re- 
 turning in the direction of Belvidere and would give them a 
 hearty welcome. 
 
 Farm life in the pioneer days was very different from 
 what it is now. At that time it was much the same as 
 it was in Bible times "A sower went forth to sow." The grain 
 was scattered broadcast by hand on the fields. The reaping 
 was done with a cradle, hook, or sickle. Some of these cradles 
 and hooks may be found in the community, being relics of by- 
 gone days. The threshing was done with a flail, or by tramp- 
 ing the grain out with oxen or horses on a threshing floor. We 
 are told in Judges 6-1 1 that Gideon threshed wheat by the 
 winepress to hide it from the Midionites. The first reapers 
 were the McCormick machine. Robert and John Smith, 
 Gavin Ralston, Hugh Reid, and the Hendersons were the 
 first to get reapers. Later the Fountains at Rockton manu- 
 factured a reaper, and the Mannys of Rockford, a combined 
 reaper and mower. Then the self rakes came into use. James 
 O. Gregory of Roscoe, and Charles Picken on West Lane 
 had machines of this kind. This was a large rake attached 
 to the reaper that was run with a gear and went through the 
 motions that a man would make to take off bundles. It was 
 comical to watch it at work. The next improvement in reapers 
 was the March Harvester. They were manufactured by 
 Emerson and Talcott of Rockford. Two men stood on the 
 machine and bound the grain. The straw was elevated as 
 fast as it was cut over the ground wheel. The first of these 
 machines that came to this community was to Robert Greenlee 
 in Guilford, to cut a field of rye. All the farmers went to see 
 it at work. Many of the young men were expert binders and the 
 machine was a success. From that machine came the idea of 
 the self binder we have at present. 
 
 The first threshing machine was simply a cylinder run by 
 
96 
 
 horse power. The grain and straw came out together. Later 
 a machine which they called a traveling machine was invented. 
 The power to drive the cylinder was from the ground wheel, 
 the same as a reaper. There was a box attached to hold the 
 grain. It was operated by driving to the stack, putting on a 
 load of bundles and driving away in the field threshing as it 
 went. The straw came out at the end as threshed and the 
 grain dropped into a box. The next machine was called the 
 Rochester, a complete machine owned by John Smith and 
 Brothers, also another by the Wright Brothers. The Richard- 
 sons of Roscoe built a machine which was run by Lovejoy and 
 Mabie. They threshed for a toll, taking every tenth bushel. 
 This machine had one advantage. The belt could be tightened 
 by weighting a pulley. George Greenlee and Charles Brown 
 managed a machine called the Ohio Blue for a number 
 of years. Other threshing outfits were owned by Robert 
 Montgomery and Robert Ralston, James Turner and 
 Robert Greenlee, Alex Smith, John Reid, L. McLee, and 
 Hugh Greenlee. William and Alexander McDonald owned 
 a Buffalo Pitt. Later the machines became more plentiful and 
 a larger make. In the early days, when there was so much 
 straw they had to thresh all winter, sometimes having as much 
 fun at an old-fashioned threshing as at a picnic. Threshing 
 companies of a later date were Robert and John Thompson, 
 James Watson, and Charles Kelley, John Andrew, Chas. 
 Kelley, Alex Smith and Robert Greenlee, Watson McMillan 
 and McDonald, J. R. McDonald and Duncan Kelley, John 
 Reid and Thomas Watterson, John and Andrew McDonald, 
 J. B. and David Ralston, J. R. and David McDonald. 
 These were all horse power machines and were in use up to 
 the time of the steam threshers. 
 
 There were also improvements in other farm machinery. 
 Corn was planted with the hoe and cultivated with a 
 small plow with one horse going twice on one row. 
 
97 
 
 Later they used a walking cultivator with two horses 
 going once on the row. Afterwards the riding culti- 
 vator came into use. Now, by using three horses they can 
 cultivate two rows at one time. Harvesting the hay crop 
 now is much easier and faster than when they cut with the 
 scythe and used the hand rake. Now they have wide mowers, 
 the tedders, hay loaders, and barns equipped with hay fork 
 and a track to gather the hay into the barn. 
 
 It seems strange that with all our improvements in farm 
 machinery the farmer is as busy now as in the pioneer days, 
 but the work is not as hard. One reason they have less help 
 for the amount of work accomplished. Before the Union 
 Stock yards in Chicago were built the farmers would dress 
 their hogs for the market. This was done in the winter months 
 so the meat would freeze before it was shipped. There was a 
 lot of hard work and a lot of fun about an old-fashioned 
 butchering. The neighbors would help one another and there 
 was a social time as well. 
 
 As to the social and educational life of the community, 
 nothing as yet has taken the place of the old-fashioned singing 
 schools, spelling schools, debating societies, and musical 
 geography schools, of the pioneer days. The first singing 
 school was taught by Mr. Cole in the log school. Mr. Vincent 
 of Roscoe taught in the stone school and the brick church. 
 On the south side, Mr. Miller and Mr. Mears taught in the 
 Enoch School. Later Mr. Billings taught two schools each 
 week, one at the stone school and the other at the Enoch 
 School. He was an expert at teaching the young people to 
 read notes. He told the boys if they ever saw a chipmunk 
 running on a crooked rail fence, that was the way to read 
 notes. Sabin Wood and Wash Warner of Roscoe taught in 
 West Lane and Enoch Schools. For lights they used tallow 
 candles. Each family would bring one or two according to 
 the number of young people. It was considered quite a fete 
 
98 
 
 or stunt among the young braves to snuff the candles with their 
 fingers without getting burned. 
 
 Spelling contests were popular in winter months and there 
 was quite a rivalry between the schools. Miss Mary and 
 David McDonald and Helen Picken were the best spellers 
 on the north district and Miss Mariah Andrew and James 
 Lamont in the Enoch district. After the spelling contest, 
 they had readings, songs, and declamations. Robert 
 Henderson was one of the best declaimers of the old 
 school days. There were several debating societies in the 
 community. The principal speakers in the society that was 
 held in West Lane School were David Howie, Mathew 
 Harvey, James Ferguson, Martin McKinzie, Mathew Howie, 
 and John Greenlee. David C. Ralston was president of the 
 West Lane Literary Society. He decided all questions, de- 
 bated with satisfaction to all. Mr. Ralston was well qualified 
 for the position. He was a deep reader and thinker. Al- 
 though he had not the advantages of the schools, he was at 
 home among the knotty questions of philosophy and was 
 familiar with the writings of McCosh, Drummond, and Sir 
 William Hamilton, and was gifted with a clear mind on 
 public questions of the day. 
 
 It may be interesting to many to make mention of the 
 musical life of the settlement in the years 1850-1852. 
 Musical geography schools were popular and interesting and 
 were a great feature in the educational and social life of the 
 community. Robert Ralston conducted these evening schools 
 in the log school and Mr. Miller and Mr. Mears held evening 
 schools in the Enoch district. The following is a few copies 
 of the songs and chants they used to sing at those schools: 
 
 THE COUNTIES OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS 
 (To the tune of "The Old Granite State.") 
 We're a band of happy students 
 We're a band of happy students 
 
99 
 
 And we'll join to sing the counties 
 Of our own Prairie State. 
 
 Lake, McHenry, Winnebago 
 Boone, Stephenson and Joe Davis 
 These are all the northern counties 
 Of our broad Prairie State. 
 
 COMPOSED BY ROBERT RALSTON 
 (To be sung or chanted) 
 The maps which here we station 
 For our present explanation 
 Is a delineation of North America 
 
 And now it's our commission 
 To sing of each division 
 And tell with great precision 
 Each ocean, sea and bay 
 Each lake enclosed by dry land 
 Each channel, cape and highland 
 Each river, strait and island 
 And each peninsula 
 All these we mean to mention 
 To assist your apprehension 
 So give us your attention 
 To all we have to say. 
 The equator is a fancy line 
 Around this earthly ball 
 
 The distance north from this same line 
 North latitude we call 
 South latitude is distance south 
 From this same fancy ring 
 And parallels of latitude 
 To range with this we bring 
 Meridians ranging north and south 
 Are fancy circles too 
 
100 
 
 They touch the poles as they proceed 
 And cut the equator through 
 By longitude we understand 
 The distance east and west 
 From same meridian we may choose 
 Whichever we like best. 
 
 PENINSULAS 
 
 Now of peninsulas we sing 
 
 Alaska leads the rhyme sir 
 
 Next Melville, Nova Scotia come 
 
 All in a northern clime sir 
 
 And in the south comes Florida 
 
 With Yucatan we meet sir 
 
 And California follows next 
 
 To make the list complete sir. 
 There are others giving the capitals of the states, also the 
 mountains, lakes, and rivers. The above copies are sufficient 
 to give the reader an idea of a musical geography school. 
 They did not confine themselves to geography alone. They 
 applied it to arithmetic also. They sang the tables of addition, 
 subtraction, division, and multiplication from one up to 
 twelve. 
 
 THE WELLS 
 
 Some of the readers, no doubt, remember the old-fashioned 
 wells but for the benefit of the young, I will try to describe 
 one. When the country was new, good wells could be gotten 
 some places by digging from ten to fifteen feet. There was 
 a box like curb three or four feet high placed at the mouth of 
 the well to prevent anything from falling in. A post having 
 a crotch on the end was set in the ground a certain distance 
 from the well. On this post was placed a long pole so that 
 it would balance. When tipped the small end of the pole 
 would go into the well. To the small end of the pole a rope 
 chain and bucket was fastened. It resembled an immense fish 
 
101 
 
 pole with line attached. When they wished to draw a pail 
 of water they would pull down on the rope until the bucket 
 was full. Then the heavy end of the pole would raise the 
 bucket out of the well. It was called a sweep well. On 
 deeper wells a rope windlass and crank was used and the 
 bucket was wound up out of the well. No doubt it was at 
 one of these wells that the poet, Samuel Woodworth, got the 
 inspiration to write "The Old Oaken Bucket." 
 
 "How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood 
 When fond recollections present them to view 
 The orchard, the meadow, the deep tangled wildwood 
 And every loved spot which my infancy knew. 
 
 "The wide spreading pond and the mill which stood by it. 
 The bridge and the rock where the cataract fell 
 The cot of my father the dairy house night it 
 And e'en the rude bucket that hung in the well. 
 
 "The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket 
 The moss-covered bucket which hung in the well." 
 
 There is one of the old-fashioned sweep wells on a farm 
 four miles northwest of Rockford, known as the Crow's Nest 
 farm, formerly owned by Miss Kate F. O'Conner. 
 
 A CORRECTION 
 
 It was stated in the "Willow Creek History" published in 
 1895 and 1920 that Dr. T. C. Easton was called from 
 Harvard, Wisconsin. At the time he was called to Willow 
 Creek Church, Argyle, he was serving a church at Berlin, 
 Green Lake County, Wisconsin. It was by telegram they 
 invited him to come for communion service, afterward pre- 
 senting him with a call. 
 
 The young men of the parish, who studied for the ministry, 
 were John Giffen, John Montgomery, Thomas Lamont, Hugh 
 Lamont, Mathew Howie, James A. Harvey, Frank Reid, and 
 
102 
 
 Edward Montgomery, also William Henderson, a singing 
 evangelist. Who will be the next to hold up the banner of 
 the cross in this land or in some foreign field? "The harvest 
 truly is great but the laborers are few." In the year 1857 
 the Willow Creek Church was without a pastor and was 
 supplied by Reverend Ebenezer Brown, of Roscoe. One of 
 the candidates for the church was a Dr. Smith, who preached 
 for six months. He was a large man with a powerful voice 
 and a natural orator. On one occasion he preached a sermon 
 on "The Lost Soul." He tried to describe eternity and said 
 that after centuries and ages had passed by, the clock strikes 
 and one eternity has just begun. The sermon made a great 
 impression upon the congregation, and some of the people be- 
 came frightened. Though a lad at that time, I remember that 
 sermon distinctly. 
 
 The first death in the colony was little Archie Picken, son 
 of Mr. and Mrs. George Picken, who died June 15, 1841 at 
 the age of five years and twenty-six days. There was a 
 poplar grove on their farm, south and east of where the ceme- 
 tery is now located. Little Archie was buried there. He was 
 followed to his little grave by those who loved his best, where 
 a like service was never held before. After the Scottish 
 Cemetery was organized, his remains were removed to that 
 place. The next death was Mrs. Andrew Giffen, who laid 
 down the burdens of pioneer life in July, 1841. There was 
 an oak grove on the south side of Robert Howie's farm, now 
 owned by Mathew Andrew. It was there that Mrs. Giffen 
 was buried. A number of people were later buried at this 
 place. As there was no public road to this place, it was not 
 suitable for that purpose and was finally abandoned. The 
 Scottish Cemetery Association was organized April 19, 1859. 
 At a meeting held in District No. 4, West Lane School-house, 
 the following officers were elected : John Andrew, president ; 
 Alex Ralston, secretary and treasurer; Thomas Brown, 
 
103 
 Robert Smith, and Edward Brown, directors. 
 
 SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Henderson celebrated the sixtieth 
 anniversary of their wedding day October 2, 1922, at their 
 home, 618 Fisher Avenue, Rockford, Illinois. Open house 
 was kept afternoon and evening. One hundred and seventy 
 friends and neighbors called to congratulate them on the happy 
 occasion. Mr. Henderson was born in Scotland and came 
 with his parents to Canada in 1841 where they remained two 
 years before coming to the Argyle Settlement. They located 
 on a farm near Caledonia, Illinois. Mrs. Henderson, who was 
 Miss Ellen Ralston, was born in Watertown, Ohio, in 1843, 
 coming to Illinois in 1850. They were married October 2, 
 1863 at Rockford and lived on their farm near Caledonia 
 until fourteen years ago when they retired to Rockford. Of 
 the families of Argyle Settlement, they were the first to cele- 
 brate sixty years of married life. They have been blessed 
 in basket and store and it is the wish of their many friends that 
 their remaining years will be full of joy and happiness. 
 
 The Scotch weddings were proverbly large. How they 
 accommodated such large gatherings in the old-fashioned 
 house was a wonder, but where there is a will there is a way. 
 Dr. Easton, a former pastor, performed a number of mar- 
 riage ceremonies during his pastorate. He said that he did 
 not know when the young people did their courting as he 
 never saw them keeping company in public. At parties and 
 weddings, when the young people were forbidden to dance to 
 instrumental music, they would sing to their plays and dances. 
 The following are the names of some of the plays. "I wonder 
 where Maria's gone,*' "Pumpkin pie," "The needle's eye," 
 "Sailing on the boat when the tide runs high," "Happy is the 
 miller who lives by the mill," "Come on my dearest partner," 
 "Pop goes the weasel," and the "Wild goose chase." 
 
 New Year's Day was the principal holiday in the colony, 
 
104 
 
 when old and young shook hands and wished all a Happy 
 New Year and many a' them. It was a hearty hand-shake, 
 not like the formal pump handle shakes we now sometimes get. 
 They would call on their friends and neighbors and sometimes 
 there would be a rivalry who would be the first foot, or caller. 
 Extra cooking and baking was prepared by the good-hearted 
 house-wives. There was Scotch shortbread, currant bun and 
 grandma's cookies of all kinds, home-made wine, cider and 
 lemonade for the young people, and a "Wee Douch and 
 Doris before ye gang awa' " for the old people. It was a 
 time of good cheer and old and young were happy. 
 
