History of Algonquin, Il.
From: The History of McHenry County, Illinois
Published by: Munsell Publishing Company, 1922
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In the southeastern part of MeHenry County is found Algonquin Township; it is bounded on the north by Nunda Township; on the east by Lake County; on the south by Kane County, and on the west by Grafton Township.
ORIGIN OF NAME
Before the adoption of the township organization, this section of the county was known as Fox Township. When a name was required for this new township, Samuel Edwards, formerly of Philadelphia, suggested the name Algonquin. In his youth he had been a sailor on a boat by that name, and he desired to thus commemorate a happy period of his life. The name met with the approval of all who had charge of such naming, and it was adopted.
Algonquin Township is more broken than any other township within the county, there being many bluffs and hills in the region of Algoiiquin village and in fact all along the Fox River. The land is about equally divided between prairie and timber. It is adapted to both small grain and pasture lands and is used for such purposes. Crystal Lake lies in section 6 of this township, and runs over into a portion of Grafton Township. From it flows the outlet of the lake that joins the Fox River at the village of Algonquin. Big Spring Creek is another water course found within the township.
The first settler to locate in this county chose Algonquin Township for his new home. He was Samuel Gillian, and he located in section 23, on the west bank of Fox River, November 18, 1834. John Gillian came soon thereafter, and he settled on the east bank of Fox River. Levi Seebert arrived in 1837; Hosea Throop was a settler of 1839; and Newman Crabtree, Simon Chandler, Thomas Chunn, Beman Crandall, William King, Isaac Denney, Edwin Powell, Major Beardsley, John Kern, Isaac King, Wesley Hickox, Dr. Plumleigh, Dr. Cornish and John Brink with possibly others made up the first settlements.
The first white child to be born in this township was William Beardsicy, son of Abner Beardsley and wife, who
came into the world in 1837. Franklin Wallace and Hannah S. Beardsley were married by Benjamin Crandall, a justice
of the peace, in 1839, and theirs was the first marriage in Algonquin township. The first person to die in the
township was Delia, daughter of Samuel Gillian and wife, when she was about fifteen years old, August 26, 1835.
In 1890 the population of this township was 3,675; in 1900 it was 3,043; in 1910 it was 2,512; and in 1920 it was 3,528.
This is the oldest village in this county, ha.ving been first laid out in 1836 by Dawson & Powell, the platting being accepted and recorded in 1844. Prior to the laying out of the place Mr. Powell had erected a residence on the present site of the village. The first store was conducted in 1837 by Dr. Cornish. Henry Tubbs was the first wagonmaker; Henry Benthusean, was the first blacksmith; and 0. Leach the first shoemaker, while William Clark was the first tailor. At one time William Powell owned all of the original site of Algonquin and he built the first hotel in 1840. It was a log structure, to which he added a frame building, in 1850. In 1858, the whole building was torn down and a new one erected by James Dixon and John Gillian, and later it became the property of Charles Pingree.
A post office was established at this point in 1836, and it was the first in the township. Dr. Cornish was the
first to serve as postmaster. He was succeeded by the following: Isaac Denney, John Peter (deputy), John Sears,
Charles Chunu, Eli Henderson, Peter Potter, Samuel Finch, Col. William Henry, C. C. Chunn, John Adamak, C. C. Chunn,
John T. Kalahan, Nettie Threadgold (many years) with present postmaster John T. Kalahan.
The following are the present officials of Algonquin: president, Willis T. Peter; clerk, George Dewitt Keyes;
treasurer, Louis J. Lehky; magistrate, Harvey J. Weir; marshal, John Dvorak, Jr.; attorney, Charles T. Allen; trustees,
Clarence Franke, Frank Dvorak, Ernest Reimer, Fred Duensing, Albert Wilbrandt and Herman Mertens.
In 1896 the city installed its first and really its present system of water works which consists of piping from
the business part of the town to a distance of seventy-three feet above the river-bed, to a point on the hillside
where was discovered a strong spring of the best drinking water to be had anywhere in Illinois. For fire purposes
other lines of piping extend further on up the hill to a distance of 147 feet, where was erected a basin in which
sufficient water is forced to meet any demand in case of fire. This whole system is "natural direct pressure"
and affords a splendid water system, such as is seldom found in prairie sections. The common pressure is about
eighty pounds per square inch.
