OCHSENSCHLAGER

ADAM AND EVA OCHENSCHLAGER & CHILDREN

The time is now 1847‑‑and conditions in Germany are bad. Although feudalism had been abolished, the peasants were by no means free to conduct their own affairs. In Central Europe the work of emancipation did not reach its conclusion before the middle of the century. The countrymen had to cope with the burdens of manorial services, obligations, and disabilities. Instead of surrendering a portion of their grain or working a number of days on the land, they now paid a fixed rent ‑‑and it had to be paid in good times and bad. Easy credit was not available. The capital required for the extinction of dues was beyond the reach of most farmers. Those who actually attempted to achieve financial independence soon learned that liberation could lead to debt and foreclosures.

Advance of industrialism meant ruin for the artisan class and the corporate guild. The guild system had been designed to meet the needs of a stable population, to maintain an unchanging standard of living, and to supply a local market. Guilds sought to regulate output in such a way as to assure an adequate supply of goods for the consumer and a fair return for the producer. The Industrial Revolution changed all that. As new methods of finance, production and trade developed, and the state began to remove restrictions on economic iniative, the handicraft organizations lost their significance. By the forties the disintegration of the handicraft system was far advanced. The growth of industrialism presented a serious threat to the social equilibrium of Central Europe for it undermined the way of life of millions still dependent on a precapitalistic organization of production.

Overpopulation became a real threat. Due to the prevailing doctrine of mercantilism governments had encouraged large families. Now they passed laws restricting marriage until men could afford to support a family, and liberalized military service. Many reasons for the population explosion have been set forth‑no serious plagues, no great wars, advancement in medicine, better farming and the division of public lands making more lands available for public use. However, many historians believe it was the introduction of the potato that was the real cause. At first it was rejected but soon its virtues became apparent‑‑an abundant yield from little ground, easy winter storage, relative freedom from insects, cultivation could be done by women and children. Best of all satisfying dishes could be made from it and it was highly nutritious.

The most devastating problem was the great depression of the forties. Actually it was one of a series of depressions.

which had shaken Europe at approximately ten-year intervals since the defeat of Napoleon. In Germany the prosperity of the early forties, based on railway construction and factory expansion came to an abrupt end in the later years of the decade. Great Britain had suddenly been shaken by an economic crash which had had important repercussions on the Continent, affecting commerce of the ports like Hamburg and Bremen and inflicting hardship on the inland cities like Karlsruhe, Mannheim, and Offenbach. The decline in foreign demand for German goods became more marked after 1846 when the Austrian annexation of Krakow deprived eastern provinces of Prussia, one of their most valuable markets.

What made the depression even more calamitous was its coincidence with one of the last major famines of Europe. For more than a century crop failures had been becoming less frequent as scientific‑farming, agricultural specialization and improved means of transportation provided the Continent with a relatively stable food supply. But when blight ruined the potato harvest of 1845, the lower classes from Ireland to Silesia were suddenly deprived of their stable food supply. The following year, with the failure of both the grain and potato crops, starvation became a tragic reality. The average rise in the cost of food in Germany from 1855 to 1845 was about 50 percent. The sharpest increases, moreover, occurred in those commodities most important to the daily fare of the lower classes.

The masses suffered. Countrymen sank ever deeper in debt. Foreclosures and public sales multiplied. Thousands of journeymen and apprentices were thrown out of work. Even those fortunate to have jobs earned only a meager subsistence. The death rate increased. The number of people on public assistance rose dramatically. Crime and vice were rampant. From Nassau and Hesse‑Darmstadt came reports of a growing international trade in children‑‑impoverished parents being forced to sell their sons and daughters to speculators. These children were usually sent abroad to beg for alms or become streetwalkers.

After 1845 emigration became an increasingly popular solution for economic problems. From 1820 through 1829 less than 700 people emigrated from Germany to the United States. From 1830 through 1839 the number rose to 125,000, but for the eight years between 1840 and 1847 the number claimed to approximately 267,000. By and large the emigrants were not fleeing tyranny and injustice. They were simply hungry tired men seeking a refuge from economic crises in a foreign country. Some aristocratic circles and conservative philanthropic organizations encouraged the establishments of overseas settlements. Sometimes a church or a whole village would sponsor a new settlement. They believed that a planned, carefully controlled emigration was a useful means of alleviating mass suffering and popular discontent. Sometimes they were right, for many a hungry proletarian from the Old World became a prosperous self‑satisfied farmer or businessman on the western side of the Atlantic. Yet emigration could not and did not solve the economic problems of Central Europe. Depression, famine and overpopulation continued to plague the masses and ultimately drove them to insurrection.

Once again we have to admit that we have no clues as to why Adam and Eve Ochsenschlager decided to come to America. We do not know their financial situation. Perhaps the emigration had been planned when Joseph left. We simply do not know.

But let's make some guesses. Johannes George was now 30 years old and Adam could. have deeded the farm to him, if indeed there was a farm. Marg was 29, Catrina 26, Frances 24, and Maria Barb 16. In all probability the older girls were married and. it seems logical that Maria Barb could have found a home with one of them or Johannes George. The married women would have gotten their share of the inheritance when they married, and Johannes would have been responsible for Maria Barb's dowry. This is pure speculation, but at least it was the custom for that time.

But what about the boys? Adam II was 27, Phillip was 21, Heinrich 19, =: Nicholas 17, Valentine 14 and Michael 12. The economic situation in Europe certainly did not presage bright futures for them. I personally think that the tire was simply right for emigration.

Joseph had been in the United States for seven years. =:o Doubt he had become familiar with its customs and language and would have known about new lands opening up in the '%Test. Perhaps he ever. Had some money saved? It certainly would be interesting to know what his letters home had to say about his adopted country. In any event, Adam, 56 years old, his wife, Eve, 4.6 years old, and their children made the momentous decision to leave Germany and come to the United States. Adam II came over in October, as there is a record of his single passage. We also know that he filed a declaration of intention to become a citizen and give up allegiance to the Duke of Hesse‑Darmstadt. For some reason Adam II decided to go to Cleveland. Was the trip for Adam and Eve, Phillip, Heinrich, Nicholas, Valentine, Michael and Elizabeth exciting, hazardous, or maybe just boring: No letters are left to tell us. They arrived some time in 1847 and apparently went directly to Aurora‑ except Valentine. He went to Ohio. To be with Adam?

This Indenture made this third day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty seven, between Edward H. Mix and Rosa his wife, of the County of Kane and the State of Illinois, of the first part and Joseph and Adam Ochsenschlager, of the same place, of the second part: Witnessed that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of three thousand dollars to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the said party of the second part forever released and discharged there from has granted, bargained, sold, remised, released, aliened and confirmed by these present does grant bargain, sell, remise, release, alien and confirm unto the said party of the second part, and to their heirs and assigns forever, all the following described lots, pieces or parcels of land to wit; Beginning at a point twenty two rods and three feet South from the northwest corner of the southwestern quarters of Section Number Three and running thence East to the east line of said quarters, thence South along said line seventy eight rods and nine and a half feet, thence West to the west line of said quarters, thence North along said line to the place of beginning, containing eighty seven acres and seventy hundredths of an acre of land. Also beginning eighty rods North from the southeast corner of Section Four on the east line of said Section, and running thence West to the west line of said Section, thence North along said line to the outer line of said Section, thence East along said line to the northwest corner, of 26.33 acres of land, conveyed by the party of the first part to I. P. Schnieder. Thence South along the west line of said lands twenty five rods and two feet, thence East along said Schneider's south line to the east line of said Section, thence South along said line to the place of beginning, supposed to contain one hundred and ten acres of land all of which above described lands lying and being in Township Thirty Eight, North Range Eight East of the Third Principle Meridian, County of Kane and State of Illinois in the Chicago land district. Together with all and singular, the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainder rents, issues and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim or demand whatsoever of the said party of the first part, either in law or in equity, of, in and to the above bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances, to have and to hold the said premises above bargained and described with the appurtenances unto the said party of the second part their heirs and assigns forever. And the said party of the first part for themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators do covenant, grant, bargain and agree to and with the said party of the second part, their heirs and assigns, that at the time of the signing and delivery of these presents they are well seized of the premises above conveyed as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute and indefeasible estate of inheritance in the law in fee simple and have good right, full power and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell and convey the same in manner and form aforesaid and that the same are free and clear of all former and other grants, bargains, sales, liens, judgments, taxes, appurtenances and encumbrances of what kind or nature so ever. And the above bargained premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, their heirs and assigns against all and every person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof, the said parties of the first part shall and will warrantee and forever defend. In witness whereof, the said party of the first part have here unto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. Sealed and delivered in presence of

Edward H. Mix (seal)

Rosa Ann Mix (seal)

State of Illinois)

Signed, Josiah L. Warner, Clerk of the County

Kane County) Commissioners Court in and for the said County in

the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Edward H. Mix and Rosa Ann Mix, personally known to me as the same persons whose names are subscribed to the above Warrants Deed, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged that they signed, sealed and delivered the said warrantee Deed as their free and voluntary act, and for the uses and purposes therein set forth. And the said Rosa Ann Mix, wife of the said Edward H. Mix, having been by me examined separate and apart and out of the hearing of her husband, and the contents and meaning of said Warrantee Deed having been by me fully made known and explained to her, she acknowledged that she had freely and voluntarily executed the same, and relinquished her dower to the lands and tenants therein mentioned without compulsion of her said husband, and that she does not wish to retract the same. Given under my hand and seal this 4th day of November A.D. 1847.

Filed the 4th day of November A.D. 1847 at 11 o'clock A.M. E. H. Swarthard, Recorder.

It is conceivable that Joseph already had property picked out. He and his father signed a deed on Nov. 3, 1847 whereby they purchased land from Edward and Rosa Mix. The deed reads in part "Witnessed that the said party for and in consideration of three thousand dollars to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part forever releases " The legal description is in part, Section 3, 87 acres (on the east side of the river) and 110 acres Section 4, south of J. P. Schneider's property (on the west side of the river). Records indicate that Mr. Mix held a mortgage on the property. There is no indication as to whether or not there were buildings on the land. We do have a copy of the land grant to Edward Mix dated July 10, 1844 in which he received "The southwest quarter of Section h in Township 38, north of range 8 east, in the District of Land subject to sale at Chicago Illinois, containing 160 acres." This grant was signed by President Tyler and recorded in the General Land Office.

It is pretty hard for us to imagine what the county looked like at that time, but some excerpts from letters of early pioneers may give us an idea. From Morris Sleight's letter dated July 7, 1831:

" I have been traveling over these beautiful fields on foot and on horseback for several days. I have followed the Indian trails on the Fox River and in its vicinity....

"It is astonishing to see the number of persons riding thru the country on horseback in all directions, viewing the prairies and examining the skirts of timber to make their locations.

"It is impossible for me to describe: these beautiful Prairies. All I can say, they reach as far as the eye can extend ... The land is rolling, some of the highest places I should say were 30 feet higher than the lowest part. I can stand on one of those beautiful high grounds and see meadow and grass enough to feed all the cattle in Duchess County (N.Y.) for 5 years. The Prairie grass makes much better pasture and hay than I had any idea of.

"There is within 60 feet of where I sit writing, a field of oats where I can stand straight and take the heads in my mouth without bending. It is as straight as it can stand. I measured a number of the heads which measure one foot long. The fields that have been plowed and have their second and third crops look more like gardens than fields. The corn and wheat, barley, etc. are very stout."

From the Bootlick Diary written on a trip across the state in 1839.

"When I look over the country and see the vast prairie where the buffalo and deer bounded in beards and the beautiful groves of timber interspersing the prairie, is the delightful river where the Indian caught fish and beaver and muskrat, I do not wonder that the Indian fought so long and hard for his hunting ground. Four years ago the first white man build his cabin near the Big Woods. Now it is thickly settled all around the groves of timber with farmers. Along the river saw mills and grist mills are in motion, and large villages springing up from 2 to 12 miles apart all over the county."

Here is another excerpt from a letter written by John Morris to his brother, Mr. James Noble, Newton, L.I. date Sept. 10, 1837.

"The country is certainly one of the finest that can be imagined, but more especially the Valley of the Fox River. Much of the country for 30 miles west of Chicago is low, or broken by marshes and sloughs, or rather hilly and some gravel, making indifferent farms. But for some miles on each side of the Fox, west side much preferable, the land is extremely fertile, but little doughy and highly privileged with waterpower.

"The Fox is about 100 yards wide, 3 feet in average depth, and admits of about six feet head of water in every 1/2 to 3/4 mile, for forty miles in extent. Also there are many creeks running or emptying into it, which affords good water power so that this section of Illinois will probably become one of the richest in the State, and especially, as is proposed, if the Fox River is made navigable.

"The land certainly produces abundantly. The soil is from 2‑1/2 to 4 feet in depth, of a black or brown color, is extremely adhesive when wet, is of a limy nature, free to work when dry and works light and dry a few hours after a rain."

Now let's hear from Mr. J. Wentworth, a Chicago editor. He writes from Warrenville one Oct. 6, 1838:

"At 9 o'clock I arrived at Warrenville, where there is a tavern kept by Col. Warren, a mill, two stores, and six dwelling within 1/2 mile of each other, all built of timber sawed. "On one side, at a distance of six miles were to be seen the Big Woods, thirteen miles in extent and only one mile wide, and in these woods, just inside the shade, houses were built. Behind were small broken groves of black walnut and burr oaks. On the other sides nothing but a smooth gently rolling prairie was to be seen. In one piece, 610 acres were ploughed and such ploughing was delightful. Not a stump grubs, root or stone. All a man had to do was steady his plough.

"During the A.M. I saw several large flocks of wild geese alight on the prairie near. Also innumerable quantities of pigeons. Traveling in the field I frequently frightened up prairie hens. "For dinner we had wild goose, roasted, a pigeon pie, black cherry sauce the cherries were quite as big as our red ones), and cranberries pies. We also had tomatoes‑‑an article resembling in size and color the red pepper, but not in taste. The article is very healthy and is much eaten here."

So it appears that Adam and Joseph made a good choice of land on which to make their home in the New World. Of course there were some drawback‑‑It was cold in winter and very hot in summer. The weather was far more changeable in this country than in the Old Country giving rise to all kinds of weather forecasting. Sometimes there were violent storms or protracted rainy periods when the roads became seas of mud and travel was next to impossible. Illinois mud is formidable barrier. Ask any pioneer whose wagon has become mired up to the axles. There were few roads in the county in that day and age, however, we know there was a road on the east side of the river and one on the west side. Both these roads were hardly worthy of the name. In most places they were only one lane wide, gravel, and inclined to get awfully muddy in wet weather. These roads were in place almost from the beginning of the settlement of Kane County so we assume they probably followed Indian trails. Another plus was the fact that the county was semi‑settled. Not that farms were close together but certainly they were within sight of one another. Also the farm was only about five miles from a town. Of course Aurora was hardly a "town" at that time, but it did have a few stores and most needs could be fulfilled there. That part of the property in Section 3, on the east side of the river, was heavily wooded so there was no problem in obtaining wood. Also there was a good-sized creek not too far from them.

From all I can find out, the Indians were gone at that time. Still there persists the old story in the Slaker family that Mary sometimes had Indian "guests." The braves would come into the house, stand in front of the fire until they were warm and then leave‑‑without once uttering a word. Perhaps it could have happened, and if so it must have frightened Mary nearly out of her wits.