 In the early days the women would card and spin the wool 
 into yarn for family use. AH the socks, stockings, and mit- 
 tens were knit by hand. The yarn was also used for making 
 cloth, such as blankets and shawls. Listen, you who are old 
 enough to remember. Can you hear the hum of the old 
 spinning wheel, and the whurr of the reel as your mother, wife, 
 or sister spins for the family? She sings as she spins. The 
 spinning was timed to the song and as the last thread was 
 wound on the spindle, the song was finished. It was the song 
 of home life and contentment, sweeter by far than the noise 
 of the factory we hear in modern days. 
 
 The pioneer days were days of toil and hardships, yet they 
 had a bright side. The pioneers were all striving to gain 
 homes of their own which was something that they were not 
 likely to gain if they had stayed in their native land. They 
 were all as one family. They would borrow and lend, and 
 what one had they all had. There was something cheerful 
 and cozy about the old open fire-place. On the long winter 
 evenings the neighbors would "calie" or visit each other. The 
 young people would romp in their games and the older people 
 would crack about the homeland and the friends thev had 
 parted with in Scotland. 
 
105 
 
 FIRST PICNIC 
 The first Fourth of July picnic and celebration held in the 
 settlement was in 1861. It was held at the west side of 
 Robert Howie's grove, not far from the site of the old log 
 school. D. C. Ralston was president and George Picken was 
 the marshal of the day. The speaker of the day was a lawver 
 from Rockford. The speakers of local talent were James 
 Ferguson and Mathew Howie. Mr. Ferguson's address was 
 of a comic nature and was enjoyed by all. Mr. Howie's 
 address was greatly appreciated, as the community was not 
 aware that they had a young Demosthenes in their midst. 
 He impressed the audience with his eloquence. It was through 
 the influence of Reverend T. G. Smith, who was pastor at that 
 time, that Mr. Howie was brought out as a public speaker. 
 This was his first effort and it paved the way to his becoming 
 a successful minister of the gospel. The choir of young 
 people, under the direction of George Greenlee and Robert 
 Harvey, gave several selections. The opening number was an 
 anthem, entitled "Santas Hosanna" which was well received. 
 Long tables were set under the trees where a sumptuous 
 dinner was served. 
 
 The following year, 1862, the Fourth of July celebration 
 was held at the east side of Mr. Howie's grove near the road 
 just south of the church. These were Civil War times and the 
 martial spirit was in evidence. The young men who had 
 joined the home guards met at the training grounds at Argyle 
 and marched to the picnic grounds led by the fife and drum 
 band. Mr. Burdick played the fife, John Lockey the snare 
 drum. The latter afterwards became a drum major in the 
 regular army. Henry Ralston played the bass drum and 
 Harvey Gregory carried the stars and stripes. The boys made 
 a fine appearance in their blue blouse uniforms with brass 
 buttons. Some of the young men afterwards joined the regular 
 army and gave their lives for their country. The committee. 
 
106 
 
 John Thompson, Neuell Joslin, and William Harvey, made a 
 barrel of lemonade, which was free for every one. There was 
 no fruit or confectionery for sale on the grounds, but it made 
 no difference as the young people had little money to spend 
 those days and were happy just the same. That evening there 
 was a wedding in the settlement, and some of the young people 
 were invited to be present. The young couple were Jane 
 Greenlee and John Smith, of Winnebago. The young people, 
 who were not at the wedding thought they would have a good 
 time in the evening at the picnic grounds. Using planks they 
 made a platform on the ground. The Watterson and Ralston 
 boys furnished the music. Reverend R. G. Smtih was the 
 pastor at that time and was at the wedding. When he came 
 home, he found the young people having a dance. He went 
 among them and tried to stop them. It was said that some 
 of the girls swung him around a few times, and he was glad 
 to retire to the manse. Dancing was considered at that time 
 to be a breach of the peace. 
 
 ARGYLE CREAMERY 
 On December I, 1884 a meeting was called to take into 
 consideration the organizing of a stock company creamery 
 at Argyle, Illinois. It was decided that the capital stock would 
 be forty-five hundred dollars, being ninety shares at fifty 
 dollars per share. They applied to the Secretary of State 
 for a charter. A charter and license was granted to Hugh 
 Andrew, George Picken, and John R. McDonald as com- 
 missioners. At a meeting held December 20, 1884. the 
 following officers were elected; president, J. C. Tripp; vice- 
 president, David Andrew; directors, James Greenlee, Sr.. 
 Robert Henderson, Joseph Whalen, Charles Brown, John 
 Sullivan, and Hugh Andrew. The creamery manufactured 
 the "Sweet Heather" brand of butter. On September 25. 
 1917, the Argyle Creamery plant and dwelling house was 
 sold to the Union Dairy Company, of Rockford, Illinois, for 
 
107 
 
 two thousand five hundred dollars, cash. On February 8, 
 
 1918, a special meeting of the stockholders of the company 
 
 was held in Argyle Hall and the stockholders were paid their 
 
 stock with liberty bonds. The president and secretary were 
 
 authorized to take legal steps to dissolve the company. List 
 
 of the officers of Argyle Creamery Company from the time 
 
 it was organized in 1 884 until it was sold to the Union Dairy 
 
 Company of Rockford, Illinois, October 1 , 1917. 
 
 President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer 
 
 J. C. Tripp David Andrew Charles Andrew Charles Andrew 
 
 William Brown William Brown John McDonald Thomas Andrew 
 
 D. G. Harvey C. H. Thornton 
 
 D. G. Harvey Andrew Smith Archie McCradie 
 
 Walter Wallace 
 
 Managers and butter makers were John McDonald, 
 Mathew Ralston, C. H. Thornton, Archie McCraedie, Mark 
 Clark, William Harvey, Archie McCorvie, Wendell Pearson, 
 and Robinson McCorvie. The directors were John Sullivan, 
 C. T. Brown, Thomas Greenlee, James Greenlee, Jr., John 
 Andrew, Albert Griffith, James C. Greenlee, John A. Kelley, 
 
 E. B. Reid, and George Brown. 
 
 To the young people who are the decendants of the 
 pioneers : 
 
 It is for your benefit that I have tried to gather up the facts 
 of the pioneer days, that they may not be lost and forgotten. 
 It was for you they toiled and suffered, that they might gain 
 a home in this new land. You have been left a goodly heri- 
 tage, both temporal and spiritual. Conditions have greatly 
 changed since the pioneer days. There have been great im- 
 provements along every line. There is so much to take our 
 minds away from the serious side of life, not that I would put 
 anything in the way of your innocent enjoyment, that I plead 
 with you to stand by the principles laid down by your ancestors 
 in regard to the church and the Sabbath. The pioneers of the 
 Argyle Settlement and the founders of the church have gone 
 
108 
 
 to their reward. There are now only a few in life who were 
 the boys and girls of the pioneer days. We cherish their 
 memory as true citizens of their adopted country, and strong 
 pillars in this new land of God, for home, and for humanity. 
 Let us all be faithful to the heritage God has given us through 
 our ancestors, remembering that unto whom much is given, of 
 the same much shall be required. If in the years to come, 
 young people who may read of the Argyle Settlement in history 
 and story will be led to think more of their country, more of 
 their home, and more of the church, then we will all feel 
 that this writing has not been in vain. 
 
 D. G. Harvey. 
 Chapter XI 
 
 WAR SPARK SET OFF MORE THAN TEN 
 YEARS AGO 
 
 It was more than ten years ago that occurred the incident 
 which caused the greatest war of all time. On June 28, 1914, 
 Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, the 
 Duchess of Hohenberg, were shot and instantly killed by a 
 student named Gavrilo Prinzip in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The 
 murder of the Archduke, who was heir to the Austro- 
 Hungarian throne, was laid to a plot by Serbia, which wished 
 to annex Bosnia, and following Serbia's failure to apologize 
 to Austria-Hungary, as demanded in a forty-eight-hour ulti- 
 matum, the whole of Europe, nation by nation, was plunged 
 into the war. 
 
 On May 7, 1915 the Lusitania, a British ship carrying 
 American passengers, was sunk without warning off the coast 
 of Ireland by a German submarine. This was the cause of a 
 great loss of life and was the beginning of hostilities between 
 the United States and Germany. On the thirty-first of 
 January, 1917, Germany announced ruthless submarine war- 
 fare. Following this the United States severed diplomatic 
 relations with Germany. April second and fourth, Congress 
 
109 
 
 and the Senate passed resolutions on and President Wilson, 
 Commander in chief of the U. S. Army and Navy, declared 
 war between the United States and Germany. April seven- 
 teenth Congress passed a seven billion war bond, also the 
 conscription bill. On May 4, 1917, the first squadron of the 
 U. S. Navy reached England. Conscription registration day 
 in the states was on June 5, 1917. The American marines 
 reached the front at Chateau Thierry, June 2, 1918. 
 
 Following the declaration of war between the United States 
 and Germany the Chamber of Commerce, of Rockford, 111., 
 sent a committee to Washington, D. C, to present their claim 
 for a United States training camp to be located near Rockford, 
 Illinois. In this they were successful and the name given was 
 Camp Grant. It was located between Rockford and the village 
 of New Mil ford. The United States Government leased four 
 thousand acres of land for camp purposes. Later they leased 
 three thousand acres for a rifle range. The first troops came to 
 Camp Grant in June, 1917. Approximately one million men 
 were trained and discharged through Camp Grant. At one time 
 there were seven thousand mules and forty-five hundred artillery 
 horses at the camp. The camp cost approximately fourteen mil- 
 lion, five hundred thousand dollars to built and in 1923 the U. 
 S. Government gave over Camp Grant to the State of Illinois 
 for a training camp for the State guards on condition that in 
 the event of another war, it was to be returned to the United 
 States Government for the use of the regular army. The 
 Illinois Legislature has appropriated $225,000, to erect suit- 
 able buildings for the use of the State Guards. 
 
 THE ELEVENTH OF NOVEMBER 
 The eleventh of November nineteen hundred and eighteen, 
 Was the happiest day on record, 
 That the world had ever seen. 
 If you search back in your memory, 
 I think that you will find, 
 
110 
 
 It was this most eventful day 
 The armistice was signed. 
 How we waited, how we listened 
 For the deep toned whistle's blast, 
 That would tell us war had ended 
 And sweet peace would reign at last. 
 And when at last we heard it, 
 We went out in the night. 
 And the sun rose in its glory, 
 And again it sank from sight, 
 Ere we ceased our wild thanksgiving 
 That Fate had been so kind. 
 And at last the war had ended 
 And the armistice was signed. 
 
 Lola D. Sherman, 
 Rockford, November 10, 1919. 
 
 The following interesting clippings and letters are of young 
 men who served in the World War and are friends or relatives 
 of the families mentioned in the Argyle Settlement in History 
 and Story. 
 
 From The Register -Gazette 
 
 LANGWILL SLAIN AT HEAD OF HIS MEN 
 Killed by machine gun fire at the head of his men was the 
 fate of Major William G. Langwill of Rockford, an account 
 of which is given in a letter to the Major's widow from Capt. 
 L. C. Beebe, adjutant of the 30th infantry. 
 
 "I was adjutant of the 30th regiment," Captain Beebe says, 
 "during the entire Argonne-Meuse action and knew Major 
 Langwill very well. He was in command of the third bat- 
 talion, 30th infantry, when we entered into the Argonne action. 
 The second and third battalions made the initial attack against 
 the Bois de Cunel and Madeleine Farm, two very strong 
 enemy positions, and took and cleared both of the enemy. 
 
Ill 
 
 Beyond, the northern edge of the Bois de Cunel, out in the 
 open, was a well defended system of trenches. Our entire 
 resources were used in taking these trenches. Needless to say, 
 the air was filled with bursting shrapnel, high explosives and 
 machine gun bullets, particularly the latter. Major Langwill 
 was well in advance, too far up for the safety of a battalion 
 commander, directing operations in connection with this attack, 
 when he was killed by machine gun fire. 
 
 "Speaking as the adjutant of this command and knowing 
 that I voice the sentiments of the others who knew him, we 
 were deeply grieved over the loss of an excellent officer and a 
 thorough gentleman, one who was respected and admired 
 by the entire regiment. 
 
 "Major Langwill was buried on the hill just south of the 
 village of Cunel near the place where he met his death." 
 
 Major Langwill was the son of J. S. Langwill of this city 
 and passed his early life here. His widow resides in Aurora. 
 They have an infant daughter whom Major Langwill never 
 saw. 
 
 From The Morning Star 
 
 MAJOR LANGWILL GIVES HIS LIFE TO CAUSE 
 
 OF LIBERTY 
 
 The nobility of death in victorious action for the cause of 
 liberty has been conferred on Major William G. Langwill of 
 the 30th Infantry, Third Division, who is reported killed in 
 battle in France on October 4, according to a telegram from 
 the war department at Washington which was received yester- 
 day by his father, James S. Langwill of 1413 West State 
 Street. 
 
 Major Langwill began his military career ten years ago, 
 when he was commissioned lieutenant in the United States 
 regular army. He was first assigned to Fort Sheridan and 
 then was assigned to the Philippines, where he spent a num- 
 ber of years. He served on the Mexican border and the fol- 
 
112 
 
 lowing year was detailed as professor of military science and 
 tactics at Iowa State College, from which he was graduated. 
 Later he was sent to Fort Snelling as instructor in the officers' 
 training camp. From there he was assigned to command at 
 Flat River, Mo. In January of 1918 he was sent to Camp 
 Greene, North Carolina, and in April was assigned to the 
 30th Infantry, which sailed for France in that month. 
 
 Deceased was born in Glasgow, Scotland, thirty-seven 
 years ago. His widow is at present with her parents in 
 Aurora. His name heads the honor roll of the First Presby- 
 terian church of Rockford. The fallen soldier was a knightly 
 gentleman, who was clean and loyal in every relation of his 
 spotless life. None knew him but to respect him as one of the 
 finest of the splendid types of manhood serving under the 
 Stars and Stripes. 
 
 "The fittest place where man can die in where he dies for 
 man." 
 
 STATEMENT OF WAR SERVICE IN WAR 
 1914-1918. 
 
 Entered 2nd Officers' Training Camp at Fort Sheridan, 
 Illinois, Aug. 27, 1917. Was commissioned a First Lieu- 
 tenant in the Signal Corps, U. S. Army, Nov. 16, 1917. 
 Spent seven weeks in Signal School at Little Silver, N. J. 
 
 Sailed from New York for Liverpool, England, January 
 13, 1918 and landed Jan. 21, 1918. Landed at LeHavre, 
 France, January 25, 1918. Served with artillery till Armistice 
 was signed then had charge of Signal Corps construction in 
 Bordeaux area and later turned over the Signal Corps prop- 
 erty in this area to the French Army. 
 
 Was promoted to Captain, May 15, 1919, and sailed from 
 Brest, Aug. 30, 1919, landing in New York, Sept. 10, 1919 
 after 20 months service with the American Expeditionary 
 Forces. 
 
