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EARLY HISTORY OF ARLINGTON HEIGHTSThe Township of Wheeling lies in the Northern part of Cook County, bounded by Lake County on the north, Township of North-field on the East, Maine and Elk Grove on the South, and Palatine on the West, containing thirty-six (36) sections. The soil is a rich prairie loam. In the main the sur-lace is quite level, but sloping gradually to the East, and is drained by four (4) unnamed creeks which empty into the Des Plaines River; the latter flows in a southerly direction along the pastern boarder of the township, its bed lying partly in Wheeling and partly in Northfield Township. A strip of timber about three-fourths of a mile wide lines its eastern bank, and is divided about equally between the two townships. The absence cf timber upon its western bank was probably due to the annual prairie fires started by the torch of the aborigines, which destroyed all perennial plants. The river, serving as a barrier against the fires from the west, afforded protection to the timber on the eastern bank. The western border of the township reachesTho early history of Arlington Heights and Wheeling township in which it is located; within a few years, will become merely a myth, unless an effort is made to gather together such historical facts that are still available.Such men as Chas. Sigwalt, L. G. Helm, Peter Beyer and others, have promised to aid us in gathering together incidents about the early days, that are not to be found in the two histories that have so far been printed, the first one in 1884 and the; second in 11105.In attempting the work the editors of the Herald realize the responsibility.Their efforts can not succeed unless they have the co-operation of the older families of Arlington Heights and Wheeling township. The'first installment is published this week. The editors invite corrections and additional information relative to the period prior to 1894.nearly, or quite, to the divide be- | vious to that by the Miami Con-tween the DesPlaines River on the east and Salt Creek on the west, its altitude being about seven hundred feet above sea level. All the* water from Wheeling flows to the DesPlaines River, while the water from Palatine flows through Salt Creek, south, except that from the two northeast sections, which flows east through Wheeling to the Des Plaines.Prior to settlement by white men this region was occupied for sixty-four years—viz.: from 1769 to 1833 —by Pottawatomie Indians; presouthern half of the school district. Another elementary school maintained in east building on St. James street. This building meets the state requirements for lighting, ventilating, heating, etc., so as to class as a “Standard School”. The intermediate school is maintained in the old building on St. James street. It is operated on the departmental basis, with the physical training for boys and girls cared for at the high school gymnasium and the Manual train-thefederacy, who occupied this region at the time of LaSalle’s first visit in 1681, which is the remotest period known to the historian regarding this sectionThe first settler in what is now Wheeling Township, was a Mr. Sweet, who arrived in March 1833 selected a claim on Section 13, and built a cabin in which he lived un til the following September when he sold his rights of squatter claim and is cabin to George.Strong, who became the first permanent white settler in the township. At that time, his nearest neighbor on the north was a Captain Wright who was said to be the only settler between the Strong place and Waukegan.On Sept. 26, 1833, the treaty with the Pottawratomies was ratified, after which settlers came in considerable nuinbers. Almost immediately afterward Timothy Tit-eomb settled on Section 13, just north of Mr. Strong. In December General Peet located where his son A. W. Peet, afterward lived.In 1834 William B. Clay and his two sons, John B. and E. H. settled on Section 2. S. M. Salisbury alsoon the plea of insanity, through the exceptional ruling of Judge McAlister, at which the public was greatly incensed. Hopps finally died in the poor house at Dunning.In March 1836, Asa Dunton and his wife two sons, William H. and James came from Oswego, N. Y. They passed through what is now the site of Arlington Heights, selected their claims and went on to Deer Grove in Palatine Towmship, where they were among the first actual settlers. The next year they returned and located on Section 29.Ephraim and Charles Morrison settled on Section 11, in 1837, Conrad Miller came in the same year. George Metz located on Section 12. His brothers-in-law, Ludwig Fisher and George Graff, came soon after, together with many others whose names cannot be ascertained. During this year the government survey was made, after which settlers came in more rapidly than before.T! e population in 1900 was 3,-010. Only three are now (1900) living in the township who came before 1837, viz: Luther W. and John B. Whiting and D. K. Draper, who settled in Elk Grove, but for many years have been identified with Wheeling.In 1833 a territorial council was held in Detroit, of which Governor Doty was a member from Wisconsin. He made a motion that a mail route be opened from Chicago to Green Bay by way of Milwaukee. The motion prevailed and Juneau, the founder of Milwaukee, took