The History of Marengo

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Ø Early Newspaper Description of Marengo, October 11, 1855

Ø Charles Scott Robb (1836 - 1943)

Ø     Joseph Heylmun Patterson (1861 - ?)

Ø     Johann Steffen Family (1884 - ?)

Ø     Calvin Spencer and Amos B. Coon

Ø     Chronological Listing of Historical Marengo Events, 1835-1879)

Ø     Residents of East Grant Highway - 1830's to 1920's

Early Newspaper Description of Marengo, October 11, 1855

The following was taken from a newspaper article provided by Ms. Alice Wagner.

Marengo was described by a writer on October 11^th, 1855 as follows: “The village of Marengo, McHenry County, Illinois, is situated in the south-east corner for the township bearing the same name. The Chicago-Galena Union Railroad passes through the northern part of the village, while Pleasant Grove, the largest and noblest of the many groves which adorn and enrich our county, skirts its southern confine. Kishwaukee Prairie lies unfolded in all its loveliness at its very feet, making a panorama of woodland, village and prairie unsurpassed in Northern Illinois for beauty. Nature has indeed been lavish with her gifts here, and the early settlers who cast their lots upon the banks of the Kishwaukee have ever boasted of possessing the ‘Garden of the County’”.

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Charles Scott Robb (1836 – 1934)

Note: Members of the Robb family lived in Marengo through the late 1970’s. Mary and Carlton, children of Charles and Emogene Robb, were the last members of the Robb family to live in Marengo. Carlton, his wife Esther and their daughter, Trudy Ann, lived the majority of their lives in the beautiful home at 304 East Washington Street. He owned and operated the Triangle Grocery, the current location, in 2006, of Brandt’s Pharmacy. Mary lived her entire life in her parent’s home at 535 East Grant Highway. Emogene Axtell’s parent’s home was at 24002 West Grange Road. This lovely old historic home remains today. The following history of Charles Scott Robb was provided to the Society by Trudy Ann Robb Yates, Granddaughter of Charles Scott and Emogene Axtell Robb. It is the first of several historical texts provided to the Society by Mrs. Yates.

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Charles Scott Robb was born in 1836 in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Land became unproductive, so the family (Alfred, wife, Maria; & 3 children, George Alfred, Catherine, & Charles Scott) came west in 1839.

Purchased 80 tree- covered acres west of Marengo & north of the Indian Trail (Grant Hwy), but apparently located on the west side of County Line Road. Indians were a common site as they had an encampment along the Kishwaukee River which bordered the Robb farm on the south. The Indians helped Alfred plant his crops, the women showed Maria how to grind the corn & cook the wild plants & berries which were plentiful. The Robb & Indian children played together. It was an exciting moment for the children to watch together for the stage coach as it traveled the dusty trail to Galena, its furthest destination. Charles was especially fascinated…….& as he matured, his fascination with far-away places only increased. He was an especially bright child, but his education ended at the age of 12. One of his teachers was Dr. C. C. Miller who later received the highest honor as the first man to make a scientific study of bees & the production of honey. Charlie taught school for 2 years south of Marengo on Maple street. But he had itchy feet, as the saying goes, & with his parents permission, headed north, landing a job with a logging company in northern Wis & Minn., purchasing horses to bring back to the camp. He soon was promoted to assistant to the camp superintendent. In this capacity he surveyed the vast timber lands.

It was during this time that Indians mistook his horse for wild game. The wounded horse fell upon Charlie, breaking his leg. The Indians made a brace out of stout branches & a litter on which to carry him back to their camp. He was taken to the Chief’s tepee where he lived until his leg was completely healed. The leg was straight as an arrow & never bothered him the rest of his long life. When he was asked how the Indians treated him his answer was always the same, “like a King….Like a king”!