Oh, how great it would be if we knew whether there was a house or. the property or not. The 1850 census shows:

#2977 Oxen Slaver 50 male, Laborer ‑ Germany

Afi " 50 female, ‑ Germany

Nicolas " 20 male, Laborer ‑ Germany

Michel " 16 male, " "

Elizabeth 11 10 female, ‑ "

1878 ‑ Ochsenschlager 23, male Cooper ‑ Germany

‑ Mary " 34, female "

‑ John " 4, male Illinois

‑ Louisa " 2, female "

‑ Joseph " 2/12, male "

This is not a particularly good piece of record taking. The census taker got things pretty well mixed up probably because he could not understand their broken English.

This we knew if #2977 and #2978 indicate two different households (two houses) or merely two heads of households. Ten people living in one house seems like a lot, but anything is possible.

In any case it was fortunate that there were two men and two boys to help put in the crops. It must have been a chore. Here is what Joe Leis has to say in his boo? "LUXEMBFRGHR IMMIGRANTS TO AURORA:"

"Corn was planted by hand. While a team of oxen plowed, a second man followed with an axe. He chopped a hole on the side of every third freshly turned furrow, dropped two kernels, stepped on they: to cover, then took one more pace and repeated. When the field was finished, it was gone over twice With a tooth harrow to complete the process. Oats were sown by hand in a swath of about twelve feet. The sower carrying the seed spread one handful for each second pace he took. This required shill, for there was no metering device except the sower's hang. Harvesting was extremely hard work in which everyone over seven years old took a hand. Until the 1870's threshing was done by hand with a flail." Farm In his "Trifles OF PROGRESS" Marvin McKinley states

"Most (harvest) operations mere done by hand. the cradle, which is essentially a scythe with several wooden fingers attached parallel to the blade, was universally used. The fingers placed the stalks in a swath for easier binding. With a cradle a strong man could cut tyro or three acres of good standing grain in a day. A good cradler received two or three times as much pay as an ordinary farm hand. Another man, equally able, was required to rake and bind it.

"In the early 19th century, threshing was the most time consuming and toilsome job on the farm. The well‑timed strokes of the flail, although peculiarly adapted to the development of arm muscles, became excessivl3t fatiguing when one followed it day after day, for weeks or months. Eight bushels of grain eras considered a good days work for a man.

threshing completed, the equally laborious task of winnowing had to be done. This was the process of cleaning the grain by casting it into the air, a shameful at a time, trusting the wind to blow the chaff away. It was practically a winter long for a !one farmer to thresh and clean the crop of a 10 acre field."

He has this to say about getting the corn in: "Corn cutting was one of the most wearisome of the season. With the old‑fashioned corn knife, a man could seldom cut and shock more that an acre and half under the most favorable conditions.

"A corn shock consisted of somewhere around 64 hills. The proper time to cut corn was just as the ears began to glaze. The period was limited to a few days each fall if farmers were to get full feeding value from the fodder. It was often difficult to get the crop cut at the right stage of maturity because fall plowing wheat sowing, and potato digging also had to be done about the sane time.

"Corn husking was a long‑drawn‑out, sore‑handed job. 75 to 100 bushels was a good days work. First, a shock had to be "torn down." Then while resting on his knees, the farmer stripped each ear of its husk with the aid of a hand-huskinghusking peg":

As evening approached the day’s yield was gathered into baskets, dumped into a wagon and removed to a crib for unloading. In addition, the fodder had to be hauled to a barn or placed in large shocks for future handling."

Plowing wasn't much better: "Turning the soil was an annual task that summoned the utmost resources of the American farmer and his draft animals. Working day in and day out, there was only one pace that could be maintained‑‑about two miles an hour, and that did not include turns and stops for rest. A plowman covered more than eight miles while turning over each acre with the average size bottom plow. The services of tyro teams and two men were needed each season to do the plowing and other work of a 100 acre farm."

Then there were the endless chores of milking, feeding the stock, cutting wood, and doing the myriad repairs necessary to keep things in running order.

Women's work was just as hard. Her biggest chore was providing food for the family, and what a chore that was! Cooking was endless. Three big meals a day wee required to meet the needs of hard‑working adults and growing children. In very early times cooking was done at the fireplace, but by 1847 stoves were common. Baking was always done at home, and it didn't take long for savory fresh bread to disappear. Nutter, of course, was always churned at home.

Women usually planted and tended the garden. She also picked and prepared the vegetables she raised. Fruits were gathered as they became ripe, and those that weren't eater were dried for use in the winter. Some vegetables were dried too, or kept in the cold cellar. Applesauce and cider tree considered delicacies of the fall season.

It was usually women's work to raise chickens and other foul. Until the children got big enough, she also gathered tile eggs. If chicken was on the menu, its a safe bet she could catch one, chop its head off, pluck its feathers, disembowel it and cools it. Then a hog was butchered she rendered the lard‑ and made the sausage. In many homesteads she also helped with the milking. .

Another task assigned to her was the preparation of raw material for weaving. wool had to be washed, carded, dyed and spun into thread before it could be woven. The weaving was also her job. Flax had to be cut, soaked and beater. before the fibers could be extracted for spinning into thread. Clothes were made by hand from the rough material of the loom‑at least the every day work clothes were. T1hen they wore out women were expected to patch and darn them. Females were taught to knit from little on and turned out sox and mittens every winter.

In 18.7 light for the household was provided b`. candles or 'etty lamps, which were nothing more than metal saucers with Candles had to be made by hand and it was up to the housewife to prepare the tallow and pour it into molds around a string.

VT1C~=.

She also had to make soap from lye extracted for wood. ashes and fats. Once a reels the rash tub was rolled out, water was heated over an open fire in the summer, and the housewife laboriously scrubbed soiled clothes clean on a rough washboard. In the winter the trashing was done inside the cabin. In all probability the mash tub doubled as a 'path tub every Saturday night. ? Then no one else was around the housewife carried the water.

There was another duty most often reserved for women, probably because they were good at it, and that was nursing. Sickness was a fact of life with the settlers and the science of medicine was still in its infancy. So she did the best she could with the materials at hand, and fortunately the patients usually recovered. And don't forget she might be asked to nurse baby chicks, or a newborn lamb, or a sickly piglet. These were usually, brought into the house, kept in box by the fire, and carefully tended until they returned to health or died.

Don't forget that these tasks were done while the women were pregnant. Sometimes babies arrived with alarming frequency. And then there was the extra work of tending the babies and keeping them clean.

As the children grew up they were given certain tasks such as carrying water, weeding the garden, and keeping the wood box filled. Of course as soon as they were big enough they helped in the fields and did some chores.

Yes, a settler's life was full of hard work. It was also austere and frustrating and lonely‑‑and sometimes painful.

Cabins were small and poorly ventilated. They were hot in summer and cold in winter. Heating facilities were inadequate, but oh, the joy of a comfortable feather bed: That was about the only soft item in the house. Furniture was hand made from wood, and there were no spring cushions.

Insects were a constant problem and annoyance. Flies were everywhere and most of them came directly from the manure pile to the house. In the summer mosquitoes caused uncomfortable itching. Years later science would trace many illnesses directly to the pesky critters. Not only did insects bother the settlers themselves, but they did a great deal of damage to gardens and fields. Farmers had no defiance as pesticides were far in the future.

If the cabin was isolated, it was a lonely life. If you wanted to talk to your neighbor, you had to hitch up old dobbin and ride over. Mail from loved ones was scanty. Rural free delivery of mail did not become common until 1896. Before that settlers had to go to some designated place‑‑in North Aurora it was Schneider's Mill‑‑to pick up their mail and pay for it. Stamps were still far in the future.

There was little recreation. In the first place there wasn't very much time for it. What fun they had was planned and carried out by the people themselves. Churches were used for social gatherings as well as religious inspiration. Sometimes the ladies formed sewing circles. Then there were house and barn raisings and corn husking. Not only did these activities lighten the work, but they gave the settlers a chance to mingle and indulge in fun. The Germans loved to sing and sometimes would gather for an evening of music.

I don't know whether hunting could be described as recreation or not. I'm sure the men enjoyed it and the game they brought home was a welcome addition to the table. In 1847 prairie chickens, squirrels, rabbits, wild turkeys, carrier pigeons, quail were plentiful. Sometimes, if he were lucky or a good shot, the hunter would bag a deer.

Travel was difficult. For cross‑country travel, the stagecoach was the only method available‑‑and the roads were terrible. Travel by water was much easier.

The bible and the almanac were sometimes the only books in the home. The housewife depended on the almanac to her informed of new medicines and recipes. The farmer

relied on the almanac to tell trim when it was time to plant the crops, or what could be done for ailing livestock.

Food was plentiful, but there was not a great deal of variety, especially in the winter months. Because of a shortage of coin, barter was the accepted means of purchasing needed supplies. Often supplies were hard to come by. The traveling salesman filled this need to some extent. He also filled the need of news from the outside world. Along with his wares he supplied colorful tales of other places he had visited.

Paper was in short supply. Packaging was a problem. Waterproofing was unheard of. If water soaked through your boots you had wet feet for the rest of the day.

In most accounts of early farm life in the Aurora area there are references to the difficulty of getting crops to market. Usually it required three or four days to make the trip to Chicago and back. I don't know if Adam and Joseph had to make that long tiresome journey or not. There were gristmills in this area and they could have made use of them.

I can't help but wonder if the Ochsenschlager’s had a great deal of trouble with the language barrier. Were they able to mix with the community? What customs and what superstitions did they bring with them from, the Old Country? We don't even know which church they were affiliated with. Their lives were hard, but so was everyone else’s. At least they were free from overbearing government costs, and from the first they seemed to have prospered in the new country.

Getting back to Adam and Eva, in the 1850 census their children are listed as Nicholas age 20, Michel age 16 and Elizabeth age 10. This is the last reference we have of Nicholas. We can find no record of his death or burial. As a matter of fact he could have returned to German, we simply do not know.

Adam and Eva, Michael and Elizabeth stayed on the farm until 1861 when they moved to Aurora. The original partnership was dissolved by a quitclaim deed dated February 6, 1861 in which Joseph bought Adam's share of the farm for $2400. Joseph stayed on the farm and Adam and his family moved to two lots and a house which Adam had purchased Von the corner of Union and Fulton Streets. There were six adults and seven children, ranging from two to fifteen years old in the household when Adam re‑

tired. Perhaps he thought it was time for some peace ‑

And quiet.

We know nothing of their lives on Union Street except that tax assessors records show that he had a cow, a wagon, a watch or clock, and miscellaneous worth 915. His total tax bill was $31.

By 1861 there were German churches and a German community in Aurora so it is possible that they made friends. In any event they didn't lack close relatives. In fact, Michel probably lived with them until 1867 as a directory of that year shows him as a grocer with A. Betting Co., home address 15 Union. Elizabeth married Fred Neumann in 1862 and they lived at 5 South Broadway over their store. Adam Jr. and his family lived at 13 N. River Street and Valentine and his family lived at the corner of Wilder and Walnut Streets. Of course Joseph and Mary and their children must have come down occasionally, and even Phillip and Heinrich and their families might have made the trip. Phillip lived in Clintonville (South Elgin) and Heinrich lived in Elgin proper.

And so life went on. It was probably easier now. Pumps were available to bring water into the house and instead of candles kerosene lamps were being used. Supplies were at hand so that things no longer had to be made by hand.

Adam died in August of 1874 at the ripe old age of 83. Eva followed him in death the following May. They are buried in the West Aurora Cemetery and their marker still stands in remarkable good condition.

Notice the copy of his will. You will see that he divides his property equally among his children with the stipulation that they care for his beloved wife Maria Eva. You will also note a copy of the affidavit sworn out by Frank Rising.

I, Adam Ochsenschlager, Sr. of the County of Kane and State of Illinois, of the age of seventy four years, being of sound mind and memory, do hereby publish and declare this my last will and testament, in manner following. That is to say:

1st: I do hereby give and bequeath unto my children Joseph Ochsenschlager, Adam Ochsenschlager, Phillip Ochsenschlager Henry Ochsenschlager, Valentine Ochsenschlager, Michael Ochsenschlager, and Elizabeth Ochsenschlager, now Newman, all my property, both real and personal, moneys, debts, bonds, mortgages, those in action of whatever kind and nature, in equal shares, subject however, to the following conditions and provisions, that is to say, 1st, My said children are to support and maintain my beloved wife, Maria Eva Ochsenschlager, during her natural life, free of charge, in a proper and suitable manner, at all times to provide liberally for her comfort and necessaries of life, during health or in sickness. 2nd, To pay all just debts which I may owe to a person or persons, and 3rd. that my said wife shall have the use and benefit of the house and lots on which I now reside, during her natural life.

2nd. Whereas I have already advanced my son Joseph the sum of fifty dollars, my son Adam the sum of one hundred and twenty‑five dollars, my son Phillip the sum of fifty dollars, my son Henry the sum of forty‑seven dollar R, my son Valentine the sum of forty seven dollars, my son Michael the sum of twenty‑one dollars, and to my daughter, Elizabeth, the sum of one hundred and thirty-nine dollars, therefore in dividing the proceeds of said estate, or any of the property affects, monies, bonds, notes, mortgages, deeds in action, or effects belonging to the estate, the estate shall be credited with the sum so advanced to each of my children as aforesaid, so that each child shall receive no more than his share of money, or property of said estate.

3rd. I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Valentine Ochsenschlager sole executor of this my last will and testament with full power to sell or dispose of any of the property before mentioned, at public or private sale for the best prices that can be obtained there from, with full power to execute deed or deeds of conveyance for the real property so to be sold, without first applying to any court for leave to sell such real estate.

In whiteness where I have herewith set my hand and seal this twenty‑ninth day of November A.D. 1865.

(Signed) A. S. Ochsenschlager

State of Illinois Kane County

County Court of Kane County July 10th, 1875 In the Matter of the Estate of Adam Oxenschlager

Frank Rising, being first duly sworn on oath, says that Adam Ochsenschlager departed this life on or about the month of August 1874 at Aurora, Kane County, Illinois, leaving property, both real and personal. The amount this affidavit cannot state, nor state the description of the same. That his widow, Eva M. Ochsenschlager was by law entitled to a certain share of his property mentioned in the statutes as specific articles, personal property, or in lieu thereof, the value of same in money. Your affidavit further states that said Adam left a will and appointed Valentine Ochsenschlager executor of said will, that said Valentine Ochsenschlager refused or neglected to put said will on record or admit it to probate, unto that said Eva M. Ochsenschlager died last May leaving your affidavit and Joseph] John, Valentine and Samuel Rising her legal heirs who of right are entitled to succeed her in her rights.

But no inventory has been made out or filed, no appointment bill made in said estate.

This affidavit therefore prays that same Valentine Ochsenschlager may be cited to appear and show cause why he has neglected to file said inventory and appointments, and also, that unless he preservers in the due courser of law to administer the said estate, that you will appoint this affidavit or son other select person to act in this case as administrator c the Estate.

. (Signed) Frank Rising

Sworn to before me

this 26th day of

July 1875

J. C. Thomson Clerk

Joseph and Mary

JOSEPH AND MARY OCHSENSCHLAGER

It seems to me that one of the first things one would have to consider after the decision to immigrate had been made is where to go. Joseph chose Cleveland. Perhaps a friend was already there, or a land agent may have told him about its opportunities, or...well, the suppositions are limitless.

