This article was one of a series of articles

published during the year 1879, in

The Lake County Star called “Progress In Lake County.”

Transcriptions were done by Chi (Rouse) Benedict, unless otherwise credited. If you would like to contact the transcriber,

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Appeared in: The Lake County Star

Date Published: April 10, 1879

Volume: VI Number: L Page: 1

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Progress in Lake County.

[Under this title we give a series of short sketches, descriptive of the time of immigration of each settler in the county, with amount of improvement, present and future prospects; crops raised in 1878; grain sown last Fall, &c. Also, sketches of manufacturing and business interests. Correspondence is solicited from all interested in the growth and prosperity of our county. We would suggest to our readers that they cut out and preserve,in scrap books these sketches; as they will doubtless find them of more interest in the future than at this time].

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Rob’t E. Bigbee—Settled, in Fall of 1865, on the southeast quarter section 4, Chase township. The soil is sand and clay loam; and water from springs and creek, with a well 72 feet deep. There are about 56 acres improved; house, part frame, part log; frame barn. Has about 30 apple trees, (bearing) with cherry, pear and small fruits. For shade and ornament, has set out maples, and left some original hemlocks. In 1878, he had 6 acres wheat (13 bushels to acre), 2 ½ acres corn, 3 acres oats, 1 acre potatoes (190 bushels) and 18 acres timothy and clover (about a ton to acre). Sowed 6 acres wheat, last Fall.

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Alex. Walcott—Bought R. R. land (southeast quarter of southeast quarter section 11, Chase township) and settled in Spring of 1873. The soil is clay loam; with water from a well, 28 feet deep. The house is part frame, part log, and frame barn, 30x40 feet. Has about 52 apple trees, with some pear and small fruits. Has set out maples for shade. All of his land is under cultivation except about 5 acres of woodland, on which there are some 200 maple trees. Keeps a span of horses, 1 cow, 2 hogs, 4 sheep and poultry; and in 1878, had 7 ½ acres wheat (160 bushels), 1 ½ acres corn, 1 ½ acres oats, ½ acre potatoes (100 bushels) and 8 acres timothy and clover. Sowed 6 ½ acres wheat, last Fall, and seeded 2 acres to timothy.

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Chas. Stone—Bought the southwest quarter of southwest quarter section 12, Chase township, and settled, in Spring of 1875. The soil is sand and clay loam; about 30 acres improved. The buildings are small frame house; log stable. Keeps 2 horses, 1 cow, 3 hogs, and poultry. In 1878, he had 6 acres wheat, 2 acres corn, 1 acre turnips and rutabagas, 1 ½ acres potatoes (200 bushels); also, 6 acres tame pasture. Sowed 12 acres wheat, last Fall. Water from a spring, and a stream for stock. Intends to plant fruit trees, this Spring.

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S. C. Brockway—Was the second settler in Pleasant Plains township, locating, in Fall of 1870, on the east half of the southwest quarter section 22. The soil is plains; 40 acres improved. Has a hewed log house, with frame addition. There are about 40 apple trees, with peach, plum, cherry and small fruits. Has left original oaks and pine for shade; a nice grove being about the house. In 1878, he had 5 acres wheat, 3 acres corn, 4 acres buckwheat, 1 acre potatoes (60 bushels), ¼ acre beans, and 7 acres rye. Sowed 12 acres of rye, last Fall. Good water from well 30 feet deep. Intends to fence whole of his 80, this season.

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Henry Saunders—Settled in Fall of 1869, on the northwest quarter section 2, Chase township; and now has about 40 acres improved. The soil is sand and clay loam; beech and maple chiefly; and plenty of water, from well 8 feet deep, and from a spring. Has a frame house; frame barn; and apple, and plum trees, with small fruits. Has set out maples for shade. Keeps 2 horses, 3 young cattle, 1 cow, 5 hogs and poultry. In 1878, had 20 acres wheat (250 bushels), 1 acre corn, 5 acres buckwheat, 1 acre potatoes (100 bushels), ½ acre beans and 6 acres timothy. Seeded 5 acres, in Spring of 1878, and sowed 12 acres wheat, last Fall.

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Geo. W. Atwood—Homesteaded on part of section 12, Chase township, in Spring of 1867. At present is living in Chase village. .

