M'HENRY, ILLINOIS \wi'DXESDA\\ JITLYT~187& NO. 41). etteirj | Pnhlisheil Every Wednesday by '. VAN SLYKIC Editor and Publisher. Office in Ittverside Block, Over Smith I5ros. -& Co.'s Store, TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION: Oh« 'Year1, (in Advairce,). .. .|H SO If not I'aiil within Three Months, . . . . .2 00 Subscriptions reeeivert for three or six months )n the $aine proportion. BUSINESS CARDS, II. T. BROWN, 51. I). PHYSICIAN arid Surgeon. OiUee in Brick ttWk over K. <!. M.ives Clothing Store Water Street, Me,Henry III. ? K. A. BEEUS M. D. PHV8ICIAK nnd Suvpeon. Office ntresidence, two doors west of Post Office, McHenry III. O. J. HOWARD, M I». 1>HVSiriAN and Siirjrcon. Office at the store of IIo\^nrd & Son, Mellenrv, III. F. (!. MAVES. MKttCHANT T:iilnr, and dealer in fSenily Made Clothin>r, Cloths, CanKinieres, Vvstiiiur &<•., One <loor north of Colby's Drugstore McHenry RICH Attn MSIIOP, \ TTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT T.AW. /V Office in rear of Murphy & Itiuliop's IV)nk North Side Public Square, Wood x took, til. GEO. A. BlTCKLIN, •VTOTAItY PUltT.IO, Conveyancer and In- 1^1 suranee Agent. Office "at Rucklin & Movent Store, near the Depot, Mellenrv, 111. E, E. RICHARDS. HAS a complete Abstract of Titles to land in Mellenrv County, Ill'nois. Office with Oonnt-.v Clerk, Woodstock. 111. D. A. POTTER, KICITMOXD, IM,., Notary Public, and Con-i vevancer, U. S. Claini, Insurance a Coliec.ting Agent. FR. IIKCI1TLE. HOTTSE, Sk-n and Carriage l'ainter. Mcllen-ry 111. Will do all work promptly and at reasonable rates. E. M. OWEN. GENERAL Dealer and Manufacturers Agent, in Leading Farm Machinery. Prices low and Terms favorable. McllENRY, ILLINOIS. CEO. SCHREINER. SALOON and Restaurant. Nearly opposite the Parker House, McHenry HI." #d-Kir.«1 -Class Billiard and Pool Tables. J. BONSLKTJ, SALOON anil Restaurant. Nearly opp$eite Owen's Mill, McHenry, III. Fresh Oysters •erved up in any shape desired, or tor sale by the Can. WOOO§» WSABT.INO FOR JOS. WIEDEMANN. SALOON and Restaurant. Near the Depot Mellenrv III. , Boarders by the day or week at reasonable rates. Warm ami Void tneals at all hours.. lood Stabling for Horses., MrllENRY LIVERY STAIILE. n. E. WKJHTMAN, Proprietor. First class rigs, with or without drivers, furnished at reasonable rales. Teaming of all kinds done on short not ice. W. W. ELLSWORTH. IjREEDER.d the Celebrated Ma vie Hog. > Also Li;:iit .n;d Dark Brahma Fowls. JPijrs shipped to all )i ( i i i\ts by express. P. O. Ad- dress, Woodstock, lit.. ROHERT MCRFITT. AWATCII M AKERof IS years experience, lias located at y'*g*vjfv Ntni'la, and will give his atten- tSl&ii-i'i to the Repairing of Clocks, ^ Wote.he.s, Ac. shop in Watson '& Co.'h l>r«g Store. All Work War ran tel. PETER LEICKEM. REP AIRS Watches, f locks and Jewelrv of all kinds. Also Repairs Violins iutheWst, (Hissilde manner, on short notieo and at rea sonable rates. Also Violins for Sale. Shop first door North of Riverside Block, Mellenrv III. MCHENRY HOUSE. Mellenrv, III. John Karges Proprietor. Centrally located and the lm*t of accom modations furnished. Charges reasonable. RICHMOND HOUSE. RICHMOND ILLINOIS Frank Foster Proprietor, C.ood r*ccommodations for all parties. Sample rooms for KjUesinen. Liverv fttahie attached. Public IlalV for Lectures . V . Shows Jfce.., The McHenry Bowery. King & Herbes, Proprietors. THE best of Beer Shipped to anv Art of Hie country and warranted as represented. Orders solicited and promptly attended to. FRED. RENICH, CIGAR MANUFACTUBERS --AND-- WHOLESALE TOBACCONIST. WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS. For Sale. The undersigned offers for Sale, me Rrick Store on Water Street, in the village of Mellenrv, now occupied by Mrs. C. II. Morey, as a Miilinerv Store. It is 14x.fi, the upper s tory being f inished off asa residence. TKHMS KKASONAJU.E . Inquire of C. I I . MOKKY Mellenrv, 111. Nov. 1st lS'fl. For Sale. The undersigned offers "or Sale his nropcrty, situated opposite the Riverside House, m Mellenrv, on llie most reasonable terms. There is'a good and substantial building, suit - able lor a store or other hnsineJfc, the upper partof which is tilted up for a residence. Con nected with this is four acres'of choice land, a good liarn and some fruit. Persons conlein- plutfcig purchasing will lind it to their inter est to call and look this propertv ox er. F. .V HlHliAUU. ^ MeJIunry I1L Aug. Wtli 1370. BUSINESS CAKDS. E. BENNETT, M. D., SURGEON and Aeeoneher. Diseases of Women a Specialty. Office and Residence on Clay Street, Woodstock, III. W. IT. BjtTCK, M. IX, HOMEOPATHIC Thytician and Surgeon.