In 1840 the population of Cleveland stood at 6,071. Stage lines were operating on fairly dependable schedules and they were still the principal means of transportation. However the Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal was opened in that year and provided a waterway to Pittsburgh via Akron where connection was established with a route to the Atlantic seaboard. Perhaps Joseph used this route.

The city's wealth lay in shipping and trade although products of the soil and local manufacture found a ready market. We have no way of knowing where Joseph worked.

Germans had begun to come in 1830, settling along Lorain Street on the west side and in the vicinity of Superior and Garden Streets to the east. They were industrious folk, skilled in their trades, bringing with them a background of cultural arts. Many of them were political refugees. Wages were low averaging $8 for twenty‑six working days.

Joseph stared in Cleveland for five years. He married Mary Heins in 1845 who came to Akron, Ohio from Meckenburg, German3T in 1843 with a younger sister. Joseph and Mary came to Chicago in the fall of the same year. At that time Chicago was swampy, mosquito ridden, and did not seem to have any potential. Aurora seemed much more inviting. By November of 1849 they had purchased land and were living in what became North Aurora.

Joseph's parents and seven brothers and one half‑sister arrived from Germany in 1847. As previously stated,

Joseph and his father purchased land the same ‑rear

and began farming.

Joseph and Mary became parents of seven children: John in 1847, Louisa in 1848, Joseph in 1850, Mary in 1852, Eva and Sophia in 1855, and William in 1859.

We have already discussed farming methods up to the middle of the 1800's. Things do get better.

During the first years when the prairies were being broken, many farmers almost gave up. The cast iron plows they had brought with them from the east were satisfactory for breaking the virgin soil, but after the first plowing the

heavy prairie soil stuck to the moldboards and had been scraped off every few steps. In 1840 John Deere welded a steel cutting edge to the moldboard. This self‑polisher became an immediate success. In 1868 a method of producing a hard surface to resist wear and a soft core to resist shock was perfected. This was a walking plow of course. Riding plows were introduced in 1874, but it was not until ten years later when a three wheeled sulky plow was perfected that riding plows became commonplace.

A harrow with teeth of spring steel, invented in 1869, represented a great improvement in tillage methods. Disk harrows appeared about the same time, but were not readily accepted until about the 1890's.

There were improvements in planting too. Grain drills, introduced in the 1870's, enabled farmers to get a better stand using about a third less seed per acre. In 1860 a two‑row corn planter was invented and was improved in the 18701s by an automatic check‑rower.

By 1865 the elimination of hand mowing was almost complete. A mowing machine, capable of cutting up to 20 acres of hay a day had been invented and was in wide spread use. A mechanical horse‑drawn hay rake was also available.

I have already described the harvesting of grain by hand. Now let us see how machinery changed that chore. The first reaper was invented by Cyrus McCormick in 1831. Although it could cut 8 to 10 acres a day, it offered no relief in raking and binding. In was not until 1871 that a self-binding device that tied the bundles with wire was developed. However, this proved wholly unsatisfactory and 1879 John F. Appleby invented the first successful twine knotter. In the annuls of labor saving machinery, no implement rendered a greater contribution to the march of agricultural progress. It reigned supreme for 60 years. Production of harvesting machines rose from 60,000 to 250,000 in 1885.

Threshing was one of the most difficult and time consuming tas1s the farmer faced. In the 1840's a crude threshing machine consisting of an inclined platform (an endless chain of planks), which could be revolved by horses stepping forward and upward, was used. These tread powers could thresh from 200 to 300 bushels a day.

Sweep powers were merely adaptations of the same principal. Now as many as 14 horses, moving at a speed of 2‑1/4 miles an hour in a circular fashion (resembling a merry‑go‑round) resulted in far greater output. In the booklet, "Luxemburg Immigrants to Aurora" Joe‑‑. Lies states that then he had such an outfit.

The concept of threshing by steam had been around since 1870. But again according to Joe Leis, J. Michael Lies and John W. Plain bought the first rig used in this part of the country. Starting late in July 1895 and running

, 33

until November, they threshed all the grain in Aurora township and part of Sugar Grove. They threshed a total of 70 jobs.

At that time a typical rig consisted of a separator, a steam engine and water tank and a long canvas belt with a series of cups attached, called the apron. When conveyed to the top of this revolving belt, the grain and chaff dropped into the sieves below, while the straw was carried from the machine by a wagon. The grain was delivered through an opening near one of the rear wheels of the separator and the straw was blown outward onto a stack.

What excitement the arrival of the threshing rig caused! It meant the gathering of neighbors for miles around, a lot of commotion and activity, the exchange of news and of course a lot of good-natured banter. But the job did get done.

The farmer's wife was expected to furnish the mid‑day meal and what a meal it was! But on the whole the farm wife was beginning to feel the effects of new inventions too. Kerosene lamps replaced candles. Cloth was available at reasonable prices so home spinning and weaving were no longer necessary. Windmills pumped water into the homes, and soap was available in the stores.

One of the uncelebrated miracles was screens. It must have been such a relief to keep flies and other insects out of the house.

Right here it might be interesting to list some of the things that would have been found in the country store of the 1840's: Flour, molasses, tea, pepper, coffee, chocolate and cocoa, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, ginger. There was also ferrous sulfate for dyeing inks etc., indigo, sulfur, sugar, wines, rum, brandy, crackers, pickles, rice, raisins, salt, and baking powder. Women could also buy washboards, carpet beaters and tin pails. Men could purchase shot, nails, rods and bars of iron and some farm tools such as scythes and axes. Dry goods consisted of laces, calico, cashmere, wool, silk, yarns, and hats. Since money was scarce, trade was most often carried on by barter. Butter, eggs, and produce were exchanged for store items. It depended upon both parties as to whether or not the bargaining was satisfactory. The country storekeeper did more than provide needed household equipment. He provided a meeting place for farmers to exchange news and gossip. His store was usually a post office. He provided news of the outside world. Sometimes he was a bit of a mechanic and repaired tools, etc.

Later on in the 1850's we might find small musical instruments, to s, and candy (licorice, red hots and lemon zanzibars5 in his store.

3`f

Now, we know that the land was purchased in 1847 by Adam and Joseph. There was a mortgage against it‑‑we do not know for how much, nor can we find a record in the Court House as to when it was paid off. We also know that Joseph bought out Adam for $2400 in 1861. Of course we do not know the details, but it appears remarkable that the mortgage was paid and Joseph was able to buy out his father in only 14 years. From time to time small parcels of this land was sold: in 1851 3.1 acres were sold to the railroad, in 1852, 3 acres were sold to Mr. Goodwin, in 1853 3.34 acres were sold to Mr. McInhill. However, at this time the price of land had not gone up drastically.

After Adam and his family left, there would have been only Joseph and John, a boy of 14 to run the farm. Let us see if they could do it. There is a chart in the Bicentennial Edition of Historical Statistics (U. S. Government), which gives the manpower necessary to reap a harvest. Unfortunately, there were no figures for 1861 so I took an average of 1840 and 1880 which turned out as follows: For wheat 27.5 man-hours per acre, for corn 67.5 man-hours per acre. Multiplying these figures by the number of acres in production we find 275 hrs. for wheat, 1025 for corn, and 275 for others (I used the figure for wheat here since I could find no other figures). The total is 1,575. Divide this by 48 hours average per week) and we get 33 weeks or about eight months. Even though Johns labor would cut down these figures somewhat, it appears that Joseph would have to hire help at certain times of the year. At that time (1860) the average yield per acre of wheat was 14.1 bushels, and for corn it was 25.3 bushels.

From the book "PRAIRIE TO THE CORN BELTIT (1963) by Allan G. Bogue we find that the acres under cultivation and the size of the Ochsenschlager farm are about average for that time. Of course many farms were larger and some were smaller. Mr. Bogue also tells about the rapid upgrading of farm livestock all through the 1800's. Different strains of wheat or corn and hay were also tried until each farmer found the one best suited to his locality and soil. It is curious, too, to remember that crops were fenced in long before livestock was. In fact, farm animals were allowed the run of the land until early in the 1900's.

A school was established in 1839 across the road and a little further north of the Ochsenschlager farm. It must have been filled with Schneider’s and Ochsenschlager’s. Later another school was built further south‑‑about where the toll road is now. That school was moved to the corner of Lake and State Streets, and when the brick schoolhouse was built in 1890 the small white one room school was again moved one space north and used as a church and Sunday school.

Before 1868 the mail had been delivered to the Schneider Mill and was picked up by local people when they called for it. A post office was established in 1868‑69. A. H. Stone was the first postmaster and was succeeded by Chester Pierce in 1875. Rural Free Delivery Service did not begin until 1896 in West Virginia. When it came to Illinois I do not know.

North Aurora certainly did not grow very fast. In a "Now and Then" column dated June 10, 1937 Will Slaker is quoted as follows: "There are only two houses in North Aurora which I haven't seen built." Even if his memory was very good he probably would not remember anything before 1866.

As far as commercial enterprises are concerned we have to go back to 1834 when John Peter Schneider established a mill and constructed a house nearby on the east side of the river. He also built a dam across the river. In 1860 he built a gristmill on the west side of the river.

In 1868 a bridge was built across the river. Actually it was a covered bridge, which had been dismantled in Aurora and rebuilt in North Aurora.

Mr. Goodwin bought the Schneider property on the east side of the river and then sold it to the Stone Brothers, Richard I. Smith, I.M. Tiffany and Julius Brown who established the North Aurora Sash and Door Company in 1869. In 1873 a cheese factory was built on the west side of the river. Will Slaker was its treasurer and it was quite successful. In fact its products were shipped as far away as England. In 1879 Hartsburg and Hawksley was established on the Island in order to make use of the waterpower. They turned out fine wooden doors and trim. The Sperry Foundry was established on the Island in 1870. Their products hollow ironware, feed boilers, etc. Aurora Smelting and Refining was established in 1887. At first they handled the processing of lead from Galena, I11. and then the gold and silver from the West. They employed as many as 200 men.

For all that activity there were still not many dwellings. Emiline Messenger says that some housewives took in boarders during the week, and then they would go to their homes during the weekend. The men probably lived in any one of several communities around and about North Aurora. When the settlement was incorporated into a village in 1908 the population stood at 200.

Perhaps now is as good a time as any to take up the name change. According to his biography, Joseph had his name changed in 1874 "at the Legislature" by Eugene Canfield. (Unfortunately we cannot find this recorded.) He took the name of Joseph Slaker, and please note he did not change his name until after his father died.**

3 °~

Adam Jr. used the Slaker name on and off from 1867. Valentine is listed in the 1860 census as Valentine Slager but from then on he used the name of Slaker. Heinricht and Phillip apparently went to Elgin very shortly after they arrived in this country and they assumed the name of Schlager right from the start. Michael kept the name of Ochsenschlager, as did his children, and their children’s: children. It is interesting to note that Adam Sr. names each of his children in his will by the name of Ochsenschlager.

* We know from talking to Paul Slaker that there gas a large barn across the road iron the Ochsenschlager house. He also says that cows were allowed to roam in the ponds near the river. Paul remembers his father telling about the time that Joseph went after the cows, but because it was so foggy, he lost his bearings. Fortunately he ran into a neighbor who steered him in the right direction.

Since writing this article concerning Adam Joseph, and I I received a copy of an article, which appeared in Jan. 27, 1875 AURORA BEACON. This is the official notice of the Ochsenschlager name change.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCONCERN.

e nukes, that, at the March term, A. D. 1876, of the City Court of Aurora, we shell $le our tuition in said court, nsaytag that one axrdeach of our surnames be _ch9kgvd from Ochseaaahlases to Qlaker, under sod by virtue of as act of t e &aergl Assembly of the State of nitnols. entitled, "An act to revise the law is relation to as.nes,"approved, Feb.Z6th,W!

Adam 0chseasehlaser.

Henry ocbseasoblazer. By‑ Ad&= Ooh‑'

Adam ocbsenschlaifer, senschlager

Sate Ochsenschlager, . .:.h~their father ana

John ochseaschlager. ' ~~ , next friend. Elizabeth Ochsenschlager. Valentine Ochsenschlager.

Charles S. Ochseaseh!ager, By Valentine William V.Ochsensehlager,~Oebaenschiager, Margaret oehseasc"er, their father and next friend.

(Joseph ochsenschlager.

' Ii Joseph

William L. Ochsenachlager, lager

John 0ehaenschlsger. their lrther and.

next irisad. '

60‑3w JOBEPH F. 13LAOZIL

E06ZXS Ca‑MMsn AWy for Pet1UoneM

Aurora, Jan 18th, ~BTe.

(I am indeed grateful to my friends Mr. & Mrs. Needham. of Columbus, Ohio.)

This Indenture., made this sixth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty one ‘between Adam Ochsenschlager Sr. and Eva, his wife, of the County of Kane, State of Illinois, party of the first part, and Joseph Ochsenschlager of the same place, party of the second part. Witnessed that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of twenty‑four hundred dollars, in hand paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the said party of the second part, forever released, and discharged there from, have remised, released, sold, conveyed and quitclaimed and by these present do remise, release, sell, convey and quitclaim unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all the right, title, interest, claim and demand which the said party of the first part have in and for the following described lot, piece or parcel of land to wit. Beginning at a point twenty two rods and three feet South from the northwest corner of the southwest fractional quarter of Section No. Three and running thence East to the east line of said quarter, thence South along said line seventy eight rods and 91 feet, thence West to the west line of said quarter, thence North along said line to the of beginning containing 87.70 acres of land. Also, beginning eighty rods North from the southeast corner of Section Four on the east line of said Section and running thence West to the west line of said section, thence North along said line to the outer line of said section, thence East along said line to the northwest corner of 26.33/100 of land conveyed by Edward G. Mix and wife to J. P. Schneider, thence South along the west line of said lands, 25 rods and 2 feet, thence East along said Schneider's south line, to the east line of said section, thence South along said line, to the place of beginning, supposed to contain 110 acres of land. All of which the above described lands lying and being in Township 38 North Range Eight East of the 3rd Principal Meridian in the County of Kane, State of Illinois. To have. and to hold the same, together with all and singular the appurtenances and privileges thereunto, belonging, or and in any wise thereunto appertaining, and all the Estate, right title, interest and claim whatever, of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, to the only proper use, benefit and behoove of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever.

In witness whereof the said party of the first part hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered

in Presence of Adam Ochsenschlager (Seal)

Chas. J. Metzner Eva Ochsenschlager (Seal)

State of Illinois)

for S. Charles J. Metzner, a Notary Public in and for

Kane County ) said County, in the State aforesaid, do hereby

certify that Adam Ochsenschlager Sr. personally known to me as the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument of writing appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged that he signed, sealed and delivered the said instrument of writing, as his free and voluntary act for the uses and purposes therein set forth.

And to the said Eva, wife of the said Adam Ochsenschlager, Sr. having been by me examined separate and apart and out of the hearing of her husband and the contents and meaning of the said instrument of having been by me made known to her, acknowledged that she had freely and voluntarily executed the same and relinquished her dower to the land tenements therein mentioned without compulsion of her said husband and that she does not wish to retract the same. Given under my hand and official seal, this sixth day of February A.D. 1861.