 I was discharged from the army Sept. 12, 1919. 
 
113 
 
 Just before sailing I obtained a two weeks leave which I 
 spent in Scotland and England. Most of this time was spent 
 in and around Campbeltown in the country known as Kintyre. 
 
 Stuart A. Ralston. 
 Dec. 28, 1919. 
 
 Glen Ralston enlisted March 25, 1918 in the coast defence 
 and was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, for training. 
 From there he was sent to Fort Scott, San Francisco, Cali- 
 fornia and was later sent overseas. While in France he was 
 connected with the first Army Corps Artillery. He was dis- 
 charged at Camp Grant, March 25, 1919. 
 
 Lester Segerlund enlisted March 25, 1918 and was sent 
 to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. His company was on board 
 the transport ready to go overseas when peace was declared. 
 He was discharged and arrived home January 1, 1919. 
 
 The young men who enlisted in the Students' Training 
 School were Welcome Andrew, in the Radio schodi at 
 Evanston, Illinois, Elvin Brown, Robert Cummings, and 
 Harold Houser at the University of Champaign, Illinois. 
 Abner Armour enlisted in the Students' Training School at 
 Ames, Iowa. 
 
 Willie Kelley, of Manchester, who was in class one, selec- 
 tive draft, was sent to Camp Hancock, Georgia, for training. 
 His company was sent to Camp Custer where he was dis- 
 charged. He arrived home Sunday morning, December 29, 
 1918. 
 
 JAMES R. GREENLEE WRITES LETTER OF HIS 
 ADVENTURES 
 Argyle Soldier Has Many Narrow Escapes 
 On Battle Fronts Of France. 
 "James R. Greenlee of Argyle, has written his sister of 
 that village from Weiburn, Germany, telling of his experiences 
 in France. He is a member of company M, 39th infantry, 
 A. E. F. Extracts of his letter follows : 
 
114 
 
 Weibern, Germany. 
 
 "Dear Sister: I got five letters a few days ago and a day 
 or two afterward got four more. 
 
 "I had to change places again as another company took 
 over some of our buildings. I am in a good place, only 
 haven't a bed but a mattress on the floor. I am in the same 
 building as the mail clerk and there are plenty of fellows in 
 to see if there is any mail for them, or else coming in to mail 
 their letters. Quite a few are sending souvenirs home now. 
 Some are sending helmets that they have carried for a long 
 time. 
 
 "I never answered that information blank you sent a while 
 ago. There are some fellows writing the history of the 39th 
 and I have been waiting until I could see one of them, but 
 they have not finished yet, so I will give some dope now and 
 if I get a hold of the history I will try and copy some of it. 
 ENLISTED OCT. 4, 1917 
 
 "I entered Camp Grant October 4, 1917, left Camp Grant 
 for Camp Greene, March 6, 1918, and left for overseas May 
 10th, arriving May 23, 1918. The name of the ship was the 
 Lenape. The division trained at Camp Greene. The date of 
 the first battle we were in, that is we were in the front lines 
 those day, July 18, 19, and 20, the Marne counter offensive 
 (with the 6th French army). The second dates are August 
 4, 5, 6 on the Chateau Thierry front on the Vesle river. 
 IN ARGONE BATTLE 
 
 "The third battle, September 26, 27, 28, and 29, in the 
 Argonne Forest, and October 8, 9, 10 and 12 at the same 
 place, as we had to relieve the outfit that was on the front. 
 During the time between the last two dates we were held in 
 reserve just back of the lines, but still under shell fire. 
 
 "If I get hold of that history I will try and send some of it 
 home. I didn't keep anything but dates. We started on the 
 march into Germany, November 19 or 20th, I don't remember 
 
115 
 
 which. I don't know much of anything to write unless I tell 
 of one of the hottest places I was in on the afternoon of 
 August 5th. The platoon I belonged to went over the top 
 with some other companies. We had nearly forty men when 
 we started and the next morning when they got the company 
 assembled there were only fourteen of the platoon there to 
 report and only three of the squad I was in. A lot got 
 wounded and quite a few were killed. I always think I came 
 out of it mighty lucky although I have had lots of just as close 
 calls at other times. I am wondering if you have received 
 the field glasses I sent when I was on my pass. I never got 
 that box you said you sent me through Marshall Field's from 
 Paris. Maybe it got broken and somebody just helped them- 
 selves. I just bought a three mark piece. It is about the size 
 of our half dollars, a little bigger. They don't use silver any 
 more only paper, as they were supposed to turn in all the gold 
 and silver. 
 
 IRON CROSSES CHEAP 
 
 "When we first came into Germany the boys commenced 
 buying iron crosses and paying big prices for them but now we 
 can buy them in the stores for about a fourth of what they 
 started to pay for them." 
 
 Mr. J. R. Greenlee arrived at Camp Grant, Illinois, 
 August 12th and was discharged the following day, August 
 13, 1919. 
 
 MAC MAKES HIS FIRST FLIGHT ALONE 
 
 "Wilbur H. McEachran, formerly of The Star now in the 
 aviation training at Mount Clemens, Mich., had his first ex- 
 perience flying the other day. 
 
 "In a letter to local friends, he tells of his first flight as 
 follows : 
 
 "I went up a couple of times with our major Saturday 
 morning and handled the levers without a hitch, making a 
 half dozen landings. When we came down the last time the 
 
116 
 
 major said, 'Now take her up alone.' 
 
 "Well, I went up about 2,000 feet and turned around al- 
 right and began to feel better. I don't know just how high 
 I was, but I just took a chance in landing and my judgment 
 was o. k., for I cut off my motor at just the right spot. The 
 landing is just like the motion of a bird and I hardly felt the 
 bump when pulling up on the ground. I'm slated to go up 
 2,500 feet Wednesday morning if the air currents are right." 
 
 WINS COMMISSION 
 
 "Wilbur McEachran, son of Mrs. Sarah McEachran, 
 939 North Court street, has won a commission as a lieutenant 
 in the flying section of the aviation corps at Gerstner Field, 
 Lake Charles, La. After another month he will be granted 
 a ten-day furlough before a transfer is made." 
 
 LT. WILBUR M'EACHRAN ARRIVED HOME 
 TUESDAY 
 "Lieutenant Wilbur H. McEachran, son of Mrs. Sarah 
 McEachran, 939 North Court street, arrived home last night 
 from an eastern camp, having received his discharge from the 
 army after nearly two years of service. Lieut. McEachran 
 entered the service on June 16, 1917, being assigned to the 
 signal corps, later entering the aviation service. He went to 
 France in March, 1918, and was stationed at Orly, from 
 which place he took planes to the front. Lieut. McEachran 
 was circulation manager for The Star for several years before 
 entering the service." 
 
 McEACHRAN DISCHARGED 
 "Private T. E. McEachran, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel 
 McEachran, 1317 Harlem boulevard, has been discharged 
 from the service. He enlisted in August, 1918, entering the 
 Harrison Technical school for mechanics in Chicago. After 
 completing his course there he was sent to Fort Sheridan." 
 
117 
 
 WORK IN FRANCE IS DESCRIBED BY D. C. 
 RALSTON 
 
 Caledonia Boy Says That The Hardest 
 Things Have Been Overcome. 
 
 "Mrs. J. R. Ralston of Caledonia, has received a very 
 interesting letter from her son, D. C. Ralston, Co. C. 307th 
 Field Signal Battalion, with the American Ex. Forces. The 
 letter follows: 
 
 "I received mother's letter dated September 1st, today, 
 along with one from Aunt Mary. They were both good 
 letters and I enjoyed getting them. Home news certainly is 
 a fine tonic for a soldier. Not that I am sick or homesick, but 
 there is always that happy desire of getting home. I am 
 writing home at least once a week unless work interferes. I 
 do not think I missed very many. You should get mail from 
 me at least every two or three weeks in most cases. Of course 
 there are times here when the mail doesn't get out to our 
 division for days. Then it goes to the base censor and finally 
 to the ships. Ships don't sail every day with mail so the speed 
 is slow. It might be improved, in my opinion. Our mail al- 
 ways comes in bunches. 
 
 "I am still feeling fine. Have had some real army life 
 lately, but it left me as good as ever. I can sleep any place, 
 in any position now. Recently I rode sixteen hours in a truck 
 with a couple of sandwiches for a meal the entire trip. Landed 
 in a village at 3 a. m. Hiked for an hour and found our- 
 selves in a big forest. Here we fell out for the remainder of 
 the night, or morning, as it was about four or four thirty. I 
 just put on my overcoat, lay on the ground and was soon having 
 a good sleep. It is cold over here in the nights, but it didn't 
 bother me at all. I never take my clothes off unless we are 
 back on rest. My shoes and leggins I generally get off, 
 however. 
 
 "Our organizatoin has a mighty fine lot of fellows. A 
 
118 
 
 bunch hard to beat. Their friendship means much and I 
 would hate to leave them. One of the fellows has just been 
 sent to officers' training over here. His name is Roberts and 
 he lives in Madison. His father worked for the C. & N. W. 
 and often came to Caledonia. He was a line foreman and I 
 think father probably knew him. 
 
 "I would like to be home and see your chickens and also 
 have a nice dinner of one or two or more. Sometimes I think 
 I could eat a good many. Eggs I get once in a while. In 
 fact, a week ago today I had plenty of eggs. I am sure it 
 won't be as long before I can get a real home meal as it has 
 been since I left. It will soon be one year. Short, yet long, 
 happy, yet sad; eventful and educational, a wonderful ex- 
 perience; something not to be forgotten. One of dark, but 
 now the brightest of all four years for the allies. We have 
 overcome the hardest things and are now going on in quick 
 and powerful strides. Germany is doomed. We are the 
 victors and before many months the final battle will be fought. 
 The U. S. is a late entry but a strong factor at the wire. 
 
 "Did you ever get the shell I sent home? I mailed it in 
 August sometime. It should be there by now." 
 
 DOINGS IN FRANCE ARE DESCRIBED BY 
 
 L. W. PENNIMAN 
 
 Tells Of Passing Between German And 
 
 British Lines In Dense Fog. 
 
 "Dr. and Mrs. David B. Penniman, 1242 North Main 
 street, have received an interesting letter from their son, 
 Sergeant L. W. Penniman, who is with Motor Truck Co. 369, 
 an emergency outfit in active service. The letter is as follows : 
 "My Dear folks: 
 
 "The news has been so good of late that I feel as though 
 it was nearly time to fatten up the calf. We, meaning the A. 
 E. F., are all wonderfully optimistic and predict a quick ter- 
 mination of the affair. With the others, I am wondering how 
 
119 
 
 long it will be after the righting is over until they start sending 
 us home. Of course, I don't know anything about it, but I 
 somehow feel that next year at this time mother will be sound- 
 ing reveille for me. 
 
 "For awhile I envied the fellows of my old company who 
 stayed in the states, for practically all of them received com- 
 missions in some branch of the service. Now, however, that 
 things are going so nicely I rather feel sorry for them, as they 
 will never get a chance to see any action. I doubt if many 
 of them will even get over there. Against their commissions I 
 have seen something of all the fighting that has been going on 
 since last spring. As I have explained in some of my previous 
 letters, we are a reserve outfit. In fact, we are known as The 
 Mallet Reserves, and we go wherever there is an emergency. 
 It was in the performance of our duty that I was up where 
 the Germans first tried to break through this last spring. We 
 went between the German's and the English lines at one time. 
 We didn't know it, however, and evidently the Germans didn't 
 either. While we were there we heartily cursed a dense fog 
 that made it almost impossible to see. Little did we know what 
 it was doing for us. We found out later and took back 
 everything. 
 
 YANKS AT CHATEAU THIERRY 
 
 "I was at the gas attack that the Germans started their sec- 
 ond offensive with and I helped to evacuate the towns in the 
 path of the advance. Several times we pulled out one side of 
 a town as the advance guards of the enemy were coming in 
 the other. I know very well how discouraging it is to keep 
 retreating and retreating. When things looked pretty blue 
 the Marines stepped in at Chateau Thierry and blocked the 
 advance. You can't imagine what a thrill it gave us to hear 
 that the Americans had turned the trick. To have it turned 
 at all was a wonderful boost, but to have it done by the 'Yanks' 
 was the phsychological thing. Everybody had been waiting 
 
120 
 
 to see how they would be and they were better than the best. 
 We had been telling the French we are with to wait until our 
 men got in the line, that they would stay with the best, and 
 how our assertions were proved you well know. Then when 
 they began to push the Boche back everybody picked up 
 marvelously. You could see and feel the change everywhere. 
 All the allies seemed to feel that help was really at hand and 
 went at things with renewed energy and courage. We had 
 to work most awfully hard to keep things up with the advance, 
 but we were only too willing to do that. 
 
 "Since that second advance we have been rolling most all 
 the time, that is, the camions were, for we had to run the men 
 in shifts as nobody could have stood the pace all the time. 
 The camions would come in and the relief would climb on 
 and away we would go. Now we are having a comparatively 
 quiet time and we most certainly do need it to fix up the trucks, 
 which were pretty well run down. 
 
 "In the work I have been on almost every sector on the 
 western front for a time at least, so I know practically all of 
 the country that is being or was fought over as well as I know 
 the country around Rockford. I believe I know some of it 
 better, for I had to go over a lot of it in the dark, without the 
 sign of a light. 
 
 "The whole thing has been a wonderful experience and I 
 wouldn't have missed it for anything, but I am perfectly will- 
 nig to have old Bill cave in any time and I look for it any 
 time. It is to my mind only a question of having good 
 weather for a little while longer and they will be playing 
 'Yankee Doodle' under the Linden, and 'Homeward Bound' 
 for an encore." 
 
 Lawrence W. Pennaman. 
 