-- Office East Side Public. Square, Wood stoek, III. Office hours 11 to 12 A. M., and to 4 P. M. Waukegan Cigar Manufactory, E. Ml. DENNIS, Proprietor. Manufacture? aiid Wholesale Dealer in CIGARS/TOBACCO, --AND-- Pipes of Every Description. 55 GENESEE STREET, WAUKEGAN, ILL. O. W. OWEN, WATCH MAKER & JEWELER, MCHENRY ILL., Dealer In all kinds of American and Swiss Watches, Chwks from the liest factories in the country. Silver, plated ware, Silvei* Spoons, Ac., ALSO AGENT b'OR THE Weber and Bradbury Pianos AND THE Estey Organ ! Which we believe to lie the beat Organ in the market. We think we know that bv experi ence, and we believe it, for it Is tacked up hv the Bes1 Musicians in th&^World. T also sell other Organs at less jmrtt»e« than the Estey, but can't reccoitimend'Hheni to be as good, 4 O. W. OWKX. July 2.1. MURPHY & BISHOP. BANKERS. Office North Side of Public Square, WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS. rpRANSACTS General "1 change Busiiit>HS. Deposits Banking and Ex- Received.-- Interest allowed on Special Deposits. l inv and sell United States Itonds, Gold, G " THI<: < )Wi:.>s Fox River Valley Mills. H. D. LUFF, Proprietor. McHenry - - - - Illinois. m l FEED, CONSTANTLY ON HAND. Ci:STO 31 GRNDING Ritiifl promptly, and satisfaction guaranteed •Thankful for past favors a continuance of patronage is respectfully solic.ited. dic.iti Price Cash for it«*The Highest Market good Milling Wheat. H. J>. LUFF, Successor to Owen Bros. W. H. SANFORD, Mereliaiil Tailor. In the store of II. Dickiiirion, East side of Public Sijuare, WOODS TOCK, ILL. TA Rood Stock of Fine Cloths for Suitings al ways on hand. suit> inailc to order ami a lit warranted- Give me a call. HISTORICAL SKETCH -- or TIUE-- TOWN OF MCHENRY. COMTILKIl BT THE HON. OBO. OAOS. We commence our history of the town of McHenry in the year 1834, when what are now known as McHenry and Lake counties formed the North part of Oook eounty. At this time the lantl was unsurveye<l and in possession of a wandering tribe, known as Pota- watamie IndHms, They were an ig norant but quiet, inoffensive people, who subsisted chiefly by hunting au«l fishing, ami whose only domestic ani mals were the dog and Indian pony, 'lhe Indian title To these laikU was ex tinguished by treaty in 1835. That territory which is now embraced in townships 43,44, 43 and 46, North of the base line, and all East of the 3d principal meridian from range 4 to Lake Michigan was detached from Cook county by act of the Leffislatitro in the winter of 183G-7, and thereafter known as McHenry eounty. The eoun ty seat of McHenry county was located in the village of McHenry in May 1837. The first meeting of the County Commissioners Court of McHenry Coun ty was hold at Mellenrv June oth, 1837, to organize the Count}'. The first or der on record was tiie approval of the Clerk1* bond. The second order the appointment of Andrew S. Wells Treasurer. The third, dividing the County into precincts or magistrates districts. ^ The first precenct contained all the territory in McHenry County which lies west, and two miles East of Fox ltiver, being nearly the same now contained in McHenry County, named Fox precinct. The first election held in this precinct was at the house of Christy G. Wheeler, in the village of McHenry, July 3d, 1837. C. G. Wheeler W m. L. Way nnd John V. ̂ IcLean were judges of election; H. X. Owen and It. B. Brown, Clerks. Win. L. Way and Wm. H. Buck" we re the^ustiees elected. The first settlement by the white population in this town was made -iii the year 183fi. II. W. McLean built the first log cabin, twelve by sixteen feet. Woodstock III. ,Sept. W. II. S AN FORI), rtli, 1*7:.. .Mor.NT'V ROOT B I T T E R S . THIS P,ITTK!