/s/ Chas. J. Metzner, N.P.

Filed May 24, 1861 at 8 AM F. C. Moore, recorder.

Transcription of Consent of Sale of property in North Aurora by Adam Ochsenschlager to Joseph Ochsenschlager.

JOSEPH OCHSENSCHLAGER WIT .L

In his will Joseph lists $8,000 in real estate and $1800 personal‑and $21,392.44 in notes. Estate value $36,000.

The heirs are listed as:

Mary Ochsenschlager, his wife

Children: John Slaker Louise Killian Joseph Slaker Mary Habermeyer Eva Banker William Slaker

Grandchildren: Boyd Slaker Mary Klein Cora Slaker

Will Slaker bought out the other heirs for $6,402. This covered the real estate only.

Mary Ochsenschlager continued to live William and his wife on the original farm. In later years she became completely blind.

Joseph and Mary

Children

JOHN OCHSENSCHLAGER

Mary and Joseph's first child was named John. He was born shortly before or soon after his parents moved to a farm north of Aurora.

Adam and Eve and Joseph and Mary bought land as a joint venture on what is now Lincoln Way in North Aurora in 1847. We have no way of knowing what the housing situation was. That is, whether there were two houses on the land or if both families lived together. John's birth date is listed as 1847. He is first listed in the 1850 census as being four years old. Incidentally, when the Ochsenschlager's bought the land there was only a small settlement called Schneider's Mill. This became North Aurora when a post office was established in 1868‑69.

All of the Ochsenschlager children attended a small school‑near their home. John's notebook entries lists the usual farm chores and the weather. As lie grew older lie lists parties he attended, when lie helped Eva move, when tie delivered straw to Louisa. He lists the purchase of new shoes for Eva and Sophia and tells of purchasing violin strings. (His granddaughter confirms that she was told that John was quite a musician.) A day to remember must have been when lie drove to Geneva to register his new name‑‑Slaker.

In 1872 John went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He stayed in that vicinity for four years, although his notes show that lie visited his Illinois home at some time or other. In 1876 lie married Betta Weis in Iowa and they returned to the farm at Schneider's Mill.

Their son, Frank, was born in 1877. Eva's letter to John, copy attached, mentions the baby. A daughter, Nora, was born in 1878. In the 1880 census we find the following listing:

North Aurora

Joseph Slaker, 63, his wife Mary, 65, son John, 33, John's wife Betta, 27, their son Frank, 3 and their daughter, Nora, 1.

A son George was born in 1882 and another son, Harry in 1885.

It appears that John was always interested in buying and selling land. We know that lie investigated land in Iowa and in Kansas, and lie bought land in Illinois. However, the entries in his notebook are too complicated to give us a real picture. We do not know when John and Betta moved into their first home. We believe he moved into his second home, a farm on Schneider Road just east of their first one, on Dec. 18, 1891 because an entry in his diary reads, "White house finished on 12‑13‑91. Moved in 12‑18‑91." In May of 1891 Joe Slaker (John's brother) started on John's barn and started on the house in June. This is the house in which John's children and grandchild were raised. Frank moved to California in 1900, and on Dec. 19, 1906 John and Betta went to visit them. Stayed until Feb. 19, 1907.

John died in 1915. Betta stayed on the farm with son, Harry and his family. She died in 1933.

State of Illinois, DeKalb County,

Dan S. Crego of the City of DeKalb, in the County

of DeKalb and State of Illinois, being first duly sworn on his oath both

depose and say that he, this infant, is a nephew , and administrator of

the estate of Charles Souders, ceased, and who departed this life on

or about the ~~~__ day of ‑~!‑‑‑• d. D. 1917; infant further states that the said Ch so Souders never married, remaining a

bachelor, his entire life.

Affidavit further states that this affidavit is made

in relation to perfecting title to that part of the North half of Section Four (4) Township Thirty‑eight North, Range Right 1Cast of the Third

municipal Meridian, and to that part of the South half of Section Thirty-three (33) Township Thirty‑nine (39) North Range Right (8) Fast of the Third principal ':."meridian, all in Kane County, Illinois, and by said Souders conveyed to John 0. Slaker and George Pl. Schneider, by his respective deeds, to which reference is hereby had for greater particularity.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this /?‑f1 day of February :.. D. 1919

Notary

My coraai3siGri expires on the ..2_.l..L~ .day of . ~:~m t,L . A.. D. 19

While we have no actual proof, we understand from Betty Tuftee that George Slaker (Harry's brother) spent some time in California. He worked on the California and Northeastern Railway. This was at Summit between Grass Valley and Grass Lake to Black Boot Summit. George also lived in Texas and this is where he met his wife. We have no actual dates, but it would have been before his father's death in 1915. George must have returned to North Aurora shortly after his father's death in 1915. He purchased land adjacent to Harry Slaker's farm (east) and lived there until his retirement, when lie went to California.

LOUISA M. OCHSENSCHLAGER

Louisa was Joseph and Mary's second child. She was born in 1848 in North Aurora. No doubt she attended the small school near her home. There is no record that she attended high school.

Louisa married Emil Killian in 1866. It is thought that Emil worked for the C. B. & Q.R.R. We have a reference to the fact that Louisa's brother, Joseph, a carpenter, lived with the Killians from 1874 to 1877. At that time the family's address was 23 Kane Street.

The family is listed in the 1880 census as follows:

Emil, 49, engineer. Native of Saxony. Address 23 Kane Street., Aurora. Louise, 31. his wide. EdzTard, 13, ‑ Born 1867 Lulu. 9 ‑ Born 18?1 Herman, 7 ‑ Born 1872 Joseph, 5 ‑ Born 1875 Flora. 2 ‑ Born 1878 Clara, 2 Mos. ‑ Born 1880

In the 1886 to 1895 directories the address of the family is 388 Kane Street. In the 1892 directory Emil is listed as a machinist and Louise as a dressmaker.

In the 1900 census Emil is shown as an engineer, 69 gears old, Louisa 52. Joseph 24 and Flora 22.

Louisa is listed as a widow in 1907. We have no record of where Louisa lived after Emil's death. There is some listing of Flora and Louisa living together, but we do not know where 'or when.

A cousin of Edward, and Ellen's wedding license is attached. A7.so a copy of Louisa's obituary.

Louisa died on July 8, 1931.

Adam II and Magdeline

ADAM OCHSENSCHLAGER II

Adam Ochsenschlager II was the third son of Adam and Marg.

He was born in 1820 and apparently came to this country in 1847 at the age of 27. We do not know if he came with his parents or alone later in the year. He might even have been married at the time of his arrival. Actually the only concrete evidence we have is the 1850 census which shows:

Adam Ohsensckler , age 30, Tailor, Born Germany Helen, his wife, age 29, born Germany Sofiah, born Ohio, age 1

From this we assume that Adam went to Ohio upon his arrival in this country. From his obituary we know that he came to Aurora in 1848. From other documents we know that his wife's maiden name was Magdeline Michael. Spelling in early documents is always a guess.

Let us see just what kind of a town Adam came to in 1848 with his young family.

First of all, it was only eleven years old. Joseph McCarty

built the first cabin here in 1834. His brother, Samuel,

joined him and by 1837 there enough settlers to label the

mill sight a 'town.' Elias D. Terry had given it the name

of "Aurora." Indians had been moved out and the tiny

settlement had begun to grow. The town occupied two sides

of the Fox River and a large island in the middle. Actually

at this time only the East Side had been incorporated into

a town with the following streets: Running arallel to the

river were Broadway, LaSalle Street, Seneca Lincoln Ave.),

Fourth Street, Root Street, and Anderson Street. Running

at right angles to the river were (starting at the north end)

Flagg Street Spring Street, New York Street, Chicago Road

(Main Street , Fox Street, and Benton Street. Although streets

had been plotted on the west side of the river by Theodore

Lake, it was not incorporated as "West Aurora" until 1854.

Running from north to south were River Street and then Lake

Street. Those running east and west (starting at the north

end) were Spruce, Walnut, Galena and then Mill Street. The

whole town was only about a mile from north to south.

Joseph McCarty had built two dams across the River. On the east side he established a saw mill which was used for many years. The dam he built on the west side was purchased by Zaphna Lake and other mills built here. In 1837 the McCartys in partnership with Robert Miller built a grist mill. Joseph Stolp had erected a woolen mill on the island, which he owned, and George McCollum had put up a plow and wagon shop. Old records indicate there were some ten stores here, two churches, the First Methodist and the First Congregational, and two small schools‑‑one on the east side and one on the west.

/I (P

Samuel McCarty had also built a road to Naperville and persuaded the stage coach to use it, so that in effect he had diverted the road to Chicago from where it crossed the river at Montgomery to where it crossed the River in Aurora.' The post office was transferred to Aurora also.

Bridges had been built across the river in.1836 and in 1838, but both of them had been swept away by floods. . Popular subscription had rebuilt the bridges in 1840.

Perhaps one of the most exciting events on those days was the arrival of the stage coach. It was customary in the 30's and 40's for the first stage to pull up at Terry's Hotel on the northeast corner of Main and LaSalle Streets, and the second at Wilder's Hotel on north River Street.

Streets were scarcely more than dirt paths. Pigs and cattle roamed at will, and may weeds grew high along the edges. There were no street lights.

By the time Adam arrived in Aurora, most of the cabins had been replaced by frame houses. But there was no lighting other than candles. Each home had its own well and of course its own outhouse. Almost all homeowners had a garden in the back yard, a fruit cellar and a flock of chickens.

There was little in the way of public entertainment. The 1200 or so people who lived here worked hard and when night came they were glad to retire early.

But better things were in the wind. On February 12, 1849 three special charters were granted by the Illinois legislature for three different railroads, Lorenzo D. Brady, member of the legislature, was instrumental in securing a charter for the "Aurora Branch Railroad." Peoria secured a charter for the "Peoria & Oquakal' westward through Galesburg to Oquawka (near Burlington) on the Mississippi River. The other charter was granted to build the "Northern Cross R.R." from Quincy to Galesburg. These railroads looked good on paper, but financing was difficult.

The Aurora Branch became a reality when it was started in March, 1840, and completed in October of the same year. The little railroad ran between Aurora and Turner's Junction (now West Chicago) . Secondhand strap rail were purchased from the Buffalo & Niagara Railroad and borrowed equipment was pressed into service. ‑ut it was the beginning of very big happenings:

‑After the road and stage line passed through the young town, a great number of prairie schooners passed through on their way west.

See Insert ‑ next page.

>/17

Insert:

In the book, "Philadelphia Naturalization Records,"edited by P. William Filby is the following notation:

Name: Ochlenschlayer, Adam Allegiance: Germany Court: C.P. Date of Declaration of Intention and Oath of Allegiance: Oct. 6, 18,47 and Oct. 1, 1852.

We also have a letter from the City of Philadelphia, Dept. of Records, 10/28/1981:

‑ Dear Mrs. Rieke: In reply to your letter of Oct. 23

please be advised that the City Archives holds a petition of naturalization for an Adam Ochsenschlager who was naturalized in the Court of Common Please on Oct. 1, 1852. Attached to the petition is a declaration of intention in 1847 which reveals that the subject was 29 years at the time of the declaration, a native of Germany and that he gave up allegiance to the Duke of Hesse‑Darmstadt. (Signed) Ward J. Childs.

We also have a letter dated Nov. 12, 1981 in which Jeanette C. Parson informs me as follows:

The enclosed page is in answer to your request for information on Adam Ochlenschlayer. Unfortunately, we have no further material on the subject. If we can be of any assistance in the future, please feel free to contact us.

‑‑ We honestly don't know whether all this refers to our Adam

Ochsenschlager or not. It appears that it must.

And yet‑‑we are in possession of a copy of a naturalization paper dated November 1856 in which citizenship is awarded to Adam Ochsenschlager , 36 years old. I. Tarble and O.D. Day were witnesses.' And this one is issued in Kane County.

Is the first one just a coincidence? Was Adam naturalized twice? Did he really make the trip back to Philadelphia to be naturalized in 1852?

We don't have the answers.

l/ f

We have no record of where Adam and his family lived during their early years in Aurora. The first address we have is in the 1857 directory which shows Adam, a tailor, living on River Street between Walnut and

Galena. He worked for Wm. McMicken & Co. of River St.

During the 1850's four more children were born to Adam and Lena: John in 1851, Elizabeth in 1853, Adam III in 1855, and Henry in 1857. Lena must have been busy indeed cooking, sewing and caring for five young children. In those days clothing was made at home. Cooking was done on a wood burning stove in the kitchen. Washing was also done in the kitchen using large tubs, a scrub board and lye soap. Ironing was done by heating the irons on the cookstove. No doubt the wash tubs doubled as bath tubs as there was no inside plumbing at that time. Water had to be carried from the well.

Houses were not built very tight nor insulated in those days. In wintertime they were heated by a wood burning stove. Many times the occupants must have been very cold. In the summer the houses were stifling‑‑no fans or air conditioning. Screens had not yet come into general use, so flies and mosquitoes must have been real pests, especially since the Ochsenschlagers lived so close to the river.

Although we have no exact notes the following excerpts, from an article written by Jean McArthur, who grew up on River Street, will give us an insight into their lives:

"Peoples doors were not often locked and any one could walk in."

"In those days every man was potentially a fireman. When the old court house bell rang every man was supposed to count the strokes while getting into his clothes. He then made for the proper district on a run. Doors could be heard shutting, men running crying 'Fire:' as they went."

"People went to the little post office once a day or so to get any mail that was in their boxes."

"The milk men rang bells while sitting in their milk wagons, then dipped the milk out into the customer's dish." (Many early residents had their own cow.)

"People had ague and took quinine and clover powder and 'blue mass,' otherwise calomel. If your throat

C~' w

~z~

was sore there was the pork barrel. A good slice put on at right and a piece of red flannel in the day would clear up anything in that line. The children were expected to have measles and whooping cough as part of their inheritance. Scarlet fever and diphtheria were dispensations of God. Germs hadn't been thought of, or the fact they might be gotten rid of, or the fact that a child could grow to old age without having measles."

The 1850's were years of growth for Aurora. In 1852 the charter for the Aurora Branch Railroad was amended. The road was empowered to build an additional forty‑six miles to Mendota and the name was changed to the Chicago and Aurora Railroad. This extension was completed in 1853. In 1856 the railroad was consolidated with the "Central Military Tract" which was built from Galesburg to Mendota. In 1856 the main repair shops were located in Aurora with a round house, machine shop, carpenter shop and paint shop. Now there was real money in town. Three hundred or so men were employed and wages, paid in cash, amounted to $13,400 a month.

The effect was electrifying. I quote from the 158‑59 edition of Brigham's Aurora Directory:

"In 1851, the year the railroad was completed to Aurora, there were four additions made to the two

villages, which shows that speculation was active, lots were in demand, and as a consequence rising

in value. From that time until 1856 a steady progress

was experienced; but in that year our enterprising

citizens secured the Burlington shops. That year,

men seemed to have gone crazy with speculation.