 Thomas J. Ralston enlisted in Company K, 131 Infantry 
 and was in training at Camp Houston, Texas. May first he 
 went with his company to France, was gassed at the front and 
 
121 
 
 was sent to a hospital in France. He later recovered and was 
 sent back to his Company K, 1 29 Infantry, A. E. F. on the 
 Rhine, Germany. The following letter was received by his 
 father : 
 
 On active service American Red Cross with the 
 AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE 
 
 U. S. Base Hospital 89, November 22, 1918. 
 
 Dear Father: 
 
 If I wrote all that happened to me since I wrote the last 
 time it would take quite a few sheets of paper so I won't do 
 that. I guess I did not write when I first went up on the 
 Verdun front. We were there when the drive started but did 
 not go over the first morning. That morning was as pretty a 
 sight as I ever saw when the barrage opened up before day- 
 light. It sounded as though there were around a million guns 
 fro mthe racket that was raised, one steady roar, couldn't even 
 tell when a battery of 75's next to us was going off. Our 
 artillery had Heinie smothered alright, as at the place where 
 we were only three shells came back. As for fire works it 
 put it all over any Fourth celebration, the flash of the guns 
 and exploding shells. By daylight the prisoners started coming 
 back, big bunches of them with one guard in front and one 
 behind. Generally the guards were wounded men. There 
 was some activity in the air also, both sides having all their 
 balloons up and hundreds of planes, machine gunning, bomb- 
 ing, and burning balloons. I saw many a plane brought down 
 that day in flames, some weren't on fire, and battled single 
 and in squadrons. The ground among the German trenches 
 was all torn up and the trenches caved in. These trenches 
 were the first ones that I saw that looked like anything I once 
 pictured a trench should be. They had board walks, wire 
 netting on the side to hold the dirt, and sand bagged parapets. 
 The machine gun implacements were of concrete. Several pill 
 boxes were hid in good places, and they were hid too as you 
 
122 
 
 didn't see them until on top of them. Fritz believes in having 
 deep dugouts too, and many of them, most of them being about 
 thirty feet. I have been in the British and French fronts. 
 The British will make anything do for shelter and the French 
 had the daintiest system of trenches and dugouts of any. We 
 would use anything for shelter and if it had three or four feet 
 of dirt on top feel safe and lots better than in deep places. 
 When one gets out of a deep hole he has more dread of getting 
 under fire than where he is nearly all the time. The Germans 
 are thorough and had the stuff to fight with. Their narrow 
 gage railroads ran to the hills just in back of their front lines 
 and all their artillery was supplied that way. We captured 
 ammunition and guns of all kinds from machine to an eighteen 
 inch howitzer. The guns, of course, had the breach blocks 
 blown off. We also got hold of a lot of fine instruments for 
 range finding, etc. A hospital that we got hold of had a great 
 supply of medical material. Some officers must have lived 
 good as a big pen of rabbits was left behind which made fine 
 fresh meat. During a drive like that nothing could move on 
 the roads except ammunition trucks and ambulances, so the 
 rolling kitchens were left away at the rear and we lived on our 
 emergency rations for a good many days. The woods and 
 hills that we went through and over took a lot of hard work 
 but we did it. We were stationed for a few days along the 
 Meuse River while waiting for the line to be brought up on 
 one of our flanks and while there we got everything Fritz had. 
 A little valley that we were in, he flooded with gas and shells. 
 When we started again we crossed the River and took hills on 
 the other side. I got mine this time and had to be evacuated 
 and after several days came down here which is practically the 
 geographical center of France. 
 
 It don't look as though I will be staying here very long and 
 where the next I land I don't know. This is your Christ- 
 mas letter if it is two or three days early. I am going to send 
 
123 
 
 it home as you will get it just as soon and maybe faster than if 
 I sent it up where you are working. There is no need of your 
 writing after you get this as I don't think it will be long before 
 starting back home and if it is I can stand it a while longer. 
 I wish you a merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 
 
 Your son, 
 Thomas. 
 Corp. Thos. J. Ralston 
 Co. K. 129th Inf. A. E. F. 
 
 Hugh T. Andrew, who was in class one, selective draft, 
 was called to report at Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois, May 
 25, 1918. From there he was sent to Camp Custer, Michigan, 
 from there to a training camp in Florida, and later was sent 
 overseas. His work in the army was driving an ammunition 
 supply truck at the front. He experienced active service in 
 France, Belgium, and Germany. He arrived at Camp Grant, 
 August 1 0, and was discharged. 
 
 Rhol, Germany. 
 December 4, 1918. 
 Dear Mother, 
 
 It has been about one week or ten days since I have written 
 and I have been travelling most of the time. I just found out 
 the other day that any of our mail hasn't gone out since the 
 letter I wrote on November 12, so if you don't get my letters 
 regular you will know why. I sent a lot of Christmas cards on 
 the twenty-sixth of November. You ought to get them at 
 Christmas time alright. When we first reached France we 
 stayed at Brest three days, then got on the train and rode for 
 six days and nights till we reached Souilly. We got on trucks 
 and rode about one hour, then got off in a woods and camped 
 for the night. It rained all that night. In the morning we 
 moved a little further and camped for about three or four 
 days. We got twenty-five trucks, two-ton Pierce Arrows. 
 We moved back to Souilly the next day. Spent two or three 
 
124 
 
 days oiling and greasing the trucks. Then we started in work- 
 ing and have been at it ever since. We hauled ammunition 
 till the last week of the war. We would load our trucks in the 
 day time with ammunition then at night we would go up to 
 the guns with our load. We have been within a quarter of 
 a mile of the German front line. We have been under shell 
 fire, gun shells, rifle fire, and fired on from airplanes, but I 
 haven't been touched with any kind of shells or rifle fire. 
 We had to drive without lights and there were some of the 
 blackest nights I was ever out in. We always travelled in 
 convoys. Sometimes we had thirty or more trucks in a train. 
 We have been out as high as sixty hours with only five hours 
 sleep and only two meals in all that time. But there were not 
 many times we were out that long. I can tell you more about it 
 when I get home. We stayed at Souilly about two months, 
 then moved to Suhesme LeGrand. We stayed there about 
 one week then moved to Monzaville, stayed there about two 
 or three weeks, then to Romange. We were there on Novem- 
 ber 1 1 , and you ought to have heard the yelling when the 
 news come in that the war was over. It started away up the 
 line and came down. We could hear it for quite a while be- 
 fore we knew what it was all about. When we heard what 
 it was we yelled too and passed it on. We left Romange 
 around the twentieth and last night was the first time I slept 
 under a roof. I slept on the seat of the truck all that 
 time. It was just the right length and I slept fine and warm. 
 From there we went to Longwy, France, stayed there a couple 
 of days then moved to Lintgen in Luxembourg. We crossed 
 the boundary line between France and Belgium and into 
 Luxembourg all in the same day. Stayed at Lintgen a few 
 days. Then we moved to Berdorf and stayed there a few 
 days. Myself and two other trucks left there on the second 
 of December and have been travelling about all over Germany 
 since, looking for gasoline. We crossed the line at Echter- 
 
125 
 
 nack, Luxembourg. We have travelled about 150 miles and 
 are going to start out this morning, December 5, and go to 
 Trier to see if we can get some there. The gas cars seem to 
 change their routes after we start but we can't get word of it 
 until we reach the place we were told to go and get it. You 
 said in one of your letters that you had a map of the battle 
 front. If you have find Verdun, then you can find Souilly and 
 get some idea where we were while we were still fighting. We 
 have been in most all the little towns that were captured and 
 most of them you would hardly know that there was a town 
 there, nothing but a few walls standing, all shot to pieces. 
 Our destination in Germany is Coblence. I think that is the 
 way to spell it. From there I think we go home but I don't 
 know. Do you know if Jim or Tom are going through 
 Germany? I am having the best trip of my life and never felt 
 better in my life. They say I am getting fat. 
 
 Goodbye, 
 
 Hugh T. Andrew, 
 Motor Truck Co. No. 451, 
 Motor Supply Train No. 415, 
 A. E. F. 
 
 Kenneth McKay of Delhi, Minnesota, enlisted in the 
 regular army; after training several months was sent overseas 
 and was eighteen months in service. He was wounded on the 
 left arm at the battle of Chateau Thierry, on the Vesle River. 
 He was reported by the government as missing. Later his 
 father received word that he was in a hospital in France. He 
 went over the top with his company taking the railroad 
 supply station from the Huns at Vesle Valley or River. He 
 was discharged at Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois, January 
 16, 1919. 
 
 Reverend John Achison, pastor of the Willow Creek 
 Church, Argyle, Illinois, enlisted in Y. M. C. A. transport 
 work. He was granted one year's leave of absence by the 
 
126 
 
 church and left for New York, October I, 1918. Reverend 
 Achison was assigned to the transport U. S. S. S. Henderson 
 and sailed from Hoboken, New Jersey, with soldier boys 
 bound for Brest, France. They arrived there about the time 
 the Armistice was signed. Reverend Achison made two trips 
 across with the transport The Henderson returning to New 
 York about April first finishing a six month's service in the 
 Y. M. C. A. work overseas. 
 
 Walter Ralston of Manchester, enlisted and was with the 
 23 rd Engineers in France. The following letter was received 
 by his mother and sisters, dated November 23, Vrain Court, 
 France. The letter is taken from a newspaper clipping. 
 
 Mrs. Ralston and daughters of this place recently received 
 this interesting letter from Walter Ralston, who is with the 
 23rd engineers in France. 
 
 Vrain Court, France, 
 December 23, 1918. 
 Dear Mother and Sisters: 
 
 This is Sunday again and I will write a few lines. Our 
 letters are not censored quite so rigidly now, and we are al- 
 lowed to write things we could not think of writing before, so 
 I will try to make this letter a little more interesting. Since 
 the last of July until the armistice was signed we were in the 
 advance zone all the time and many times were ahead of the 
 heavy artillery, with both American and German shells flying 
 over our heads. The noise and confusion would be hard to 
 imagine. The Chateau Theirry was really the start of the last 
 big offensive and from that time on the Germans retreated. 
 We were in that drive from start to finish and I saw many 
 things I will never forget. Quentin Roosevelt fell but a 
 short distance from us and I sent you a strip of the plane of his 
 machine. We camped right beside "Big Bertha" emplace- 
 ments. To see so many dead soldiers lying where they fell in 
 trenches and piles of fallen stone from wrecked buildings and 
 
127 
 
 dead horses hitched to wagons and heavy guns is an awful 
 sight. 
 
 "Our company hauled stone and bridge material up to the 
 front, also rations and a good many times brought the wounded 
 back. We did a lot of work at night. The Germans would 
 shell the road in the day time and we had to fix them up at 
 night. We were protected all the time by our artillery and 
 though the enemy tried their best to drive us away, our guns 
 were always more than a match for them. When the ob- 
 jective was reached and the French took over that sector we 
 left and we came here to the Champagne sector, a short way 
 from Verdun. We were the first American truck company 
 here and have credit for doing some good work. We worked 
 in twenty-four hour shifts building roads for the big guns as 
 they can't travel on poor roads. One morning when things 
 were already we brought up troops and saw them take posi- 
 tions in front of the big seventy-fives which were stretched 
 across the fields as far as we could see. The drive started 
 and we saw the boys go over the top and later we began 
 bringing back the wounded. Our big trucks never stopped. 
 For days at a time we hauled up supplies and carried back the 
 wounded. It was a terrible struggle but the Germans found 
 that they could not stop the Yankees that they made so much 
 fun of and they were driven back. When the news came that 
 the war was won the boys went wild with joy. My work was 
 to keep the trucks in running order, fussing with a bum mag- 
 neto or carburetor while the shells whistled over my head. 
 With a steel helmet on and my gas mask hanging around my 
 neck and rifle within easy reach, at first I was a little nervous 
 but I soon got used to it for the trucks had to run and that 
 was my business. In the midst of all this came the word of 
 father's sickness and later his death. It was an awful blow 
 but I had to go on as though nothing was wrong at home. I 
 am glad you had so much help from friends and neighbors 
 
128 
 
 and wish you would thank them all for me. I have received 
 many letters and appreciated them, but it is very hard for me 
 to write as we are always moving and for a long time we 
 could not have a light at night. I hope it won't be long before 
 I will be home. There is some talk of our going into Ger- 
 many, if so, of course it will be longer. This waiting will be 
 the hardest part of the whole thing for me. You will be lone- 
 some at Christmas time and so will I. Before another Christ- 
 mas we will be together. Keep up your courage and re- 
 member even yet you are not so bad off as these poor people 
 over here. Will close for this time with love to all. 
 
 Walter Ralston, 
 
 23 rd Engineers. 
 
 Ralph Picken, who was attending the University at Urbana, 
 with three of his classmates, enlisted in the U. S. Navy, and 
 took the oath at Peoria, Illinois, November 27, 1917 and was 
 sent to the Great Lakes Naval Station, near Chicago, Illinois. 
 Mr. Picken was selected out of a class of seventy-five and 
 was transferred to Harvard University, Cambridge, Massa- 
 chusetts, February 18, 1918, for six months training at the 
 Radio Station. Near the close of the war he was employed 
 in a repair ship in Charleston Harbor. He was discharged 
 in February, 1919, being one year in service. 
 
 John Francis Picken enlisted January 4, 1918, in the avia- 
 tion of the signal service. He passed his examination January 
 5, 1918, as a first class private, a candidate for a commission. 
 He was sent to Ellison Field, Texas, for training and re- 
 ported May 20, 1918, at Champaign, Illinois. Mr. Picken 
 was qualifying as a bomb dropper at the close of the war. He 
 was mustered out of service and arrived home December 1 7, 
 1918. 
 
 The following letters were received from Francis and Ralph 
 Picken : 
 
129 
 
 PICKEN BROTHERS WRITE OF WORK IN 
 SOUTHERN CAMPS 
 
 "Francis and Ralph Picken, of Argyle, sons of Mr. and 
 Mrs. David Picken, write very interesting letters. Francis 
 Picken is at Ellington Field, Texas, and Ralph is on the 
 U. S. S. Hartford, at Charlestown, S. C. 
 
 "The following letter is from Francis Picken: 
 'This week has slipped away pretty fast and up until 
 tonight we have had nice weather, but it rained again last 
 night. The wind is in the north, and it seems to be getting 
 cold, so it may clear up right away. This was my first week 
 of bombing practice and it certainly was interesting work. 
 They have a house with a big lens in the roof that projects 
 the shadow of the ship on a piece of paper, and they mark 
 down a dot every second as you pass over the house, and when 
 the sight is on the house you send down a wireless signal. We 
 have a big class this week so we only go up once a day for 
 about an hour. We go up to 3,000 feet if it isn't too cloudy, 
 and then find the wind, and take its velocity, take the altitude, 
 speed of the ship, and set the sight to compensate for all these 
 things. Then you head for the target and keep the ship 
 straight for it, as well as we can by watching over the sides. 
 When the house gets well under the wings, we have to use the 
 sight in the bottom of the ship and steer our pilot by a pair of 
 lines and signals. When we think our sight is on we press a 
 wireless key and then mark it on a sheet and calculate where 
 our shot would hit. We go over six times for a trip, and there 
 are about seven ships on that stage. When we finish this stage, 
 then we drop bombs on a target instead of pulling a wireless 
 signal. When you are over half a mile up, it is no easy 
 matter to hit it directly, but we don't usually get much further 
 than 100 feet away at any time. The ship has to be kept 
 level. We have to get the wind exactly or we will drift off 
 the course, and we have to know its speed. If we bomb down 
 
130 
 
 through wind and it is blowing 30 miles per hour we are 
 traveling about 100 M. P. H. even in these slow training 
 planes and we have to act quickly. They used to assign us to 
 one pilot for the entire course, but now they are trying out the 
 plan of changing every day. We have a splendid bunch of 
 pilots, except for one or two. We have lost the feeling of 
 uneasiness that we had at first when we were flying, and we 
 feel as much at home as in an auto, except one or two days 
 when it was bumpy, I had an awful seasick feeling. We can 
 be sailing along and hit a bump or airpocket and drop twenty 
 feet, or zoom up. It has a rocking motion like a ship at sea. 
 Another thing that is apt to make one feel punk, if one is 
 inclined that way, is zooming. They dive a little and then go 
 up just as far and as long as they can without killing the en- 
 gine, and then nose it down and repeat. You get a sensation 
 like the drops at Harlem park only shorter and more complete, 
 and keep it up. A tight spiral when we turn up on edge and 
 go round and round, I don't like, but I will soon get used to 
 them. 
 
