HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
Reminiscences by R. R. Murdock
My first visit to the western — now the middle western states was in the autumn of 1852. I came by canal packet boat to Buffalo, by rail to Cleveland, by steamer to Toledo (the railroad between the latter places was not in operation) and by Michigan Southern railroad to Chicago, stopping en route to visit friends in southern Michigan. From Chicago, a side trip was made to Milwaukee by steamer returning by rail and stage (an open sleigh) via Madison, Wisconsin and Rockford, Illinois. This was not a ''Homeseeker's" trip, for at that time I had no thought of making a home in the west, but the microbe got in its work and in due time, developed into a case of genuine western fever.
In the spring of 1853 Mr. E. R. Fay and myself came west together and without much delay he decided to locate in Ottawa, Illinois. He opened an office there and in due time became a leading banker of the place. This time I did not stay west long but came again the following spring prepared to make some investments. Three or four of us joined together and employed a surveyor (Major Hitt) and he and I made many selections from government lands in Livingston county, and went together to the land office in Danville to purchase the same, but for some reason they could not, or would not sell at that time but placed our application on file; but nothing came of it. It was claimed that other filings were ahead of ours. Returning from Danville via the Danville and Ottawa travel road, we evidently passed over the present site of Paxton, but there was nothing in sight, not even a railroad stake, as I believe, to fix the location in my memory, but I claim this was my first visit to Paxton. About 4 P. M. our road led us near to D. C. Stoners' house, which he had built and moved his family into a short time before. Learning that there was no house of any kind on this line of road nearer than Oliver's Grove, twenty miles or more away, we decided to remain with the Stoners over night. This was my first night in Ford county.
My second trip through Ford county was in 1854. A business trip for H. F. Eames, then a banker at Ottawa and later president of Commercial National Bank of Chicago, took me to Decatur via the Illinois Central main line, thence to Danville by stage coach. Rain and mud interfered with further progress. Finally, learning that the Illinois Central (Chicago branch) was laid as far south as Pera (now Ludlow) and that a mixed train left that point for Chicago at about two P. M. each day, another party and I engaged a livery man to take us to that place, agreeing to pay him ten dollars if he got us there before the train left, otherwise eight dollars. The last mile or two was made with the team on the full run and the locomotive calling us at every jump. We got into Chicago at about 1 A. M. next morning. We were the only passengers and we left the train at Hyde Park, then quite outside the city limits.
This second passage over the present site of Paxton, like the first, left no special impression on my mind. It was only a part of the great grand prairie. The spring of 1855 found Leander Britt, a personal friend from my native town, and myself in Chicago, and fully decided to make the west our future home. Great bargains in the way of city lots were offered us and glowing pictures of prospective profits on such investments were spread before us by wide-awake realestate dealers, but it was broad acres of rolling prairie that we sought, not the limited area of mud and water called a city lot.
The Illinois Central Railroad lands had just been put on the market and a few interviews with the officials and their promise of special inducements to early buyers, soon decided us to investigate along their lines, and with a horse and buggy shipped from New York and with railroad passes in our pockets to use if needed, we set out by ourselves on a prospecting tour southward. It was lovely spring weather, and fairly good roads, and, but for poor board and poorer lodgings, it would have been in every way enjoyable. However, at Loda we found things at this line quite satisfactory. Mr. Russell, the station agent, and his wife were late arrivals, and had plenty of good things to eat and knew how to use them. There was no other family or person there and they seemed glad to see us and have us stay awhile, so we took the opportunity to rest our horse and fill ourselves up. We were favorably impressed with the country in the vicinity of Loda and southward, and after going as far south as Champaign, then the terminus of the railroad, returned to Loda and made a sort of headquarters there.