This was only the beginning of a most adventurous life in the western settlements of this country. He was often accompanied by his cousin, Marion Robb, whose home was near present-day, Huntley. Indians were a threat to those early travelers. His oldest Granddaughter who recorded these family memories, Mary Adeline Bottino, daughter of Marengoan Ernie Robb, remembers asking her Grandfather about trouble with the Indians. His answer was always the same….”Trouble, no! nuisance, yes! They would follow us all day. Then after we made our circle & camped for the night, the tribe would send in a few young bucks to steal food.” “What would you do to scare them off,” she’d ask, “use your guns”? “Nope. We had been warned never to use our guns. If the rest of the tribe heard rifle shots, that would bring all the Indians down on us & it would break the treaties.” “Well, what DID you do?” “Used our bull whips. A brave was in disgrace if he had whip marks on his body.” His Granddaughter remembers him as a master of the bull whip. When she was a little girl, he would set cans & bottles on the fence in back of his barn, cracking them off one by one. In his earlier years he carried that whip with him wherever he went.

In 1871, Charlie decided to come home to Marengo. With his money tucked safely in his money belt, some gold & silver in his pockets, his buffalo robe & coat, bull whip & pistol, he boarded a ship at San Francisco, sailed south, crossed the Isthmus by rail, continued to New York by boat, then home by train. He immediately purchased land next to his parents new home in the eastern part of Riley Township. As he was riding along the Coon creek which ran through his farm, he chanced upon the beautiful daughter of his neighbors, Harvey & Anna Axtell. Her name was Emogene. She also was an extremely fine horsewoman. Pleasantries were exchanged…..& she asked him if he planned to attend the Box Social at the school house that coming Saturday evening. Charlie told Emma that he hadn’t made up his mind about attending, but asked if she would be there. She shyly answered, “yes”. “If I should go”, questioned Charlie, “how would I recognize your box?” Emma demurely replied, “I just finished making a dress to wear to the Social & and I used the remnants to decorate my box”. He did outbid all others……& it must have been love “at first sight”. They were married in 1873. He was 37, she was 18. Their first three children were born on the farm.

It was at this time that Charley & Emma decided to build a new home in Marengo for their growing family. They temporarily moved into a little house at the back of their property at 535 E. Grant Highway. Their son, Clarence, was born at this time in 1881.

In 1885, their daughter, Anna, was the first child born to be born in the new home. Then came Floyd in 1887, Gladys in 1890, Henrietta in 1892, & Carlton Scott in 1895. Charles Scott was then 59 years of age, Emma was 40.

Charles built stockyards & a barn on E. Prairie Street (probably approximately where the current City Hall & Fire station are located?). He would travel to Wi & Ia to purchase animals & then herd them to Mgo. When his oldest sons were able to “sit the saddle”, they went with their father to help in the herding. Charley was well known by most of the farmers in Northern Il as an honest & trusted friend as well as a respected businessman. In 1899 he was elected First Ward Alderman.

Beneath his rough, tough exterior beat a soft, sentimental heart. Three deaths left him devastated. The first occurred in 1899 when their beautiful little 9 year old Gladys, died from what we today call polio. The second death occurred in 1912 when his little 4 ½ yr old Grandson, Brainard, son of Ernest & Grace, was killed when their touring car skidded on a hill in back of Yerkes Observatory near Lake Geneva. A broken rib had punctured his lung. But the most devastating loss came in the early hours of December 23, 1918, when his beloved Emma passed away from heart failure. Emma was the love of his life & mother of his 9 children. She also was dearly loved by her friends & contributed to the community. She was one of the founders & a president of the Ladies Home Circle, which is still in existence today. She took an active part in her church, the Presbyterian church, as a Sunday school teacher & member of the Ladies Group.

In 1919 Charley made his last trip west. It was the 50^th anniversary of the Trans-Continental Railroad. He went as a guest of the Union Pacific Railroad as they were honoring the last of the pioneers. This Railroad closely follows the old covered wagon trail used by the early settlers.When the train pulled into the Omaha station there was a large banner proclaiming “C.S. Robb, one of the last of the Pioneers”. On the platform a band was playing “Oh Susannah”, the marching song of the pioneers. All of this was planned by Mr. Lee Smith, a very close friend of Charley’s son, Ernest. Charles traveled on to Sacramento, where he was met by a former resident of Marengo, Mr. Seward. After they had driven to all of Charley’s old haunts, the Sierra Mountains, Carson City, Reno & more, Mr. Seward took him to his own home in San Diego.