 *I didn't go to town this afternoon but intend to go tomorrow 
 morning in time to go to church. It is too far out of town to 
 be convenient as it cost 45 cents, and almost an hour's ride. 
 I was always wishing that I could get a few snap pictures to 
 send home, but cameras are not allowed. We can get some 
 pretty pictures above the clouds and it is interesting work fly- 
 ing among them. One of the stages the pilot has to do is 
 cloud flying. They take them up in the air and put a hood over 
 their heads and they can consider they are in clouds and have 
 to fly the ship by the feel. 
 
 'It looks like peace might be in sight, but most of us don't 
 expect to get out for quite a while anyway, whether peace or 
 war, for in all probability it will take quite a while to get peace 
 terms adjusted. There are so many countries to be satisfied 
 and such big problems that it may be years before all the de- 
 
131 
 
 tails are worked out. 
 
 'When the sun is out it is always warm enough to sweat 
 walking around in the afternoon and although it is damp I 
 haven't had a cold or anything. Last night the water blew in 
 our door, and as our tent floor has a sag in it, we had two 
 inches of water in it. We will have to get busy and build a 
 door as our canvas won't cover it all. 
 
 'Monday I also start work on the range with the machine 
 guns mostly, but also with a Springfield rifle and trap shooting. 
 That ought to be interesting work only it is a mile from the 
 tents and that is a long walk, now that I have got good and 
 lazy. We report for flying at 6:30, and we get through 
 about ten, they have about three crews to the ship. We get 
 dinner and report for gunnery at 12:30, get through at three 
 and have drill calesthenics from 3:45 to 4:45, and then 
 supper.' ' 
 
 "Ralph Picken writes as follows: 
 
 1 'My letter for the middle of the week is just a little late. 
 I didn't forget to write one but it wouldn't do any good if I 
 did before today. 
 
 'Monday afternoon eight of us who had been working on 
 some of the engines on the U. S. S. Cincinnati, which is a 
 destroyer, went out when she left here. There was some work 
 to be done aboard her when she left, so they took eight of us 
 along. She went up to Norfolk, Va. We expected to come 
 back from there either by ship or train, but we never got there. 
 The Cincinnati is a pretty good ship, and is headed for the 
 other side when she gets a couple more guns mounted on her 
 at Norfolk. I sure wished I could have stayed aboard her. 
 All of us did, but we knew we weren't sent as part of her 
 crew. We had dandy weather and the sea was good all the 
 time. 
 
 'I had quite a little mail here when I got back. Papa's 
 letter and one from Francis, besides a few others. 
 
132 
 
 *I got some new clothes this morning, and they have raised 
 the price on them now. I got a pair of shoes and a couple of 
 white hats and some sox, but they cost me about $10. The 
 shoes themselves cost $7 now to draw them. I need a new 
 suit of blues for dress, but I don't know whether to get them 
 or not. The way things look now perhaps I won't have to 
 wear them long. It is pretty hard to tell though just what 
 they are going to do with the navy after the war. I may have 
 to stick with it quite a while, and I may not. It all depends on 
 how bad they need men or rather on the amount of money 
 congress will give them to keep us. Things are beginning to 
 take on a bright aspect on the other side now. 
 
 'They say that the quarantine is going to be lifted next 
 Monday." 
 
 J. C. Ralston, Jr., enlisted in aviation section of the signal 
 corps and passed his examination January 5, 1918, as a first 
 class private, as candidate for a commission and was called to 
 report May 20, 1918, at Champaign, Illinois. Mr. Ralston 
 was sent to Ellison Field, Texas, for training and was later 
 sent to Camp McArthur, Texas. He was training as a pilot 
 and continued training after peace was declared. He was 
 discharged and arrived home about the tenth of January, 1919. 
 
 George R. Barnes, who was in class one, selective draft, 
 was called to report on the twentieth of May, 1918, and 
 went to Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois, for training. The 
 company was sent to Camp Custer, Michigan, and later was 
 sent to New York to join the transport for Liverpool. From 
 there they went by rail to Dover, and by boat across the 
 English channel, to France. Mr. Barnes was taken sick and 
 was in the hospital in France for a few months. Later he was 
 sent back to his company and was sent to the front at the time 
 the Armistice was signed. He returned from France on the 
 transport Leviathan, arriving at New York, April 1, coming 
 to Camp Grant, April 10, 1919, and was discharged. The 
 
133 
 
 following letter was received by his father from France, dated 
 November 24, 1918: 
 
 November 24, 1918. 
 "Dear Father: 
 
 "This is fathers' day in France and the "Y" is crowded with 
 soldiers this morning writing letters to their respective dads. 
 The censorship is relaxed somewhat and so this morning I am 
 going to tell you everything I have done so far. 
 
 We are now in a dirty little village called Domgermain, 
 which is about the size of Rockton. It is located a few miles 
 behind the line, about half way between Metz and Nancy in 
 the Toul Sector. We have been here since the Armistice was 
 signed. 
 
 "We left New York on July 22, and landed in Liverpool, 
 August 3. There were about twelve or thirteen ships in our 
 convoy and we were fairly well protected by sub chasers and 
 a few battleships. About the third day out we were awakened 
 one morning about 3 a. m. by a shot fired from our ship. It 
 seems an American submarine came up between our ship and 
 the next one by mistake and before they could give their signal 
 one of our gunners took a shot at them but luckily missed. Of 
 course there was quite a bit of excitement. Then about two 
 days after that, one morning we heard the signal for abandon 
 ship. So as we had been drilled to do we all lined up along 
 the railing with our life preservers and canteens full of water. 
 Previously we each had been assigned to a certain raft or life 
 boat. Between our boat and the next one the sub chasers 
 were surrounding a German submarine. We could feel the 
 ship shake as they sent down the depth bombs. Well, the 
 submarine was sunk alright as they sent the signal over to us 
 afterwards. That was all we saw of the submarine. We had 
 to wear our life preservers at all times and were supposed to 
 sleep with them on too. 
 
134 
 
 "Our ship was called the Minnelkahda and was an English 
 freighter remodeled for transporting American troops. Her 
 previous cargo was a ship load of horses from the States to 
 France. 
 
 "The feed on the ship was very poor. It was furnished by 
 the English and was poorly cooked too. There was a canteen 
 on board ship where we could buy chocolate and cookies, so 
 we got along alright. 
 
 "We landed in Liverpool and came in by the North Chan- 
 nel. We could see the shores of Scotland but it was very 
 foggy. We stayed in Winchester and Southampton about 
 four days. While there they picked out the boys who didn't 
 have the mumps previously and left them in quarantine. I said 
 I had them so I could stick with the company. Ed. Knipp 
 was left in England in quarantine. England is a very pretty 
 country with hedges around every field. We crossed the 
 English Channel the night of August 6. The night before an 
 English hospital ship was sunk in the channel but we arrived 
 in LeHavre safely. The channel was the most dangerous 
 place of any for subs. Then, on August 8, the doctor said 
 I had the mumps and would have to go to the hospital. That 
 was the last I saw of Holdridge. He is now with the Third 
 Division. I was sent to an English hospital at LeHavre Base 
 52. I was there five weeks. Then I went to an English rest 
 camp and had a chance to visit LeHavre several times. It is 
 a very pretty city and quite an important sea port. Then I 
 was sent with several other Americans to a classification camp 
 at Eu, a small place near Treport on the English Channel. 
 From there I was sent to another classification camp at St. 
 Dizier by way of Abbeville and Amiens. Those cities were 
 both being bombed and shelled so no trains could enter or 
 leave except in daytime. You know soldiers always travel in 
 box cars in France. The signs read *Hommes 40 Chevauz 8' 
 which means the car will hold forty men or eight horses. 
 
135 
 
 Those box car rides are not very pleasant to say the least and 
 the trains travel very slowly, too. 
 
 "I got back with my company about October 10. At that 
 time they were in central France in a small town called 
 'Pouilly-Sur-Loire' which means Pouilly on the Loire river. 
 I have sent you several cards of the place. Most of the men 
 had been transferred to the third and fourth divisions and had 
 seen quite a bit of front line service. Then after a week or 
 so we filled up with casuals again and on October 25, started 
 for the front. The Eighty-fifth had previously been a Re- 
 placement Division but on October 20 it was changed into a 
 Combat Division. After four long days of riding in a box 
 car we got off the train near Toul and then had a few days 
 of hiking. On Nevember 1 1 , when the Armistice was signed, 
 we were near Thiercourt in reserve a few miles behind the 
 line. That is about half way between Metz and Nancy. So 
 you see the fighting stopped just as we were arriving at the 
 front. About a week ago we were hiked back here to Dom- 
 germain. We may be sent up into the Army of Occupation 
 as we are now in the Second Army Corps. But if not we may 
 get home this winter. 
 
 "We have been getting fairly good feed most of the time 
 but of course it is sometimes hard to get our supplies up. Corn 
 willy, salmon and beans do get kind of tiresome and I can 
 imagine eating Thanksgiving dinner at home would seem 
 rather nice. Since the Armistice we have been getting more 
 fresh meat and I hope they will continue feeding better. 
 
 44 We sleep in a French barn now and these cold mornings 
 the only satisfaction we have is that there is plenty of fresh air. 
 
 Extracts from other letters: 
 
 4 'We left Domgermain, January 1 5, and after a four days' 
 ride in a box car arrived in Conlie and hiked to Loire where 
 we are now located. This is in the LeMans area and about 
 twenty miles from Le Mans. We expect to leave here for 
 
136 
 
 Brest soon. We are living in an old barn again. The last 
 few weeks in Domgermain we lived in a chateau about 500 
 years old. It was a fine building when new. 
 
 "We passed through Normandy which is one of the French 
 states. It is about the prettiest part of France I have seen. 
 
 "There are quite a few stock farms in this part of France 
 which used to sell horses to American importers. 
 
 "The people around here are a lot nicer and cleaner than 
 those up near the line. They all seem more prosperous, too. 
 
 "We were received by Gen. Pershing yesterday and the 
 division passed a good review. 
 
 Extracts : 
 
 "We stayed a week in Brest and embarked on the Le- 
 viathan, March 26, and landed in Hoboken, April 2. The 
 Leviathan is the largest ship afloat and was captured from the 
 Germans at the beginning of the war. It is a beautiful ship 
 inside. There were about twelve thousand troops aboard be- 
 sides a crew of over two thousand. We were first sent to 
 Camp Dix and stayed there a week. Then we were sent to 
 Camp Grant and discharged April 14, 1919." 
 
 The following is a newspaper clipping: 
 
 GEORGE R. BARNES SUCCUMBS 
 
 AFTER LENGTHY ILLNESS 
 
 Veteran of World War Dies at Rockford Hospital 
 From Overseas Infection. 
 
 "George R. Barnes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Barnes, 
 residing on a farm two miles south of Roscoe, died at Rock- 
 ford hospital at 2:30 this morning from complications arising 
 from trench mouth, a disease familiar to overseas veterans. 
 Shock, following an operation at 5 o'clock yesterday after- 
 noon is believed to have hastened his death. 
 
137 
 
 "Barnes spent a month in a French hospital suffering with 
 trench mouth and returned to this country for discharge ap- 
 parently cured. Last July he became ill again. Physicians 
 at Mayo Brothers hospital, Rochester, Minn., diagnosed the 
 case as a renewal of the disease and he returned here for 
 treatment. Last Tuesday his brother, Ralph Barnes, sub- 
 mitted to an operation for the transfusion of a quart of blood 
 from his veins into those of his brother in an effort to save the 
 brother's life. 
 
 "Another transfusion was considered, but the world war 
 veteran succumbed before it could be accomplished. 
 
 "George R. Barnes was born in Argyle, November 30, 
 1895, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Barnes. He graduated 
 from Rockford High school with the class of 1914. On 
 May 25, 1918, he went to Camp Grant and was transferred 
 to the 338th Infantry for eight months. He is a member of 
 Walter R. Craig post, American Legion. 
 
 "Deceased is survived by his bereaved parents and a brother 
 Ralph Barnes. No funeral arrangements had been made early 
 this morning but it is believed the local Legion post will assist 
 in the funeral services by furnishing a firing squad, pall bearers 
 and escort of honor." 
 
 Ralph Barnes was called in selective draft September 22, 
 1917 and reported at Camp Grant October 1 . Later he was 
 honorably discharged. 
 
 Carl Ralston joined the aviation corps and was in training 
 at the field near Champaign, Illinois. He was taken with a 
 severe cold and pneumonia and had to abandon aviation work. 
 Later he enlisted in the regular army in the Quartermasters 
 Division. He was at New York on the way to France with 
 his company when peace was declared. Later he was in 
 camp at Washington, D. C, before being discharged. 
 
 Wendell Pearson, son of Reverend M. L. Pearson, a for- 
 mer pastor of the Willow Creek church, enlisted with the 
 
138 
 
 Chicago University unit in the ambulance corps and was sent 
 to France. Later he joined the Quartermasters Division in 
 the regular army. 
 
 Arthur Pearson was with the army in Y. M. C. A. work 
 and passed examination to go over seas. At this writing he 
 is in the same line of work at Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands. 
 
 Philips Armour enlisted as a candidate in the Officers' 
 Training School of Coast Artillery, Fortress Monroe, Vir- 
 ginia, and was there when the war ended. 
 
 Homer Kuhn enlisted in Company K, April 17, 1917, and 
 was sent to Camp Logan, Texas. He went with his company 
 to France, was wounded and was three months in the hospital. 
 Later he was with the A. E. F. on the Rhine, Germany. 
 After being discharged he enlisted in the regular army for 
 one year. 
 
 Harvey Armour was with the Engineering Officers' Train- 
 ing School, France. The following letter was received by 
 his parents: 
 
 "Harvey B. Armour, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Armour, 
 318 N. Winnebago street, has written the following letter to 
 his parents. He is now in an Engineering Officers' Training 
 school in France. His address is A. P. O. 714. 
 
 "As far as we are concerned the ending of the war has 
 made no difference in the work, as we still climb out of the 
 warm bed at 5 :30 and do some tall shivering, as our barracks 
 are not heated. I've been sleeping on a straw bed sack and 
 one blanket with three blankets, overcoat and raincoat over me, 
 and I have managed to keep pretty comfortable. 
 
 "A week ago Friday I went to town and bought a com- 
 plete outfit. When I came home Saturday I found the stuff 
 was off, as Washington ordered that no more commissions are 
 to be granted. We are now ready to leave with certificates 
 saying that we have completed the course and are eligible for 
 commissions. There were one hundred out of eight hundred 
 
139 
 
 chosen, and I feel very fortunate to be among the top notchers. 
 The dope seems to be that we will be sent back to our outfits 
 and if they need officers we will be commissioned. Our regi- 
 ment is short so I may be able to don the regalia yet. 
 
 "As censorship rules are off, I will tell you a bit about my 
 life since I left the States. We saw no subs on the way over, 
 but we had a couple of scares when we "stood to'* ready to 
 abandon the ship. We landed at Liverpool on May 30th 
 about midnight, unlocked the next morning, and went by train 
 to a rest (?) camp at Winchester. The next morning the 
 company announced promotions, and I was surprised to find 
 that I had been made a sergeant. We cleaned up, and bathed, 
 that day, and we were up the next morning at 4 o'clock bound 
 for Southampton where we loaded boat again and by night 
 crossed the channel to Havre, landing on the morning of 
 June 3rd. 
 