About this time we visited Middleport, now Watseka, and in an interview with a former resident of our native county in New York and who was then a judge of Iroquois county, he stated that in his opinion a new county could be made from that part of Vermilion county which is now Ford county, and explained why it could be made in no other way. Also, that if properly managed the county seat could be made at some point located on the Illinois Central Railroad where it crossed said proposed new county. Previous to this time, we had selected with the view of purchase three and one-half sections eastward from the present town of Paxton, and with this new thought in mind, we added to our list the eighty acres covering the central portion of this city as it stands today. Material concessions in price were made to us on the three and one-half sections, and on the performance of certain conditions, a side track was promised us on the eighty acre tract. No mention was made at that time to any one of our possible plan for the new county and county seat.
In spite of the financial calamities of 1857 and consequent depression of all land values, the three and one-half sections were finally disposed of and handsome profits realized. The promise of the side track was secured by the land department from Superintendent Doane and conditioned that George B. McClellan, the chief engineer, approve. This he promptly did and in this way became cognizant to the agreement, which proved of vast importance to us as will be explained later on in this paper.
Our purchase of the eighty acres and our scheme for a new county and county seat were carefully concealed at that time. Plans for a new county with Loda for county seat were already talked of and symptoms of a boom for Loda were manifest. Our final contracts for the land were made in June, 1855. I then went home to assist in the harvest on the old farm, but returned to Illinois in November and stayed till January, 1856. I again made Mr. Russell's headquarters and Mr. Addison Goodell and I occupied the ladies' room in passenger house and slept (when not kept awake by wolves) on a folding cot or sofa, which I had purchased in Chicago. Soon after New Years I went home to New York and came back early in April and date my residence in Illinois from that time. During this winter, 1855-6, I purchased in my own name one hundred and sixty acres covering ''the Hill" and the more level land north thereof to the east road, also, in connection with A. D. Southworth, a full section (six hundred and forty acres) near the present town of Rankin for two dollars and fifty cents per acre, and later sold my half for fourteen dollars per acre.
A few days before my final departure from New York, at his request, I made known to W. H. Pells our plans and prospects for a new county. He then proposed to join us in the enterprise provided certain other lands adjoining could be purchased, and of course provided that, upon examination, he found things as I stated them to be. It was understood that we should secure options on these certain lands, and, when this was done he would come out and investigate. This he did early in June, 1856 and was well pleased. The land was purchased and the firm of Pells, Britt & Murdock created.
The new firm controlled three hundred and forty acres — all that was most desirable for town site purposes. After Mr. Britt's death, Mr. Pells arranged for the Britt undivided one-third interest. Having secured all the land we cared to purchase ourselves, we then proposed to certain persons to purchase land adjoining our own and thus become interested in the scheme. Mr. James Mix was one of these persons and he promptly acted on our suggestion. The purchase proved profitable to him and he very useful to the enterprise. Until this time — midsummer 1856 — our plan, even the fact of our owning any lands at this point, was carefully concealed. Paxton then consisted of three small houses, located near the south railroad crossing of the present town. There were no other improvements in sight, not even a stake to indicate that a town had ever been thought of. Meantime, Loda was booming in anticipation of its becoming the county seat of a new county.
In September the survey of the town plat was commenced and the erection of a six room house was rushed as fast as men and the delivery of material would permit, and, before it was fairly finished, Mrs. James B. Taft, a widowed sister of Mr. Britt, arrived from the east, prepared to take charge of it. This duty was ably and faithfully performed by her, and, although not so intended, necessity made it a sort of hotel for a while and the little house was often filled to overflowing. Mr. Britt lived and died in this house and after his death Mrs. Taft and her son O. B. Taft, now of Chicago, resided there for many years.
