Source: History of Whiteside County, Illinois
Edited by: Charles Bent
Morrison, Illinois - 1877
Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com
Page 341
CHAPTER XXI
History of Portland Township
Portland originally formed a part of Crow Creek Precinct, and in March, 1837, was placed into a precinct called Prophetstown, by the Commissioners Court of Ogle county, to which Whiteside was then attached. At that time Prophetstown Precinct included all of Whiteside county lying south of Rock river. Upon petition being made the commissioners in March, 1838, changed the name of the Precinct to that of Portland, to include the same territory. In part Prophetstown Precinct, the balance retaining its original name. The present township of Portland comprises all that part of Congressional township 19 north, range 3 east, as lies south of Rock river, and also fractional parts of sections 26. 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34. 35 and 36, in Congressional township 19 north, range 3 east, as lies south of Rock riverand contains 22,243 acres of land. The soil is for the most part a sandy loam, and the surface generally level. There are some sloughs in the township, one of which, called the Big Slough, runs along its eastern border, continuing its course through Henry county to Green river, its whole length being about twenty miles. A good quality of building stone is found on sections 17 & 25. The township also contains a considerable quantity of timber land. Before the settlement of the white man the township was a favorite hunting ground of the Indians, as the prairie, extending to Eight Mile Grove in Henry county, abounded in deer, and Rock river, which bounds it on the north, afforded an abundance of fish. Near the village of Portland, on a rise of ground called Thunderbolt Hill, in honor of an Indian chief of that name, was their burying ground, and skulls are yet frequently dug up there.
The first settlement in the township was made by Alexander J. and Norman B. SEELY, in June, 1834. These gentlemen made claims where the village of Portland now stands. Mitchell RUXTON also came that year, and these three comprised the whole population of the township in 1834. The improvements made that year, consisted of a shanty put up by Norman B. SEELY, in the gorve, in which he remained all winter. The high water in the spring drove him out of it, and he then dug a hole in the ground for a habitation, where he remained until the 4th of July, 1835, when he erected his log house. He had also a few acres of breaking.
The year 1835 was a memorable one in the history of Portland. The letters written back to the East by the few who came in 1834, and the glowing accounts the messesngers gave of the wonderful beauties of the Rock River Valley, caused the tide of immigration to flow in, the arrivals commencing as early as June. Among the first to reach the new land ofpromise, were Horace BURKE, Simeon FULLER, and P. Bacchus BESSE. Mr. BURKE made his claim a little to the northwest of Where Spring Hill now stands; Simeon FULLER a few miles east of BURKE; and P. Bacchus BESSE still farther east, near the village, where he now lives. During the summer Alphonzo BROOKS, W. H. CUSHMAN, Joy AVERY, John Smith ROWE, Robert GETTY, Simeon CHAFFEE, and George STRATTON came, and the settlement extended along the margin of the timber through the town. Joy AVERY made the first ssettlement on the Dutch Bottom, at what is now the REIS farm. Late in the fall John BAXTER, Christian BENSON, and Ransom BURGESS came and settled on the Bootom at first, but afterwards moved to the higher ground. Nothing was raised the first year, and the supplies were obtained from Knox County. The nearest mill was on Spoon river, at Ellisville, Fulton county. Mr. BURKE procured his first spring wheat that fall at Canton, Fulton county, and his first potatoes at Rock Island, bringing the latter up in a canoe. But little breaking was done, as the settlers had all they could do to provide shelter for the winter, and put up hay for their stock.