 "We went to another so called rest camp, known as the 
 Cinder Camp, where we stayed about five or six days, resting 
 and drilling a little. We then took a two day trip to a little 
 French town in the center of the country where peace reigned 
 supreme, and I guess we were the first excitement the town 
 had had. 
 
 "Ten days later saw us on the Toul sector in front of 
 Mount Sec where we worked like beavers for about five 
 weeks without a great amount of excitement. I sure liked the 
 work there, as they put me in charge of concrete pill box con- 
 struction. We next spent ten days resting and drilling near 
 Toul. Then we were ordered for the Nancy sector facing 
 Metz and through a French corporal I had a fine view from 
 his observation post and I saw shells lighting near some Ger- 
 man troops on the road near Metz. We ended on that front 
 by holding the pivot at the south end of the famous St. Mihiel 
 drive and I had my first experience in No Man's Land, spend- 
 ing three nights there. 
 
140 
 
 "We then went back for a five day rest in a woods under 
 pup tents, and it was raining all the time. Off then for the 
 Argonne where I stayed until coming here. We did not go up 
 to the front again but worked for about two weeks on the 
 roads in the rear, but we were finally called in and believe me, 
 there was hell popping up there. Gen. Pershing gave our 
 division praise for our work. 
 
 "Now all that remains is to get home. The dirty Huns are 
 licked to a frazzle and, believe me, the Americans did their 
 share in cleaning them up. Where I'll spend Thanksgiving I 
 can't guess now, but from the dope, Uncle Sam is going to 
 furnish turkey, cranberries, etc., but it can't compare with 
 mother's table a year ago. Last Sunday we had an Ames 
 reunion to talk over old times, and wrote a letter back to the 
 Alumnus. Would you believe it, we numbered eleven right 
 here in this school? Hope to be home by Christmas." 
 
 Harvey. 
 
 Charles Armour, Jr., enlisted as a candidate in the Officers' 
 training in the artillery and was at Fort Taylor, Louisville, 
 Kentucky. He gained his commission as lieutenant at the 
 close of the war. 
 
 Wilber Giffen enlisted in U. S. Naval Reserves, June 15, 
 1918, and was sent to the Municipal Pier, Chicago, for train- 
 ing. He was released April 24, 1919, with rank of ensign, 
 and commissioned from Officers' Training School at Pilham 
 Bay, New York City. 
 
 David McCorvie enlisted in the Quartermasters Division at 
 Camp Grant and continued there until the close of the war. 
 
 Other young men of the community who were in active 
 service or in training were : Raymond Wallace, George Wal- 
 lace, Colin Ralston, Colin McGaw, Charles McClure, Colin 
 McClure, William McGaw, Walter McGaw. 
 
141 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached at the Funeral of 
 JOHN GREENLEE, SR. 
 In the Presbyterian Church, Belvidere, Illinois, 
 January 2d, 1 883, by Rev. M. F. Howie. 
 TEXT: — // Timothy, 4:7, "/ have j ought a good fight, I have 
 finished my course, I have £ep/ the faith: Henceforth 
 there is laid up for me a crown of righetousness which the 
 Lord, the righteous Judge will give me at that day.** 
 Ninety-one years and four months of busy, active life closed 
 on earth forever! Ninety one years and four months of con- 
 stant contact and intercourse with men brought to an end as 
 calmly and peacefully as an evening sunset 
 
 A long life, through which a vigorous and active mind, and 
 kind heart, touched many another mind and heart, moulding 
 and shaping them for good, has passed out of our view, and 
 all its most pronounced achievements turned at once into 
 memories of our departed. The most thoughtless cannot linger 
 on this without seriousness; and to the thoughtful and re- 
 flective it is full of both admonition and consolation. We 
 offer no words of fulsome eulogy to-day as we stand thus at 
 the terminus of this long race-course, and say of him who ran 
 it, as Paul said of himself, "I have fought a good fight, I have 
 finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is 
 laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the 
 righteous Judge, shall give me at that day." 
 
 We recall here in this funeral service, with gratitude, the 
 goodness of God throughout this life, prolonging it, in em- 
 ploying it for many good social, religious and public ends, in 
 giving tranquility, and a long and peaceful evening after so 
 long and arduous a day of labor; and we linger on the fact 
 that there must have been rare powers in this mind and heart, 
 now gone from their mortal companion, to arrest the sym- 
 pathies, win the confidence and determine the judgments of 
 
142 
 
 others, and to bear with cheerfulness the privations and hard- 
 ships incident to the life of an early settler of this State. 
 
 But few words are needed to describe the prominent features 
 of the majority of human lives. It is not necessary to write a 
 volume, after all, to tell whether a man has spent a noble or a 
 wasted life ; whether he has lived for good or evil. And if for 
 good, the picture is easily drawn, for no shading of the back- 
 ground is required, no darkening of the sunlight is needful, no 
 tinting of the features is necessary. The picture of a good life, 
 I repeat, is easily drawn. There are a few figures to arrange, 
 as data of birth, childhood, schooldays, maturity and death; 
 and a few incidents to be grouped as characteristic, unique 
 and expressive of distinct individuality. 
 
 The leading facts in the life of Father John Greenlee are 
 soon told. Let us go back in memory nearly a century. 
 
 Yonder amid the green hills of Argyleshire, Scotland, in 
 the Parish of South-end, on the 1 6th day of August, 1 79 1 , a 
 boy is born; and soon afterwards he is consecrated by his 
 parents to the Lord in baptism, as the records of the Presby- 
 terian church of that parish still show. The first breath that 
 he drew was from the air of that sea-girt Island, and with 
 it he imbibed those sterling qualities of heart and soul which 
 have made Scotchmen noted the world over. His schooldays 
 were passed among the same dear hills that sheltered him at 
 birth, and in that Scottish school-room he has those principles 
 of rectitude, breathed from the very air at birth, still more in- 
 delibly stamped upon his character, thus helping to lay the 
 foundation for all his future life of usefulness and worth. His 
 early advantages in school, it is true, were limited; but what 
 he had, he improved well, and learned, never to forget. 
 Those were the days of few books, but what few they had 
 they read thoroughly and digested well. Father Greenlee, 
 all through his life, from early childhood up, was an eager 
 searcher after knowledge; to know what others knew was his 
 
143 
 
 great desire. To the extent of his ability he was a reader of 
 books. Hence in his early boyhood we find him eagerly de- 
 vouring the pages of such standard works as Harvey's "Medi- 
 tations on the Starry Heavens" and "Among the Tombs;" 
 Young's "Night Thoughts," Milton's "Paradise Lost and 
 Regained," Dodridge's "Rise and Progress of Religion in the 
 Soul," and various works on the Prophecies, together with 
 the Westminster Catechism. 
 
 Such reading as strengthened the mind of vigorous and 
 pure thought, and inspired the soul to worship and adore its 
 Maker. He had a wonderful retentive memory and what he 
 read was ever before him like an unlocked treasure-house, 
 from which he drew at will. And only a few weeks before 
 death, I have heard him repeat, in choking utterances, whole 
 passages from these books as expressive of his inward thinking. 
 But to him the Bible was of all books the first, the last, the 
 best. He studied it first at his pious mother's knee in his 
 humble Scottish home, and never neglected to study to his 
 latest day. It was the interpreter of all things else to him, 
 and the exhaustless theme of his mind and heart. With God 
 Himself shining through all its pages, a light subtler than that 
 of the sun, and touching his spirit wherever he turned, every 
 thing in the universe took on a new meaning. Skies and seas, 
 mountains and plains, lakes and torrents, cedars and palms, 
 flowers of the fields and waving grain, lions and conies, angels 
 and men, kings and kingdoms, armies and navies, wars and 
 pestilences, sickness and death, adversity and prosperity, 
 Eden's garden, Man a sinner and Calvary's Cross — all had 
 their interpretation and meaning to him in the Book of books, 
 and were lit up with a light above that of the sun or moon, 
 which streamed from its sacred pages. 
 
 With such wholesome and religious instruction, and the 
 constant care and prayers of a pious mother, to whom he 
 was greatly attached, the boy grows into manhood. At an 
 
144 
 
 early day he joined the Presbyterian church, of which he re- 
 mained a devoted and consistent member till the end. His 
 early life was spent upon his father's farm, where his physical 
 strength received that development — that knitting of bone and 
 toughtening of muscle, and expansion of vital, which peculiarly 
 fitted him for enduring the hardships and privations of the new 
 world. 
 
 At the age of thirty-two he marries Miss Helen Brown, the 
 daughter of a neighboring farmer, and with united hearts and 
 lives, and the fear of God before their eyes, they start out to 
 make the best of life. Their pathway from the first did not 
 lead through flowery meadows, watered by cooling streams, 
 or under trellised arbors that might have lent a sheltering shade 
 to screen them from the burden and heat of the day. No! 
 Their journey led up the rugged road of life where the path 
 was stony and the hill steep. The fickle goddess — Dame 
 Fortune — refused them any favor but what they wrested and 
 wrung from her hand by earnest effort and honest toil. 
 
 Children were born to them and cares multiplied; but at 
 no period of their life, from the hour they stood at the hymenial 
 altar and plighted their troth one to another, to the hour when 
 the hand of death severed the sacred tie, could one have said 
 to the other, "y° u have failed in contributing your share in 
 building up and sustaining your part of the mutual interests 
 of the family and the household." All along it was the 
 sturdy oak supporting the evergreen ivy; or if the illustration 
 reversed suits you better, it was the graceful ivy clinging to 
 and clasping its tendrils lovingly about the oak, making its 
 trunk and arms stronger and more graceful by its presence 
 and influence. 
 
 Years roll by; and in that same land where the parents first 
 drew breath, three sons and three daughters are born to them, 
 all but one of whom still survive and are here to-day, together 
 with two other daughters born in this country, all now married 
 
145 
 
 and well-to-do in life. Like a true father and mother, who 
 always bear some resemblance to their Heavenly Father, they 
 deemed no sacrifice too great to make for their children. 
 Most lovingly did they study their every want, and always 
 supplied it to the best of their ability. They labored early 
 and late for their support. They taught them the fear of 
 God, the love of truth, and guided their young feet into the 
 ways of the Sanctuary. And now when the sun of both has 
 set, and they have passed on to the dawning of that other and 
 endless day, how gladly can these children rise up and call 
 them blessed, saying, "My father's and my mother's God I 
 will serve." 
 
 But time wears away; crops fail and rents become oppres- 
 sive in the land of their birth. Strange stories of the wealth 
 of this new and western world are wafted across the waste of 
 of waters to the sea-girt Isle; they are repeated on the hills 
 of Argyleshire, and the mother lulls her babe to sleep on the 
 shores of the great sea, with the repetition of these stories about 
 the land that Columbus discovered. Their weird tale is caught 
 up and echoed along the braes of Kintyre. A tide of emigra- 
 tion sweeps over that land of song and story, and that sturdy 
 pair, with their family of young children, are caught by the 
 currents and borne across the stormy Atlantic and on to the 
 valley of the Mississippi. The past, with all its sacred associa- 
 tions and tender memories was behind them, the unmapped 
 future was before them ; but the God of their youthful days was 
 still their trust; and we can imagine them saying as they push 
 on toward the untrodden west, 
 
 "I know not where His islands lift 
 Their fronded palms in air; 
 
 I only know I cannot drift 
 
 Beyond His love and care." 
 It was in the lovely month of August, 1 836, — the month of 
 flowers — that the weary travellers reached Ottawa, in this state, 
 
146 
 
 having come round by way of the lakes to Chicago, and from 
 there to Ottawa by team. And well do I remember hearing 
 him relate the experience of his first day in Ottawa. How, 
 when he was sitting, near its close, in the store of a friend, 
 somewhat disheartened and discouraged, for work did not 
 seem to be plenty, and he had a large family dependent on 
 him for their support, a contractor came in and asked for a 
 stone mason to take the place of one who had failed to keep 
 his word. "There, again," said he, "was the hand of that 
 kind Providence which always watched over me, interposed 
 in my behalf; I made a bargain with the contractor, went to 
 work for him, and from that day on commenced to prosper." 
 Father Greenlee was then in the prime and vigor of life, and 
 whatever his hands found to do he did it with all his might. 
 
 In the month of December of the same year, he took posses- 
 sion of a claim in Caledonia township, Boone County, near 
 the center of what is now known as the "Scotch Settlement." 
 The following spring, he moved his family from Ottawa on to 
 this claim; and there, or near to that spot, he resided for a 
 period of forty years. He was the pioneer Scotchman of 
 that great settlement and one of the pioneers of this part of 
 the state. He was the first Scotchman who permanently 
 settled here, and around him as a nucleus has gathered a settle- 
 ment of nearly two hundred families. He was also the 
 pioneer in the formation of the Presbyterian church of that 
 settlement, now grown so strong and influential. He was the 
 first to raise the standard of the Cross on those prairies ; a leader 
 in the organization of that church; and from its birth till the 
 day of his death he held in it the office of Ruling Elder. He 
 was a Presbyterian by instinct, training and education. 
 Principle pointed out his religious home, but a broad, unselfish 
 philanthropy made him undenominational in practice. He 
 gave the right hand of fellowship to all who were followers of 
 Christ, of whatever name. He lived to wield an influence, 
 
147 
 
 and was largely instrumental in shaping and moulding the 
 moral and religious life of that community where he resided 
 so long. What remarkable changes have taken place in the 
 condition of this country and of the world during the life-time 
 of our aged friend! What progress in art and science, in 
 education and religion, in government and business! The 
 ninety-one years and four months he has lived have been 
 crowded with enterprises and events of wonderful import. 
 Born during the reign of George the 3rd of England, and in 
 George Washington's first presidential term, he has lived to 
 see since then three new rulers ascend the throne of England, 
 and eighteen presidents elected in the United States; and this 
 country increase in population from four to that of fifty million. 
 It has been an age of invention; knowledge has increased; 
 telegraph lines intersect all lands, and bring together the shores 
 of distant continents. Railways span all the great civilized 
 countries of the globe, upon which at his birth not a single 
 tie or rail had been laid, nor a single telegraphic wire 
 stretched. Since his birth great wars have been waged, and 
 mighty battles, decisive of liberty and human rights have 
 been fought. Thrones of despotism have been overturned; 
 and the power and grace of Him whose young life aged 
 Simeon blessed, have been marvelously displayed in the de- 
 velopment of a higher Christian civilization. No one mind 
 can group the amazing history of these ninety-one years, as it 
 seems to embrace more of the world's progress than many 
 centuries before. And amid all these onward movements, our 
 friend was no clog on the wheels of progress, but in his own 
 humble way every ready to put his shoulder to the wheel to 
 help the race roll forward. 
 
