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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
called "Matlock's Point;" also, James Dundee who came from Ireland and, it is claimed, originated the principal ideas of the riding-cultivator.
L. J. Lamson, who came from "York State" in 1837, tells an interesting incident suggestive of the conditions of pioneer days. He says lie took the stage at Chicago for Big Rock Creek, of which he had received very favorable accounts, and was put down at the creek-crossing just before dark. The driver at once splashed his team through the water and drove on west. Looking about him he could discover no indication of human presence, save the wagon tracks through the grass, and following them until night fall, he saw a light through the darkness. Approaching it he found a miserable cabin almost destitute of the ordinary comforts of life. Its occupants were asleep upon the floor except one very large man, who hospitably welcomed him and said he might have his place upon the floor, as his tooth ached so that he could not sleep. As the people unrolled from their blankets next morning he discovered that he had nested with the whole Cook family, men and women, who were all fully grown and unusually large.
Maurice Price and many others came in this year. Calista Ann Ament, the first white child, was born November 13, 1837. Coon and Massy built the first saw-mill on the creek during this year. The first marriage was that of Thomas W. Glasspool and Katie Cook, a daughter of the settler first mentioned. Edward Pierce was born in 1836, soon after his father's arrival, and his was the first birth in the township. Joseph Summers kept the first tavern on the old State road. William Coon opened the first blacksmith shop and a Mr. Welby the first store. The first school house, of rough logs, with door, desk, seats and floor made of slabs, was raised by a "bee" of settlers in 1841, upon the claim of Joshua F. Rhodes, and in it the first school was taught by Colin Ament. J. F. Rhodes, Thomas Meredith and Ira Hodges were the commissioners who located the State road from Aurora westerly through the county.
Among the old settlers of Big Rock and their descendants will be found both men and women who are among the most prominent and useful in the county. The shape of the farms and location of the highways of this rich agricultural township, as shown upon the map, most forcibly indicates the eager desire of the early settlers to attach wood and water to their homesteads.
BLACKBERRY TOWNSHIP.
This is Township 39 North, Range 7 East, and is another rich agricultural township. Bald Mound, near the center of Section 23, and Johnson's Mound on the northwest quarter of Section 5, are said to be the highest points of land in the county, and have ever been conspicuous land-marks, noted for the exceeding beauty of the landscape visible from their summits. Nelson's Lake-now nearly dry-lies partly in Blackberry and partly in Batavia Township. Lake Run, the outlet of Nelson's Lake and its tributary streams in the southeasterly part of the township, and Blackberry Creek, with its numerous branches in the westerly part, have ever furnished an abundance of running water for its fine grain and stock farms. The land in this township is the most undulating or rolling, perhaps, in the county; and it is one of the townships in which the groves, woodlands and prairie are so favorably mingled, although along the line of Blackberry Creek, from Elburn station in the northwest corner of the township, south to Sugar Grove, there was heavy timber in the early days. The Iowa Division of the North-Western Railroad passes through its northern tier of sections across the entire township, with the busy station of La Fox and the fine, growing village of Elburn, affording excellent shipping facilities for its people and their products. Its splendid farms are devoted to grain and stock-raising, and feeding and dairying, and its landowners are highly prosperous.
A NOTABLE PIONEER.-The first settler in this township was a remarkable man; and within the years of his eventful life occurred the most momentous and far-reaching movements and events in man's history. William Lance was born April 8, 1771, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey Colony, a subject of King George III. He was five years old when the immortal Declaration of Independence was adopted, and twelve at the close of the Revolutionary War. He well remembered many incidents of the historic struggle, and had frequently seen Washington and other famous characters
Dundee Area History
