The town of South Ottawa embraces that part of T. 33, R. 3, which lies south
of the Illinois river, being about half the township. Except a narrow strip of
bottom-land along the Illinois river, it is on the bluff, and the village which
- constitutes one ward of the city of Ottawa, looks down upon that part of the
city which lies in the valley.
The view is a very fine and commanding one. It was settled before North Ottawa,
and the fort built for protection in the Black Hawk war, was just east of where
the road going south cuts the bluff. The timber land which skirts the bluff of
the Illinois river and along Covell creek, which runs northwesterly through the
town, covers a large proportion of its surface.
A peculiar feature, is the existence of a fountain of water which lies a few
feet below the surface between the Illinois river and Covell creek; there is a
bed of coarse gravel several feet in thickness, which contains a fountain of
pure water. It supplies North Ottawa by pipes running under the river, and the
fountain is inexhaustible. The town is favorably located, and will be as
valuable as any portion of the county.
Enos Pembroke, from New York, came to Alton in 1818, and from there to Ottawa,
May 1st, 1825, and settled on S. 15, T. 33, R. 3; he died in 1832, his widow
surviving him. She kept a hotel at the loot of the bluff; was a Methodist, and
Stephen R. Begg says, a leading sister in the church. She died in 1862.
Their children were: David, married Mary Reynolds, lived in Fall River from 18i4
to 1870, now lives in Macoupin County, has 11 children; Ursula, married Wm.
Kessler, lived in South Ottawa; Richard, died one year ago; Enos, married Miss
Chew; Calvin, married Mary Gorbit, lived at Tiskilwa; Jeremiah, married Rachel
Sprague, second wife Rosa Densmore; Mary Ann, married Horace Sprague, and died
soon after.
Josiah E. Shaw, from Whitestown, N. Y., came here in 1827. He married Rosanna
Test; he was a step-son of Enos Pembroke; he died in 18Y5. His children are one
son and two daughters.
Reuben Reed, from Monroe County, N. Y., in 1822; stopped in Kentucky two years,
then removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his wife died, leaving six children. He
married a Miss Hibbard, and soon after with the Hibbard family, fifteen persons
in all, moved to Illinois in 1827, stayed in Chicago two months, then moved to
Ottawa, and wintered in the cabin with Col. Sayers in South Ottawa. Leased the
widow Pembroke's farm in 1828, and made a claim on S. 17, T. 83, R. 4, where Wm.
Moore now lives. A Mr. Hibbard, brother of Mrs. Reed, came from St. Louis, who
seemed to be the evil genius of the family. He caused the separation of Mr. Reed
and his wife, and broke up the family. His son Darius was bound out to James
Galloway; his son Ansel, to Moses Booth, and his daughter Emeline, then a mere
child, to Lewis Bayley. Reuben Reed abandoned his claim and it was taken by a
Mr. Town. Darius Reed, who served an apprenticeship with Jas. Galloway, when he
arrived at man's estate made a farm on S. 31, T. 34, R. 5, on which he has
resided for many years, a wealthy and respected citizen, now temporarily
residing in Kansas.
Henry Hibbard made a claim oh S. 5, T. 33, R. 4, and sold to Disner, and he to
McKernans in 1831, and they sold to Ebersol in 1834.
Eleazar Hibbard, who married a daughter of Reuben Reed, made a claim on S. 32,
T. 33, R. 4, where B. B. Reynolds now lives. He also separated from his wife,
and the Hibbard family moved to Sand Prairie, near Hennepin. All the Hibbard men
separated from their wives, and all the Hibbard women from their husbands, it is
claimed from the influence of the brother from St. Louis; in the words of Darius
Reed, “they were always in commotion and trouble, casting up mire and dirt, and
never found rest but in the grave." All the Hibbards but one died soon after
they left the county.
Charles Brown and wife, Abigail Hogaboom, came from Ulster County, New York, and
arrived here November 30th, 1830; bought a claim of James McKernan, on S. 32, T.
