Dating in the 1870s

Many young ladies in the Chicago area during the 1870s and 1880s opened up their homes on New Year’s Day for what was described as “New Year’s Day Calling”.  Cards similar to Christmas greetings were distributed with the ladies’ addresses labeled on them and advertised in the newspapers.  NPR describes this activity as a sort of “speed dating” of the late 19th century.   According to the Chicago Tribune, a young woman would open up her house on January 1 usually between 10 am - 9pm and serve refreshments while the bachelors would introduce themselves and leave their names on the card.   

According to NPR, if the lady asked the young man to remove his hat and coat, this was a good sign.  However, if the woman was not interested, she would have the man keep his coat on and he was required to stay for only 10-15 minutes.   Men could come in groups or solo.  Also, woman could host parties with their friends.  Cakes and drinks were available at these parties, but serving alcohol was not acceptable.  A warm fire was also suggested.   

Calling was actually a huge success during this time in many cities.  NPR states that there is mention of a woman in Washington DC who had 900 men show up at her house for a calling!  There were also different types of shoes sold for these events.  Unfortunately, this custom eventually disappeared and by the 1920s this type of dating was considered “old-fashioned”.  

Here is an advertisement in the Chicago Tribune for a calling from December 23, 1880:

It has been the custom of THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE to mention, in a pleasant and modest way, the names of ladies in Chicago and the suburbs who would keep “open house” on New-Year’s Day...It is the desire of THE TRIBUNE to present in its issue of Friday, Dec. 31, 1880, a complete and full list of the names of all ladies who will receive on the following day.  We therefore suggest that all in Chicago and vicinity who propose keeping “open house,” and wish mention made of the same, will notify THE TRIBUNE on or before Thursday, Dec. 30.  

19th Century Baseball in Lockport and Joliet

According to the Chicago Tribune, baseball during the 1800s was meant to be a friendly gathering with neighboring towns along with a "gentlemanly competition".

There is mention of a baseball game between the Joliet Hunkidoris and Lockport Sleepers on August 6, 1851.  There is some discrepancy with the date as it may have been played closer to the 1880s.  The 1851 date came from the book “19th century Baseball in Chicago”, written in the 1930s.  Nevertheless, it appears there were definitely baseball teams during the late 19th century in the area.

The Underground Railroad in Will County

Samuel Gushing operated the underground railroad out of his home in Crete during the first half of the 19th century.  It is said that he helped approximately 80-90 slaves escape (History of Will County, 1878).  He reported that they would come from a house in Wilmington or Joliet and he would keep them in the upper room of his log cabin and assist them at night to Crown Point, Indiana-the next stop on the underground railroad.  He was arrested in 1843 for harboring slaves and the original indictment from Will County states on July 1, 1843 he helped four slaves from Missouri.  During the trial, it was found that the prosecuting attorney was not ready and a nolle pros was entered and Mr. Gushing was allowed to return home to continue the Underground Railroad (The History of Will County, 1878).  The History of Will County states “Samuel expresses no regret for the part he took in “feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and sheltering the cold and weary, worn traveler, remembering that the Master had said “In as much as ye have done it unto the last of these ye have done it unto me”.

Lincoln's Funeral Train

When Lincoln was assassinated in April of 1865, he was taken by train back to Springfield, Illinois.  The train departed Washington DC on April 21, 1865.  It arrived in Lockport, Illinois at 11:30 pm and Joliet, Illinois at 12:00 on May 2.  In Lockport, the train passed by the Gaylord and Norton Building (lockportworks.com).  It was a very somber occasion where hymns were sung and no one spoke as they paid their respects to Abraham Lincoln.  Here is an article published in the Joliet Signal, May 9, 1865 (Jolietlibrary.org). 

On last Tuesday night at 12 o’clock the remains of President Lincoln reached this city on the way to their last resting place in Springfield.  Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, several thousand of our citizens most of whom had been political opponents of Mr. Lincoln while living, assembled at the Chicago & Alton railroad depot, to manifest their respect for the eminent dead.  The depot was decorated in mourning, and appropriate arrangements made for the occasion...eager to get sight of the coffin, which was visible from the windows.  A large number of ladies were permitted to pace through the car...Guns were fired, bells tolled, solemn anthems sang by a splendid choir and mournful dirges played by the Joliet Cornet Band.  Though the crowd was immense, there was scarcely a word spoken above a whisper.  All seemed to realize the solemnity of the occasion, and to unite in the tribute of respect to the departed President. 

The Gold Rush comes to Will County!

The History of Will County, 1878 states, “for those who are old enough...will recall the wonderful excitement which took place all over the land” referring to the Gold Rush. It apparently was what everyone in Will County was talking about in 1849-1851.  The Lockport telegraph in 1849 warns individuals to not move west for an uncertain future and to find contentment in Will County.  They also jokingly stated when referring to the Gold Rush:  “A world-wide malady has at last extended to our midst” “Symptoms about the same as elsewhere, a sensation of nausea at the mere thought of common business...frequent giddiness of the head, optical allusions in which everything is seen in a yellow light, raging appetite for maps...terminating in a frantic effort to sell out and settle up at which the stage of the disease is considered incurable”.

