The town of Earl embraces the Congressional Township 36 North, of Range 3. It
is the center town on the north line of the county. Indian creek enters the town
near the middle on the north, runs southwest to Section 19, and then southeast,
having a fine growth of timber along most of its course. It was settled quite
sparsely along its banks commencing in 1834, until, in 1853, the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad was built through the town, after which the influx
of population was rapid.
Charles H. Sutphen was the pioneer settler in the town of Earl, in company with
John R. Dow. They came from Boston, made claims and located at the head of the
grove in April, 1834. They found two families just arrived from Indiana, J.
Ross, and a Mr. Johnson, who located on the south side of the grove and made
some improvement that summer. They sold their claim to McClasky & Philips, and
left in 1835.
Mr. Sutphen brought his family in the month of October, and built a double log
house on the site of the village. The land came in market in 1839, when Mr.
Sutphen purchased one thousand acres where Earlville now stands, and has
occupied it as a stock farm for about twenty years.
He was one of the first Justices for Indian Precinct, and held the office
continuously for fifteen years, being the oldest Justice in the county when he
resigned.
He had a family of six sons and three daughters; Charles T. Sutphen was the
first white male born in the township, he and George are in California; Albert,
is in Aurora; Ford, in Missouri; Gilbert and Weller, in Iowa; Sarah, married S.
Cook, now deceased; Carrie T., was the first white child born in the town —
married William H. Graham, of St. Louis; Mary, married O. C. Gray, of Ottawa,
and her second husband was Dr. Canfield, of Ottawa — she is now deceased.
Mrs. Sutphen, Elizabeth H. Dow, died in 1870; Mr. Sutphen removed to Joliet in
1871, and married the widow of H. D. Higginbotham.
John R. Dow returned to Boston in the fall of 1834, and his two brothers
occupied his claim. He is now living in New York.
D. A. Ballard came from Boston, in the fall of 1834; his Wife was a sister of
Mrs. Sutphen; he returned to Boston in 1842. Two sons remain — one died at Earl
two years since; the other is at Aurora.
Albert Dow came from Boston in 1835. He married Miss Frances Johnson, of Boston,
and settled on the claim left by John R. Dow; his wife died soon, and he married
Martha Miles, and had one son and two daughters; he is now living in Chicago. He
resided in Ottawa several years.
Warren Dow, from Boston, came in 1834. He married Miss Alice B. Champney, of
Boston; has one son and three daughters; he now lives in Wisconsin. He resided
in Ottawa several years, and in Marseilles.
Amos Foster, from Massachusetts, came in 1834; married in Ottawa; removed to
Wisconsin.
Corrin Doane, from Boston, came in 1834; married Harriet Johnson — his second
wife was Hannah Stilson, sister to S. T. Stilson. He died in May, 1836. He had
two sons: Hazen, married and lives in Earl; Samuel J., died in the army.
John T. Cook, brother-in-law to Sutphen, came in 1834; went to Galena, then to
Chicago in the lumber trade; his wife died in Chicago of cholera.
John Thornton, and wife, Hannah Benedict, from St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in
1835; he died in 1865. He had three daughters: Lurania, married Samuel O.
Carter; Roby, married Wm. Tmil; Sarah, married O. J. Wilson.
Samuel O. Carter, from St. Lawrence County, N.Y., in 1835; stopped near Chicago
three months in December; settled on S. 17. Wife, Lurania Thornton; has three
sons: Adolphus married widow Doane; Heman H. married Malvina Philips; Joel at
home.
Alonzo Carter, from St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1836; now a Methodist
preacher in Ohio.
Levi Carter, from same place in 1836; married widow Jewett; now in Sandoval,
Marion County, Illinois.
Ferdinand Carter, from the same place in 1836; he died 1854. His widow, Deborah
Breese, died 1867.
Benjamin Carter, from same place in 1836; went to Green County 1860; now there.
Sylvester Carter came in 1836; he died of cholera in 1849; first wife, Miss
Christy; second, Mary Breese, widow; third, Lucy Pine. Of his children, James
Carter is in Livingston County; Joseph is teaching in Normal; Lucien in
Livingston County.