33, R. 3, where he spent the remainder of his life, a good citizen and honest
man; he died in May, 1874; his wife died in November, 1874. Their children were:
William, who married Betsey Ellsworth, died in 1869, aged forty-nine, leaving
six children: Louisa, married Calvin Eells, now deceased; Clarinda, married a
Mr. Mills, is now a widow, in California; Russel, married Susan Hopple, and
lives on S. 33, T. 38, R. 3; Ann, married P. C. Watts; Jane, married Frank
Libbey, and is now a widow, with three daughters and two sons; Edward, lives on
the old homestead; Cordelia, married Lyman Cadwell, and lives in Vermillion
County.
John Hogaboom married Miss Hopkins, and came from Ulster County, New York, here,
in the fall of 1830; settled on S. 33, T. 33, R. 3. After his wife died he
married widow Brooks; had fourteen children. Of those living, Adelia married
Nathan T. Carr, lives in Brookfield, and has seven children; Emily married
Morgan Marion, in Iowa; Mary married Frank Ocean, and lives in Iowa; George and
'Loring live on the old farm; Edgar married Miss Wade, and lives in Ottawa;
Charlotte married a Mr. Robins, and lives in Nebraska; Frances married Henry
Gilbert, and lives in Iroquois County.
Richard Hogaboom, brother of the above, from the same place, in 1830, married
Phebe Farnsworth, and settled on S. 32; removed to Green Bay, in 1837, and now
lives in Nebraska. Has four children: Eliza, married D. C. Mills, and lives in
Farm Ridge; Cornelia, married Joseph D. Lewis; Harriet, married a Mr. Robinson,
both in Nebraska; William, lives with his parents.
Abel Hogaboom, brother of John and Richard, came from the same place, and
settled on S. 6, T. 32, R. 3. He married Charlotte Jones, and after her death,
he married the widow Horn, daughter of Jacob Gruber; is now living in Nebraska,
and ha& seven children, one son, Frank, living on the old homesteads Mary,
married to Robert Crane, in South Ottawa; Hannah, Eliza, Susan, and Luella at
the old home; Abbey and Lucy with their parents.
Richard Hogaboom and wife, Hannah, parents of the foregoing brothers, came from
Ulster County, New York, in 18B0. He died in 1845, aged 83; his widow died in
1857, aged 84.
John McKernan, from Kentucky, settled on Covell Creek, in the fall of 1828;
lived there one year, and then went to Brown’s Point, and made a claim on S. 32,
T. 33, R. 3; in 1831 sold the claim to Charles. Brown, and bought a claim of
Disney, on S. 6, T. 33, R. 4. In 1832, Mr. McKernan was drowned in the Illinois
river. In 1834 the widow sold the claim toJoseph Ebersol, and with the family,
removed to S. 22, T. 31, R. 4, at the head of Otter creek, where she died, in
1872. Two sons, Hugh and Patrick, died previously.
James Edgecomb came from New Providence, West Indies, in 1835, and settled on
Covell creek, west of Ottawa, and died soon after.
David Strawn, son of Jeremiah Strawn, came with his father's family from Perry
County, Ohio, in 1830; bought land on S. 35, in South Ottawa, at the sale in
1835. He married Sarah Loyd, of Ohio, and occupied his land soon after. He was a
large farmer, and extensive raiser and dealer in stock, and one of the owners
and builders of the Paducah Railroad. He died in 1873, leaving seven children.
Theodosia married J. W. Ebersol, and lives at Strawn, Livingston County; Susan
married a Mr. Porter, and is now deceased; Bertha married Thomas Morgan: they
live in Chicago; Walter married Florence Parr, and lives at Strawn; Clara
married Mahlon B. Linton; Ella, Harlan L., and Cora Belle, are at home.
John Rockwood, and wife, Sally Green, a sister of Henry Green, of Ottawa, came
from Cheshire County, New Hampshire, in fall of 1834, and settled on Section 26,
where he made his home till his death, about 1840. They had seven children:
Loring Otis, lives with his mother, now 86 years of age, on the old farm; John,
married Sarah Jane Lewis, and is living in Gibson; William, married Maria
Doolittle, and lives on Section 10, Farm Ridge, a large farmer; Elisha, married
Deborah Cox, and lives in Indiana; Levi, died young; Mary, married J. R. Dunn.