Upon his return to Marengo & his family there, he lived out his life reading with his “dime store glasses” & taking daily walks, weather permitting, & going out to his old farm in Riley Township. His daughter, Mary, was the librarian at the Mgo Public Library, his sons, Ernest & Carlton & their families lived near by, & his daughter, Henrietta, taught school & was principal at Bensonville, Il. He especially loved to read stories about the old west. However, when the historical facts in the book were not accurate, you could hear him blasting away at the author with a few choice cuss words & then the book would go sailing across the room. He was not a drinking man, but liked a teaspoon of good whiskey in his first cup of “java”, saying that “it gets me going”! He was a true Scotsman, if it’s true about being tight with money! Folks used to say, “he squeezed the buffalo nickel so hard, the animal’s bellow could be heard a mile away”!

At his funeral on January 29, 1934, at the age of 97 ½ , his obituary included the following; “From the very founding of this community & up to the end of his life of nearly a century, he has worked for the best interests of the city & the surrounding country, holding many offices of trust & always remaining steadfast to what he considered to be the right course. His influence on this community will be felt for many generations to come.”

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JOSEPH HEYLMUN PATTERSON (1861 – ?)

Joseph H. Patterson was born on a farm about nine miles south of Marengo. He lived & worked on this farm during his early days & at the age of 25 married Viola Crissey, also of Riley Township. They came to town (Marengo) to live & to start a general feed business with his uncle, Nelson Buck. This business began & ended at the same sight on North State street by the railroad tracks. The business prospered for 114 years……closing its business in 2000.

In 1886 Marengo had a population of approximately 1,400. Ox carts were still in existence and the railroad was the newest form of transportation. Marengo’s first settler, Calvin Spencer, still walked the streets for another 12 years. At that time there were many active business enterprises in the small town, including the Warren & Cady Lumber Yard. In 1890 there came the opportunity to purchase the Warren & Cady Yard. They purchased this existing business & added to it a coal & wood business as well. Within the next two years, Mr. & Mrs. Buck had both passed on. Joe decided to purchase their half interest in the business.

Farming was the biggest industry in our community then…..& the farmers were vital to the economic vitality of Marengo.

Adjacent to the Patterson office was a sash & blind factory which was experiencing financial difficulties. In 1895 Joe purchased the business & converted it into a butter tub & cheese box factory. This business flourished for many years supplying the many cheese factories & creameries which existed in the community. When the demand for these products waned, Joe utilized the building for the large demand for his lumber, feed & coal products.

Encouraged by the success of his business, Mr. Patterson decided to expand his business to other communities. At this time G. H. Perkins became a stockholder & active participant. Soon branches were established in Huntley, Roscoe, Rochelle, Freeport, Rockford, Harlem, Garden Prairie & Union. Marengoans who were valued associates were W. C. Linderman, Clarence A. Anderson, Henry F. Hansing & Helen Wilke Lundeen. Joe’s three sons, Clinton, Glenn & J. H. Jr. gradually became active in the business.

Joseph H. Patterson Sr. built a lovely large Queen Anne style home for his family at 306 W. Washington St. He was very committed to his community, serving on the first city council following incorporation of Marengo in 1893. In 1905 he was elected Mayor, serving 5 consecutive terms. It was during this time that in inaugurated the building of a new city hall, new brick pavement on Washington Street, securing a Borden milk plant for Marengo & was given dual credit with C. B. Whittemore for securing the Elgin & Belvidere electric railroad’s existence in Marengo. Mrs. Patterson was also active in community enterprises, assisting in securing our public library & serving on its first library board of directors. She was an active member of the Marengo Woman’s Club & the Home Circle.

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Johann Steffen Family (1884 - ?)

About early 1900's Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Steffen bought a dairy farm in rural Marengo, IL. The farm is in Coral Township at 19919 and 20007 West Coral Road. There are 2 houses on the farm. Johann & wife Albertine lived in the big house. The smaller one was for tenants.

On May 30, 1884 Johann married Albertine Henrietta Wilhelmina Thom in Huntley, IL. They had 2 children: As shown in family photo: L-R John, Albertine, Johann & William. The horse & buggy photo are of Emma Otto my grandmother; with her father Fritz & brother August.