The year 1836 made an addition of about thirty families to Portland, and it probably then contained more white persons than all the rest of the county. Among those who assisted materially in the develpment of the town were Daniel BLAISDELL --who was one of the early County commissioners, Levi FULLER, Sr., Robert THOMPSON, John S. LOGAN, James ROWE, Alden TULLER, Guy RAY, Hiram HARMON, Rodney BESSE, Dr. Wm. PRINCE, and Dr. Wm. MAXWELL, the latter settling on the county line of Henry county, and were the first physicians in the neighborhood. They were of the old school, and believed in the potency of calomel. The perusal of one of their bills, which will be found on page 86 of this volume, cannot fail of convincing even one of the regulars that the first settlers were men of iron constitutions. They were educated men, and had an extensive practice for several years. Dr. MAXWELL is dead and Dr. PRICE when last hear from was in Ohio. Guy RAY brought in a few goods, and oened the first store in the town, but did not replenish after selling out his stock. The settlementsof that year extended principally around Spring Hill. Jacob ARNETT and Lewis RINK made claims in the timber on section 35, near the county line, but did not actually settle until the next year. Some crops of grain, and corn, and potatoes were raised that year, but not enough for home consumption. The prairie, however, was broken, and fields fenced along the river road to Rock Island, so that the place began to assume some of the appearances of civilization. The season was not very propitious for crop taising, being wet and cold, and the following winter was noted as being very severe. A man by the name of BOWEN was frozen to death between Prophetstown and DYSON'S farm in Hume. The Presidential election in 1836 was as warmly participated in by the voters ofPortland as by those of the older and more refined portions of the nation. The polls were held at the house of Horace BURKE, the election being the first held in Whiteside county. The vote was not large, yet it was that of a respectable people asserting their rights as American freemen. The names of the voters, as near as can be ascesrtained, are as follows: Asa CROOK, Theron CROOK, John W. STAKES, N. G. REYNOLDS, P. Becchus BESSE, Norman B. SEELY, Alexander J. SEELY, Wm. HILL, Sr., Wm. D. DUDLEY, Adam R. HAMILTON, Chauncey B. WOODRUFF, John BAXTER, C. BENSON, Jason HOPKINS, Hezekiah BRINK, John FREEK, John FENTON, Wm. CUSHMAN, Simeon FULLER, and Levi FULLER, Sr. At that time Whiteside formed a part of Jo Daviess county. The returns were given to Solomon M. SEELY, a boy then ten years of age, and son of Col. E. SEELY, and being mounted on an Indian pony, he was told to deliver them to John DIXON, at Dixon's ferry, who would put them in charge of the stage driver for Galena. The distance to be travelled was twenty-eight miles, with nothing to follow but an Indian trail, and not a house on the route, between Prophetstown and Dixon. On reachiing what was then known as the nine mile run (nine miles west of Dixon), he found it full and running over; but having been told to place the returns into the hands of Uncle John DIXON, he knew it must be done. The weather was cold and freezing, yet he boldly plunged his pony into the stream, and had him swim across. On reachiing Dixon's house his clothes were frozen to his person, but by the motherly care of Mother DIXON he was put in a proper condition to return home the next morning.
In 1837, Portland received an addition of about twenty-five men, a large portion bringing families. Among them were John KEMPSTER, who settled on the Dutch Bottom, where he now resides. Lewis ARNETT, with his sons Jacob, William, Joseph, George, Anthony and John--all of whom settled near the county line, Rueben HURD, Horace HURD, Daniel F. COLE, A. T. BRACKEN, Robert WOODSIDE, James GRAHAM, John P. WELDING, James CROZIER, D. Porter BREWER, Jeremiah H. JOHNSON, and Hiram MCKENZIE, the latter now living in Yorktown, Bureau County. All of these parties have descendants now living in Portland. They were men of good standing, and contributed much to the develpment of the town. Nathaniel NORTON, now a capitalist in Chicago, came also in 1837, and bought the claim of W. H. CUSHMAN, opening a store at his house where he sold goods for several years. He afterwards sold the farm to Mr. GUILD, who in turn sold to L. C. UNDERWOOD. Dr. Richard BROWN was another arrival, and practiced his profession for some time. The settlements were mostly around Spring Hill, and along the county line. To school houses were built this year, one near the village of Portland, and the other near the Sharon church, both being of logs. George HAMILTON put up the first frame house in the township this year, covering it with split shakes. He afterwards sold it ot D. Porter BREWER. The house is sstill standing. The election in 1837 was held at the residence of Mr. BURKE, and with the exception of the election of 1840, it was held there until 1856, whenit was changed to Spring Hill.