During the summer of 1856 improvements were made by Britt and Murdock on one of the half sections of railroad land, as was agreed on their purchase. These improvements and certain other conditions having been fulfilled, we asked for the side track that had been promised by Superintendent Doane and endorsed by George B. McClellan but Superintendent Doane was dead, and the president then acting as superintendent would not recognize the agreement made with us. McClellan then took the matter up for us and we learned that he and the president had some hot words over it, but the president would not yield. Mr. McClellan said "Wait," with a manner implying that we should finally get the side track. Later we got word from him to come to Chicago and I went promptly. At the office he stated that the president had gone to Europe and that he himself was acting superintendent and requested me to meet him at his boarding house in the evening. At this meeting it was arranged that we should have a regular station with a side track and some sort of station building, which proved to be an old shop, wrecked, moved and set up again, made fairly comfortable but far from ornamental. We were to grade for the side track and I was to act as station agent, the consideration therefor to be a commission on gross receipts. My first month's pay was eight dollars and thirty-six cents. I held the position for several years and until the per cent amounted to much more than the company was willing to allow as salary for the services rendered. I then resigned. The station was opened for business on or about December 1, 1856.
About the time the station matter was settled, and before the side track was completed, Blaine & Hanly shipped in a full train of lumber — twenty cars or more. It had to be unloaded while standing on the main line. Everybody from far and near lent a hand and the work was done in double-quick time.
A postoffice was easily obtained by removing the old Ten Mile Grove office, but a new name for it and the station was demanded. This proved less easy to settle than was expected. The appropriate and desirable names seemed to be already in use elsewhere. Our neighbors took occasion to suggest some names for us, but we accepted none of them. Prospect City was finally adopted, the promoter, whoever he was explaining that the "Prospect" was in consideration of its sightly situation, its prospective views in all directions, etc. Everything was "City" in those days — it was the fashion — so "City" was affixed. Almost the first new arrival after the name was proclaimed looked around carefully and declared it was all prospect and no city. He took the next train and never came back. We soon tired of the name and changed it to Paxton in honor of Lord Paxton of Scotland, then a large Illinois Central stock holder. We expected a visit and perhaps a present from him but he never came. However we got a good name for our town. The new postoffice was created, I think, November, 1856, and Mr. Leander Britt was made postmaster and filled that position for several years — as long as his failing health permitted.
Promptly on the convening of the 1857 session of the Illinois state legislature, delegates from Loda appeared with their plan for a new county, of course so shaped that Loda must become the county seat thereof.
We were at that time nowise prepared for a new county fight, and if a county seat had been tendered us then we could not have accepted or cared for it.
Our hope lay in postponing the issue for two years. The law provided, (and still provides) that the legislature may authorize a vote on the question of new counties, and when made up from two or more counties, must have a majority vote of each and every county interested. We had good reason to believe that Iroquois county would not, at that time consent to separate any portion of its territory for any purpose whatever, but we felt obliged to make some sort of fight in the matter and to have a delegation in Springfield to care for our interests there. It was arranged that Mr. Britt and Mr. Mix should do this work and the duty was well performed.
Such questions are practically settled in the committee room; the legislature simply sanctions by formal vote what the committee recommends. In the committee room much haggling and loud talk were indulged in. Many different plans were proposed. Several such sessions were held. Finally a new county bill was submitted, promptly passed and signed by the governor.
The Loda delegates had asked for six miles off the west side of Iroquois county and that part of Vermilion county now Ford county but perhaps due to a confusion in the committee room, a mistake was made and the bill as passed called for twelve miles off Iroquois county and six miles square out of the northwest corner of what is now Vermilion county. Both counties voted against the new county as proposed. The Loda delegation never quite understood how this mistake occurred.
The years 1857 and 1858 were lively seasons for both towns. Both claimed to be dead sure of becoming the county seat, and both gained rapidly in population and trade, and as the period for the legislative session of 1859, both prepared for the fight of their lives. W. H. Pells, James Mix and Leander Britt were our regular delegation and spent most of the winter in Springfield. I and others were there for brief periods.
Loda's plan for the new county necessarily involved a portion of Iroquois county. Our plan was Ford county as it now exists. There was no other town in it and our chance to become the county seat was thus assured. It was plain that Vermilion county would vote off that much and no more for a new county. The issue was with Iroquois county. Would the voters favor cutting off any part for the new county? Those favoring the Loda scheme declared they would.
Extracted 14 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, Volume 1, pages 312-318.