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M. Derschel—Settled, in Spring of 1868, on the southwest quarter section 28, Pinora township. The soil is clay loam; spring water; creek for stock. Has about 20 acres improved, and is now clearing 5 acres. The buildings are, frame house, 20x26 feet; frame barn, 30x40 feet; and 2 frame boarding houses 30x60 each, for mill hands. Keeps 4 horses, 4 oxen, 2 cows, 1 sheep and poultry. In 1878, had 5 acres wheat (15 bushels to acre), 2 acres potatoes and 13 acres timothy (1 ton to acre).

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Wm. Byam—Settled, in Spring of 1868, on south half of southeast quarter section 24, Ellsworth township, and has since purchased the east half of southwest quarter section 24, same township. The soil is sand and clay loam; beech and maple timber, chiefly. Has spring water, with creek for stock. The house is of hewed logs, lath and plaster inside; size 18x28 feet. There are two 30x42 feet barns. Has about 100 apple trees, with some pear and small fruits. Left grove of original maples for shade and ornament. Keeps 3 horses, 4 young cattle, 1 cow, 2 hogs, 5 sheep and poultry. Raised 4 acres wheat, 3 acres corn, 5 acres buckwheat, 1 ½ acres potatoes (200 bushels), 7 acres rye, 2 acres rutabagas (400 bushels), and 15 acres timothy (over ton to acre). Sowed 12 acres wheat, and 12 acres rye, last Fall. Has about 100 acres improved.

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John Moran—Settled on the northwest quarter of southwest quarter section 12, Chase township, in Fall of 1874. Soil is clay and muck; and water from a well, 12 feet deep, and a stream for stock. Has about 15 acres improved. The house is of logs, and board stable. Has some apple trees commencing to bear. For shade and ornament, has some maple, Balm of Gilead and wild cherry. Keeps 2 oxen, 1 cow, 1 heifer, 2 hogs and poultry, and in 1878, raised 3 acres wheat, ½ acre corn, ½ acre oats, 1 acre potatoes and 2 acres timothy (4 tons). Sowed 1 ½ acres wheat, last Fall. Expects to build a granary this season.

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A. A. Blanchard—Settled, in Spring of 1871, on the east half of and southwest quarter of southwest quarter and southwest quarter of northwest quarter section 22, Yates township. Soil sand and clay loam (plains and pine). Has a house of hewed logs—18x28 feet; kitchen, 12x28 feet; frame barn, 24x32 feet; log barn, 20x30 feet, and two stables. Good soft water from a well 37 feet deep. Has about 38 acres improved. There are about 45 apple trees and some pear, cherry and small fruits. Left original oaks and pines for shade. Keeps 5 horses, 2 oxen, 3 cows, 8 hogs and poultry; and in 1878, raised 4 acres wheat, 10 acres corn (400 bushels ears), 2 acres oats, 1 acre buckwheat, ½ acre potatoes (75 bushels), 10 acres millet and ¾ acre timothy and clover. Seeded 4 acres to clover, in Spring of 1878. Intends to clear 17 acres stump land, this season.

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GROFF AND DERSCHEL MILL.

This mill is situated in Pinora township, about 2 miles north of Chase village, where the products of the mill are shipped. It was built in Fall of 1877, and its size is 28x36 feet. Runs by steam; engine 30 horse power; water from well. The capacity is about 30,000 shingles per day; and in 1878, they cut about 7,000,000. Messrs. Groff & Derschel own about 200 acres of pine near mill.

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HAAK’S MILL.

Is situated about one mile north of Chase village, and was built in 1875. The building is 40x80 feet; engine 40 horse power. Water is furnished from lake. It has a capacity for cutting about 20,000 feet of lumber per day; capacity of shingle mill, 30,000 per day.

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Peter Kinney—Bought the southwest quarter of southwest section 12, Chase township, and settled in fall of 1875. The soil is clay; spring water, and stream for stock. There are about 5 ½ acres improved. The house is of log; but Mr. K. has material for a frame house (to be erected this season) 18x36 feet. Keeps 2 oxen, 2 cows, 2 young cattle and poultry. Raised 1 acre corn, 5 acres buckwheat (on Ratz place), 2 ½ acres potatoes (292 bushels) ¼ acre beans (6 bushels) and ½ acre rutabagas (122 bushels), in 1878. Sowed 5 ½ acres wheat, last Fall.