 There are some here to-day, I presume, who knew our aged 
 friend as he was in the prime and fulness of his manhood — 
 strong, generous and upright, and progressive; a good citizen, 
 a kind husband, an affectionate father, a warm friend, a de- 
 
148 
 
 voted Christian. If you analyze personal character, you will 
 find that some are dead to the interests of humanity, to the 
 claims of charity and benevolence while they live. Again you 
 will find others all life and spirit and heart and sense and sym- 
 pathy and love; their being seems a very spring of power and 
 influence — copious, like the Nile, boiling, like the geysers. 
 They live to make sadness brighten into sunshine; their acts 
 of kindness changes gloom into gladness. Such characters 
 live a twelve monthed year in a single hour. Such was the 
 character and influence of our departed friend. How blessed 
 the ministry of such lives! Nor did these noble qualities of 
 heart and soul desert him to the last. Although bereft of the 
 companion of his youth, who eighteen years ago passed into the 
 upper light; although bereft of her who had borne the heat and 
 burden of the day equally with himself, and cheered him 
 through it all, yet these noble qualities never forsook him. 
 Always cheerful, always kind, always sympathetic, always 
 young in spirit. 
 
 One of the sages of the present age has said, "While we 
 converse with what is above us, we do not grow old, but 
 do grow young." That, I think, was largely the secret of 
 Father Greenlee's happy old age. He had been conversing 
 with what was above him, "waiting for the consolation of 
 Israel," As the years of his life had brought their cares and 
 dangers and duties and opportunities and priviliges and re- 
 sponsibilities, they had also brought their hopes of better things 
 for the future. Not in vain had he read the words of inspira- 
 tion concerning the good things to come. All along he had 
 been discerning the fulfillment of the promises his Heavenly 
 Father had made. With thoughts that were at home among 
 the divine thoughts; with purposes and plans in harmony with 
 the divine plans; with heart and hand ever ready for self- 
 sacrificing service, he was growing strong and beautiful, sym- 
 metrical and manly, harmonious and God-like. Age had not 
 
149 
 
 served to wither the blossoms of hope in his heart, however 
 it might have brought dimness of sight to the eye, or faltering to 
 the step. If gray hairs adorned his brow, they were a crown of 
 glory to him, for he was found in the ways or righteousness. 
 Late in the autumn, or even in early winter, you have seen, 
 among the fruit trees, an apple, fair and sound and ripe, alone 
 clinging to the branch on which it was born, and where it had 
 its summer home, long after its companions had all been 
 gathered. So in God's wise Providence it was with our aged 
 friend. He saw one after another of the companions of his 
 youth and mature manhood ripen and fall. Still he clung 
 alone to the tree of human life, even when looking upon the 
 third generation of his descendants. He came to his grave 
 in a full age; "like as a shock of corn cometh in his season.** 
 Father Greenlee's old age was the very best part of his life; 
 and why should not the last be the best portion of every well- 
 spent life that is prolonged to four-score and ten even? 
 
 Early this fall, it became evident to his children and friends 
 that he was failing unusually fast; and that his sojourn here 
 was nearly ended. Weeks wore away, and his physical health 
 became more and more feeble. He went out less and less, 
 and finally, about a month ago he became confined to his 
 room, and then later to his bed. I visited him frequently, and 
 generally found his mind clear, his memory good and his 
 spirit joyful. As the outward man decayed, the inward man 
 was renewed day by day. The outward was growing weaker, 
 but the inward, the true man, was growing larger and stronger 
 and better. The soul was increasing in breadth, in purity, in 
 richness, in spiritual power. Two days before his death I 
 visited him for the last time. I saw that the end must soon 
 come; and I asked him if the good Lord, who had led him 
 through all his pilgrimage, was still his Guide and Portion? 
 He answered in feeble tones, "Whom have I in heaven but 
 Thee? And there is none upon the earth that I desire be- 
 
150 
 
 sides Thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the 
 Strength of my heart and my Portion forever." 
 
 I stood for a moment beside that couch, and saw plainly 
 that the gray pallor of death was fast usurping the place of 
 health; that the deep, rich lights were leaving those eyes that 
 soon must gaze on other climes ; that the music of the old voice 
 was dying; that the beauty of mortal mould and feature lay 
 waiting the summons to enter into the opportunities of the great 
 hereafter. But I knew that death to him could bring no loss, 
 but an immortal gain. I knew that it was only transplanting 
 lovliness from earth that it might bloom in heaven; and I went 
 away from that bed of death saying to myself, "Let me die 
 the death of righteousness, and let my last end be like his!" 
 Two days afterward he passed on, and was not, for God 
 took him. 
 
 Why mourn ye that our aged friend is dead? 
 Ye are not sad to see the gathered grain, 
 Nor when its mellow fruit the orchard casts; 
 Ye sigh not when the sun — his course fulfilled — 
 (His glowing course rejoicing earth and sky, 
 In the soft evening when the winds are stilled) — 
 Sinks where his islands of refreshment lie, 
 And leaves the smile of his departure 
 Spread o'er the warm-colored heaven and ruddy mountain 
 
 head: 
 And I am glad that he has lived so long, 
 And glad that he has gone to his reward; 
 Nor can I deem that nature did him wrong 
 Softly to disengage the vital cord; 
 Nor when hand grew palsied and his eye grew 
 Dark with mists of age. 
 It was his time to die. 
 
 Give to the dust its own, 
 
 Glad soul ascend thy throne; 
 
151 
 
 In triumph rise; 
 
 The onward march is given, 
 
 From sphere to sphere ascend, 
 
 Thy bliss shall never end, 
 
 For thine is life, love, harmony and heaven." 
 
 FINIS 
 
 In concluding his Sermon preached January 7th, 1883, the 
 
 REV. JAMES MACLAUGHLIN, 
 
 Pastor of Willow Creek Church, 
 
 alluded to the death of 
 
 MR. JOHN GREENLEE, 
 
 In the following words: 
 
 We come now to view the last open grave beside which we 
 stood and in which we saw the casket with its corpse laid 
 down to rest. Read what is engraved on that coffin-plate, 
 and you will see that it marks the narrow house in which the 
 body of John Greenlee takes its last sleep; and you will see, 
 too, that ere it is laid in that narrow house, that body was old 
 and full of days. Long did life's streams irrigate that body. 
 Three score and ten years are not enough to measure the 
 activities of that heart that fed the body with life and strength 
 — not even four score year — ere its machinery stops and settles 
 down into a long rest; its work covers the long period of four 
 months over four score and eleven years. 
 
 The death of Mr. Greenlee deserves more than a brief 
 obituary notice in this place. The fact alone that he went down 
 to the grave in a good old age constrains us to lay at his feet 
 that veneration and respect which we owe as the appropriate 
 tribute to the hoary head. But his life was not only long; it 
 was eventful and useful as well. If he was not the immediate 
 cause of the pleasant homes that now adorn this portion of 
 Illinois, to none more than to him, to none so much as to him 
 is due the credit of that change that has turned the wild 
 
152 
 
 prairie into the green pastures and the unbroken wilderness 
 into the fertile fields which we see to-day around us. 
 
 John Greenlee was born in the parish of Southend, Argyle- 
 shire, Scotland, in the year 1791. He was not the only 
 child, but he was the only son of his parents. His early life 
 was spent neither in poverty nor in riches, but in the sub- 
 stantial comforts which the farming class usually enjoy in his 
 native land. His youthful years were spent in honest and 
 honorable toil. Manhood reached, his body was far from 
 being so burly and robust as that which characterizes most of 
 his countrymen; still, it must have possessed a wiry, tough, 
 elastic nature, capable of great endurance, else, it would not 
 have battled so successfully with the storms of so many winters 
 ere it succumbed and sank at last to its long rest. 
 
 When about thirty years of age he entered on wedded life. 
 His loving and beloved partner was Ellen Brown, a sister oi 
 our highly esteemed citizen and fellow-worshipper, Mr. 
 Thomas Brown. By this, his only matrimonial alliance, Mr. 
 Greenlee had born to him three sons and five daughters, and 
 although his own life was so long, he was called to follow to 
 the grave but two of his own household, his wife and one of 
 his daughters. 
 
 Mr. Greenlee started life in the pursuit in which he had 
 been trained from boyhood — the cultivation of the soil. A 
 few years experience taught him the lesson, which many were 
 learning as well as himself, many have learned since, and 
 many are learning still in the British Isles, — that landlordism 
 is a species of legalized oppression — a kind of serfdom that 
 refuses to the hardy husbandman his fair share of the fruits of 
 his fields. So he very sensibly concluded to leave the scenes 
 of his early pastime and pleasure and seek a home elsewhere 
 where he could enjoy the reward of his own labors. To find 
 that home he crossed the stormy sea whose waves he had often- 
 times heard breaking on his native shores, and reached in 
 
153 
 
 safety the land of his adoption. Desirous of following his 
 favorite pursuit, Mr. Greenlee lingers not in the crowded city; 
 a farm is his choice, and so westward and onward he travels 
 until his feet stand in the lonely prairie. 
 
 What attracted him to this part of Illinois was the fact 
 that some of his countrymen had viewed this section of 
 country with a favorable eye. The Armour brothers ware 
 the first, I believe, to take up a claim on Willow Creek. This 
 induced Mr. Greenlee to come and examine the land. He 
 came, he saw, he concluded to pitch his tent on the bank of 
 this little stream whose name afterwards became so well known 
 thousands of miles away, in his native parish. The Armours, 
 although taking up a claim, did not become permament 
 settlers. Mr. Greenlee did become a permanent settler, built 
 his log house and made the place his home. This was in 1 835 
 or 1836, forty-six or forty-seven years ago. So it is, that 
 John Greenlee was the first Scotchman who permanently 
 settled in this place, and to him belongs the honor of being 
 the legitimate father and founder of this large and prosperous 
 Scotch settlement. 
 
 Look back over forty-five years, see the lonely family 
 standing on the unbroken prairie and laying the foundation of 
 a home, when there was no human sound but their own to 
 break the silence. I can fancy that then, not only the wild 
 screech of the blue- jay, but even the coarse growl of the wolf 
 would be welcomed as music, breaking the monotony of 
 pioneer life. True, the Greenlee family had their neighbors, 
 but these were few and far between. On the north was the 
 Babcock family, where Mr. McNair now resides; and on the 
 south the Enoch family, where Mr. McPhail resides. What 
 a contrast this must have been to the thickly-settled district of 
 Kintyre, in which Mr. Greenlee spent his early years. But 
 here he was the owner, there but the tenant, and this was 
 
154 
 
 enough to reconcile a manly mind to the loneliness that then 
 reigned around him. 
 
 But the loneliness was not of long continuance. There 
 were in Kintyre many of the hardy sons of toil who were 
 desirous of improving their condition. Hearing of Willow 
 Creek and the rich lands through which it coursed, and en- 
 couraged by the presence of John Greenlee, an exodus com- 
 menced which drained the vicinity of Campbeltown of many 
 strong arms and stalwart hearts, just such stuff as could and 
 would dot the prairie with flourishing homesteads. One after 
 another, family after family, as years rolled on, bid good-bye 
 to the old, familiar shores, and crossing broad ocean, pushed 
 onward and westward over canals and lakes, and stopped not 
 in their weary march until their eyes gazed on the groves and 
 grass through which Willow Creek sluggishly moved. And I 
 am but speaking the simple truth when I say that the log house 
 of John Greenlee had an open door for all comers, and at that 
 door every one had the warm grasp and the cheering word of 
 welcome from its kind owner. So it was that from one solitary 
 settler this settlement has increased until now acres, more 
 and better than are found in all old Kintyre, are held, owned 
 and adorned with capacious and comfortable homes, by a 
 happy, rich, and prosperous people. 
 
 John Greenlee took a lively interest in religious matters. 
 He could say as did Howard, the philanthropist, "Where God 
 gives me a tent, there will I erect to him an altar." He had 
 his family altar, from which morning and evening the incense 
 of gratitude and praise ascended to the God of Bethel, whose 
 hand led him through earth's pilgrimage. Social worship he 
 also cultivated and encouraged, and so free was he from all 
 narrow bigotry, so liberal and charitable in his views, that 
 whenever and wherever he found two or three gathered in 
 the name of Jesus, he could freely unite with them in the 
 worship of their common Lord. 
 
155 
 
 In the formation of this church he took a prominent part; a 
 church which from the day of very small things has grown in 
 numbers, and in influence, and in activity so much, that, I think 
 we can say, there is not its superior in any small district 
 from shore to shore in this wide continent. We now worship 
 in an edifice which for capacity and comfort would be no 
 discredit to the parish of Southend with all its antiquity and 
 the accumulated gains of ages; and all this, although less than 
 fifty years ago there was but one solitary Scotch settler — John 
 Greenlee — in what has grown into this long, wide, peaceful, 
 prosperous parish. 
 
 Not only did Mr. Greenlee take a lively interest in religion 
 in general and in the organization of this church in particular; 
 he was one of the first three elders of this church — was well 
 known and highly esteemed in the church courts which he 
 attended in his official capacity — shared in the highest honors 
 which an elder can reach that is assisting at the dispensation of 
 the Lord's Supper in an assembled church court. Some twenty 
 years ago he retired from the active duties of the eldership, but 
 he still retained his membership here, so that when he died, he 
 died an ex-offico elder and a full member of this church — the 
 church in whose formation, prosperity and usefulness he was 
 so interested, and for which he so faithfully planned and 
 earnestly worked. In Willow Creek church he saw the 
 newly-born infant, he saw it grow into stalwart manhood. 
 In early times, his door was open not only to his own country- 
 men who crossed the ocean to settle beside him, but open to 
 the ministers of religion, who found in his hospitable house 
 a genial resting place, and in himself an interesting and an 
 intelligent and sympathetic companion. 
 
 I saw the old man but twice, first at the funeral of his 
 brother-in-law, Mr. Charles Brown, and again at the marriage 
 of his granddaughter, now Mrs. Ferguson. On the latter 
 occasion I enjoyed his company very much, and were I to 
 
156 
 
 define his character from my own observation during these 
 two brief interviews, I would say, that he had a kind, sym- 
 pathetic nature, easily moved into sorrow by the sight of 
 suffering — easily moved into joy by scenes of pleasure. I 
 judge that he was possessed of a good share of that canny 
 shrewdness so characteristic of Scotchmen in general, that he 
 was keen in perception, prompt in action, but somewhat unlike 
 his countrymen, he was rather communicative; not only able, 
 but ready to converse intelligently on a variety of subjects; 
 and should the occasion require it, that he could prove himself 
 a keen disputant, wielding an argument with great vigor. He 
 must have been a clear-headed man in the prime of life and 
 possessed of a good fund of common sense, and this would 
 make him what I believe he was to many of you, a wise 
 counselor as well as a warm friend. 
 
 I cannot speak of his feelings when his departure was near; 
 another can do that with all justice; but I do not hesitate to 
 say that a life so active, so useful in sacred as well as in secular 
 matters must have ended in peace. His life was one of 
 success, and I am confident that his death was the most 
 brilliant triumph in his eventful and long earthly career. 
 