Johann came from the Eastern Pomerania area of Germany which is now in Poland near the German border. For anyone interested... http://www.astnotes.com/ will help you find former German towns now in Poland, with their new Polish name along with the original German name.

Johann's son John was my grandfather. John grew up and married his neighbor, miss Emma Otto who lived with her parents Fritz & Emma & her brother August across from the farm up in the woods. John & Emma then lived in the smaller house and had 3 sons: John, Raymond & Carl. John was my father.

We milked cows on that farm from early 1900's until July 1996. In Nov. of 1999 my family sold the farm, bought the KOA Kampground down in Starke, Fl. (www.starke/gainesvilleKOA.com).

Another note of interest is that my mother's grandparents, Gustave & Augusta Guse Volkman, had rented the same farm prior to Johann's purchase of it. They lived in the smaller house too. My grandmother Martha Schmidt (nee Volkman) was born in the same house my father John was born in. They moved back to Chicago because the work was too hard & they didn't have help. Besides, Gustave was a carpenter by trade & could find better jobs in Chicago.

William Steffen married & lived on the neighboring farm where the landscape nursery now is. At one time both farms were in the Steffen family. We sold the farm to the nursery owners...and now both farms are together again in a new family. William's wife was Emma Steffen. My great grandmother Albertine died in 1910. My dad's father-in-law Fritz died in the same year, 1910.

Since Emma & Johann were both widowers they got married. So, dad's mother-in-law became his step-grandmother when she married Johann. A curious note also is at that time there ended up being 3 different Emma Steffens at 3 addresses in a row. Oh how I am glad I wasn't the mail man back then!! That must have been very difficult for him. Back then the address was RFD #1.

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Calvin Spencer

Amos B. Coon

(Researched and composed by Mrs. Dorothy Otis, in the year of 2006)

Officially arrived in Marengo on Sept. 14, 1835 with his ox teams & worldly possessions. He had come the previous year, cut logs for a cabin & put up stacks of hay (grass) with a scythe. When the scythe needed grinding, he had walked about twelve miles further west to Big Thunder Mills on the trail to Galena (in the Belvidere area).

He built his cabin on the corner of what is today….the intersection of Rts. 20 & 23, where he eventually conducted a public house or tavern, as they were then called. It is doubtful that that was part of his great plan, but people stopped by seeking refuge for the night so he filled a need for the folks traveling west. He continued to keep a roadside house until 1842 when he sold out & built a home of sawn boards on the east along the original Indian Trail which had become a well-traveled road for western bound settlers. This road is known today as Route 20 or locally, as Grant Highway. It is one on the most historical roads in the United States, being one of the first coast to coast highways.

Calvin had come from the Cayuga County area of New York State. He was born there October 6, 1807. He lived in Livingston County, New York, for a number of years, then moved to Ohio & then LaPorte Co., Ind. From there he came to our area, making a claim near Crystal Lake. He abandoned that claim after seeing the land in what is now known as the Marengo community. With him were his sister & brother- in-law, Joseph Brayton, and two young men & a boy. After building a small log house he returned to Indiana for his wife & three children, Pheobe, Sally & LeRoy who was not quite two months old. His father & mother, Mr. & Mrs. Moses Spencer, also came with them, arriving November 10. His father served as our first Justice of the Peace. Moses Spencer died in 1861 in his 81st year.

Calvin lived for sixty four years in what was originally called Pleasant Grove. In 1841 the name was changed to Marengo because there was an existing Pleasant Grove elsewhere in Illinois. He often recalled seeing the body of Big Thunder, sitting upright, facing the east in a pen built by the Indians to keep the animals away. It so remained until the skull dropped off.

Calvin passed away on April 17, 1898 at the age of ninety one. Unlike most people who are in an advanced age, Mr. Spencer was broad & liberal in his views & always looked at every question fairly & squarely. Unostentatious & disliking display & pedantry, he was what may be truly called a “gentleman of the old school”. His home was the location of the first sermon preached in the area. He affiliated himself with the Free Will Baptist church which was organized once the town was nicely started. “It is needless to state that in his after life, the vows then taken were faithfully kept through all the changing scenes of his life & through circumstances in which the faith of many was sadly shaken”.