Everybody was coming to Aurora, everybody wanted

lots, everybody had lots for sale, everybody built

houses, everybody was in a fever, everybody was

getting rich. Surveyors and land agents were as

busy as bees." Following is a list of additions

showing the year in which they were made:

EAST DIVISION

Roots Addition 1848 Allen's Addition 1856

Dorlis' Addition 1851 Innes & Coulter 1856

Anderson's Addition 1851 Whitwood's Addition 1856

Jenks' Addition 1852 Barr & Young's Add'n 1856

Town's Addition 1853 Mann's Addition 1856

Hackney's Addition 1855 Howell's Addition 1856

Buck's Addition 1855 Vanderbilt's Add'n 1856

Bidwell's Addition 1856 Harmon's Addition 1857

Gifford's Addition 1856 Cotterell's Add'n 1857

Stephenson's Add'n 1856 Lathrop Addition 1857

Beach & Shedd's Addn 1856

12.3

WEST DIVISION

Wilder's Addition 1851 Gray's Addition 1856

Gales Addition 1851 Westover's Addition 1856

Wagner's Addition 1854 Lydia Lake ‑‑

Holbrook's Add'n 1856 Hoyt's Addition 1857

Hall's Addition 1856 Assessor's Subdiv. 1857_

Breese & Hinds Add'n 1856

The city limits as established in 1859 were not changed until the 1890's.

Government for the city progressed as follows: The east side of the river had been incorporated in 1845 as the town of "Aurora." The west side of the river incorporated as "West Aurora" in 1854. Finally in 1857 the legislature granted a special charter uniting the villages as the City of Aurora. B. F. Hall was the first mayor. The original charter contained a provision that the city hall should be built upon the island. A plot of ground for that purpose was donated by J. G. Stolp in July 1859. Ground was broken that same year and the basement completed. The entire structure was not completed until 1864.

Population increased from 1,895 in 1850 to 6,011 in 1860.

Again quoting from the 1858‑59 Brigham's Aurora Directory:

"The City of Aurora is beautifully situated on both sides of Fox River, which has a substantial dam across it, affording excellent water power for manufacturing purposes. The land on both sides rises gradually to a height of from 69 to 70 feet. It is spread over an area of 5‑5/8 square miles affording the greatest abundance of building sites, being rolling and uneven but not broken, and

with but few low and marshy spots Water of the

purest kind is found by digging from 12 to 20 feet, and in the bluffs on both sides of the river a thousand springs of soft water, clear as crystal and delicious to drink gush forth, enough to supply the largest city in the world I think."

By the use of leaden pipes and hydraulic rams these springs were made to supply the Burlington shops and almost the‑!,entire business portion of the east side. A reservoir was used to supply the railroad on the west side.

It goes without saying that the Burlington shops provided the impetus to the growth of Aurora. They hired the most men, and brought real money to the town. However there were a

l 24

few other industries which deserve mention.

Joseph Stolp had built the Aurora Woolen Mill on the island part of town. During the 140s he built a factory of brick. In 1858 he built a second building forming an L with the first. Now the whole factory measured 178 feet x 35 feet, and employed 50 people.

Erasmus and Alvin Woodworth had come to Aurora in the early 40's and had established a good reputation for blacksmithing and wagon making. In 1855 they began building a large stone manufacturing facility, 100 x 75 feet and four stories high. This facility was for the manufacture of wagons and was located at the corner of Mill and River Streets. Jean McArthur has this to say about their product:

"The long strings of big green wagons of a dozen or more that were hauled down River Street, were shipped to the new state of Kansas. Dana Hall painted all the green wagons that went out."

In 1855 the company of Mix and Plum erected a warehouse for storing grain on River Street between Gale and First Streets.

E. R. Allen & Co. also had a grain warehouse , complete with steam elevators, on LaSalle Street near the railroad depot.

There were two stone quarries‑‑one owned by J. M. Andrus & Co. and the other by Hoyt and Brother.

There were some other small wagon manufacturing companies, among them George McCollum on the corner of Galena and Lake, and Moore and Hough on the Island.

There were still three grist mills on the river. In 1854 Charles Gill purchased the old McCarty Mill on the east bank, tore down the original saw mill, and built a new grist mill addition. It was now known as the City Mills. James Fife bought the old carding mill from Stolp's and turned it into a barley mill. Chas. Hoyt put up a grist mill, called the Blackhawk Mill, on the site of the old Lake Mill. He worked it for about 15 years and then rented it to Squires & Whitfield. This was on the west side of the river. James Fyfe's mill was on the Island and it was known as the Eagle Mill.

John McInhill started a brewing company on Lake Street in 1849, and Gottfried Egger started one on 1855. Mr. Egger's company known as the Aurora Brewery Company, was located near Indian Creek. The original plant was about 50 x 50, three stories high. An addition, for the preparation of malt, was 75 x 30 feet and also three stories high. There were also two arched cellars, each 50 feet long and 25 feet underground.

A sash factory was operated by Reader & Merrill on the island and a soap factory, operated by Beach & Shedd, furnished the railroad shops with tallow and soft soap.

127

So much for the industries in Aurora. It would be to difficult to identify the numerous stores that were established and then went out of business during this

‑ decade. But we can list the types of merchandise they

carried: Dry goods, men's clothes, hats, shoes, jewelry, hardware, furniture, books and stationery. Then there were grocers, bakers, and liquor store operators. Some of the service jobs were real estate, insurance, carpentry, masonry, painting, dress making, laundering , printing, barbering, auctioneering, and photographing, and of course there were lumber yards and livery stables.

The professional people included 14 doctors, 2 midwives, 4 dentists, 2 architectural firms, 10 lawyers, and 4 teachers. There were probably more teachers but they were not listed. We also could not get an accurate count of the ministers, since they often served more than one parish.

We should point out that this is the first time photography is listed in the directory. Other new listings were a bowling alley, a coal dealer, and an ice cream parlor.

Aurora was served by two banks: The Exchange Bank operated by Albert Jenks & Co., on Broadway near Fox, and the Bank of Aurora on River Street near Mill Street, operated by Hall & Brothers. There were two weekly newspapers: Aurora Beacon and Aurora Republican. Two monthly papers were The Reformer and Temperance Monitor.

There are still only two main hotels. Isaac Marlett bought out the Terry House, remodeled and expanded it and gave it the name of The Aurora House. This was on the corner of Main and LaSalle. On the Northeast corner of Main and LaSalle was the new Empire House. The old Wilder House has become a boarding house run by George Grass. There was also a large building at LaSalle and Benton which housed guests, although it is not listed as a hotel. This was built in 1854 by John Fleming. We must not forget to mention the small hotel, Fox River House, between River and Lake, run by E. D. Huntoon.

By the end of 1859 the following churches had been built: First Congregational, 1856, Main & East Park; New England Congregational, 1858, Locust Street; First Methodist, 1843, Lincoln & Fox; Second Methodist, 1858, Galena between Lake & River; First Baptist, 1857, Galena Blvd.; Trinity, 1854, North Lake & Spruce; German Lutheran, 1856. First & Jackson; Sacred Heart, 1851, Pine & Spruce; First First Evangelical, 1858. Fourth & Watson; Universalist Church, 1842. Main Street; and the Union Baptist, 1857 (purchased First Congregational building.) The new First Congregational building. 1856, was the most pretentious church in Aurora at that time.

Bp 1851 both the east and west side schools were overcrowded. A tax was voted and in 1851 a new school house was erected on New York Street. This was the first free

128

public school in Illinois. In 1852 a two story stone building was erected on Walnut, Spruce, Oak and Pine for the grand sum of $3,220.

In 1857 Rev. John Clark, with the backing of several Aurora business men, began the construction of a seminary. By 1859 it was completed. The main front edifice was 40 x 125 feet and five stories high. The E11 was 40 x 70 feet and four stories high and the kitchen areas as 30 x 40 feet and two stories. The school had a capacity of four to six hundred students. The entire cost was somewhere around $70,000. It was located on the corner of Broadway and North Avenue and for years dominated the skyline of south Aurora.

There were a number of bad fires in Aurora. In 1849 there was a fire at the McCollum Carriage Factory, in 1854 McInhill's Brewery burned, in 1854 Volintine's General Store, in 1856 eight stores on the east side of Broadway were destroyed. No wonder the businessmen, by subscription, purchased a hand machine and hose cart for $1,000. An engine house and jail cost $600. All fire fighting was done by volunteers, and when the fire bell rant they would drop whatever they were doing, run for the fire house and pull the pumper to the fire. It was not altogether effective because in 1858 seven stores on the west side of Broadway burned.

During February of 1857 Aurora experienced a devastating flood. It rained constantly for three days, and the ground was too frozen to absorb it, so the water poured into the River. Soon there was a tremendous ice jam. As this began breaking up it swept everything in front of it including nearly every bridge on the Fox River, as well as dams, mills, factories and homes. Stolp Island was nearly covered by enormous cakes of ice. All in all it did at least $100,000 damage. There was one bridge over the east channel at Main Street, one over the east channel at Fox Street and one over the west channel at Fox Street. All three and a railroad bridge at Montgomery were swept away. The two bridges on Fox Street and the railroad bridge wee replaced with wooden covered bridges.

Since 1836, when Burr Winton was post master, a number of men had held the position. At this time R. C. Mix was in charge of the post office‑‑a small house built on the island near the bridge.

An article in THE GUARDIAN, dated June 15, 1853 reads, "Ladies of Aurora, the good is coming. Among the new ordinances there is one which has a fine lot of figures in it, and soon you will hear the rapping of the hammer as planks are laid to keep your dainty feet out of the mud and water, the recollection of which is so vivid in the minds of all last winter's pedestrians."

During that same year there was agitation for a city pound as "the fact is there are too many hogs loose for the good looks of the young city."

/10

Original plans for the Aurora Branch Railroad called for trains to cone into Aurora on the West Side. However, Mr. Brady managed to get the plans changed so that they came in from Chicago On the East Side. In order to keep everyone happy two depots were erected. One in 1852 on Walnut and River. There was one on the east side but its location is doubtful. We know for sure there was one built in 1854 on LaSalle Street immediately north of New York Street.

By tine end of the 1850's the citizens of Aurora had more money to spend and more time for recreation. Two large buildings, each having a hall where the public could assemble, had been erected. There was the Brady Block on the northeast corner of Main and Broadway and the Dunning Block on River Street at the foot of Galena. According to early newspaper accounts, "In these halls many brilliant social events were held such as balls and theatricals. The dances were round, square and long into the night. Rudolph Huntoon's band was the name band. "

There were also two brotherhood lodges‑‑the Masons and the Odd Fellows‑‑as well as two divisions of the Sons of Temperance.

In 1852 a "Young Men's Literary and Historical Society" was formed and provided its members with a library of over 400 books. In 1856 "The Young Men's Association" provided in a similar way a 'library of 600 books. These two societies united in 1859 under ‑‑ne name of "Young Men's Literary Association of Aurora" which continued for several years. A Debating Club was also started about this time.

Some entrepreneurs became quite wealthy and built beautiful homes. To name a few: William Tanner in 1857 at Cedar and Oak; J. B. Stolp at the corner of River arid Holbrook; Samuel McCarty at the corner of Main and Lincoln; John W. Marshall at Lake near First; and E. R. Allen at LaSalle and Fox.

Transportation was still by foot, horseback and horse and buggy. And, yes, the streets were still dusty in summer and muddy in winter. The stage coach line was not supplanted by the railroad until 1857.

It should be noted that Adam and Lena live on River Street between Walnut and Galena and at that time River Street was one of the busiest in Aurora. Dunning Hall was only two blocks away and there was even a bowling alley close by. So there was opportunity for recreation.

/30

/I 54 ‑ a ‑

Its location on east side of relocated main line is very definitely established; being partly an railroad property and pertly is La Salle Street, on 'a parcel o! lead 40'x100• lying immediately north o! New York Street, under a lease team the City, dated April 29, 1854, for "depot purposes." Its location is shown on aerial photograph and marked "C" . It is well remembe red by Daniel :hedge and John Holden, both mw living, as well as other old citizens of aurora. The location o! this depot is shown on Moore's dap of aurora, printed about 1860.

The accompanying sketch has been prepared from information given b, persons now lining who remember a®e, giving due consideration 'et the type of stations being built during years 1883‑1854‑1855 on line hoes Turner Junction to Galesburg.

CLIPPING

Newspaper: Aurora Beacon‑News

ATE: April ! 3 J l g 3 7

REPRODUCED: // It I // 's, j''

EARLY HISTORY OF, . AURORA IS LECTURE TOPIC

James Innes, Former County .Treasurer, Speaks at Aurora Historical Society,

The April meeting of the Aurora Historical society was held yesterday afternoon at library hall. The speaker was James Innes, who has spent his entire life here and who was active in affairs of the city and county in the eighties and nineties, serving both as town collector and county treasurer. His tack was of early Aurora.

Peter Innes, father of the speaker, and Thomas Sellers, both tailors, came from Scotland in 1837, being 11 weeks on the ocean. After a short residence here Mr. Innes v lived a few years at Little Rock, and at Yorkville, returning in 7849. The elder Innes was the first mer‑ 1 chant tailor in Aurora. C. H. Reeves' was at one time his cutter. During these early years, John Coulter, a stone mason contractor, who later built the Coulter Opera House, was associated with Peter Innes. They bought and platted property known

as the Innes‑Coulter addition, comprising property north and east of the intersection of Claim and Union streets; and a subdivision between New York and Main streets.

In James Innes' youth Temperance Hall, Brady Hall and Dunning Hall were the only places where lectures and entertainments were held. He recalled seeing Tom Thumb in Brady Hall and attending a concert in Dunning hall,.

Recalls Teachers.

James Innes' school days began in a one room school located at the northwest corner of Fifth street and Center avenue. Later he attended the school in New York street east of the present St. Charles hospital, where at , recess the boys climbed ladders to watch the workmen on the new Center school, which was not `completed until 7867. Among his early teachers he recalled Miss Quackenbush, Miss Donaldson, Miss .Bruce and Miss Mary Little, a sister

' of Attorney A. C. Little.

' He worked for R. T. Hurd do Co. CS the .manufacturing of tinware. `Whey also dealt in glassware and ".`pods for peddling wagons. Young T nes drove one of the wagons for a me and in 1876 and IM end: vin 'the peddling business for

"‑.himsgif: .

" An unusual runaway of an ox team . own Broadway was . vividly ‑ descried, `as was That of a four

belonging

e . For augh circus In'‑ 1882. e

circuses of a early sixties were held on‑ Ni' i' open saces west of

Lincoln avenue and in the neighboyhood of Center . avenue. The small boys of ',the :town led the elephants and camels to the river to drink.

1860's

Of course we have no way of pinpointing dates, but from an article in the May 3, 1860 issue of the Aurora Weekly Beacon we find that Adam went into business . Unfortunately the item covered bad news: "On Wednesday, May 2, at 3 A.M. a fire was discovered over the oven of Frank Smith's bakery .... The corner occupied by Smith & H.F. VanNortwick grocery store was soon a mass of fire. The fire spread to a small cigar store of Charles Miller, just south, thence to Loser & Schlager

next south Loser & Co. have moved into the new store of

John Kemp, on the opposite corner." Notice that Adam uses the name of "Schlager" here. However, in later directories he is listed as Ochsenschlager.

We have every reason to believe that the store was successful because Loser & Co. (A. Loser and A. Ochsenschlager) were in business all during the 60's. The store was at 37 S. River Street and Adam lived at 13 N. River Street.