In 1838. Portland received a further accession to its population of about twenty families who settled mostly in and around the village. John LAIRD opened a farm near BURK's, and Fred KNAPPER one on the Bottom. All the lands along the timber, and about Spring HIll, were covered by claims, the prairie sout of the latter place not being considered valuable at that time, as is was hemmed in by sloughs, and remote from timber. Buring this year Job DODGE, not then of age, came into the town with a peddler's wagon, and sold notions to the inhabitants during the summer, and in the winter following opened a store in Portland village. The next summer he again commenced peddling, and so continued alternately peddling and keeping store until 1848. The currency at that time consisted mostly of coon skins, and with some, about all the neccessaries of life were considered to be tobacco and whiskey; still Mr. DODGE kept a few luxuries like calico and coffee, and namaged to get along until the stock of hogs increased so that a few could be spared, when he commence packing pork and shipping it to St. Louis, by the way of Albany. He bought pork for $1.50 per hundred. In 1841, he moved his store and goods to Prophetstown.
In 1839, the settlements began to extend considerably. Hiram UNDERHILL, David UNDERHILL, and Benjamin DOW, settled at Jefferson Corners. Alonzo DAVIS, who had been living at Prophetstown, made a claim at the same place. James GRAHAM opened a farm on the road running south from the village of Portland. Philip RAPP, Christopher RAPP, and Anderson CROZIER settled on the county line. Walter YOUNG and Amos YOUNG settled near Spring Hill, and altogether the town received an accession of fifteen families. The summer of 1839 was hot and dry, and bilious fever and fever and ague prevailed to a great extent. During that season a trading boat owned by Mr. COBB run up and down Rock river, and supplied the settlers with such necessaries as they required, especially ague cures which were in great demand. A Dr. SAPPINGTON, of St. Louis also sent an agent into the township with his then celebrated pills. He traveled on a large mule, selling pills and establishing agencies, and the Doctor got rich fast. Corn, wheat, oats, and potatoes were produced in sufficient quantities for home use, and hogs and cattle became plenty so that settlers could sell at the nearest market, which made Portland quite a prosperous place. The grists were yet mostly taken to the mill on Edward's river, at Andover, Henry county.
The immigration was not very large in 1840. During that year work was being prosecuted on the various lines of railroads, and as Portland was not on any of the routes, it gained but little in the way of population. Considerable improvement, however, was otherwise made. Large crops of wheat and corn were raised and hogs became plenty, so that the settlers had considerable to sell. The Presidnetial election of this year created great excitement in Portland, as well as elsewhere. the temperance movement had not at that time reached the West, and the campaign was conducted on the corn-juice basis. Hardly a gathering of any kind was held without whisky being furnished in abundance. Not even a house or barn raising, or bee of any kind, could be held without it. It even assisted in the cause of education, as it is related that the first male teacher in the town took a portion of his salary in a half barrel of whisky.
In 1841, Marvin FRARY nad Richard POTTER built a distillery at the foot of Thunderbolt Hill, but having no means for grinding the grain, sent it to Haines' mill in Union Grove Precinct, twelve miles distant. When the distillery was finished and the "tangle-foot" ready, the question arose who should have the honor of tasting the first drop of the home production. The lot fell to one David FERGUSON, who laid upon his back, with his mouth open under the end of the worm. As it took some time to get the machine started, FERGUSON became impatient, and called loudly to FRARY to fire up, as he was getting awful dry. The enterprise did not prove a profitable one, as Ohio whisky was worth only from 12 to 15 cents a gallon in St. Louis, and it did not last long. As an offset to this the good people of the lower part of the town built a meeting-house, known as the Sharon church, which cost about $800. Nathaniel NORTON contributed more than half of the amount. the building was a good one, and is standing to this day, being the only church edifice in town. Robert GETTY, J. S. LOGAN, and others, also aided in its construction. The erection of so good a building at that early day was creditble to the people of the town. Rev. Daniel ROCKWELL was the first pastor. The building is owned by the Presbytereians. The harvest of 1841 was a good one, a large surplus of winter wheat being raised, and, as the price in Chicago was over a dollar a bushel, it was taken there and the farmers realized handsomely. The trip took about eight days with horses, and nearly two weeks with oxen.During the months of September and October, the roads were filled with teams going and returning. Salt, lumber, and supplies for the families were brough back on the return trip.