Amos B. Coon prepared a charter for the incorporation of the town of Marengo. This charter was presented to the Illinois State Legislature & was passed on Feb. 9, 1857. Then at a meeting of the President & Board of Trustees on July 7, 1893, a petition was presented, signed by 55 legal voters of the town, asking that a special election be called at which the question of incorporating the town of Marengo as a city. The requested election which included requests for issuance of waterworks & electric light bonds & for or against minority representation in the city council, was held on August 14, 1893. Everything passed except the vote regarding minority representation in the city council. At an election duly called & held on the 14 day of September, 1893, E. D. Shurtleff was elected mayor, C. P. Fillmore, city clerk; A. S. Norton, city treasurer; J. M. Marks, city attorney; H.H. Blair & N. L Jackson, alderman ward 1; H. G. Otis & E. P. Vail, aldermen ward 2; J. H. Paterson & S. C. Wernham, alderman 3rd Ward.

Throughout the years, many dedicated residents served in public offices. Some of these families, dating from pre 1900, still live in the community & some are presently serving in public office. I am personally aware of decendents of the Renwick, Dougherty, Wells, Otis, Beldin, Peck, Kelley, Colver, Fillmore, Bright, Vail, Wernham, Talbott, Warren families. There probably are more that I am NOT aware of! Currently, Barb Bigalke is the City Clerk & I am alderman of Ward 1. Mike Bigalke has also served the community on Commissions & currently serves on the Rescue Board(??) of Trustees.

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A Chronological Listing of Significant Marengo Events

Listed by Year Beginning in 1835 and Extending Through 1879

Sept. 14, 1835, Calvin Spencer Marengo’s Official 1st Settler arrives. He soon built a 16 ft. square “hotel” at the corner of what is now Rt. 20 & Rt. 23.

March 20, 1836, the first religious service in Marengo is held in the home of Calvin Spencer.

In 1837 Caroline Cobb is the teacher in the first term of school. It was held in a log cabin in the present 300 block of E. Grant Hwy.

September 4, 1837, the home of William Sponable is designated as the location for the, elections.

July 6, 1837, the first post office between Chicago & Galena is established at Coral on The second post office between Chicago & Galena is established at Amesville (now Garden Prairie) on June 18, 1838.

In 1841, the name, Marengo, is officially accepted to replace the original name, Pleasant Grove.

Also in 1841, the first frame school house is built on the location of the future Washington School, current location of McDonalds.

In 1842, the Smith brothers build a mill on the banks of the

Kishwaukee River, on what is currently called Deerpass Road.

Dr. John W. Green arrives to set up a Medical practice in 1847. He completed

his studies in the spring of 1848. Our Strahorn Library was built in honor of

his daughter, Adell.

In 1851, Marengo business men sign notes to secure the right-of- way

for the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad.

October 18, 1851, the first tracks of the Galena & Chicago Union

R.R. is laid through Marengo.

One of Marengo’s most influential businessmen, R. M. Patrick, aged 22

years, arrives in Marengo in 1853.

In 1855, O.P. Rogers began keeping the weather record for Marengo which

continues today.

The Marengo Collegiate Institute is built on the west end of West Prairie

Street in 1856. It closes in 1858 & is later destroyed by fire.

February 9, 1857, Marengo receives its charter as an incorporated town.

In 1858 Marengo has the heaviest annual recorded rainfall: 50.27 inches.

Moses Spencer, father of Calvin Spencer, dies in 1861. It was in this

year that the first body is laid to rest in the “new” cemetery, located south of the R.R. tracks.

The Honorable Ira Rozel Curtiss, aged 25, arrives in Marengo in 1861. He was a

farmer, lawyer, banker, a Colonel in the Civil War, & State Legislator. His home

remains at 521 E. Grant Highway.

August 4, 1862, a tornado strikes Marengo, doing severe damage.

It began at 3 p.m and in its wake it left four people dead.

In 1865, an Elm tree is planted in front of the Methodist Church as a memorial to

Abraham Lincoln.

Leroy Spencer organizes the first Marengo Community Band in 1865.

A cheese factory is started by R. M. Patrick in 1865 at a location near

Rt. 23 & Forest Street.

In 1865 George Crego opens a livery stable which continues operation for the next 35 years.