Despite the Lockport telegraph’s advise, numerous individuals set out west in 1849.  A few Homer Glen residents were successful which influenced even more individuals in 1850 to find gold out west. The “true Democrat” in 1850 gives a list of about 400 that left in the Spring from Will county which significantly affected the business and created a huge traffic jam out west where wagons would be halted for days.  10-20 teams a day that spring would pass along Jefferson Street including individuals with only a knapsack and rifle who decided to buy everything else once they got out West.  Some individuals were successful and some were not and most returned 1-2 years later.

Schools

The first school in Homer was said to be in 1834, taught by D.C. Baldwin in an abandoned structure close to Lockport East High School (History of Will County, 1878).  In the summer of 1835, Abigail Raymond taught a few children in the cow stable close to Bruce and Gougar Roads (History of Will County, 1878).  As a matter of fact, by 1878 there were 416 students and eight school districts in the area.  

The First Ball of Will County

Even though the early settlers lived in log cabins, there is still an account of a Ball occurring in 1831.  This party took place in a house along Hickory Creek, possibly in present-day New Lenox.  The ball apparently was quite a hit back in the 1830s.  The History of Will County, 1878 describes three out of five Chicago bachelors came to the ball on their horses.  The party lasted for about two days as the guests were required to travel quite a few miles.   The festivities began at noon.  According to the History of Will County, 1878, a variety of dishes seem to have been present including: “prairie chickens, pumpkin pie, crab apple sauce or stewed wild plums, melon, and wild grapes. Corn dodgers (baked or fried corn bread cake) were also served along with saleratus (baking soda) biscuit and wild honey.”  

Apparently the young Chicago bachelors put on more of a show flirting with the young ladies as the History of Will County, 1878 book states. The settlers of Hickory Creek were upset with this behavior, and decided in the middle of the night to play a prank on these bachelors.  When daylight came, everyone noticed that the manes and tails were cut off of the Chicago bachelor’s horses!  This party-foul put an unfortunate ending to the first ball of Will County.  

Life in Homer Glen in the Early 19th century

Naming the Area

Homer Glen is a town of many names.  The general area in the last 150 years, was named Yankee Settlement, then became Homer Township followed by Homer Glen in 2001.  In addition, Homer was long considered part of the neighboring town of Lockport, Illinois. 

According to the History of Will County written in 1878, the term “Yankee” meant any individual who lived east of Ohio.  Many of Homer’s first settlers were from upstate New York, thus, Homer Glen’s first name was Yankee Settlement.  However, the credit of the name Homer goes to Alason Granger, originally from Homer, New York (Wiss, Janney, Elstner, 2002).  Homer, New York was part of the land divided for the Revolutionary War soldier’s compensation.   According to the town’s webpage, the name Homer is due to the clerk at the State Surveyor General’s office who had a fascination with Greek and Roman culture and names.  Not only did “Homer” pop up, but so did towns such as “Virgil” (http://www.townofhomer.org/history/organization.htm). 

Will County received its name from Conrad Will who was born on June 3, 1779 in Philadelphia (Wiss, Janney, Elstner, 2002).  After studying medicine and an unsuccessful career as a salt businessman, Dr. Will became an Illinois state senator and a member of the state House of Representatives (Wiss, Janney, Elstner, 2002).  After his death, the south Cook County area was named Will County in 1836. 

Native Americans in the Area

Prior to the pioneer settlers coming to Homer Glen, it was occupied by many Native Americans.  The land in the centuries before had seen multiple tribes come and go.  The French would trade with the Potawatomi Indians in the 17th and 18th centuries.  As evidenced by early maps, multiple roads that exist today in this area were old Indian trails including:  Chicago-Bloomington Trail, Hadley and Parker Road, Archer Avenue, Route 53 in Lockport, and Interstate 55 (Wiss, Janney, Elstner, 2002).

Multiple attempts were made by the European settlers to force the Native American tribes off the land.  The Sauk tribe did not give up without a fight and in 1832 Black Sparrow Hawk led the Native Americans into battle.  This primarily occurred in Northwest Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.  However, news of these battles frightened the settlers of Homer Glen.  Homer Glen consisted of approximately 25 families at this time and the settlers quickly went into action (Wiss, Janney, Elstner, 2002).  They met at Mr. Gougar’s home, in future New Lenox, and decided to flee to Indiana.  In other parts of what is now Will County, the families helped build a “fort” out of Stephen Begg’s farm.  It was named “Fort Beggs” and constructed of Stephen’s pigpen, outhouse, and farm fence.  Once this haphazard “fort” was complete the settlers realized it would not do much defense, so a few headed up to Fort Dearborn for safety (Wiss, Janney, Elstner, 2002).