The following are the names of the early settlers of Portland township, with the year of their arrival: 1834, Norman B. SEELY, Alexander J. SEELY and Mitchell RUXTON; 1835, Horace BURKE, Alphonzo BROOKS, Christian BENSON, John BAXTER, William H. CUSHMAN, Simeon FULLER, Joy AVERY, John Smith ROWE, Robert GETTY, P. Bacchus BESSE, Simeon CHAFFEE, Ransom BURGESS and George STRATTON; 1836; Daniel BLAISDELL, Mason BLAISDELL, Levi FULLER, Robert THOMPSON, John S. LOGAN, James ROWE, Geor WARREN, Jacob ARNETT, Jesse SLAWSON, Amos YOUNG, John REED, Alden TULLER, Guy RAY, Hiram HARMON, Roderick M. BESSE, Israel SPENCER, George HAMILTON, Charles GODFREY, Col. E. SEELY, Horace E. SEELY, Horatio S. DIX, Jeduthan SEELY, Sen. Joseph FITCH, Dr. William PRICE, Dr. William MAXWELL, Samuel HALL, Samuel STARK, Ephraim BROOKS, Ephraim SUMMERS and Chauncey ROWE; 1837, Lewis ARNETT, Horace HURD, Reuben HURD, Daniel F. COLE, Andrew F. BRACKEN, Robert WOODSIDE, James GRAHAM, Nathaniel NORTON, John P. WELDING, James CROZIER, Charles TILLOTSON, Robert MEAD, Sheldon MARSH, Sanford D. MARSH, William EASTMAN, John KEMPSTER, Benjamin SMITH, Thaddeus SMITH, Mr. BARTON, Chauncey REYNOLDS, D. Porter BREWER, John BOTHWELL, Hiram MCKENZIE, Jermiah H. JOHNSON, Wm. SWEET, Silas BROOKS, Thomas NORTHUP, Chauncey VAN DUZEN, and W. T. CROZIER; 1838, John LAIRD, Russell WARREN, Richard POTTER, John WHITE, Fred KNAPPER, Hiram UNDERHILL, Horace UNDERHILL, Joseph REYNOLDS, Ledoic UNDERHILL, George MCCORMICK, Asa MAYNARD and Job DODGE; 1839, Jacob SCHUCK, Rudolph URICK, Dr. A. PLYMTON, Walter YOUNG, Philip RAPP, Christopher RAPP, Martin REIS, Ferguson Alanson BARR, Benjamin DOW, and William MAYNARD; 1840, Arbela ADAMS, Horace B. COLE, Arnold PEARSON, and T. J. DOW; 1841, Smith HURD, Caleb P. LANPHERE and William GRAHAM. L. C. UNDERWOOD come to Illinois from Pennsylvania in 1832, and settled in Portland in 1846. W. P. TABER came to Illinois from New York in 1828, and settled in Portland in 1853.
The first death in Portland was that of Myron FRARY, a son of Marvin FRARY, and occurred in April, 1836. The wife of Guy RAY died September 10th, of the same year.
The first child born was Mary SEELY, daughter of Norman B. and Lydia SEELY, her birth occurring in September, 1834. Jeannette, a daughter of Alexander and Philena SEELY, was the second one, being born in the fall of 1835.
As near as can be ascertained, Alden TULLER and Miss Harriet M. FULLER, daughter of Simeon FULLER, were the first couple married in what is now Portland township, the event occurring in the year 1837.
The first traveled road in the township was the one used for a time as a stage route from Dixon to Rock Island, and known more familiarly as the river road. Its line was about where the present river road now runs. The road was laid out in 1837, Horace BURKE being one of the viewers.
