In 1850 the present township organization law
was adopted, and the first town meeting was held at the house of Jesse
C. Wheaton, in that year.
Photo
of Jesse Wheaton - Click on image for larger view
The town is situated nearly in the centre of the county, and is six miles square. The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad passes directly through it. The present population is about two thousand. As an agricultural district, this town is unsurpassed, being adapted to all the various branches of farming. It presents a beautiful and varied landscape of prairie and woodland, hill and dale, running brooks and crystal founts. In its present and future prospects, this town affords a picture which some of the New England's towns might well envy.
There are two flourishing villages within the limits of this town, WHEATON and DANBY. WHEATON is a fine, growing village, beautifully situated on the G. and C.U. Railroad, 25 miles west of chicago, and 5 miles east of the Junction of the C.B. & Q. Railroad, the Dixon Air Line Railroad, and the St. Charles Branch road; thus rendering access to the town direct and easy from all points.
Jesse C. and Warren L. Wheaton were the original proprietors of the village, which was laid out by them in 1853. In the fall of 1849 the railroad was completed to this point, and during the following year Messrs. J.G. Vallette, H.H. Fuller, and a Mr. Lynch erected the first buildings. Few improvements were made until it was surveyed and platted in 1853. There are now about 1,000 inhabitants within the village limits, and upward of 200 buildings have been erected. The railroad company erected a commodious building in 1856, for their use as a depot for passengers and freight, in connection with which is an express office.
The following list of the business establishments of the town will give some idea of its wants, growth and prosperity, when it is considered that scarcely four years ago there were not more than two or three dwellings to be found in the place. There are now: 1 hotel, 12 stores, 12 factories, including an extensive carriage manufactory, and a steam flouring mill, 2 lightning rod manufactories, 2 lumber yards, 2 markets, 2 post offices, 1 school house, 1 institute, 1 printing office, 1 nursery. The among of capital employed by the principal business men, varies between three and five thousand dollars, and the annual sales range between ten and fifteen thousand dollars.
At the carriage manufactory of Messrs. Chadwick, Brother & Co., some fifteen hands are employed and about fifty carriages of every description made annually. The steam flour mill was built in 1856, by Messrs. Northrop & Watson. This mill has two run of stones, and produces flour of a superior quality.
The Methodist Episcopal and Wesleyan Methodist churches had their organizations in the town prior to the settlement of the village. The present membership of the Wesleyan church is about 75, and the Rev. Lucius C. Matlack, President of the Illinois Institute, is the pastor. There are about 60 members of the M.E. church, and Rev. B. Close is pastor.
The Baptist church of Wheaton was organized on the 12th of November, 1856, by a council from the neighboring churches, with the usual services of church recognition. There are now 17 members of this church. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Garrison.
The Illinois Institute is located in this place. It has a liberal charter, conferring powers equal to the best colleges, and embraces academical collegiate and theological departments of instruction. The charter was granted by the Legislature, in 1855. Forty acres of valuable land and three thousand dollars cash donation, formed the basis of its establishment. the fund has been increased by additional gifts, so that the value of real estate owned by the trustees is now upward of $10,000.
The sum of five hundred dollars was raised by subscription, in 1856, with which chemical, philosophical and astronomical apparatus was procured for the institution. Add to these the amount of scholarships sold, which is nearly $20,000, and we have an aggregate of nearly $30,000. this amount is to be offset by a debt of $2,500. so great a success within a little more than three years of its existence, is an encouraging fact, and promises well for the future. It is the design of the trustees to secure to the institution a permanent endowment fund of $100,000, by the sale of scholarships. Its catalogue for the first year numbered 140 students, the second year 270, and its present prospects are more flattering than any previous period. The following list comprises the faculty of 1856:
Rev. Lucius C. Matlack,
President
G.H. Collier, A.B. Prof,
Mathematics and Natural Philosophy
O.F. Lumry, A.B., Prof.
Greek and Latin
Miss M.A. Newcomb, A.B.,
Principal Female Department
Mrs. Minerva Hoes, M.D.,
Anatomy, Physiology, and Botany
Sabastian Pfrangle, German
and Music
L. A. Jones, Assistant
Teacher
In connection with the Institute, a commodious boarding hall has been erected, at an expense of nearly $3,000.
There are seven school districts in the town. the original fund derived from the sale of school land was $800. It is now $1,238.82. The public schools are attended by 790 scholars. Township treasurer, L. W. Mills. Few towns in the county have done more than this, to advance the interests of public schools.
DANBY is an unusually pleasant and quiet village, beautifully located on the Galena Railroad, about 23 miles west of Chicago. The railroad was completed to this place in the fall of 1849. During the same season the railroad company erected a station house, which waS the first frame building put up in the place. In the spring of 1850, the first settlement was made by John O. Vallette. Milo F. Meacham, A. Hantz, W. Wilson, Wm. Waggoner, and Dr. L.Q. Newton, the original proprietor of the town, came in during the following year.
The place has grown rapidly during the last two or three years, and bids fair to rival some of its sister towns of much greater pretensions. Its present population is between three and four hundred. It has 1 hotel, 2 drug stores, 3 dry goods stores, 1 cabinet shop, 1 grist mill, 1 tin and hardware store, 1 blacksmith shop, and 1 lumber yard.
Physicians at Wheaton, O. Wakelee, F.C. Hagemann, J.O. Vallette, Dr. Lowrie, and A. Waterman.
Physicians at Danby, L.Q. Newton, H.S. Potter, and Dr. Saxe.
Attorneys at Wheaton, S.F. Daniels and L. E. DeWolf. Notaries Public, S.F. Daniels and J.G. Vallette, at Wheaton, and Horace Brooks, who is also county surveyor, at Danby.