Judge James Glover, father of J. O. Glover, came from Oswego, N. Y., in 1833,
and settled in South Ottawa; he had held the position of County Judge in New
York for a considerable time. He died about 1849.
James Day, mother and sister, came from the city of New York in 1832; the sister
died, the mother returned to New York, and James became insane, and left. Mr.
Day laid out the original town of South Ottawa. Their family history is a sad
one; they were educated, refined and intelligent people; Miss Day died of
calomel salivation, the result of the murderous medical practice of that day.
Henry Gorbett, from Clermont County, Ohio, in 1837, with his wife, Sally
Robinson, settled on S. 31, T. 33, R. 3. His second wife was the widow Holland;
he had fifteen children: Mary, married Calvin Pembroke; John, is in Texas; Debby
Ann, married David Clark; Francis Asbury; Mary Ann, married John Quimby; George,
is dead; Margaret, married James Wilson; Peter, is in Pontiac; Sarah, married a
Mr. Fisk; Joseph, is in Pontiac; Angeline, married Edward Smith; Henry and
Samuel are at Rooks Creek.
William Thompson, from New York City in 1833; settled on S. 33, T. 33, R. 3; was
here seven or eight years; sold to William Richardson and went to St. Louis.
Solon Knapp, from New York in 1835; died of cholera.
Jabez Fitch, from Plattsburg, N. Y., in 1835; he was a merchant, and County
Treasurer several years; he died in New York.
Ebenezer Tracy, from New York in 1831 or '32; went back to New York.
Thomas Tracy, brother of the above, from same place, had a wife and several
children; died in Michigan; his family have all left the county.
Silas Tracy, brother of Thomas, came here in 1831 or '32; he settled on Covell
creek, where he died many years since; his widow married Jesse A. Clark and went
to Madison, Wis.
Dr. Roberts, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1832; died of cholera.
Dr. Constant Abbot, from New York, in 1836; a physician; went to Cincinnati.
Henry Matson, from Owego, New York, in 1834; went to Texas; died in Central
America.
Silas Matson, and wife, Lydia Stanton, from Owego, New York, in 1839; settled in
South Ottawa. Has four children: Charles Henry, now in Livingston County; David,
Jerome and Mary, at home.
Calvin Eells, from Oneida County, New York, came to La Salle County in 1831,
went West for a year or two, then returned to New York, and in 1836 removed with
his widowed mother to South Ottawa, and settled on Section 28. He married Louisa
Brown, who died about 1850. He afterward married S. A. Tucker. His first wife's
children are: Frederick, who married Ernestine Maines, lives in South Ottawa;
Charles B., married Eliza Maines in Vermillion County; Nathaniel is on the old
farm, and Lucien in Kansas; Susan O. married George H. Maines, on the old farm;
Marcus is in Farm Ridge; Isabella, married Samuel Poundstone, of Farm Ridge. The
second wife has two sons: Douglass A. is in Odell; Horace is with his mother,
near the old place.
Russell Kimball came at an early day from New York. He married Mercy Hogaboom,
and settled on Section 28, sold to Calvin Eells, kept a hotel in South Ottawa,
afterward moved to Sheboygan.
Sheldon Bartholomew came from New York with Brown and Hogaboom, married
Charlotte Hogaboom, and settled on Section 28; he sold to Thomas Hodgson; died
in Ogle County; his widow came back to La Salle County, and died a few years
after.
Mr. Beers came from New York at same time with Bartholomew; he married Prudence
Hogaboom, and died soon after; his widow married Peter Minkler, who moved to
Kane County; they are now living at Rochelle, Ogle County.
George B. Macy, from Connecticut, first to Peoria, and to Ottawa, 1836; he
married Mary Jennings, who died in 1854. He died about 1864. They left five
children: Charles, Eliza, Mary, Anna and Clara.