{>, for its is known as one of the intrinsic properties, Best Tonics of the Age. An a laxative I.iver Cleamnn, Wood Purifv- ing Medicine, it has not its superior. It should Iw taken in i | i iantities from a Tablespoon full to a small wine irlass fi | l l three times a day, according to t he strength and age of the lnva- \id or the degree of sickness. . For Sale by tho Case or Bottle, -- BY- Ii. KAPPLEIl, Patentee, WotKlsioelf, 111. Village Lot For Sale. Iot 1. Block 1., West McHenry, containing J one acre of hind, which is well fenced nnd on which is an OrchariTot good fruit, is now offered for sale on reasonable terms. It isone of the niostdesirahle building places in the village. For further particulars imjuire at the PI.AIXHEAI.KU Office, McHenry, 111., March 1st, lS7i>. Farm For Sale. TIIK undersigned Offers for sale his farm in the Town of (ireenwood, consisting of 240 a<*res of llrst claHs land, under a good state of cultivation, wejl watered, prairie and good Timber adjoining, good buildings, Fruit in good variety, in fact" every thing constituting a good'iarni. Will be di\ided if desired. Term - very low, Inquire on the premises of ».i:<>. II. (i .vumoo.v. Giounwofxl III, April ItHh, 1^70. and Wm. L. Way lived and were the only settlers in what is now the village of McHenry, up to the spring of 1837. But within the town of McHenry in 183G we lind that Chancy Ueekwith, John Boon, Goo. lloon, Jacob Jackson, Merrill Thompson, Samuel H. Walker, David McCollum, Wm. MeCollum and Abiael Walker, bad located claims and commenced improvements. In 1837 were added to this list John Sutton, Manley Turner, Jacob Story, Jas. A. Salisbury, Jas. Button, Abijah S. Barnum, John McOmber and family consisting of wife and six children, Ben j. B. Brown, Joel Wheeler, Christy G.Wheeler. Peter Kobinault, II. X. Owen, Benj.! F. Bosworth. Freeman Harvey. Alden Harvey. Michael Sutton, Enos Bernarde, A. IL. llauley. Smith licrriek. John McQueen. Col. Starr, and possably some other persons not remem bered. The llrst settlers of this coun ty were composed of two classes. The one was that class that float along on tho tide of emigration for purpose of plunder, and the other who came here to secure homes and an honorable liv ing. The former soon lloated away while the latter remained and their names appear in" this record. They wero mostly from Eastern States and came to this country cither by Steam boat around the Lakes, or by team over land through Chicago, and thence by following the Indian trail to the banks of Fox ltiver at this place. Timber was so scarce through this section of, country at first that it was feared that it would be insufficient to supply the wants of all thp settlers who had taken claims on thepe lands in 1837, but experi enee has demonstrated the fact that by stopping the annual scurge--the prai rie fires--timber has sprung up and furnished ample lupply for the coun try. --* Fox ltiver was crossed at McHenry in 1836 either by fordiug or with In dian canoes. In this year a ferry-bofft; was built on the river above here near Burlington, and purchased by the citi zens of this town in 1837, lloatftd down the river to this place and here used for ferrying teams across the river un til 1842, when the first bridge was com pleted across the river. This bridge was carried away by the freshet in the Spring of 1849 and was rebuilt in the month of May by the voluntary labor of the inhabitants living near the place at that time. The first mill built was a saw mill built by II. N. Owen and Jas. A. Salisbury, in 1837, to which in after years was added, a carding and cloth-dressing machine^ It was located at the South endiOf; tiie dam.whichinow crosses thfi creekvat this place. The laud in this town-was surveved in 1840 and brought into market in 1812. The county seat was removed from McHen ry to Woodstock Sept. 23d, 1844. In lAugust 1854 the Fox Hirer Railroad was completed to this place and the . r:i^ro;l(l traiu arrived ov«r .said Joad from Chicago lu that month of that year. From this time in 1834 to the present writing McHenry "has had a slow, healthy growth. Our present popula tion we estimate at about 800 inhabi- tatits for the village mid 2,300 for the whole town of McHenry. In the early history of this town wheat win the principle production for export, and for grazing the country was a failure. At-,the present time grazing and pork raising is the farmers chief reliance. Our soil has undergone a change silieo the first cultivation here from being the very best for wheat to now being •cry poor, whereas for grass it was a failure whi e now most kind of grasses such as timothy, clover and blue