At the June term, 1837, of the county Commissioners' Court of Ogle county, Whiteside county being then attached to Ogle for judicial purposes, a petition was presented by Col. E. SEELY and others, of Portland, asking that viewers be appointed to locate a road from the Galena road on Rock river, near Lyman BENNETT'S in township 20 north, range 4 east, the road to commence at or near a slough in township 20 north, range 4 east; also to re-view a road commencing at or near a slough in townships 19 and 20 north, range 5 east, and crossing Rock river at the town of Portland, and continuing to the south line of the county of Whiteside, the road to be laid out free of expense to the county. Upon the reception of the petition, the Commissioners appointed A. R. HAMILTON, Ebenezer SEELY, and Hiram HARMON, viewers. The viewers made return of their survey at the September term of Court, when it was ordered that the roads be established. At the September term of the same Court, held in 1838, it was ordred that viewers be apponted to view a road commencing in Fulton city, thence to Parker's Grove, touching at Winchell's Grove, and crossing at Rock river at the ferry of L. D. CRANDALL, and intersecting the Dixon and Stephenson road in Portland precinct, near the residence of James ROWE.
Ebenezer SEELY was granted a license to run a ferry across Rock river, at the town of Portland, by the same Commissioners' Court, at its June term, in 1837, the license fee being fixed at five dollars.
Nathaniel NORTON laid the foundation for the first nursery in Whiteside county, by planting seeds on his claim in Portland in 1837. The project succeeded, and his trees were purchased by many of the pioneers, thus giving them an early opportunity of setting out orchards. Col. E. SEELY had a crop of apples in 1843 from trees obtained at Mr. NORTON'S nursery, being probably the first apples raised in the county.
The first school in the township was taught in the summer of 1836, by Miss Eliza HALL, in the back room of the log house put up by Norman B. SEELY. About twelve children were in attendance. Miss HALL became sick with bilious fever after teaching two months, and was obliged to retire from her duties. The next spring Miss Lovica HAMILTON was engaged, and kept a good school that season in the same room. The first school-house in the township was put up in the fall of 1837. It was built of logs, and stood a little east of the old double log house of Col. SEELY. A school was taught there the folloiwng winter. It was in this school-house that many of the pioneer boys and girls of Portland received all the education they ever obtained. Portland now boasts, in common with other towns in Whiteside county, of its commodious school-houses, where every convenience is furnished for securing an excellent common school education.
One of the notable events in the history of Portland was the tornado of June 5, 1844. It struck the town about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and came from the west, crossing Rock river at Crandall's ferry. It must have taken the water out of the river in crossing, as large fish were afterwards found on the prairie several miles for it. Its course was through the timber, clearing a track half a mile wide and three fourths of a mile long, and entirely destroying the trees. It struck the house of J. Smith ROWE, when the family fearing the fall of the chimney, ran out of doors, and two of his sons were killed, one of them having a fence stake driven through him. His daughter was also so seriously injured that she never entirely recovered. Mr. ROWE'S cattle were also killed. The next premises visited were those of Horace BURKE, where it took a large frame barn that had just been completed bodily from its foundation, and carried it over the house which had just been unroofed. As it passed over, the wheat, oats, etc., which had been stored in it were emptied into the house. The grain was in separate piles, which proves that the barn must have been entire when it passed over the house. The barn was demolished, only the sills and a few of the large timbers being left. There were twelve person in Mr. BURKE'S house at the time, but none were killed. The house was of logs, and being unroofed the contents were nearly all destroyed. One of Smith ROWE'S cows was carreid nearly half a mile, and landed on Mr. BURK'S cook stove, still alive, a son of Mr. BURKE being seriously injured by a kick from her. Mr. BURKE lost fourteen head of cattle, seven horses, and all his hogs, and was personally injured quite seriously. The gale then struck Daniel BLAISDELL;S premises, destroying everything there except a wagon filled with grass, which was uninjured. It then visited Robert MEAD'S and A. T. BRACKEN'S premises, its appetite still good for houses. At Mr. BRACKEN'S it drove three horses through a sod fence, without seriously injuring them. Passing on it struck W. T. MINCHIN'S log house at the Prophetstown line, unroofing it, and also killing his stock. A wagon was taken up and carried forty rods east of the house, and entirely wrecked, the tire bing twiested almost into knots. The pole of the wagon was found fourteen years afterwards in the big slough sixty rods west of the house, where it was driven into the mire its whole length. A set of nice knieves and forks which Mrs. BLAISDELL had wrapped in flannel, was found years afterwards four miles southesast of the house, near Jacob ARNETT'S. This is the first tornado in the county of which we have any record, and its power was felt almost entirely in the town of Portland, as it did no damage further east.