Bartlett Dennison, and wife, Jane Lindley, came about 1834. He sold goods, and
owned a saw mill on Indian creek; went to California, and died there.
Erastus Allen, from Plattsburg, New York, came in 1834; sold goods with Crook;
went to Galena.
Robert Fowler, and wife, Polly Piatt, from Plattsburg, Kew York, kept a boarding
house; died here.
Burnett Miller, from Clinton County, New York, went to Wisconsin.
Daniel Parnsworth, from Clinton County, N. Y., in 1832; he died in 1870. His
widow was fatally burned by her clothes taking fire. Children: Albert, died in
California; William, married Miss Dix, he died in South Ottawa; Robert was
killed, his widow is in Texas; Elizabeth, married S. Crook; Electa; Phebe,
married Richard Hogaboom, and was fatally burned by a like accident as that
which befel her mother.
Samuel Tyler, the first wagon maker in Ottawa, came in 1833; moved to Wisconsin.
Piatt Thorn and wife, Betsey Piatt, from Clinton County, New York, a glove maker
by trade; went to Pontiac, returned, and died here. His widow and children went
to California.
Sylvanus Crook, from Clinton County, New York, in 1832, a merchant and farmer;
he was a Justice of the Peace for several years, and died July 9, 1871. He
married Elizabeth Farnsworth, who survives him. Lucy married Albert Pool, now in
Iowa; Minnie and Charles are at home.
John Parish, from Glasgow, Kentucky, and brother, came in 1832; one died, the
other went to Rock River.
Moses Booth, brother-in-law to Christopher Long, came here in 1827 or 1828, and
lived with Long, on Covell creek. His wife died, and he married Miss Alvord. He
went to Kendall County, lost a leg, and died soon after.
Christopher Pavier came here about 1834, from Yorkshire, England. He had four
children: George, died in Cincinnati; Charles, married Miss Cunliff, lived for
several years in South Ottawa, and died in East Ottawa; two sisters live in
Cincinnati.
Mrs. Pavier was the widow Nancy Arnold, and had a son and a daughter by her
first husband. Her son George Arnold married Sarah Russell. He ran the ferry at
Ottawa for several years, and is well remembered by the people from the south
side. He is now in Iowa, near Dubuque. Jane Arnold married Samuel W. Rogers;
after his death, she married a Mr. Kelley, and went West.
Samuel W. Rogers, from Vermont, came to Ottawa in 1833 or 1834. He kept a
grocery, and owned the ferry for several years. He died in South Ottawa.
James Ball, from Owego, New York, in 1836; he married Cepha Ball, and lives on
Section 25. Has one daughter.
Jesse A. Clark, from Fort Covington, New York, in 1832; kept tavern at the foot
of the bluff, made the Clark claim, then went to Madison, Wisconsin, and died
there.
Justus M. Clark, son of Jesse A., took the farm occupied by his father in 1835.
He married Martha Dunn; he had kept school in Kentucky; he was a Presbyterian
minister, and died on his farm, February 13th, 1867, leaving children. One
daughter married Walter Good, now of Marseilles; one married Henry Howland;
Julius Clark is a lawyer, now in Kansas.
John Bascom, from Connecticut, in 1831; his mother and sister came in 1884. He
kept a hotel at the foot of the bluff. Baseom and his mother died of cholera,
the same night, in June, 1835. The sister married a Mr. Foster, of Earl, and
died in Wisconsin.
Abraham S. Bergen, from Springfield, Illinois, in 1833. He was a merchant here
for eight or ten years; he with his wife died in Galesburg.
Benjamin J. Moore, from Clinton County, New York, in 1832; a land agent and
speculator; went to Wisconsin in 1838; he had three sons and one daughter.
Dr. Smith, from Clinton County, New York, in 1832, with Jesse A; Clark; he
opened one of the first stores in South Ottawa. He had one child, Lucy; she went
to Rock River, and died there.
Rev. Mr. Hazard, from Clinton County, New York, in 1834; was a minister and
missionary; died when returning to Plattsburg.
Extracted from 1877 History of La Salle County Illinois, pages 255-265.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