grass, flourish. The larmer feeds large num bers of hogs, sheep, cattle and horses, which, together with butter, cheese and wool, arc his principal source of revenue. Henry W. McLean was the chief worker who secured the location of the count,v seat at McHenry. llufus R. Soule built the Court House on the Public Square which was subsequently moved and used as a hotel attached to and in connection with the house where ,Wm. McCollum now lives, and known as the Mansion house, and again moved t6 Lot 12, Block 16, where it is now known a* the McHenry House, •» The bridge acvoss Fox River was first built and crossed at Elm street, the first street South of the Riverside House. This bridge became worn and decayed and too dangerous to cross, teams occasionally breaking through, therefore in 1852 a new bridge was built at Pearl street, where it has been main tained ever since. The first main road from the South into McHenry connected with the town on Main street. The road from this point was laid due South across what was then an impassable quagmire to Boone creek a distance of about 40 rods, and made passable for teams by tilling the space with logs laid side by side being what was then called a corduroy across the sloughs in this country at that time. A bridge was built across the creek at this point and the survey of the road to Woodstock was after wards made, commencing from the South end of this bridge. The present crossing of tliis creek was located in 1861. To eive some idea of the gvowth of timber in thiscouutry I wish to call, at tention to a black oak tree standing near the Southeast corner of E. M. Owen's residence lot, just outside the fence. This tree, in the fall of 1S37, Esquire McOmber says he thought of cutting for a hand spike, but finally concluded to let it grow. Jit is now a tree about three feet in diameter at the butt, having increased in diameter nearly one inch annually.' When we con- si iur th»t we 'have millions of u\ies uuw growing within a few miles of here, of this and other kinds, we need have no fear of a near approach of a timber famine, if they all average a growth equal to this. The history of tho early trials and privations of the settlers of this town can never be written to give an ade quate idoa of what they had to en counter, Situated 50 miles from the nearest depot for supplies, with almost impassable sloughs and streams inter vening, most, families being at times driven to the alternative of hunting, fishing, or starvation, there being no sheep or hogs and few horses or cattle and no grain-in the country. As we look back upon those scenes from our comfortable homes to-day, surrounded with all the luxuries that a tropical climate or any other climate or por tion of the earth can supply, it appears more like an illusive dream than what it really is, an important fact recorded indelibly in the records of eternity. Most of the first settlers have been called awajr.to death, but I find still living many to whom we are" indebted for much of the prosperity and im provement of this country. Promi nent among these are E. M. Owen, II. W. McLean, Chancy Beckwith, Samuel II. Walker. Wm. McCollum, John McOmber, Joel Wheeler, Michael Sut ton, A. II. Hanley, aud many who set-, tied ltere subsequent to 1837 Jas. A. Salisbury was killed in his saw mill April 5th 1838, Smith Iler- rick was killed in 1837, by accidental discharge of a gun in his own hands. t McHenry has suffered comparatively little from the elements, lire, wind, or water. The first fire of any magnitude was the burning of. Enoch Baldwin's Hotel, situated on the site where the Riverside House now stands and known as the Fremont House., This Houso was burned in 1853. The next was tho burning of the School ITouso in West McHenry, on the night of March 15th, 1861. The last and most dastriictivu of ftll was the burning of Hon. Richard Bishop**.Car riage Factory, together with Black smith Sho^, Wagons, Carriages, and a large amount of Farming Tools and material for manufacturing into stfcih, on the night of July 19th, 1875. The Town of McHenry to-dax can hardly be surpassed by any town in the State for all ̂ prerequisites which {go to make a people free and independent. Our people are comparatively free from debtl| have good comfortable buildings, such as for comfort will compare favor ably with the best