Urial Carter, married Eliza Rogerson; now in Arkansas; has seven or eight
children; left here in 1855.
Joel Carter, father of the foregoing seven sons, came from the bank of the St.
Lawrence river inSt. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1836; died in 1853, aged 75.
Jolin Currier came from Vermont to Cincinnati, and here in 1838; wife, Eliza
Wallace; ten children.
Frank Ransted, from Vermont to Cincinnati and from there here in 1836; his wife
died 1855; he has several children.
Alexander Brown, from Cheshire, Mass., July 1838; a bachelor; died 1867.
Andrew Brown came in 1838.
Allen Brown, and wife, Miss Best, in 1838; has one son and three daughters.
The above three brothers came from Berkshire County, Mass.
O. J. Wilson, from St. Lawrence County, N. Y., 1835; left there Nov. 16th, when
17 years of age, and came by steamer to Hamilton Bay, then on foot to near
Chicago in company with Uri Carter; stopped with Samuel and Levi Carter a few
days, then went to Indiana and spent the winter, and in December, 1836, reached
Big Indian creek in LaSalle County; bought a claim on S. 21, which came in
market in 1839.
Mr. Wilson's history is a striking example of the result of industry and
economy. From the poor boy trudging on foot through the weary distance to reach
the West, he has become the possessor of wealth, being a large land owner,
farmer and banker. He married Sarah Thornton; his children are, Thomas, who
married Mary Wood, lives near; William, who married Nettie Doane, lives in
Earlville, a banker; Edwin, in California; Abram, married Frances Pope, lives in
Earlville; Richard, Caroline, John T., Charlotte Ann, and Osman John, are at
home
Major D. Wallace, from Orange County, Vt., in 1837; the only physician here for
ten years; left two sons, Charles married the widow Scott at Earl, owns the
Wallace House; George married Miss White.
James Wood, from New York in 1840; he died 1853; settled on S. 6; four children:
Peter; David; Lovina married James Wallace; Elisha.
David Smith, from South Adams, Mass., 1840; died 1864.
Daniel Smith, son of foregoing, came in 1838; married Harriet Burt.
Miles Rouse, came from New York, in 1 834; died in 1860; widow still living
here; Ellen, married Mr. Lynn; Eliza, married; Martha, married Allen McGregor.
George Rogerson came from Brockville, Canada, in 1838; George is in Ford County;
Eliza, married Urial Carter, in Arkansas. Mr. R. died in 1840.
Edward Cook came in 1835; died in California, 20 years ago; left a widow and
son. All have left.
Russel Bliss, came from North Adams to Ohio, and from there here, in 1837.
James M. Philips, came from Pennsylvania, in 1836; he had a difficulty regarding
a disputed claim with his neighbor. Moss, and unfortunately killed him; he was
tried for murder and convicted of manslaughter, but was discharged, from a
defect in the law. It is due to Mr. Philips to state, that his neighbors all
agree that he has led a blameless life since; has a large family of children who
are much respected. He sent five sons to the war.
Mr. Moss, who was killed by Philips, was from Vermont; he was making a farm
preparatory to moving his family, when he met his fate.
Abram Foster, and wife, Millie White, came from Bradford County, Pennsylvania,
in 1836; settled one mile north of Earlville, on the creek; he died many years
since, leaving seven children: Betsey, married Conrad Smith, of Northville;
Millie, married Frederick Smith, of Northville; Elisha, is deceased; Alfred,
went to California; William, died here, his widow is still living; Willard, went
West; Abram settled on the creek, now in Colorado.
Amzi Foster, grandson of Abram, came from Bradford Co., Pennsylvania, in 1837;
he married Mary J. App; has three children. He has resided in Ottawa for many
years.
Samuel T. Stilson, born in Connecticut, came from Chatauqua County, N. Y., 1839;
has been a farmer, merchant, grain dealer, and banker; successful, and now
retired. His first wife was Ellen Wood, who died in 1852; his second wife was
Sarah Lukins. Has had five children; two are living.
Extracted from 1877 History of La Salle County Illinois, pages 429-435.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