Joseph BRUCE and Anthony ARNETT opened a store in the village of Portland about 1843 or '44. Solomon M. SEELY and Bradford NICHOLS kept store at the same place, opening in the new brick building which was erected in 1850. The continued in business for seveal years. Smith & Chapmanalso had a store there in 1854. Soon after that the trade left Portland for Prophetstown and as Levi FULLER, Jr., had opened a store at Spring Hill in 1853, trade at Portland was abandoned.
In 1851, a company consisteing of P. B. BESSE, R. M. BESSE, Col. E. SEELY, Arbella ADAMS, Beorge PADDOCK, and David D. DICKERSON, was formed under the name of the Portland Steam Mill Company, for the purpose of sawing the fine lumber of Portland grove. The Company built a mill and run it eleven years as a saw mill, and part of the time also as a grist mill. Frederick DWIGHT furnishined the engine from Springield, Massachusetts, sending it to Peru by Lakes and Canal, and from thence it was hauled across the country to Portland by team. The enterprise did not prove remunerative.
In 1855, Dustin CROOK and David BROWN opened a store at Jefferson Corners, and after them Wm. FITCH, but they kept for only a few years, and now the only trading point in the town is at Spring Hill. The Postoffice at Jefferson Corners was established in 1852, about the time of establishing the mail route from Rock Island to Princeton, and Benjamin DOW was appointed the first Postmaster. John L. MARVEL is the present Postmaster.
Spring Hill was laid out and platted abut 1853, and Levi FULLER and Horace FULLER opened a store there, the former, afterwards purchasing the whole interest, and doing an extensive business until 1872, when he discontinued trade at that point. It now contains three general merchadise stores, one hardware store, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, besides other mechanic shops, and a Masonic Hall. In 1869 a steam saw and grist mill was erected but it did not prove a success, and ran only a few years. A mail route was established from Princeton to Rock Island, running through Spring Hill, as early as 1852, Lewis D. CRANDALL being the mail agent. The first Postoffice was established at Spring Hill, in 1853, and Levi FULLER appointed Postmaster. Dr. E. TALCOTT is the present Postmaster. A daily stage route from Morrison to Geneseo, Henry county, runs through the place. A semi-weekly mail is also carried from Spring Hill to Yorktown, which supplies Jefferson Corners. Spring Hill has a fine school house erected in 1859. Bollen Lodge, No. 412, A. F. & A. M., meets at the Masonic Hall in Spring Hill. The Lodge was chartred October 5, 1864, the following being the charter members: Thomas BOLLEN, Reuben LANGDON, Amos BAXTER, John RILEY, S. W. MORTON, Alexander J. MEAD, Joseph ARNETT, Levi FULLER, A. S. SCOTT, John L. MARVEL, James M. LANPHERE, and John S. HALE. The present officers of the Lodge are: John L. MARVEL, W. M.; Benoni C. BENSON, S. W.; Wm. MCNEIL, Jr., J. W.; J. J. MCNEIL, S. D.; C. C. FULLER, J. D.; Thomas BOLLEN, Treasurer; B. F. BROOKS, Secretary; Wm. P. TABER, S. S.; J. TIMMERMAN, T. The Lodge has now forty members.
The first saw mill in Portland was run by man power. N. G. REYNOLDS and Col. E. SEELY had each brought a pit saw, and taking advantage of the hole in the ground in which Norman B. SEELY had wintered in 1834, turned it into a mill by clearing it out and laying hewn timbers over it. By this means they arranged the top and bottom sawyer, and cut lumber for the first floors laid in the cabins of the pioneers. One hundred and fifty to two hundred feet was considered a good day's work for each saw.