In 1861 the Civil War broke out. Although Adam and his family were not directly involved, still he must have known men who did join the Union Army. Company C, 36th Infantry earned the name of one of the hardest fighting units in the war, and had one of the greatest losses of men of all the union forces. Aurora men saw action in such battles as Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, Vicksburg and Sherman's march. It was a tense and sad time for the whole country.

In 1862 another daughter, Amelia, was born to Adam and Lena. However, this baby was not destined to live very long. She died in 1863. Then in 1864 Sopia died at the age of fifteen. What heartbreaking happenings: Still another daughter was born in 1868. She was given the name of Katherine, but always called "Kitty."

During the 60's other Ochenschlagers began to move to Aurora. His father, Adam, and his step=mother, Eva, moved to the corner of Fulton and Union Streets. Michael lived with them. Valentine, who had been living in Ohio, moved into a house at 2 Wilder Street, only about three blocks from Adam. Louiae (Joseph's daughter) married Emil Killian and moved to town. Elizabeth, Adam's half‑sister, married Fred Newman, and they went into the hardware business on Broadway .

Aurora continued to grow during the 1860's. At the beginning of the decade the population stood at 6,011. By 1870 at stood at 11,162. During the season of 1867 and 1868 over $600,000 in buildings and improvements were made. New commercial blocks, new stores, and new homes were built‑‑and many improvements were made ,

135

The City Hall, begun in 1859, was completed in 1865. It had three stories and bell tower. The cost was somewhere around $75,000. The building housed the jail in the basement, a post office, the library and the upper floor was used for a meeting ball for marching societies.

Streets wee remained unpaved. There were a few sidewalks. In some instances store owners even put down slabs of limestone, but in most cases sidewalks were made of wood planks. People either walked or drove their horses to church, business, shopping, or to pay social calls. Claim Street extended across the River to where West Park is, Downer Place was Mill Street, Grand Avenue was Pine Street and Lincoln Avenue was Seneca Street.

The flood of 1857 carried away the downtown bridges. Temporary bridges were installed from Fox Street to the Island and from the Island to Mill Street. These were replaced in 1863 by wooden truss covered bridges. In 1868 these were replaced by high iron bridges. The wooden structures were dismantled and one was moved to Montgomery and one to North Aurora. The railroad bridge which had been carried away by the flood was replaced by a covered wood structure.

In 1867 the City purchased a Holly water works system for fighting fires. It also purchased the Eagle Mill for pumping water from its mill race. However, the mill was ruined by a flood in 1869. In May of that same year the people voted for taxation to support a fire department. They purchased an Amoskeag steamer, hose, hose cart and other equipment. A Holly pump was also installed by the city and 864 feet of water pipe laid in the business section of the west side. Three large cisterns were built on the east side to supply the steamer. Pipes were laid later.

Let's see what became of some of the industries. The Joseph Stolp's Aurora Woolen Mill was still operating. In fact it had been expanded. The warehouses belong to Mix and Plumb and E. R. Allen & Co. were still in operation.

The City Mill was still in existence, as was the Blackhawk Mill now being run by Ford & Chase. The Eagle Mill had been abandoned. There were now three quarries in town which supply a good grade of limestone for a great many of the buildings in Aurora.

E. & A. Woodworth had expanded more rapidly than their business foundation warranted. In 1860 their property was sold at auction. Taylor, Butterworth & Co. manufactured ambulances and other items for the government during the war. Then the property was turned over to Keith & Snell , and gradually closed. The wagon factory on the island , Moore & bough, was moved to 7 New York Street and was then operated by Brown & Myer. The McCollum wagon works was still operating at the corner of Galena and Lake. Other people who worked in the wagon industry (manufacture and repair) were dale, Carpenter and Hall and Cota & Perrigo.

New church buildings were: Bethel M. E. (formerly German Methodist) 1861, Fox and Anderson Streets; St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 1862. Liberty and High Streets; Free Methodist, 1860, South Lincoln Ave.; First Presbyterian, 1862, Galena between Lake and Oaks

There were other denominations, but they met at various halls, in other churches or in private homes.

I find I have neglected a sad but necessary part of Aurora history‑its cemeteries.

The LaSalle Street Cemetery was the first one. It was bounded by

Benton, Clark, LaSalle and Lincoln streets. It was established

in 1835, and when the land was sold it was understood that this

plot would continue to be used as a cemetery. However, the new

owners had other ideas. Bodies were moved to the Root Street

Cemetery sometime around 1848. Not all. Bones were dug up for

years after.

Root Street Cemetery was established in 1848. by Spring, Union, Short and Root streets‑‑sold and Anson Root‑‑was used up until the 1900's. war veterans were buried there.

In 1855 Calvary on the east side of Lake Street was laid out as a Catholic interment area. The area is small and was closed to burials in the early 1900's.

West Aurora Cemetery between Lake and Wilder Streets, south of Illinois Avenue was donated to the city by Clark Wilder. Records show that the first burial took place in 1859, but there are older stones there, some dating back to 1845.

St. Nicholas Cemetery is located at Ohio and Fenton. It was established by St. Nicholas Church, one of the first Catholic churches in Aurora. The church, on High and Liberty streets was dedicated in 1862. Many of its members were of German descent.

In 1865 Spring Lake Cemetery was incorporated. It is located on 45 acres of land located north of Ashland avenue, west of Lincoln avenue, and east of Broadway. This was formerly a part of the Daniel Bloss farm.

Now let's get back to other changes that took place in the 1860's, not momentous but still affecting the lives of Aurora's citizens.

Take the City Government. The number of wards was increased from four to eleven. Wards one through five were on the west side, and five through eleven on the east side. The Police Department consisted of a magistrate and a night patrol on each side of the river. Each ward elected a policeman annually. The Fire Department had a chief engineer and an assistant. The City Council appointed 20 hose men, 20 hook and ladder men, and 80 engine men. These men

The land‑‑bounded by Charles Bates Many Spanish‑American

were volunteers, but they did meet once a month for training. There were two City ponds for stray animals. There was a new jail in the City Hall. Houses were now given street numbers.

When the new City Hall was completed the post office was allotted a permanent place. Since 1860 the business of the post office had trebled. As a matter of fact in 1868 over 200,000 letters were received daily and well over that number were sent out. Post boxes were installed at various places throughout the city. There were three mails a day by train.

In the 1860's fellowship societies consisted of the Masonic League, Odd Fellows, Temperance Societies, and the Aurora Turnverein, a German club.

New blocks erected in the '60's were Morgan, Meredith & Davis, on River Street, which dealt in men's furnishings; and the Evans Block on Broadway and Main.

*Following is an excerpt from the Annual Report of the Burlington Railroad for the year ending April 30, 1867:

"There has been constructed during the year a large brick passenger house" (President's Report) and in the Chief Engineer's report: "A new passenger house was built on stone foundation, too stories high, containing (besides waiting room for passengers) a ticket office, good and convenient offices for telegraph, and a room for the different officers of the road stationed at that place."

144

1870's

The population of Aurora stood at 11,162 in 1870. Streets were still unpaved, but one big improvement was the elimination of wandering live stock. An ordnance, passed in 1879, forbade the grazing of cows in public thoroughfares. Home owners could now take down their fences.

In 1874 Mrs. Lucy Coulter built the splendid Coulter Opera House on the corner of Fox and Broadway. It provided an excellent medium for stage productions. Talent from all over the country and some from abroad came to perform. In fact the Aurora Dramatic Club was organized about this time and put on several plays at the opera house.

Aurora's first hospital was established in 1872 on Root Street . Dr. F. L. Pond built the Pond's Medical and Surgical Center for the treatment of cancer. There were 300 beds. It was a modern structure with steam heat, hot and cold water, and everything the builders could install for the comfort of the patients. In addition, Dr. Pond put up a row of flat buildings on College Avenue and some 20 dwellings in the neighborhood.

With the backing of mane prominent men, the Aurora YMCA was founded in 1870. Its first quarters were on a piece of land, donated bar Joseph Stolp, on the north side of Downer Place on the Island near the river.

A post of the G. A. R. (Grand Army of the Republic, a Civil War organization) was organized in 1875 in Aurora. The G. A. R. Memorial Hall was dedicated in 1878. This unusual stone building was erected by popular subscription on a plot of land donated by Joseph Stolp on Fox Street. In 1879 a second reunion of Civil War veterans was held here. It was a spectaculars successful event and drew more than 15,000 visitors.

In addition to the Aurora Beacon, Aurora Herald Express and the Aurora Volksfreund, Aurora now had two new newspapers‑‑the Aurora Daily News established in 1873 and the Aurora Evening Post established in 1877.

The Aurora Hotel became the Tremont House.

Some changes in the banking business were: The Second National

Bank was organized and bought out Volentine & Miller. In 1873

the Second National Bank bought out Min: and Miller. A private

banking firm, organized by Bishop & Coulter in 1869, merged

with the Union National Bank and did. business under that name.

The Second National Bank block was built in 1871.

The members of Trinity Church had been meeting in a hall on Broadway, but in 1871 the moved into their new building at Benton and Lincoln Avenue. The congregation of the Sacred Heart On the west side had also been without a home since their church burned. Now they reassembled as St. Mary's Church on the corner of Fox and Root Streets. This church was dedicated on July 7, 1872.

The First M. E. Church at Lincoln and Fox was cut in two‑one half brought to the northeast part of town to be used as a mission, and the other half purchased by the African Methodist Episcopal group. It its place the M.E. congregation built a handsome Gothic edifice in 1874 at a cost of $50,000 . The Second. Methodist leased their church on North Lake Street and built a near church on the corner of Locust and Galena.

The First Presbyterians sold their building to the Swedish Lutheran Society and bail t a near church on the corner of Fourth and Fox Streets. The Union Baptists changed its name to the Park Place Baptist in 1879. They too had sold their original small building and constructed a new larger church dedicated on Nov. 27, 1879.

New industries were: The Aurora Well Works which manufactured pumping equipment.

The Aurora Silverplate Company was built in 1869 on the island but suffered a disastrous fire that same year. It was rebuilt in 1870 and for many years turned out a line of nationally known silverware.

The Q Foundry was built in 1871. In May of 1873 a fire destroyed most of the Burlington shops. They were rebuilt of stone and brick. Of course the fire resulted in some unemployment, but in less than nine months a full force was back to work. By this time the Burlington seas employing a thousand hands and two hundred train hen. Over $100,000 per month was disbursed in the cite.

Love Brothers' Iron Foundry was established in 1878 on Pierce Street but later moved to Clark Street.

The D. R. Sperry Company eras also established in 1876. (Foundry.)

Between 1872 and 1873 the Chicago, Iowa Railroad began to serve Aurora.

It should perhaps be mentioned that Hoyt Bros. Manufacturing Co. and the Stolp Woolen rills were still very active.

Another item of interest was the purchase of a second steamer in 1875 for the Aurora Fire Dept.

142

The new schools built during this decade were:

The first Indian Creek School, located at Mountain and High Streets on the East Side, 1870.

Young School, 1875. It was a fine three story building on the corner of Fifth and Center Streets on the East Side.

The first West High School class was graduated in 1870. Space for the High School was furnished in the Oak Street School.

In 1870 an Industrial School for Girls was established under the management of the Women's Association of Aurora.

The Metropolitan Business School was established in 1873.

The Sacred Heart Church was rebuilt 1878. However a parochial school had been opened in the basement as early at 1874.

In 1875 the Anunciation Church was built in Marywood (Catholic.) The church school was started in 1877.

The African Baptist Church on the corner of North Ave. and Fourth Street was established in 1872.

We turn our attention now to Adam and Lena's personal life during the 1870's.

A directory listing of 1870 reads: "Adam Shaker, Groceries & Liquor, 37 S. River Street, John Shaker, clerk." But in 1874 the establishment is listed as "Ochsenschlager & Sons, 37 S.. River Street." Residence is 13 N. River Street. It appears that Adam used both names.

In 1871 Magdeline died. We have no actual records nor any details. Burial was in North Lake Cemetery. She was survived bit her husband, Adam 51 years old and her children, John 20, Elizabeth 19, Adam Jr. 17, Henry 15 and Katherine 3.

In 1874 Adam's father died at the age of 83. After that time Adam and his children use the name of Shaker all together.

In 1876 John Shaker went into business with his brother Henry. The business was known as "Slaker Brothers". 37 S. River Street. Adam apparently worked in Michael Oclisenschlager's store.*

In 1877 Adam remarried. His bride was Christine Baer of Aurora. They lived at 13 PJ. River Street.

In 1878 Elizabeth married Charles Dietrich of Aurora. Shortly after they were married they moved to Hastings. Nebraska.

*Substaniated in Beacon‑News article of July 2, 1981 in section of this report devoted to "Michael Ochsenschlager"

Elizabeth was Adam and Magdeline's third child. We can find

no record of her birth or where she attended school. However,

she is listed in the 1870 census as 17 years old, which would.

make her birth year 1853. She gives her age as 25 on her

wedding license in 1878 so 1853 must be correct. In the 1870

directory there is also a listing of "Libby Slaker, dressmaker,

13 N. River Street." This same listing is in tie 1872 directory.

On May 4, 1878 she married Charles Dietrich of Aurora. A copy of their wedding is included in these papers. The young couple moved to Hastings, Nebraska in the fall of that same year. A daughter, Gertrude, was born to them, but we do not have the date. Gertrude is mentioned in an article about her father in the "Adams County 'THE STORY"',. but it merely states "The first Mrs. Dietrich died in 1887, and their daughter has been educated in boarding schools and abroad."

That is the sad story of Adam's second daughter.

Following is a reproduction of an article in "BIOGRAPHIES" magazine, author unknown, which gives interesting information on Charles' colorful career.

DIETRICH, Charles Henry, Governor of Nebraska, and U.S. Senator. b Aurora, Ill., Nov. 26, 1853, s Leonard and Ailhelmina (Stein) Dietrich both of whom were natives of Germany; father b Darmstadt; mother b Frankfort; engaged as a shoe manufacturer; belonged to the socialist party, joined the revolutionists and was driven from Germany; went to Canada and eventuality came to the United States and St. Louis where he met his wife and family; moved his family to Aurora, Ill.; Charles Henry Dietrich attended school in Aurora to the age of 10 ears when he ran away from home; the following year he returned home and attended school until 12; leaving Aurora. made his way to St. Joseph, Mo., for 3 years was clerk in a hardware store of W. !r1. N yeth; 1868, went to Chicago, engaging with Hay&n Kay Saddlery & Hardware Company until their business was destroyed by the great fire of 18'1; employed by Chicago City Railroad Company

as inspector; went to St. L‑juis, working as conductor on the street railroad fur a short trine, went to Memphis, Tenn.; moved to Laconia Circle, Ark., with the intention of going into business there but was robbed of his money; returned to Aurora. worked at the blacksmith's trade until 1875 when he went to the Black Hills; located the Aurora mine in Hidden Treasure Gulch; returned to Aurora: 1878 went to Texas where ha had a large herd of sheep near San Antonio; fall of 1878. came to Hastings, engaging in general merchandising with John Wood; 1880 entered the hardware business. with J. B. Dallas for a year; 1881 opened a loan and insurance office as senior partner in the firm of Dietrich & Slaker; 1887, organized the German National Bank, serving as president for eighteen years. !Member, republican party; elected governor of Nebr. in 1900; Mar. 28, 1901, chosen to fill the unexpired term of Senator Hayward, resigning his position as governor on !stay 1, representing the state in the U.S. senate from Dec. 21, 1901‑Mar. 4, 1905. Member, Masons, Scottish Rite and Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Stay 4, 1878 m Elizabeth Slaker of Aurora, who died Feb. 1887; d Gertrude E.; second marriage to Margretta S. Stewart of Philadelphia, d William Shaw and Delia (Allman) Stewart; her father was a physician.