 But I must conclude. Why should I speak to you of one 
 who to me was almost a stranger — to you a friend so familiar 
 that you all call him Uncle Greenlee. I am sure that to-day 
 you all feel as if you had lost an old father, an old friend, 
 whose cheering words inspired many of you with courage as 
 you entered on your new life in the prairie where your toil has 
 met its reward. The worshippers in this church may now say 
 as David said over a fallen hero, "A prince and a great man 
 has fallen in Israel." Can you easily forget the pioneer, whose 
 very name inspired your heart with courage as you sailed over 
 waves and travelled westward to the creek where his log house 
 stood, and in which, when once reached, you were sure to find 
 shelter? Can you forget him whose words of good cheer 
 
157 
 
 relieved your hearts of the burden you felt when you looked 
 out on the desolate prairie and saw before you nothing but 
 toil, toil, ere comfort and ease could reach you? Can you 
 ever fail to admire the energy, perseverance, the hardy, stubborn 
 front, which he displayed, in a time of hardships and self- 
 denials, incident to pioneer life? You cannot. When God 
 so honors him, so should we. God honored and blessed him 
 with an unusual length of days. He has seen his children's 
 children and peace on Israel. He has seen the forest and 
 field covered with the hum of industry, and the land yielding its 
 increase. He has seen a temple for the worship of God stand- 
 ing in the midst of a people who gathered around him. He has 
 seen the rising generation honoring the God of their fathers; 
 and all this where he had seen nature untouched by the re- 
 claiming hand of toil. For what more could he wait. Well 
 might he say, "Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace." 
 So he did. His last journey ended not on the bank of an 
 earthly stream, but on the bank of the River of Life. Now he 
 hungers no more, thirsts no more, the Lamb feeds him, leads 
 him to living fountains of waters; and God has wiped away 
 every tear from his eye. 
 
 Caledonia, Boone Co., 111., February 9th, 1878. 
 Rev. Ben. E. S. Ely — Sir: — We, the undersigned, im- 
 pressed with the appropriateness of the sermon delivered by 
 you on the 3d inst., being the last service held in the Old 
 Willow Creek Church, respectfully ask your permission to 
 have it printed for distribution among the congregation. 
 A. J. Ralston, James Kelly, 
 
 Robert Howe, John McEachran, 
 
 John Thompson, Wm. Wilson, 
 
 Wm. A. Ralston, Edward Brown, 
 
 James Picken, Jr., Wm. Harvey. 
 
158 
 
 Argyle, February 15th, A. D. 1878. 
 To A. J. Ralston, John Thompson, and Others — 
 Dear Brethren : — 
 
 In compliance with your request, I herewith submit the 
 discourse of Sabbath, February 3d, for publication. 
 
 Yours fraternally, 
 
 Ben. E. S. Ely. 
 
 LAST WORDS 
 
 in the 
 
 OLD CHURCH AT WILLOW CREEK 
 
 A Discourse Delivered by the Pastor, Rev. Ben. E. S. Ely, 
 
 February 3, A. D. 1878. 
 "All my Springs (or fountains) are in Thee/* — Ps. 84 — 87. 
 
 The multiplied duties claiming my time and attention dur- 
 ing the past week, have prevented my making the preparation 
 for this occasion which it demands. I am to speak "Last 
 Words,*' which ought to be eloquent in recounting the un- 
 numbered blessings which have welled up within these walls, 
 sending forth streams of benificence to gladden the hearts and 
 homes of the inhabitants of the surrounding parish. Is it not 
 true that those who have here enjoyed sanctuary privileges 
 have had an experience of the truth uttered by the Psalmist, 
 when, singing of Zion, he says: "All my springs are in thee?'* 
 From Sabbath to Sabbath, for twenty-eight years, the people 
 of this parish have come here to slake their thirst at the fountain, 
 and returning to their homes have borne with them the waters 
 of life. As the stream flowing from the Smitten Rock followed 
 Israel in their journeyings, so from this house blessed influences 
 have gone forth to make this community what it is, in morals, 
 religion, and material wealth. 
 
 First — This building stands as a monument to God*s faith- 
 
159 
 
 fulness in rewarding those who honor him with their substance. 
 Men, and even Christians, have doubted whether the promise 
 of God's word in reference to rewarding the gifts and labors 
 of his people were to be literally received. They have sup- 
 posed that those passages of the Scripture which declare that 
 the Lord will restore four-fold to the giver and that the 
 liberal soul shall be made fat, are not to receive a literal 
 construction. It is not long since I saw an article in a re- 
 ligious weekly, objecting to appeals for benevolence predicated 
 upon such passages. It was claimed that being misled by 
 such promises, some persons improverish themselves, and fail- 
 ing to realize the return they expect, become skeptical. What 
 do these walls testify upon this subject? Has the Lord been 
 slack concerning His promise to those who, twenty-eight years 
 ago, built this house? Has the investment paid four- fold? 
 Yes, even in material wealth and prosperity, it has paid — not 
 four-fold — but four hundred fold. This church has been a 
 nucleus around which the Scotch Settlement has grown, draw- 
 ing to itself those who heeded the command not to pitch their 
 tents more than a Sabbath day's journey from the sanctuary. 
 Farm has been added to farm, house to house, even as Jer- 
 usalem crystalized around Mount Zion. As the settlement 
 increased in population, its lands increased in value. Whilst 
 the material wealth of this Western country and this parish 
 may be largely due to other causes, it cannot be denied that it 
 is more largely due to the establishment of schools and 
 churches. Now, it is true, school houses and churches follow 
 the lines of railroads, but it is not yet fifty years since the 
 railroads followed the churches. It may be that these rich 
 corporations, who allow ministers to travel on half fare, do 
 not know how much the railroads of Illinois and the Great 
 West, owe to such men as David Nelson, Father Kent, and 
 other faithful ministers that I might name, but it is nevertheless 
 true that it has not been long since the railroads followed the 
 
160 
 
 churches, making their starting points and termini in towns and 
 villages which had grown up around the churches. Shrewd 
 business men, having no higher motive than gain, as a busi- 
 ness operation, have learned that it pays to contribute to the 
 erection of churches, knowing that their establishment leads to 
 the settlement and improvement of property contiguous to 
 them; that they secure a much more law abiding class of in- 
 habitants, and by these means enhance the value of real estate, 
 making life and property more secure. To these considera- 
 tions, which are patent to believer and unbeliever alike, must 
 be added that which will be accepted by all who believe in 
 the efficacy of prayer, viz.: That temporal prosperity, as well 
 as spiritual blessings are received through the worship of the 
 sanctuary. Who shall say, how many and how great the 
 temporal blessings are which have been bestowed upon this 
 community because this house of prayer has been maintained 
 in its midst? In Solomon's prayer, at the dedication of the 
 temple, he prayed that all needed temporal good might be be- 
 stowed upon Israel, in answer to the prayers offered therein. 
 
 My friends, though it is impossible to estimate the temporal 
 benefits that this house of prayer has been instrumental in 
 securing, as we look upon its walls now crumbling with age, 
 we cannot doubt that God has abundantly rewarded the labors 
 and contributions of those who erected them, and thus en- 
 couraged, we may confidently expect, as we turn our faces 
 toward our new house of worship, that He will be as faithful 
 to His promise in the future as He has been in the past. 
 
 Second — There are higher and more important considera- 
 tions than those which relate to dollars and cents. "All my 
 springs are in Thee." In bidding farewell to this house, we 
 may well consider the moral and intellectual influences of which 
 it has been the fountain or spring. From Sabbath to Sabbath 
 for a period of twenty-eight years, the precepts of a divine 
 morality and a high intellectual culture have been taught from 
 
161 
 
 this pulpit. I think that it is not hazarding too much to say 
 that a greater amount of knowledge has thus been disseminated 
 through the parish from this pulpit than from all other sources. 
 Viewed on its intellectual side alone, Christian civilization is 
 the highest civilization, and education is not restricted to the 
 foundamental branches of learning taught in our district schools. 
 Though reading, writing, and arithmetic, are indispensably 
 necessary for the practical affairs of life, there is a higher 
 culture for the promulgation of which the pulpit is the most 
 efficient instrumentality. Public lecturers usually receive from 
 fifty to one thousand dollars per lecture. Individuals pay 
 from fifty cents to one dollar for the privilege of attending 
 them. Within these walls, reckoning fifty-two Sabbaths to 
 the year, for twenty-eight years, fifteen hundred or two 
 thousand discourses have been delivered, affording moral, in- 
 tellectual and spiritual instruction and entertainment. The 
 results of this instruction are seen in the intelligence and 
 morality of the community. It is a fact worthy of recounting 
 to the praise of God, that no community, perhaps, has a 
 higher reputation for honesty and intergrity than this; and 
 that during all these years, since its first settlement, no one be- 
 longing to the parish, large as it is, (as I have been informed), 
 has been convicted of fraud or crime. In all the surrounding 
 towns and cities, where the Scotch Settlement is known, it is a 
 notorious fact, that the word of a Scotchman is usually con- 
 sidered as good as his bond. Of course this is largely owing 
 to the covenant inheritance of the children of the covenant, and 
 to faithful parental instruction in the Bible and the Shorter 
 Catechism; yet it is nevertheless true that the service of this 
 house has kindled and kept alive those principles and practices, 
 which would otherwise have died out. Surely, if there had 
 been no pecuniary rewards to those who built and maintained 
 this church, in moral and intellectual benefits they have received 
 an hundred-fold. 
 
162 
 
 Third — There is a third and still more important considera- 
 tion which this occasion suggests. As the intellectual and moral 
 is superior to the material, so the spiritual and eternal is superior 
 to the merely moral and intellectual. That which renders the 
 house of God the most desirable place on earth, is the fountain 
 opened therein "for sin and uncleanness." The roof beneath 
 which we are assembled to-day, is the porch beneath which the 
 pools of Bethseda and Siloam were shaded. 
 
 Hither the halt, and the paralized, and the leprous, have 
 been brought, that when the angel of the Lord stirred the 
 waters, they might wash and be made whole. Here the 
 Savior has met with the impotent and helpless, and bade them 
 take up their bed and walk. I am speaking by the book, 
 when I say that beneath this roof greater miracles have been 
 wrought than the healing of the helpless one beside the pool, 
 for Christ said, "Greater works than these shall ye do." Here 
 Christ has met with his people to quicken those who were dead, 
 to forgive sins, to strengthen the weak, comfort the afflicted, 
 cheer the sorrowful, and shed abroad that "peace that passeth 
 understanding." Allthough unseen to the eye of sense, here 
 there has been an altar upon which Christ has been offered 
 "once for all" as "the Lamb of God that beareth away the 
 sins of the world." Here, by the sprinkling of His blood, 
 believers have drawn near to the throne of grace. Here the 
 anti-type of the seven-branched candle-stick has shed forth 
 cheering light. Here the table of show-bread has been spread 
 to feed the hungry soul. Here above the ark of the covenant 
 and the throne of grace, the antitypical shekinah, the manifest 
 presence of the Holy Ghost, has been revealed, that the con- 
 gregation might know that God in very deed was in the midst 
 of His people. Oh, Beloved! every brick, every board, in 
 these walls, and every tile upon this roof, has become sacred 
 because of the blessed presence that has honored them, and 
 the unspeakable blessedness of which they are the witnesses. 
 
163 
 
 This house has been the birthplace of souls — the place of the 
 espousal of the Lamb and his Bride. 
 
 Fourth — Though its walls are dingy and its furniture old 
 and dilapidated, this house is the type of heaven, for — "the 
 holy places made with hands are the figures of the true." 
 The assembly and communion of God's people, in his earthly 
 courts, is an earnest and an antitype of their meeting and 
 communion in the courts above. These walls are precious to 
 us because of the memory of the sainted dead who have 
 worshipped within them. There is scarcely a pew before me, 
 that is not a memento of some loved occupant, who has been 
 removed to "seats prepared above." The middle-aged and 
 adult can remember the time, when their parents led them 
 hither, and the bereaved and widowed look from the vacant 
 places here — to the place 
 
 "Where Congregations ne'er break up;" 
 "And Sabbaths never end." 
 
 Hither the sorrowing and disconsolate have brought their 
 wounded hearts and found a healing balm. 
 
 In leaving this old house of worship to occupy the new, the 
 remembrances of the past ought not only to fill our hearts with 
 gratitude, but also to encourage us to believe that God would 
 reward our labors and contributions in the future, as he has 
 rewarded them in the past. When a hundred years shall have 
 passed away, and that which is now new has become old, may 
 we not expect that the aged and their children and grand 
 children will recount, with gratitude, the blessings of the past, 
 as we do now. May not those who have invested, and who 
 may invest, in the new church edifice, confidently expect, that 
 their investments will be as profitable to them as the invest- 
 ments of those who built these walls. Encouraged by the past, 
 may we not pray without expectant faith, that God will meet 
 with his children, from generation to generation, in the house 
 we are about to dedicate, and that streams of material, moral. 
 
164 
 
 intellectual and spiritual blessings, will flow from thence, to 
 gladden the surrounding country. 
 
 With the favor of God, the new church will have a history 
 even more glorious than the old. A few years since I visited 
 a church, whose brick walls, within which I was baptized, 
 have stood for more than a hundred years. Among other 
 precious relics, preserved amid its archives, I saw the subscrip- 
 tion list, containing the names of those who subscribed to the 
 building, with the amounts they gave. Children, grand- 
 children and great-grand-children have looked upon that paper 
 with pride and gratitude, as they called to mind, the history of 
 the Old Pine Street Church, of Philadelphia. Out of the 
 loins of that old church have sprung several strong churches. 
 Upon her baptismal record may be found the names of minis- 
 ters, missionaries, and useful men and women. The Old 
 Mother still lives in a green old age, which has been renewed, 
 from time to time, like the plumage of the eagle, having the 
 name of six hundred and thirty upon her roll of communicants. 
 
 In visiting the homes of this parish I have often been shown 
 articles of virtu. Keepsakes, made from the wood of the pul- 
 pit, of the Old Church in Kintyre, Scotland. From that con- 
 gregation, still strong and flourishing, this church has sprung, 
 as a vine planted in the wilderness, some forty years ago, when 
 these prairies were unbroken, and these woods in their primeval 
 beauty. My friends, we too are making history, as did our 
 fathers. With such examples and experiences to encourage 
 us, may we not hope that from the fountain in our midst, 
 streams will flow, beside which future generations shall 
 stand, as — 
 
 "Trees near; planted by a river." 
 
 One thought more, and the last words will have been 
 spoken. Bidding farewell to these old walls, sacred by so 
 many memories, and turning our faces toward the new house 
 of worship, just over there, let us remember, that "though the 
 
165 
 
 earthly house of this tabernacle," like this old building, we are 
 leaving, is decaying, "we have a house not made with hands, 
 eternal in the heavens." Thither we turn with joyful anticipa- 
 tion, "knowing that the glory of the latter home shall be 
 greater than the former." 
 
 "And of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born 
 in her, and the glory of the Highest, Himself, shall establish 
 her, and the Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, 
 that this man was born there. Selah." * * * All my 
 springs are in Thee. (Ps., Ch. 87; v. 7.) 
 
 NOTE. — I have been told that when it was proposed to 
 build the Old Church in Kintyre, to which reference has been 
 made, that the Duke of Argyle, who was of the Established 
 Church, refused to allow the people to use the material to be 
 found on his lands. At this, the men were much disheartened, 
 but the women told them, that if they would bring the stone 
 from a place or island that was accessible at low tide, they 
 would bring the sand. This was done, the men bringing the 
 stone in skins or hand-barrows, and the women bringing the 
 sand in sacks, or as they could. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 977.32H26A C001 
 
 THE ARGYLE SETTLEMENT IN HISTORY AND STO