September 9, 1867, Albert H. Vail receives the first money order to be issued at the Marengo Post office on.

In 1868 James Dietz operates a foundry in a stone building on Railroad Street.

The Renwick store building is completed in 1871. This is the present location of

Bobby’s Red Wing Shoe store at 220 S. State Street.

Aug. 8, 1871, the first bank in McHenry County is established in Marengo by R. M. Patrick. He was also Marengo’s first president in 1877.

July 25, 1877, the Marengo City Council minutes include “that all (board) sidewalks be built on Main, Ann, Railroad, Prairie & State streets…..the corporation to pay $0.85 per rod”.

March 1878, the farm wives of the Kishwaukee Farmer’s Assoc. formed the Home Circle; the Home Circle is still active today!

June 25, 1879, the Marengo City Council minutes include “sidewalks to be put around the Public Square (Calvin Spencer Park) & a railing put in place of the old fence”.

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Residents of East Grant Highway

1830’s to 1920’ s

(As compiled by Mrs. Dorothy Otis)

#33: 329 East Grant Highway. Dr. Abner Hagar came to Marengo in 1843 and went into practice with Dr. Burleigh. At that time the country was sparsely settled and there was much sickness. Rides of 10, 20 and even 30 miles were a common occurrence. At his funeral in 1892 the pulpit of the Methodist Church was heavily draped and the pew, usually occupied by the doctor and his family, was also draped. Drs. Green, Nutt, Wernham, Richardson, Mesick and Peck occupied seats behind the mourners and marched in a body to the grave.

#50: 402 East Grant Highway. Perry and Anna Parkhurst owned and lived the majority of their lives at this address. This couple was held in high esteem by the community. Her obituary contained the following; Anna Eliza Vail Parkhurst was born in 1832 at Middletown, Vermont. She lived at 402 E. Grant for 65 years. Her education was acquired at Castleton Seminary, Vermont and this cultural training inspired in her a love of the beautiful in music, literature and art.

Judge Edward D. Shurtleff, a member of the lower house of the State Assembly and one of the leading attorneys of McHenry County, purchased the home in 1920.

#74 and #75: 405 East Grant Highway. Almon and Frank G. Vail were respectfully, father and son. Almon and his wife, Eunice, were natives of Rutland County, Vermont. They came to Marengo in 1859. Frank G. was educated in Marengo and Quincy, Il. He returned to Marengo and went into business with his father, buying and shipping horses. In 1880 he established his own business, dealing in agricultural implements, carriages, and buggies. He married Nellie Parkhurst, a native of Marengo, in 1879.

#49: 416-418 East Grant Highway. Dr. Wm. H. Mesick built and owned this home. At his daughter’s wedding, which was held in the home, the gifts received included 320 acres of land valued at $4,500, a business block in Mr. Morris, New York, valued at $11,000, two $1,000 four percent U.S. bonds, sealskin cloak, etc, etc.

Upon the doctor’s death, another very prominent Marengoan purchased the home, John D. Pringle.

#15: 421 East Grant Highway, Shelton Insurance. Dr. William J. C. Casely practiced medicine in Marengo for 42 years. He was born in Marengo, the son of William J. and Caroline Reed Casely, graduating from the Marengo High School and attended the University of Illinois and graduated from the Chicago Medical College in 1885. In 1886 he married Rachel Pringle, daughter of Patterson Pringle. Their only child, Elizabeth, was born in 1889 and died in 1890. His wife died in 1900. It is presumed that after her death and his remarriage, he moved to 124 E. Washington St. where he also maintained his office.

#73: 505 E. Grant Highway (Marengo-Union Funeral Home). W. A. and Abigail Treat owned this home from 1871 to 1898. They came to Marengo in 1855 from Livingston Co., N.Y.. From his obituary we read that Warren was converted during the Redfield Revival in 1857-58 and then united with the Methodist church. He commenced life in Marengo at the “bottom of the ladder,” financially, but he was diligent and enterprising and success attended him at every step, so much so that he accumulated a fine property and was considered one of the solid business men of our city.

#60: 516 East Grant Highway, (corner of East and Grant). George E. Renwick and family owned this home from possibly the 1860’s to 1955.