In 1833, the Chicago Treaty was signed which forced the Native American tribes out of the area.   This scene was depicted in a painting, previously hung in the Illinois State Museum, that illustrates Native Americans being given alcohol before signing the treaty (Wiss, Janney, Elstner, 2002).  Outside of the boundary lines, settlers still encountered Native Americans.  An early Homer Glen resident, John Dean Canton, stated:

I soon formed the acquaintance of many of their (Pottawatomic) chiefs, and this 

acquaintance ripened into a cordial friendship. I found them really intelligent and possessed of much information resulting from their careful observation of natural objects.  I traveled with them over the prairies.  I hunted and I fished with them, I camped with them in groves, I drank with them at native springs of which they were never at a loss to find one, and I partook of their hospitality around their campfire (Wiss, Janney, Elstner, 2002)

Pioneer Spirit 

Adventurous pioneers set out for what was called the Northwest territory (Illinois).  An account of their travels of a few families in Homer Glen exist.   Alfred Rowley, who had land on Chicago-Bloomington Trail, wrote an article for the Joliet Sun approximately in 1878 (The History of Will County, 1878).  He describes his arduous journey to the west on July 17, 1833 as a 10 year old boy from Buffalo, New York with a final destination of Homer Glen, right about where Lockport East High School today exists:

The sail-vessel Amaranth anchored in Lake Michigan nearly opposite of Fort Dearborn (Chicago), after a voyage of three weeks out from Buffalo, New York, and having on board about 75 souls...The vessel was relived of her cargo by means of small boats, and the passengers, after being taken on shore, were entertained as best they could be, “in and around” the residence of Herman Bond, which was built of logs and sods, and was located near the foot of Monroe Street. Chicago then consisted of the fort at the mouth of the river, the house of John Kinzie, some French shanties on the North Side, the hotel kept by Ingersoll at the forks, a store at Wolf Point...the frame of what was afterward called the Mansion House...and the palatial residence of our host. After taking in Chicago the next day, three of several families who had journeyed together thus far chartered some prairie schooners and set sail for their destination, in what is now the town of Homer, Will County...We made our way as we could through the tall rosin weeds, with very little track, to Lawton’s (now Riverside) and thence to Flagg Creek. Here we found the body of a log cabin, and the owner, Mr. E Wentworth, whose place in (later) years became quite a noted stage stand. We fought mosquitoes until morning, and after partaking of our frugal meal, we launched out upon the prairie, and at noon halted at the Big Spring near Lilly Cache Grove, and upon what is now the farm of Thomas J. Sprague. After refreshments, we moved on, crossing the Des Plaines River at what was known as Butterfield’s Ford, opposite the present town of Lockport, and near nightfall arrived at our destination, all weary and sad. Calvin Rowley who came on prior to Sac War, was here and had erected a log cabin in timber, about a mile and a half east of the river. Here we stayed until other and better places could be provided. 

Life was difficult for these pioneers.  Settlers close to water developed a variety of illnesses from mosquitoes and even though most previous New Englanders were used to snow, the unpredictability of midwest weather and blizzards made the winters difficult.  A pioneer family stated:

My people suffered many hardships. The first winter the house wasn’t properly chinked and mother used to tack up quilts and blankets to keep out the cold. The chimney was poor. The lower part was built of stone and then topped out with sticks and clay. It was built outside of the house and sometimes it used to catch fire and how it used to smoke.

One of the concerns for these early pioneers was obtaining food for the family and farm animals. Settlers would transport their crops and slaughtered animals to Chicago by a “wagon cart”, which took about 3-4 days.  According to one settler’s account, fall was the best time to transport the goods as “the roads were good”.  

As the Illinois and Michigan canal (I and M canal) project came to fruition, many settlers from Homer Glen worked on the project.  The I and M canal would allow waterway passage from Chicago to the Mississippi river, assisting Chicago in becoming the city it is today.  Construction began in 1836 and also attracted a lot of Irish immigrants to the area (History of Will County, 1878).  Many of these Irish immigrants lived in Bridgeport.  William Gooding (from the family that Goodings Grove gets its name from), was a chief engineer during I and M canal construction (History of Will County, 1878)  

The Sparrow

There have been many lives lived before our own, yet most of us know very little prior to our grandparent’s age.  What if we knew more about the people who came before us?  History is full of fascinating stories, some perhaps right under our nose. 

In 672 AD, Bede, a historian and Biblical teacher, wrote Ecclesiastical History of the English People.  It is a work that discusses the conversion of polytheism to Christianity.  In Bede’s writings, he states:

When we compare the present life of man on earth with that time of which we have no knowledge, it seems to me like the swift flight of a single sparrow through the banqueting-hall...In the midst there is a comforting fire to warm the hall; outside, the storms of winter rain or snow are raging. This sparrow flies swiftly in through one door of the hall, and out through another. While he is inside, he is safe from the winter storms; but after a few moments of comfort, he vanishes from sight into the wintry world from which he came.”

What a fascinating analogy of life.  Previous birds have flown before us and future ones will come.  However, we have one thing in common, we were all at one point in time in the same warm banqueting-hall.