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S. R. Randall—Bought R. R. land, and settled on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter section 11, Chase township, in the Fall of 1876. The soil is clay; water from a well, 28 feet deep. There are about 7 acres improved; frame house, log barn. Mr. R. has not planted fruit trees, yet, but intends setting out trees this Spring. For shade he has left maple and beech. Keeps 2 yearlings, 1 cow, 3 hogs and poultry, and in 1878, had 1 ¾ acres wheat, ½ acre corn, ¼ acre buckwheat, ¾ acre potatoes, ¼ acre rutabagas (30 bushels) and 1/8 acre beans. Sowed 3 acres wheat, last Fall. Mr. R. first settled in Lake county, in 1873, on the northeast quarter of northeast quarter section 15, Chase township.

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P. Dillingham—Bought the northwest quarter section 13 (R. R. land), Chase township, and settled, last Fall. The soil is clay. Has a log house, and is building a frame addition. Keeps a horse, cow, and poultry. Has 12 acres improved.

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Chas. Randall—Homesteaded the northwest of southwest and southwest of northwest quarter section 36, Pinora township, in Fall of 1867, and now has about 20 acres improved. The soil is clay loam; the house and barn, of logs. Has ome sapple, cherry, plums and small fruits, intending to set more apple trees, this Spring. Water is had from a well, 25 feet deep, and there’s a stream for stock. Keeps 2 oxen, 6 hogs and poultry. In 1878, he raised 4 acres wheat, 1 acre corn, 2 acres oats, 1 acre potatoes (125 bushels), ¼ acre beans and 5 acres clover and timothy. Sowed 4 acres wheat, last Fall. Intend to build frame granary this season.

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Noah Burley—Settled on six acres on section 9, Chase township, last Fall; erected a frame house and intends to clear and improve for a home. There’s a spring stream running through the lot.

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Nathan B. Porter—Settled on the north half of the southeast quarter section 14, Pleasant Plains township, in the Spring of 1878. This place was entered by Jas. I. Parks. The soil is sand; plains and stump land. Water from spring and lake. There are about 9 acres improved; log house. Has about 50 apple trees, with small fruits, and a quantity of young trees of different kinds, in nursery. For shade original oak and wild cherry have been left. Keeps 2 hogs, poultry, and has two cows and a flock of sheep which will be brought in soon. Having no team, Mr. Porter’s progress has naturally been slow. In 1878, he had 2 ½ acres corn, 1 acre oats, ¾ acre buckwheat (put in by hand with garden rake; yield, 10 bushels), 1 acre potatoes, ¼ acre beans.

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Robert Brown—First settled in Lake county, in 1872, and engaged keeping hotel at Chase, till Spring of 1874, when he homesteaded the northeast quarter section 18, Pinora township. The soil is sandy loam, with good water from well 45 feet deep. He has about 48 acres improved; and a frame house, 18x20; log barn 20x42 feet. Has about ten bearing apple trees, with small fruits. Planted maples, sumach and Balm of Gilead for shade and ornament. Keeps 2 horses, 3 cows, 1 yearling, 6 hogs and poultry. In 1878, had 4 acres wheat, 2 acres corn, 2 acres buckwheat, 1 acre potatoes, 100 bushels, ½ acre beans, 1 acre rutabagas, 150 bushels, 10 acres rye and had 4 acres to tame grass pasture. Sowed 16 acres wheat, 15 acres rye, last Fall. Is satisfied with prospects.

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[Note—Should any of our readers find an error in any of the above sketches, they would confer a favor by sending us the proper correction].

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Page Notes:

All of these sketches are typed as they appeared in the newspaper

(spelling and so on).

Errata means that the item is a correction to a previous article or an addition.

- - - = Is missing some lines. I will be making another trip to be able to get the missing items of this article, image for this name became blurry in sections.

Contact Information: The contact information below is provided for people related to those pioneers named on this page to provide to each other so contact with one another is established. If you have an ancestor listed on this page, please contact the transcriber/web mistress and she will add your name to the list with the appropriate ancestors! Don’t forget to let the transcriber/web mistress know if your e-mail address changes at any time!
Name:	Contact E-mail:
Bigbee, Rob’t E.	Gordon Rolston

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