the contract. The mail was carried by stage coach, following an Indian trail which led northwest from Chicago, and probably extended to Green Bay, the former home of the Pottawatomie tribe. This road passes through the northeast corner of Wheeling Township, and isothers petitioned for a road leadingfrom Wheeling to McHenry via Buffalo Grove and Long Grove. It was laid out by the Court Commissioners of Lake County m 1842. This road continues west from Wheeling. After it passes the branch to Buffalo Grove, to the point where it meets the State road, it is not on record. The remaining of the roads in the Township were laid out by township authorities, afttr organization, which occurred in 1850.Improvement of the roads was made principally by the people working out the amount of road taxes under the pathmastcr system. The work consisted largely of grading end building bridges. Owing to the level surface and sticky quality of the soil, in wet weather, the roads were nearly impassable.In 1874 some gratuitous work of graveling was done on the leading west lrom Wheeling. The following yeai an organized effort was made by the County Commissioners and Township Highway Commissioners viz: Peter Beyer, Phillip Hart and Henry Engelking; afterwards C. Schoenbeck and ethers were instrumental in continuing the good work until there are now but three or four miles of ungraveled roads ill the Town-ship.Editor’s Note—The above was edited by Dr. John Best and appeared in a history of Cook County under date of 1905.jpg and sewing cared for in small building in the rear of the settled on Section 2. James MackeySt. James street buildings.All teachers employed belong to “Class A” as grouped by the State Examining Board. The course of study is modification of the State course with sufficient activities in the way of boys’ and girls’ service, social and athletic clubs, to endeavor to provide manifestations along these lines which will lead to worthy young citizenship as well to prepare pupils for the high school.Those in charge of these schools feel that they recognize their responsibility as public servants and extend cordial invitation to the public to come often to the schools and. M*? what is going on therein.on Section 24, Christopher and Daniel Stanger ami Section 13 and Christian Stryker on Section 12. In 1835 came Peter Gebhart, who afterward sold out to Henry Miller. Joseph Filkins had located a claim in 1834, built his cabin and moved his family into it in 1835. The same year Isaac Martin, Matthew Chivel, Thomas Bradwell and other settlers arrived. Ablt;mt eighteen log cabins were built during the yeaOUR BUSINESS MENTibbits Cameron Lumber Co., with the large resources at its now Known as the Milwaukee road, j command has had no small part in The road was surveyed in 1835 as 1 the building growth of Arlington a post-route under direction of the Heights. Mr. Dodge, the local War Department, and is on record manager, is authority for the at Washington, D. C. The first statement made in the news col-settlers in the township located umns of this issue that 1926 is the along this road. j greatest building year in the his-In 1836 a road was laid out from tory of Arlington Heights. It isSand Ridge crossing the Des Plaines River atlRand’s place. This road passes diagonally from southeast to i crthwest, through Wheeling Township, and is known as the Rand Road. It is said to have been an old military trail leading from Chicago to Fort Atkinson. Later, it was used for a time as a stage-line and post route. This road was surveyed under direction of the War Department as a post route and is on record at Washington.By an act of the legislature in 1839, a road was laid out from Naperville, via Babcock’s Grove, Meacham's Grove, Elk Grove, and Buffalo Grove to Indian Creek (now Half-Day) which is said to have been the extension of an old mail-route from St. Louis to Nap-no small task to keep the material moving on time to the many jobs. With the immense stocks carried on hand, this firm is able to supply the needs of the big contractor as easily as the man who may be only building a garage.In 1836 the well-to-do William erviile. It passes nearly throughHopps located on Section 3. Into his house Satan afterward entered, and the first and only murder in the township occured, Hopps being acquitted of the killing of his wifethe township from south to north, then east a mile and a half, then north, and is known as the State Road.In 1810 Thomas Bradwell andThe name of Wayman iias been identified with wells nearly as long as Arlington Heights has been growing. Wells are a necessity that are overlooked by many people until they suddenly find themselves without anything with which to fill their water pitcher. Well drilling has become a science of its own and this firm is looked upon as one of the authorities on wells in this part of the county. The Way mans are called to solve the water problem of some of the largest estates in this part of th;* county. Their show room shows the Fairbanks Morse line and almost everything that has any connection with water and wells.
Newspaper Details
Franklin Park Beacon
Franklin Park, Illinois, US
Fri, Sep 03, 1926
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Arlington H.
IL, USA 21 Jul 2024
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Franklin Park Beacon