KEMPTSTER'S saw mill is situated at the lower end of the Dutch bottom, adjoining a fine body of timber, and was erected in the winter of 1855-'56 by William and Ephraim KEMPSTER, and Jacob BUTZER. The latter afterwards sold out to J. Henry KEMPSTER. and the three brothers have continued the business until the present time. The mill at first had a double rotary saw, the power being furnished by a Gates engine purchased in 1855, in Chicago, which is still good. In 1872 a new mill was added, and other saws, together with a turning lathe put in, since which turned material has been manufactured to the amount of $10,000 a year for firms in Davenport, Iowa, and othe cities. Lumber to the amount of six hundred thousand feet per year has been sawed at this mill. Martin REIS also built a saw mill near the KEMPSTER mill about 1853, but ran it only a few years.
In 1846, David B. SEELY found imbedded in the bank of Rock river, at the village of Portland, twenty-seven feet below the surface of the ground in a gravel and sandy formation, a tusk which was declared by the savants at New York to be that of an elephant. It was four feet and four inches long, five inches in diameter, and weighted in a partly decomposed state, thirty-two pounds. It was taken to New York, and became a part of Barnum's collection, and was probably burned with his museum. Thre was also found at the same place, a portion of the hip bone of an animal, with a socket hole as large as a wash basin.
The agricultural resources of Portland were at first winter wheat and cattle. The former was raised about eight years, and then spring wheat for about the same length of time. Corn is now the principal product, nearly all of which is fed to hogs and cattle.
The Presbyterian Church and society in Portland, was organized at Sharon, in 1839, by Rev. Mr. WILCOX, of Geneseo, Henry county. The first members were: Deacon KEMMIS, Mrs. KEMMIS, his mother, Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah H. JOHNSON, Mrs. Nathaniel NORTON, Mr. and Mrs. Robert GETTY, Mrs. DURFEE, Reuben HURD and Horace HURD. The society was organized inthe school house near James ROWE'S place, and in which the little chruch held their first meetinsgs. It was not long before they were blessed by the adition of twenty members, mostly by confession of faith. The old log school house became too small for the requirements of the church, and steps weretaken tobuild a meeting house. Such was the energy with which the work was prosecuted that on Christmas Day, 1841, it was finished and dedicated. Nataniel NORTON was the largest contributor towards the erection of the church, but all contribute according to their limited means. Mr. NORTON soon afterwards donated ten acres of land to the church, and assisted largely in erecting a comfortable parsonage at a cost of $400. Rev. Daniel ROCKWELL was the first settled pastor, and he ministered to their spiritual wants for two years, some twelve members being added to the church during the time. Rev. Mr. BLISS, a returned missionary, then took charge and remained one year. Folloinwg him was Rev. Amasa C. LORD, who remained a year and a half. Rev. E. R. MARTIN then became pastor, and continued his labors for seven years. Undr his pastorate the churchobtained its greatest prosperity, having fifty-one members. Unfortunately the parsonage, with all the church records, was burned at this time. A new one was, however, soon erected. At the close of Mr. MARTIN'S term, Rev. Joseph BALDWIN became pastor, remaining only six months, and was succeeded by Rev. Wm KENRICKS, who continued in charge for three years. The next settled clergyman was Rev. J. P. CHAMBERS who continued his labors for three years, after which the church was without stated pastoral supply for six years. Rev. Mr. CORBETT is the present pastor, and during his misistry twenty-five have been added to the church. It now has a membership of forty. There is a fine cemetery adjoining the church, and in it sleep a large number of the oldest settlers. There is also a cemetery adjoining the school house on section 14. in which there is a hansome monument erected by the citizens of the town in honor of her brave and noble sons who fell in the war for the preservaton of the Union.
The first town meetng in Porltand township, under the township organization law, was held April 6, 1852, at which town officers were elected for that year. The town records show that a vote was passed at the town meeting in 1854 to pay a bounty of one dollar for every wolf killed, and in 1859 it was increased to two dollars. The consequence was that many wolves were killed. In 1855, and again in 1864, every person owning more than one dog was taxed one dollar for each additional canine, the amount collected to go the school fund. In 1857 it was voted "that all estrays, after being ten days in the possession of any person taking up said estray, shall cause an entry to be made in the town records, or pay a penalty double the value of said estray, to defray the expenses of the town the ensuing year." At the town meeting in 1870, and again in 1871, it was voted to fine all hogs and sheep found running at large ten dollars a head, the owners, of course, having to pay the fine. The proposition to build a Town Hall was defeated in 1873, by a vote of 15 to 86. The town of Portland did not pay any extra bounties during the war, but filled her quota with the county bounty, and had surplus enough left to defray the town expenses for 1867.