improved farms in Eastern States, and a failure of all kinds of crops in any one season has never been known here. Plenty of something is always raised to insure an adequate supply for the home demand Our town is divided into School Dis tricts and good Schools established, where all children in the town have equal rights to free instruction in a Common School education. We have six Churches in town, viJs t\vo Catholic, two Methodist, one Bap tist, one rniversalist and one Congre gationalist. The Catholic Church at Jolmsburgh is one of the finest edifices of the kind in the State. At this vil lage are four Stores, two Saloons, two Blacksmith and Wagon Shops, and a Marble Factory. At Ringwood there is one Store, a Tin Shop, Blacksmith Shop. Cheese Factory, Hotel, Shoe Shop two Churches and a High School. The village of McHenry lias now one very extensive Lumber Yard, two very fine Flouring Mills, a Planning Mill, four Blacksmith Shops, a Carriage and two Wagon Factories, three Shoe Shops three Saddle and Harness Shops, two Merchant Tailor Stores, four Dry Goods and General Merchandise Stores, three Hardware Stores, two Grocery Stores, two Jewelry Stores, two Furni ture Stores, four Agricultural Ware houses, four Storehouses, one Pickle Factory and Cnnuing Works, one Bake ry, two Drug Stores, two Meat Markets, one Printing Office, three Hotels, two Livery Stables, one Photograph Galle ry, four Halls for public gatherings, one Masonic Hall, occupied by Chapter and Blue Lodge, three Steamboats, one Brewery, one Cooi>er Shop, seven Saloons, onc"',S'ewS""ttboia^"two'ABrti& Yards, one Gunsmith Shop,"four Phy sicians, three Lawyers, and Mechanics the number unknown. The village of McHenry was incor porated in 1873. First town Board of Trustees elected, lion. Richard Bishop, lion. F. K. Granger, II. C. Smith, Jas B. Perry Esq., John King, Joseph Benfield. Michael Kelter, Clerk. Henry Wightman Marshal. Telegraphic communication between McHenry and the rest of the world es tablished and first message sent over the line October 31st 1873, Hon. F. K. Granger sending to Hall, Patterson & Co., of Chicago a communication and receiving an answer from them on that date. A very correct idea the busi ness of this '-.town mny be gathered from freight and express receipts. The ex press matter passing through the Mc Henry ottice for the months next pre ceding July 1st, 1876, yielded a net profit to the company ot #1,226,00 and the railroad receipts on incoming freight from Chicago to McHenry were for May of this yoar §1,329,18, and for June 31,387,78. The McHenry PLAINDEALEH, the only newspaper in McHenry, Published by J. Van Slyke, Editor and Proprietor, is second to no paper in Northern Illinois eitlig^ in mechanical execution or edi torial ability. It has now been run ning nearly a year and is issued weekly to nearlj' One Thousand subscribers. I now conclude my history of the town of McIIenry with these remarks. I find it necessary in the short space and time allowed, to be as concise as possible. Many matters and personal interests I would gladly have noticed, but for reasons assigned I have been compelled to pass them by. My ob ject has been to comply as nearly as possible with the requisition of the Governor of the State of Illinois and the President of the United States, and furnish a concise history of our town to be placed on file as our centen nial report for July,4th 187G and be perpetuated among the archieves of the State and Nation. All of which is respectfully submit ted. GEO. GAGE. agyThe star of Diaz, the rovolutioji^ arv leader of Mexico, appears to be in the ascendant. The Government forces under Quiraga have been badly defea ted by the revolutionists; Montetay has been vacuated and is now in the handfe of Diast ; Salfillo is occupied by Escdbedo; and Mur and' nearly all the towns along, the river liave been wres ted from- Ledro.. Popular feelings is represented as very strongly in favor of the revolutionists. OUK WASHINGTON LETTER. ! 