.71

ADAMS COUNTY: THE STORY THE 1900's

The Carnegie Library, pictured shortly after it was completed in 1903. (Photo courtesy Mrs. Thomas Creigh, Jr.)

AV‑&""‑ Neb.

On New Year's Day, 1903, an elegant gift came to Hastings in the form of a telegram to Mayor C. 1. Mites advising him that Andrew Carnegie would give $15,000 for the building of a public library. The city council would have to maintain the free public library at not less than fifteen hundred dollars per year and provide a suitable site for it. On March 16 the city council voted to accept the gift upon the conditions imposed by the donor, and accepted the offer of the lots which subsequently became the site of the library; another lot, owned by William Kerr at Fourth and Lincoln, was offered and townspeople chose up sides as to which land should be used. The lots selected were those donated by Dr. J. N. Lyman, John Slaker, Jacob Bernhardt, Dr. George Douglas, W. H. Dillon, and Senator Charles Dietrich. On April 27, 1903, the site was dedicated and the first shovelful of dirt was turned by President Teddy Roosevelt, who finally made it to Hastings after all.

Late in 1903, Senator Dietrich became the target of the most venal political move in Nebraska political history up to that point. As a compromise candidate for senator in 1901, he did not have the

support of either Thompson's Republican machine nor of Rosewater's; each of them still hoped to get into the Senate. Nor had he played along with them; during his brief term as governor, he had refused to pardon Joseph Bartley, the State Treasurer who had been found guilty of embezzling nearly 5600,000 of state funds. Dietrich had also incurred the wrath of Teddy Roosevelt, the President.

Early in his Senate career, Dietrich had cosponsored, with Representative Moses Kinkaid, also of Nebraska, the so‑called Kinkaid Act, which allowed homesteads of 640 acres in western Nebraska instead of the 160 acres that the original acts allowed. Easterners accustomed to 40‑acre farms could nut understand that the grazing lands of the Sandhills needed far more acreage than other, tillable lands, to be productive. John S. Mosby, special investigator for President Roosevelt in cases of illegal fencing of public lands by cattle barons in northwestern Nebraska, accused Dietrich of aiding the cattlemen in evading the law. (See the Richards and Comstock case in the Legal section of this book.) Senator Dietrich denied the accusation, writing Mosby, "My self respect demands that I denounce lies as such. 1 do not believe you would have made the statements unless you felt justified in doing so." Mosby denied making the charge, saying it had been fabricated by enemies of the Senator.

The perpetrators of the attempt to destroy Dietrich politically were members of the regular Republican party; it can only be presumed, from this point in history, that they believed their compromise candidate showed signs of becoming strong enough to endanger their own strength and their own chances in office. The appointment of the United States District Attorney in Nebraska needed to be made, and was a political plum incumbent upon the Senators from the state. Dietrich wanted to appoint Harry Lindsay, but the Republican regulars in the state wanted to see W. S. Summers remain in office. No appointment had been made, however, by June 6, 1903, the day on which United States District Attorney Summers at Omaha accused Dietrich of having accepted a bribe from Jacob Fisher for the postmastership of Hastings and of having illegally contracted with the government, while a Senator, to rent a building as a post office in Hastings. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Omaha on November 17, 1903, but on January 8, 1904, Judge Van Deventer

instructed the jury to bring in a verdict of innocent, and dismissed all charges against him. ‑

Charles H. Dietrich, Governor of Nebraska and later Senator, pictured at the height of his political career, 1901. (Photo from History of Nebraska by Albert Watkins.)

Margaretta Dietrich (Mrs. Charles H.), suffragette, president of the first Nebraska League of Women Voters, active in Hastings community affairs, pictured in 1926. (Photo courtesy Mrs. R R Damerell.)

Dietrich's counsel to do except challenge the attention of the court to the statement of the prosecutor and demand that if the case was to be dismissed at the end of the testimony for the prosecution that it should be done before those interested in Senator Dietrich's downfall could air their animosities upon the witness stand . . . He is innocent of these charges and has been the victim of a corrupt combination and unwarranted persecution."

In February, Senator Dietrich appeared before the Senate and asked that a full‑scale investigation be made into his affairs. On April 14, 1904, the committee, composed of three Republicans and two Democrats, brought in its findings, completely exonerating Senator Dietrich of "any violations of the statutes . . . and free from corruptness in the appointment of Jacob Fisher as postmaster at Hastings, Nebraska, and the leasing of the building in Hastings to the government for a post office." In their investigation, the committee considered all official acts as well as studying hearsay evidence and innuendoes which had been circulated. But the damage was done, and Dietrich was a broken man.

He returned to Hastings; ironically, one of his accomplishments in the Senate, overlooked in the fracas, was the passage of the bill which allowed 8125,000 for a new federal building in Hastings, which would include the post office and court offices. Any study of the Dietrich case should include a detailed reading of both major Hastings newspapers of the day, the Hastings Democrat and the Hastings Tribute; the truth probably lies somewhere between. A rough‑and‑ready man, Dietrich certainly was not faultless, but neither was he guilty of the sins he was accused of in court; he was the victim of the machinations of a corrupt body of men, the most maligned man in Nebraska politics.

In 1909, he was married to Miss Margaretta Shaw Stewart, a college friend of his daughter

Gertrude. The first Mrs. Dietrich had died in 1887, and their daughter had been educated in boarding

schools and abroad. Margaretta Dietrich was 28 years old, daughter of a Philadelphia surgeon, and a

Bryn Mawr graduate; she was interested in women's suffrage, was president of the state group when

the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote; that group immediately

became the League of Women Voters, and she was the first state president. She was also active in the

establishment of Sunnyside, a home for the elderly. Senator Dietrich suffered two paralytic strokes

and became senile before death occured in 1924. In his prime, however, he contributed greatly to the

development of Adams County, as did his wife Margaretta. A great body of local legend has

developed about Senator Dietrich; unfortunately, however, much of it revolves about his latter years

of senility, when he was no longer the forceful, dominant man he was in his prime, when his energies

were devoted to the progress of Hastings. ‑

In my notes dated Feb. 1982 I fine. this sketch: "Paul Slaker

Charles Dietrich's visit to their House. It seems Mr. Dietricli eras involved in some kind of scandal and although lie couldn't prove it, lie was innocent. Mr. Dietrich walked up and down the living room

while he was talking. This scared Paul so much he went and laid under the table."

remembers

Phi Ili P and Mary

Ch ildre

PHILLIP OCHSENSCHLAGER

None of the Slakers in our family ever talked about Phillip. Heinrich? Yes. We knew about Uncle Henry who was in business in Elgin‑‑but nothing about Phillip. In fact when we ran across his name as the son of Adam Sr. we thought he had died shortly after arrinving in America. Nothing could be further from the facts.

He was born in 1826 and presumably came over with Adam and Eva. At that time lie would have been 21 years old. As far as we can tell lie never came to Aurora. The first record we have is in the 1860 census, which shows:

Phillip Ochsenschlager ‑ 35 from Germany May, 31, his wife, from Germany Ephram, 7, son Adam, 5, son Margaret, 3, daughter Frank, 1, son

Home, South Elgin

In the 1870 census Phillip is listed as 45, May 41, (no mention of Ephram), Adam 14, Margaret 13, Frank 10, Mary 5 and Charles 3. Phillip Jr. was probably born around 1870, but we have not been able to establish a definite birth date.

Note there is no mention of Ephram in the 1870 census, as stated above. There is no mention of Adam Jr. anywhere after the 1870 census. We assume that they may have died young.

As stated Phillip Sr. was born in 1826. Ephram was seven years old in 1860. So Phillip and May were probably married some time in 1852. Her birth date was 1830. Incidentally, "May" is changed to "Mary" in later records.

Phillip died in 1885.

172

Sons and Daughters of Phillip and May Ochsenschlager:

The 1860 census shows Ephram as being seven years old, making his birth date some time in 1853. This is the only time Ephram is mentioned.

Adam is mentioned in the 1860 census as being five years old, making his birth date 1855. He is listed again in the 1870 census as being 14. No other documentation.

Margaret Schlager (the name had been changed from Ochsenschlager) (1857‑1927) married Byron

Pierce (1846‑1919) We do

not have a wedding date, but we assume in some time in 1852.

We do know that they lived on a farm near Elgin. In 1908

at the ages of 50 and 60 they moved to 814 W. Blvd., in

Lewiston, Montana. They built a home there and in later

years Margaret added to it.

They were the parents of four children: Phillip, Irving, Frank and Clarissa.

Frank Schlager Was the fourth child of Phillip and May. He was born in 1859 or‑60 in Elgin. He is shown in the 1860 census as being one year old. We have no record of where he went to school or when he left home. The first we know about him is a listing in an 1893 Chicago directory where Is occupation is shown as lborer. He is also listed in a 1908 directory.

Marten Schlager was the fifth child and he was born in 1862. In the 1880 directory he is shown as a boarder in a trade school. He is listed in an 1895 Chicago directory as "Police." We do have Marten's obituary dated Dec. 12, 1908, (copy enclosed). It shows that lie is survived by his widow, and a 16 year old son. Other survivors are brothers Phillip of Elgin, and Frank and Charles of Chicago; sisters Mrs. Byron Pierce of Lewiston, Montana and Mrs. Frank Lidsay of Wheaton, Illinois. .

Mary Schlager, the sixth child of Phillip and May, was born in 1865. Mary is listed in the 1870 census. She is also mentioned in an article about Margaret Pierce, which reads "A younter sister, Mary, married Frank Linsey, an official of the Del Monte Co. of San Francisco." We could find nothing more about her until her name appeared in Marten's obituary.

Charles Schlager is the seventh child. He is shown in the 1870 census as being three years old. In the Chicago directories he is shown in 1893 as a butcher, in 1896 as a printer, in 1897 as foreman, and in the 1900 directories as merely "Charles Schlager." He is also mentioned in Marten's obituary.

/73

Philli Schlager is Phillip and Mary's eighth and last child. He is not listed in any of census reports we examined, but we think he was born in 1869. Apparently he never left Elgin. In Marten's obituary of 1908 he listed as living in Elgin.

In the Elgin section of "Kane County History" Phillip is shown as secretary of Barber's Union No. 47. In 1905 he is listed in the Elgin Directory as a barber living at 219 Cherry Street. Wife, Elizabeth. In the 1907‑08 and 1909‑10 Phillip is listed as a barber, wife Elizabeth, living at 451 Ann Street. In the 1913‑14, 1915‑16, and 1917‑18 Phillip is shown as Assistant Supervisor, address 4_51 Ann Street.

In the June 15, 1915 issue of the Aurora Beacon News is the County Board report where the following items appear: "P. N. Schlager, remained chairman of the Railway, Telegraph and Telephone Committee." "Circuit Clerk‑ Connors, Peffers, Schlager, James, Hord, Joslyn, Bloomquist." Pensions for the Blind" ‑ Zook, Jameson, Mettel, Doualas, Schlager Mutchow,

and Kimball.,

So it appears that Phillip was involved in the Elgin politics. The last report we have is in the Elgin Directory of 1920 where his address is given as 329 Worth Street.

Other Schlager names which appear in the Chicago Directories are as follows:

Edward Schlager ‑ 1870‑71, Editor Illinois Staat Zeiting, 1869‑70 ‑ Same, 1868‑69 ‑ Same

William Schlager ‑ 1869‑70, Cooper, 38 Division St. 1868‑1869 ‑ Same, carpenter. 1893‑ Same, machinist.

Elizabeth Schlager ‑ Clerk ‑ 1R93.

Frederick Schlager ‑ 1893

Jorgen P. Schlager ‑ 1893, 1895

Anton Schalger ‑ 1895, bricklayer.

John J. Schlager ‑ 1895, Plasterer 1896 ‑ Same, laborer.

Claude Schlager ‑ 1898, Clerk

Karel Schlager ‑ 1899, Foreman, 1900 Same

Noch Schlager ‑ 1898, Tailor, 1899 same.

Olaf Schlager ‑ 1899, Painter.

Frances Schlager ‑ 1900. 174

We do not know how, or if, they are a part of the Phillip Schlager f an i 1 3r .

From: THE HERITAGE BOOK OF THE ORIGINAL FERGUS COUNTY AREA

LEWISTOWN EARLY SETTLERS

MARGARET AND BYRON PIERCE

by Margaret Raitt Gilfeather, granddaughter

Margaret (Schlaeger) and Byron Pierce moved to Lewistown, Montana from Elgin, Illinois in 1908. They followed their son, Irving Pierce who was manager of the furniture department of Powers Mercantile and their son Frank Pierce who was homesteading near Denton. ‑Irving had formerly worked in furniture for Marshall Fields, Chicago. He, his wife Anna and son John came to Lewistown before the railroad had come, because Aunt Anna talked about the stagecoach ride from Denver or Salt Lake when I was a little girl.

Margaret Pierce, born May 13, 1857, with her husband Byron, born September 15, 1846, made the move at the ages of 50 and 60 years, selling their farm near Elgin, Illinois and homesteading land near Lewistown, and building a new house at 814 W. Boulevard, which became the family, home. Byron Pierce was a veteran of the Civil War participating at age 16 as a drummer boy. He was .the youngest son of a well to do family in the Elgin, Illinois region. His grandfather had emigrated from New England to settle on good. farm land, passing the fort at what is now Chicago as too marshy for farming. The Pierce family in New England has roots to the Mayflower and one branch is traced to John Alden.

‑ Margaret Pierce was a Schlaeger, original name was Oxenschlaeger, and was the first

generation of immigrant parents. Her father was German and her mother French from Alsaace Lorraine, Germany. German was spoken in her home and she retained her ability to speak and understand it in later years. Her brothers became barbers and policemen in the Chicago area. A younger , sister, Mary married Frank Lindsey an official j of Del Monte Co. in San Francisco.

Apparently Byron Pierce came ahead to set up the homestead and to buy the town lots because I remember my grandmother being critical of my grandfather because he inadvertently bought town lots across the alley from each other which meant they built two houses, one small one used as rental, and their home on a single lot rather than having a spacious double lot and lawn.

BYRON. AND MARGARET PIERCE HOUSE under construction 1907 ‑ 1908 in Lewistown at 814 W. Boulevard. Phil Pierce and young John Pierce son of Irving Pierce on porch.

SAME HOUSE, after additions.

Nov. 26, 1927 Lewiston Democrat News

.DEATH MARGARET PIERCE FRIDAY

MOTHER OF IRVING AND PHIL

PIERCE FORMER BUSINESS MEN OF THIS CITY PASSES LATE LAST EVENING.