The following have been the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors, Collectors, and Justices of the Peace, elected in the township of Portland, from the organization of the township, in 1852, until the present time:
Supervisors - 1852, George PADDOCK - Mr. PADDOCK resigned during the year, and P. Bacchus BESSE was appointed to fill the vacancy; 1853-'58, P. Bacchus BESSE; 1859-'60, Alphonso BROOKS; 1861, Daniel F. COLE; 1862, A. T. BRACKEN; 1863-'64, Horace B. COLE; 1865, P. Bacchus BESSE; 1866, Levi FULLER; 1867, Henry KEMPSTER; 1868-'69, P. Bacchus BESSE; 1870-'71, Daniel F. COLE; 1872-'74, John L. MARVEL; 1875-'76, P. Bacchus BESSE; 1877, Daniel F. COLE.
Town Clerks - 1852, Alphonso BROOKS; 1853-54, Solomon M. SEELY; 1855-57, Alphonso BROOKS; 1858-65, Caleb P. LANPHERE; 1866, H. H, ANDERSON; 1867-68, Caleb P. LANPHERE; 1869, D. F. COLE; 1870, E. J. TALCOTT; 1871-73, J. FRADENBURGH; 1874-75, Caleb P. LANPHERE - Mr. LANPHERE died in 1875, and J. S. LOGAN was appointed to fill the vacancy, 1876, J. S. LOGAN; 1877, Alfred D. BOOTH.
Assessors - 1852, John S. LOGAN; 1853, John M. BROOKS; 1854, Horace B. COLE; 1855, D. Porter BREWER; 1856-58, John S. LOGAN; 1859-60, George PADDOCK; 1861-63, Joohn S. LOGAN; 1864, Arbela ADAMS; 1865-69, Rodney M. BESSE; 1870-74, John S. LOGAN; 1875-77, Andrew J. SEELY.
Collectors - 1852, Levi FULLER; 1853, Edward S. DICKINSON; 1854-56, Levi FULLER; 1857, Richard BROWN; 1858-65, Levi FULLER; 1866, George FULLER; 1867-68, Samuel J. ARNETT; 1869, Levi FULLER; 1870, George FULLER; 1871-72, B. F. BROOKS; 1873, Erastus FULLER, 1874, B. F. BROOKS; 1875, Erastus FULLER; 1876, William MCNEIL, Jr.; 1877, W. C. GRAHAM.
Justices of the Peace - 1852, John P. WELDING; 1854, John RUFFCOM, David B. SEELY; 1858, Daniel F. COLE, John S. LOGAN; 1860, Daniel F. COLE, Alphonso BROOKS; 1864, Daniel F. COLE, John S. LOGAN; 1868, Daniel F. COLE, John S. LOGAN; 1872, Daniel F. COLE, George T. MARTIN; 1873, Daniel F. COLE, John RILEY; 1875, Gilbert ROGERS; 1877, Daniel F. COLE, Gilbert ROGERS.
The township of Portland contains 15,049 acres of improved land, and 7,194 acres of unimproved land. The Assessor's books show that the number of horses in the township in 1877, was 773; unmber of cattle, 1,969; mules and asses, 29, sheep, 239'; hogs, 3,174; carriages and wagons, 245, watches and clocks, 192; sewing and knitting machines, 101; pianofortes, 1; melodeons and organs, 29. Total assessed value of lands, lots, and personal property in 1877, $423,010.
The population of the township in 1870, according to the Federal census of that year, was 986, of which 882 were of native birth, and 104 of foreign birth. In 1860 Portland had a population of 906. The estimated population in 1877, is 1,050.
RELATED LINK: Index to Portland Biographies - 1877