#24: 521 East Grant Highway. Honorable Ira Rozel Curtiss (1836-1911) was an Illinois State Senator while residing in Marengo. Ira had moved to Marengo in 1861 and later served in the Civil War in Co. D, 15^th Regt. of the Illinois infantry. After studying law in the office of A.B. Coon, Ira began practice in Marengo in 1865. He was one of the leading lawyers of McHenry County and served as States Attorney of McHenry County. He was elected State Rep in 1870 and Il State Senator in 1884. His wife, Josie Dayton Curtiss, was equally famous in her own right. She was known for her work with underprivileged children and often had children from Chicago stay with her in the summer. She also published a number of books, including “The Majesty of Man” and “The Defenseless Child”. Like other folks whom we have mentioned here, there is MUCH more to learn about them whenever you visit the McHenry County Historical Society in Union. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MOSES SPENCER’S LOG HOME WAS LOCATED ON THE SITE OF THIS HOME. MOSES WAS THE FATHER OF CALVIN SPENCER. As with many of Marengo’s large, stately homes of this period, there was a ballroom on the third floor.

#46 and #22: 553 East Grant Highway. Seth Lewis had this home built in 1872 but lived in it only a short time. It has been said that Mr. Lewis had the home built for his bride-to-be or his new wife. However, she died either before they were married or soon after. Mr. and Mrs. S. K. Bartholomew then purchased the home. Their daughter, Bessie, married Arthur A. Crissey, the son of Sherman A. and Martha Capron Crissey. Sherman had been in the harness and hardware business from 1861 until his death.

#37 and #38: 579 East Grant Highway (corner of Grant and Maple). Charles H. Hance came to Marengo in 1836 from Ohio. He has been an eye witness to the many changes that have been wrought by civilization, the once wilderness where roamed all manner of wild beasts as well as the natives until now it is one of the highest civilized parts of the great west. For many years he was engaged in business in this city and carried on the wagon making business. He was of a quiet disposition but he enjoyed a wide acquaintance and his intercourse with his fellowmen was of the strictest integrity and enjoyed the confidence of all.

#60: 604 East Grant Highway (present site of Pheasant Roost Apartments). This property was owned by William H. Prescott and heirs from 1922 -1971. In 1874 Prescott Nurseries was established by C.W. Prescott (1851-1928). At the age of 16 he began working for E.H. Skinner, owner of one of the first nurseries in Marengo. In 1880 he purchased the Woodward Nursery from Loren Woodward, who went on to establish the Marengo Pickle Factory. Mr. Prescott was at one time the largest apple tree grower in Illinois and was also known for having had the largest cherry orchard, shipping out a load of fruit every night. William H. Prescott also owned the home at 934 East Grant Highway in the latter part of the 1800’s.

#78: 619 East Grant Highway (present location of New Beginnings Hair Salon). E.B. Van Alstyn and his wife, Elizabeth, owned this home from 1877 to 1878.

#77: 620 East Grant Highway (present location of Pheasant Roost Apartments). As with 604 E. Grant, this property was originally owned by Mica and Betsey Vail. In 1862 Eliakim and Caroline took ownership. Eliakim was born in Rutland County, Vermont and came to Marengo in 1855. At the time of his death, he owned real estate valued at $7,000 and personal property worth $2,500.

#64: 631 East Grant Highway (present site of Country Companies Insurance Co). Frank Safford (1818-1882) came to Marengo in 1843 from New York. He built a store at 115 E. Washington St, later the location of the Free Methodist Church. He and his partner, G. S. Kasson, ran a mercantile business and sold seed. Later, he subdivided parts of Prairie and Washington Streets and East Grant Highway. He was also the first president of the newly incorporated village of Marengo in 1857. According to his obituary, Frank was mainly a businessman in the mercantile area when he first came to Marengo. But the 1857-58 economically dark days of our nation fell upon Marengo as well.

#61: 702 East Grant Highway (corner of Grant and N. Locust). Ellery T. and Mary Eddy Renwick owned the home from 1914 to 1923. In the 1830’s, Ellery’s grandfather, Walter, built a log cabin 2-½ miles west of Marengo on the Galena Trail (Grant Highway). Around 1865, upon returning from the Civil War, Ellery’s father, George F. bought out Daniel Buston’s hardware business and thus founded the oldest family owned business in Marengo. Ellery took over the business at his father’s death.