Lewistown Mrs. Margaret Pie to 210 died

gut 9:15 last night at her home 814

West Boulevard. following an illness

which h$3 lasted over several months. Pierce was the mother of Irv

ing Fierce. former manager of the furniture department of: Power SW rcantile Co., now located in' Marys. ville, Calif.; Phillip Pierce, former photographer of this city now living in Helena; Frank Pierce and .11 rs. Prank Raitt. the latter : two having .lied in this city several years ago,

The deceased was born lay 13, 1357• coming to Lewistown troy 1v heaton, , ...., with her husband. lite late Byron Pierce. $ veteran of the Civil war. in the fall of P

Pierce flied in California in Septumher. 1921. stone which little Mrs 1't•1 t r has lied chiefly with her son‑ Frank Raitt. slit, is survived by a brother and a sister living to :;;,u Franisco and anot lei brother living in Chicago.

Arrangements for I11.• fune ral have 1..‑.•n held ill, awaiting word front Irvling Pierce in California. A message was received last evening from Phil Pierce stating that he would arrive ,in the city today.

Nov. 27, 1927 Lewiston Democrat News

'FUNERAL. MRS. Margaret ; PIERCE AT To BAPTIST CHURCH AT 3 ?. I TWAY'

The funeral of the late Mrs. Maw. Margaret Pierce, who died is this city I Friday night, aged , 70 years, will be I held at the Baptist church at S pt m today.

The service at the church will De conducted by the Rev. James, Y'. Blackledge, while the tidies of the Grand army circle will offticiate at the cemetery.

Philip Pierce, of Helena, s sea

'arrived here last nignt soil with his brother‑in‑law, Frank Raitt, complete the arrangements for the funeral. The time required, for the journey made ft Impossible for the other am surviving non. Irving Pierce, to reach here from Marysville, Calif., for the funeral. The casket will not be opened

,at the church.

Nov. 28, 1927 Lewiston Democrat News

The funeral of the life Mrs. Margaret

garet Pierce, who died in this city

Friday night, was ''held Sunday sties.

noon at the Baptist church, there being a very large attendance of mourning relatives and. friends, while the flora tributes were many end beautiful

The services were conducted by the Rev. IL P. Blackiedge, who made al,

feeling address pays a high tribute to the SVW24X Christian character of

the departed

Mrs. Byron Clot give two appropriately prints solos, being

sea

Mrs. Rchard IA The: W1 bearers were: Harold HOVET at Harlow. Richard lausch. A. C. McDonald, Samuel e! W. Penrock C. Cl. Williamson avid 1. D. Jones AL the cemetery. the Ladies of the G. .4 R. circle toot charge sad Carried out their Impressive rites.

OBITUARY OF MARTIN SCHLAGER Dec. 12, 1908 ‑ COURIER Elgin, Ill.

Martin Schlager, a native of South Elgin, and for the past 17 years a member of the detective bureau of the Chicago police force, died at ten o'clock Friday evening at his home in Chicago. Mr. Schlager was struck by a switch engine in Chicago about four years ago while out on some detective work, and although he was able to return to work several months afterward the old injuries developed into a kidney trouble which caused his death.

Mr. Schlager was born in South Elgin about forty‑five years ago, and lived? there and in this city before moving to Chicago. He is survived by a widow and a son sixteen years of age, and the following brothers and sisters: Phillip of Elgin, Mrs. Byron Pierce of Lewiston, Mont. Mrs. John Walter of Wheaton, Frank and Charles and Mrs. Frank Lindsay of Chicago

Funeral services will be in charge of the Chicago police department, and he will probably be buriedin South Elgin where his parents are buried.

There is no record of a John Walter or a Mrs. John Walter in any of the material we have on the Phillip Schlager family.

Henry and Anna

Children

Nicholas

LAMBERT OCHSENSCHLAGER

Lambert, Michael and Kate's fifth child, was born in 1881 at 16 S. Broadway in Aurora. In 1886 the family moved to 17 N. State Street. In the 1899‑1900 directory he is listed as a clerk for I. Ochsenschlager

From 1900 to 1907 Lambert worked for Armour & Co. in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and Omaha, Nebraska, as‑a salesman. In 1907 to 1908 lie worked as manager of the Cudahy Packing Company in Aurora. His residence is listed at 211 Pennsylvania.

In 1906 lie married Mazie Walsh. A daughter, Eileen, was born in 1908, and a son, Lambert, Jr. was born in 1910.

In 1914 Lambert bought a market from Pete Frank at 57 N. Broadway and went into business as Ochsenschlager & Southerland. This venture lasted for 12 years.

Another daughter, Josephine, was born in 1916. In the 1923 directory the family residence is shown at 1 N. State Street.

In 1928 lie became Justice of Peace, and in 1935 a Police Magistrate. He was a member of the Elks Club and the Loyal Order of Moose.

Lambert died in 1935 and Mazie in 1959.

Following is a list of their children, children's spouses, and the children's children.

It is interesting to note that all four of Michael and Kate's sons were in business in Aurora from 1914 to 1918. (We do not have records of Josephine and Charles Thomas' store.)

LAMBERT OCHSENSCHLAGER (1880‑1933) ‑ Mazie Walsh (1880‑1959) (With Armour do Co., then Cudahy Packing. Purchased market in 1914 at 57 N. Broadway, Aurora. 12 years in Grocery business. Then a Justice of the Peace) Eileen Katherine 1908 ‑ Phillip Kartheiser Sue Ellen R939) ‑ Frank Blazek Lambert M. (1910) ‑ Kathryn Erickson Gretchen M. (193) 9 Steven Whitney (1945) Josephine (1916) ‑Wilbert John Petit Patrick John (1943) ‑ Elizabeth Wise (2 children)

Michael Jared (1949).

Al O

A TRIP TO THE OLD COUNTRY

Excerpts of a letter written by David Ochsenschlager, Sr. to his friends and coworkers at his store in Aurora. David, Melva, his wife, and their daughter made this trip to Europe. His son, David Jr., had made this trip a few years previously.

Early this morning we started out to see the relatives. We went through the town of Worms, crossed Rhine River (which is very large, just loaded with freight and large river traffic). We went through the town of Nordheim, then Hofheim, and soon came to the village of Wattenheim.

At Wattenheim we knew (through David Jr.) that here was the place where we would find the Ochsenschlagers, but we also knew that they could not speak English and we could not speak German. (In our efforts to locate Heinrich Reiss, an interpreter recommended by Dave Jr., we met several people, but could not understand them. Finally we did locate the house. I went up to he home of Heinrich and into the inside courtyard. Each house here has a stone wall between it and the cobblestone street. Inside the house they keep farm tools, hay, a manure pile, compost heap, farm animals and chickens. The barn is usually connected to the house. There is always at least one barking dog. In my non‑understandable German I tried to tell Mrs. Reiss what I wanted. She finally got a young woman up from the cellar. I went through the same procedure, showed her Dave's photo, and then both ladies nodded "yes." Finally I was able to make out that Heinrich was in Worms and would be home that night. I thanked them and told them I would return.

We drove away and shortly after passed the church. We stopped went in and knelt down where my forefathers had knelt for many years. Here I was alone with history. It seemed awesome. In the graveyard that surrounds the church is a large headstone, marked 1914 to 1918. On it are carved the names of 12 men from this little town who perished in World War I. Three of them were Ochsenschlagers and one a Reiling (my great grandmother's maiden name). There were at least ten other Ochsenschlagers buried there in the cemetery.

When we got back to the car there were somewhere around 30 people waiting for us. We tried our best to communicate, but were not too successful. Finally one of them pointed to a boy and said, "speak English." As it turned out, his name was Hans Reiling and he had studied English in school for six years. Since Hans was on holiday from school we persuaded him to accompany us. He took us first to visit the oldest person in town. She was sitting in a chair, in her yard, inside the gate. We talked a great deal. She remembered a Christopher Ochsenschlager well. He left Wattenheim in 1890. She also told us that her father subscribed to the "Chicago Folksfriend" at one time. She also wanted to know about Kansas City and if the Indians were giving us any trouble. She was a fine old lady and I enjoyed visiting with her.

Then we went to visit the parish priest. He told us that he had met David Jr. We visited for a while and then said goodbye.

When we got back to the car we found many more men and women and children gathered to find out who we were. They all talked to Hans. Just then a tractor came down the street driven by a nice looking boy about 16. A younger boy sat beside him they were pulling a load of fresh hay and on top of the load was a smiling friendly looking man with his arm around a happy chubby woman, his wife. Hans announced to one and all "These are Ochsenschlagers." They were Valentine Ochsenschlager, his wife, Margaret, and his two boys, Valentine Jr. and Erish. They were on their way home from laboring in the fields. We had a nice little chat with them and arranged to call on then later in the day. We also met their daughter Rose Wens. We found out she was 23 years old and married to one of the local farm boys. Hans then told us to Peter Ochsenschlager's butcher shop where we met Peter's wife and sister. Peter was not at home.

We then drove about five miles to another little town by the name of Biblis where we met Dr. Christopher Ochsenschlager, a chemist. Through Hans we talked of many things concerning the family. Christopher has brought his side of the family down for about 300 years. He could do this because the church at Wattenheim has books, written in Latin, of all the families in the parish since 1636, the year of the termination of the 30 Years War. During the 30 Years War the church and all its contents were destroyed. Christopher feels that the Ochsenschlager’s have been farmers, flax growers, and linen bleachers in this area for over 300 years. It is only logical to assume they were here long before this time, perhaps even one of the original families of Wattenheim. Mrs. Ochsenschlager insisted we stay for lunch. We met their son, Peter, and her mother‑in‑law. That afternoon we joined them in attending the christening of a six-day-old baby in the Biblis church.

We left these good people soon afterward and returned to Wattenheim with Hans. Dr. Ochsenschlager was a real fine fellow, about 45 years old. He told us that he would go to the church at Wattenheim and bring down the ancestry for us. We were so grateful. He also told us that the town of Wattenheim was founded in the year 686 and originally a castle was there which is, of course, long gone. We also told us that President Hoover’s family came from 50 miles of Wattenheim, and' General Eisenhower's family came from less than 30 riles from here.

We drove to Wattenheim, left Hans off, and hurried to our hotel to freshen up for our visit with Valentine and family. On our way back from Wattenheim Fans said the people of the town were glad to see the American Troops come in, as the citizens were all

Catholics and many Catholics were being sent to other places by Hitler's troops‑‑places like Dachau and other concentration camps. The townspeople thought that had the War lasted much longer the Nazis would have destroyed all of their property as they did with the Jews.

That night as we came into Wattenheim we saw many people sweeping the streets of the town. Each family sweeps the street that borders his property. They use a stiff, bush type, barn broom.

We had Hans with us when we arrived at Valentine's home. Valentine and his wife met us at the gate and insisted we come into the house. Here they had us sit in the front room where they served us some of the local wine, and then followed this with many kinds of meat and sausage and bread. We wound up the meal with some cake that their daughter, Anna, (17 years old) had made. This visit started at five o'clock and continued until after eleven.

Never have I felt I was in the company of more sincere caring people. They are grand and the soul of hospitality. They asked us about David Jr. and expressed wonder and delight at his visit there last fall. Valentine told us that two of his brothers were killed in World War I. He told us they were tall and members of the Kaiser's picked guards. He said that during the last war the German soldiers came and took the bells from their church tower in this little town. When this happened everyone said, "The War is lost!" as there is an old saying, here, "When church bells are melted down for ammunition, the war is lost." We found the people here support Addenhauer for president of Germany in the upcoming election. We know the United States want him also.

Valentine and his wife are both 54 years old. During the evening the church bells rang and little Erish got right up and said prayers. Valentine told us that where we were sitting in this house is where our great grandfather was born. He showed us the heavy timbers and huge blocks of stone on which the house eras constructed in 1660, and told us that it has been the home of Ochsenschlager’s for over 300 year’s. You could feel he was very proud of living here. Valentine also asked me if I could find out what happened to Christopher Ochsenschlager who left Wattenheim in 1890 and went to America.

Sis played her guitar and sang songs and we all laughed and talked and smiled and enjoyed the knowledge that we were all related to each other. They walked with us to our car and we felt sad that we had to leave them and travel back to Worms.

I am adding a few more thoughts to this letter and sort of trying to put things down so that I will remember this wonderful day. The thought that keeps coming to mind is always, "How did David Jr. find this place and establish identification with our people after all these year?" It must have been fate, and I am so glad it happened.

My father lived to be 80 years old and never really knew of these people, never saw them, never heard them speak, or felt their handshake or their hugs. I surely wish he could have! He would have loved it! Seeing people like this who have lived in this place happily for 300 years, who have been through war after war, always farmers and tillers of the soil, seems to make life a little less complicated. Our lives in America are filled with lots of experiences and great times‑too many to mention‑‑as compared with these simple people. It takes something like this to make one realize what courage it must have taken for our forefathers to bring their families to America and establish us there‑‑the greatest country in the world!\

I wish there had been some way I could have known the generations in between, and could have shaken their hands, and put my arms around their shoulders, and said to them "Thank you. Well done"

As it is late and we will be getting started early in the morning, I will say good night to all.

David Ochsenschlager, Sr.

lizabeth Frederick Neumann

Children

ELIZABETH OCHSENSCHLAGER

Elizabeth Ochsenschlager was the only daughter of Adam and Eve. She came to Illinois with her parents in 1847 when she was seven years old. In the 1850 census she is shown as part of their household. She was nine years old at that time. No doubt she, too, attended the North Aurora school.

In 1861 she moved from North Aurora with her parents and brother, Michael. Their new home vas at the corner of Union and Fulton Streets, Aurora, Ill.

In 1862 she married Fredrick Neuman. In the 1870 census F. Neuman is listed as a hardware merchant. He is 37 years old and his wife Lizzie, is 30 years old. Their children are: Flora (1862) ‑ 8 years old Fred (1865) ‑ 5 years old Kate (1868) ‑ 2 years old.

We have three small news items concerning F. Neuman's store dated 1867. In the 1870 directory there is a listing for Frederick Neuman, Hardware and crockery, 5 S. Broadway, This is the store and residence.

F. ti E U Iri ., .. ..

Dealer In Building Hardware. Mechanic's Tools Axes. Wheeling Nails Farming Impliements Cutlery, Kitchen and Household Utensil.. and Manufacture of Tin Cop‑ and Sheet Iron work.

F . N E U M r1 P! 1d

Dealer to Crockery amt Glassware Lamps and Looking (,lasses. of which I leave w beautiful and all selected Stock which will t‑r sold at reasonable prices.

I have also this day reopened my TIN SHOP, sad shall be prepared for all kinds ‑of work in that branch. Copper and Sheet Iron work executed with neatness and despatch and all kinds of Jobbing attended to with

promptness ‑ FRED'K NEUMANN

Elizabeth died in 1875. We ran across an item dated July 14, 1875 which reads: "Fred Neuman, the Broadway hardware merchant, retired from business." Another note dated 1905 reads: "F. C. Newman resides 2‑1/2 miles S. E. of Elgin. "

In an 1880 census Flora is shown as living with Joseph and Helen at 14 N. Lake St. In an 1886 directory Flora is shown as working for Wm. McMicken Co. and boarding at Spruce and Pine. There is also an item concerning Fred Jr. He is listed as a molder at Royt Bros. and boarding at the Temont House.

GENEALOGY

FORWARD

THE OCHSENSCHLAGER FAMILY RECORD

INTRODUCTION

JOSEPH

Adam I and Eva

ADAM AND EVA OCHENSCHLAGER & CHILDREN

SCRIBNER OCHSENSCHLAGER

A TRIP TO THE OLD COUNTRY