4 ' ' ? f ' WAKIUNUTON. I>. C., June 80th, ICS. It IS wonderful how SOME SMB. Who «re noj; personally H}i«?d orr trusted br any one. «*an create a furwe by their appearance to pftbHr. Last Monday night the republicans of this clfy held a ratification meeting at which Rat tor, together with all the prominent leaders of, the party were annonuced to speak, lire crowd was immense.and of cotirse hurrahed for each speaker, l»Ht Btftjer was the only one who received a spon taneous hearty greeting, and exactly why, no one appeared to know. The loungers in the galleries of the Houso and those whose business compels them to listen W Congressional pfotitndes day after day, miss Butler sadly from the floor. His witv impudence f and bravado have served to lighten many an hour in that Cave of tiie Winds, where more spread eagleism and bun combe are shot off than any other place of its-size in the world. Qnce a mein-- ber introduced a bill to levy a tax on Jackasses. Butler arose, as solemn as a judge, and said, "Mr. Speaker, I move to amend that bill by striking out tho word uJackasses" and inserting the word "Congressmen" instead. In 1872, a young man by the name of Slatter killed a man by the name of Hnssey. for which crime he was trfol and sentenced to be luing. A new trial was granted him, when he pleader-guil ty of manslaughter, und ho was seut to the Penitentiary for fum» yeart?. Somo tVme since it began tJo be rumored Mound that money had'been expended to get the new trial, and that the1 judge who presided, got at least a por tion of it. The judge at once sent to Slatter and skid that if he would make an affidavit to the effect that he had received none of it, he would get him pardoned. The affidavit was made, and Slatter pardoned. The flrnt thing Slatter did after being released was to get out att indictment against Richard Harrington, the District Attorney, and A. B. Williams for having charged him- #15,000for the" new trial. Harrington has lied th*eountry on account of his connection with the Safe Burglary con spiracy. The President has felt it his duty to call the attention of Congress to- the dead lock that now exists between tho two housertn regard to the appropri ation bill. The House wishes to crtt down the salaries ol Consuls, Clerks aud' Officers of the Government to an un heard of degree, and to which the Sen ate refuses to concur. Neither body will yield one iota, and unless a com promise is effected by the 1st of Jul? it is feared that most serious results will follow. There will then be no* appropriations to carry on the Gtov~ erument, and if the President docs what he threatened some time ago, ho will close the Courts and Custom Houses, and recall all of our Consuls from abroad, and thus bring the busi ness of the whole country to a- stand' still. It will be a sad day for the coun-- try if the House bill should- become a law, for many of the best) men in the employ of the Government will be driven out., and those who remain will bo the idie and worthless who aro worth little to themselves or anjrono else. It will be a penny wise and* pound foolish. The bill for the transfer of the In dian Bureau to the War Department has passed the House, but ilie Senate will tako no immediate action upon it.- Sometime since 1 had a long talk with1 a Major of the Kegnlar Army,, who has been stationed in the West ever since the close of t'h" war, and who has bar? to deal with tho Indians for j*ears. Ifo- says that anything njore foolish or suicidal than the present peace {toliey was never known. The Indians are' lazy, treacherous and bloodthirsty, and* will nearly always kill a white person where they can do so with safety. The only plan which can be successfully carried out is to put them oil reserva-- tions,and keep them .there,- and keep the whites away fro» them. To tread them kindly is simply to convince them that you fear them, and they will- lif-b your topnot in return at the first op portunity. The President has sent a message to Congress saying that the British auth orities have released Winslow and Brent,, and that in future he will have nothing more to do with extradition between England and America un less it is their special wish that ho should. Dnr|ng the past wee* a bill passed the House for the eqiiilisation of boun ties to the Union Soldiers, but wbleti has such a suspicious look just at thia time, that no one here pretends to u|>- hold it. If it does not meet its death in the Senate, the President says that he will veto it, as the country cannot afford to have the Treasury depleted to any such extent at present. PATENTS, A lot of the finest Sheep Shears ever brought to this market, can be found at John M. Smith's.