#62: 821 East Grant Highway (home just east of the Tastee Freeze). J. S. Rogers was the eldest son of Orson P. Rogers. He was born in a log house in the in the township of Coral in 1837. His wife, Ellen Lamb, came from New York to Coral in 1865 where she taught school until her marriage to J. Smith Rogers in 1867. Her father was a woolen manufacturer at Fort Ann, Washington Co., New York. She had graduated with honor from Fort Edward Institute, Fort Edward, New York and retained her interest in educational matter and literary pursuits throughout her life in Marengo.

#84: 830 East Grant Highway (first house east of the High School). Loren and Harriette Woodard owned the home and farm till 1865.

#40: 840 East Grant Highway (site of High School “Preschool”). H. H. Hovey and his wife, Nancy, owned the home and most likely lived here in 1868.

#84: 927 East Grant Highway. This home dates from the 1850’s. Loren Woodard lived here until 1904. Loren (1827-1904) started a prosperous nursery business and founded the Marengo Pickle Factory. He was one of the original stockholders of the Dairymen’s Bank and a director of the First National Bank of Marengo. (not our bank today by the same name). In 1899 his wife died and in 1901 he married Dr. Belle Seward, the daughter of Ephraim and Maria Rogers Seward. She was born in the Anson Rogers home on East Grant Highway. She was regarded as a woman pioneer in the medical profession. She was very well-known and highly appreciated for her skills and treatment of the ill.

#42: 947 East Grant Highway. Warren Hulett came to Marengo in the spring of 1856. He was married in 1859 in Wells, Vermont to Amanda Elizabeth Pray, and sister of Frank J. Pray of Marengo. He built the home at 947 in the 1870’s. He taught school for several winters after coming here and was a very successful teacher. His trade was that of a carpenter, and he made the building of barns a specialty. He was active and industrious, always had plenty of work if work was to be had. He pushed his business. It is the general opinion that there are a minimum of 100 barns and possibly closer to 200 in number which he has built within a radius of 6 to8 miles of Marengo. He also built smaller structures.

#30: 20015 East Grant Highway. The Gilkerson family owned the home from 1870 to 1935. Thomas married Jane Maria Van Alstyn in Seneca Falls, New York in 1851. He enlisted for 3 years during the Civil War and then moved from Kane County to Marengo. He worked with McKenney and Ingersoll in the grain and lumber business. Then in 1870 he bought this homestead and ran his own nursery business for 30 years. His wife was born in 1828 in the state of New York to Thomas and Sherezeda Roosevelt Van Alsyn. Her parents on both sides were of Holland-Dutch ancestry and identified with the early history of New York state. She was from the same branch of the family as President Roosevelt.

#63: 19809 East Grant Highway. Anson was born in Middletown, Vermont. He learned the hatter’s trade from his father. He came to Marengo in 1846 by way of the canal, lake steamer and stagecoach. He built this home in 1846-47, hauling the lumber, at that early day, by team from Chicago, including the handsome Grecian pillars of the roomy old-fashioned porch, which were fluted and finished in the cellar. The home was regarded as the best in McHenry County.

His wife had been married previously and had three children, Maria Louise was the oldest. She married Ephraim Seward who also grew up in Middletown, Vermont. They were married in 1846.

#65: 19621 East Grant Highway. Orson and Anson Rogers were brothers. Orson built, organized and taught at the first log school in the area at the sum of $1.25 per week. He started the first church classes at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Marengo. As a farmer he reputedly used the first cotton gin in McHenry County and was one of the first to purchase one of the new revolutionary McCormick Reapers in the early 1850’s. Also a stonecutter, he carved many of the earliest gravestones. Orson started keeping weather records in 1855. With the exception of Peoria, Marengo has the oldest weather records in the state of Illinois Orson was one of the founders of the First National Bank (of that time) and joined with Loren Woodard to develop a nursery business. The original smoke house still stands on the property today. The school house was moved in the 1960’s and remodeled into a home by Ray Stone for his mother. The house sits at the end of Ford Street, however its address is on Van Buren St.

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