CITY OF CRYSTAL LAKE
What was first known as the village of Crystal Lake is now a city and governed by a board of aldermen and a
mayor. This place was platted by Benjamin Douglas and others in August, 1837, but not recorded until 1840. From
an old county directory it is learned that in 1877 the village then had three general stores. Hill, Fitch &
Marlow and Buekholtz & Dydeman were early business firms. T. G. Ashton conducted a hotel. It will be understood
that a part of present Crystal Lake city was once within the incorporation of Nunda village and its early history
will be treated in the history of Nunda Township.
An exact list of postmasters at this office cannot be now obtained with any degree of certainty, but it is known to be an old post office and Mrs. De Grushe was in charge of the office many years ago. It was probably about 1840 when the office was established. Among the postmasters recalled by present settlers were: Mrs. De Grushe, E. 0-. MeCollum, A. S. Con, John McWhorter and present postmaster, Henry Shales. The office is now of the third class. At one time it had three rural free deliveries but of late only two routes are provided by the department.
From the revised ordinance book of the City of Crystal Lake, published in 1915 the following historic facts
have been gleaned. The history of certain incorporations, under the name of Nunda, North Crystal Lake and Crystal
Lake, make the understanding to present-day people quite difficult, but the following will serve to make all clear.
The names and dates can be relied upon, coming from authority of mayor and councilmen.
The village of Crystal Lake was organized under the general provision passed April 10, 1872. James Crow, T.
H. Ashton and J. B. Robinson having been appointed by the court of McHenry County as judges of an election to decide
by ballot the question whether or not they would incorporate as a village under said law; an election was held
January 10, 1874. The returns showed that there had been east forty-nine votes for such incorporation and six against
the measure. The court then ordered an election of officers which resulted in the election of trustees as follows:
William Miller, John Brink, Thomas Leonard, B. Carpenter, H. H. Ford, and L. D. Lowell. Hence it will be seen that
two incorporated villages existed side by side for a considerable number of years. It was not until 1914 that the
villages of North Crystal Lake and Crystal Lake were consolidated under the name of Crystal Lake. It was on April
21, 1914, that this was legally brought about, and in September, the same year, the place adopted a city form of
government. The first officers were elected December 14, 1914, to hold office until April, 1915. The first set
of officers were as follows: William Pinnow, mayor; John C. Flotow, city clerk; James B. Ford, city treasurer;
Herman P. Ilasse, city attorney and William M. Freeman, Henry Meyer, A. NI. Shelton, W. J. Buchholz, Andrew Pierson
and Henry Breudigam, aldermen.
1887-J. H. Sheldon, president; I. M. Mallory, clerk.
NAME CHANGED TO NORTH CRYSTAL LAKE
1909-10-H. D. Hull, president; H. H. MeCollum, clerk.
The following are the present officials of the city of Crystal Lake: mayor, W. A. Goodwin; clerk, John C. Flotow; health commissioner, H. D. Hull; treasurer, Carl Ortman; magistrate, C. H. Schlottman; attorney, L. D. Lowell; aldermen, Fred Peterson, Henry Bruedigam, Henry Meier, G. D. Crabtree, Mort Ritt and J. B. Kitchen.
In 1906-07 a city building was constructed of brick. It cost $8,000. The second floor is leased out to various
lodges, while the ground floor is used by the councilmen and for other municipal purposes.
VILLAGE OF CARY
Cary in the northeast quarter of section 13 of Algonquin Township is a station point on the Chicago & Northwestern
railroad and the first southeast of Crystal Lake. It was laid out June 7, 1856, by William D. Cary and became a
post office in 1856, with James Nish as first postmaster. He was succeeded, when he entered the Civil War, by his
brother John Nish, who served until relieved by H. M. Burton, who was postmaster for two years and was followed
by Robert Burk, and he by James Nish, who had returned from war with the rank of captain, and he served until his
death, when his daughter, Miss Ann J. Nish, was appointed and served until in the Democratic administration of
President Wilson, Mary H. llrdlioka was appointed, the date of her appointment being December 8, 1913. This is
a fourth class post office and from it runs one rural delivery route.
The following are the village officials of Cary Station: president, R. B. Powers; clerk, C. W. Meyer; treasurer, P. J. Bloner; marshal, J. A. Parsley; attorney, Charles T. Allen; trustees, R. H. Grantham, A. E. Baheman, A. O. Hack, F. D. Smith, F. Krenz and O. J. Synek.
The following are the township officials of Algonquin Township: supervisor, R. E. Haeger; assessor, Henry Breudigam; clerk, V. N. Ford; highway commissioner, Ed Wallace; justices of the peace, L. E. Mentch, John Buehler and Henry Keyes; constable, John Purvey.