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I grew up in Oswego (1949-1958) and attended third grade at the Little White School. My mother, Arlene Husband, was a teacher at the Little White School, when Traughber was Superintendent. I am also a "life member" of the Little White School Museum. The President of the Little White School Museum, Judy Wheeler, is a classmate of mine.
If you have the opportunity to visit the museum, you need to take the time to do so and say hello to Judy for me. She and the other volunteers have done a fantastic job developing converting a three room school to a great museum. It is a gem. They also have a very large archival records of local history at the museum. The museum archives include Transcriptions of Oswego Township and Kendall County news items of local importance from the Illinois Free Trader, Ottawa, (1849), Kendall County Courier, Oswego, (1853-59), Kendall County Free Press, Oswego, (1860-1863); Kendall County Record (1864-1951); and the Oswego Ledger (1950-1969). The transcription project was started by Ford Lippold, who completed the first 30 pages in 1976. It was resumed by Roger Matile in 2008 and completed in 2012. Roger Matile has written a number of wonderful articles on local railroad history that were published in the Aurora Beacon newspaper over the years. He probably still has copies of these histories. See https://littlewhiteschoolm The museum address is 72 Polk Street Oswego, IL 60543. Tel: 630.554.2999 https://littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org The transcriptions include hundreds of references to local railroads. I did a simple search of https://littlewhiteschoolmu The construction of the Ottawa, Oswego & Fox River Valley Railroad (pdf refers to it as the Ottawa & Fox River Valley Railroad and the Fox River Valley Railroad)(Geneva-Streator, chartered 1852, opened 1871) is mentioned many times. Additional topics include Oswego, Yorkville, Bristol, Dayton (a point north of Ottawa) ice houses (presumably along the Fox River at Yorkville), complaints about freight rates (which led to the Grange Laws), bankruptcy of the OO&FRV, Bonds issued by Kendall County and local cities to finance construction, history of the OO&FRV, also the mainline of the CB&Q between Aurora & Galesburg: Aurora, Plano, Mendota (and the CB&Q Water reservoir."Lake Mendota") are mentioned, the Millington Narrow-Gauge Railroad (the Chicago, Millington & Western Railway organized to build from Chicago to Muscatine, IA in 1872, but built from Chicago to "Brush Hill" in DuPage County"; abandoned 1879), ------------------------------ History of the OO&FRV References The Ottawa, Oswego & Fox River Valley Railroad (Fox River Branch Railroad) built the Fox River branch of the Burlington between Geneva and Streator on the east side of the Fox River. The line that we know as the Fox River branch ran from a junction just south of Aurora, near Montgomery, to Oswego, Yorkville, and Streator, where large supplies of coal were located. The railroad was an important artery connecting the coal mines in north-central Illinois with northern Illinois. This line was originally chartered in 1852, in Newark, IL, to build a railroad from Ottawa north to Elgin, and from Ottawa south to Bloomington and beyond, but remained inactive until end of the Civil War. In 1866, local farmers were seeking less expensive transportation means for grain shipments, while others were seeking less costly alternatives to access the coal mines in Ottawa. The line was built in two sections: a northern section (Geneva-Aurora, 9.5 miles) and a southern section (Montgomery-Streator-Winona, 57.5 miles). The southern section between Montgomery and Streator was built first, and then the "extension" between Aurora and Geneva on the west side of the Fox River was built at a later date. Around 1867, the railroad built a 12 mile extension from Streator to a connection with the Illinois Central at Wenona (or Winona)*. This trackage was later purchased by the St. Louis, Jacksonville & Chicago, which became part of the Alton Railroad. * Wenona appears to be on the original mainline of the Illinois Central that went north from Cairo, Illinois, at the southern tip of the state, to Mendota, Galena and Dunleith, IL on the Mississippi River opposite Dubuque, IA, Mendota was a major junction point between the Burlington, the iC and later the Milwaukee Road. In April 1869, the company was authorized to finance the line with bonds sold by municipalities along the route. Residents of Oswego voted to buy a half interest in the new line, while other towns along the line raised a similar amount. The line was built in two parts: the main line running from Montgomery (Aurora) to Streator, and a second line running from Aurora to Geneva. Although the Ottawa, Oswego & Fox River Valley signed a construction contract with Oliver Young, who then assigned the contract to C.H. Force & Co, who in turn contracted for the actual construction with James F. Joy of the CB&Q. Joy agreed to have the CB&Q build the road, and then lease the line in perpetuity. Construction began immediately, and the line became operational in 1870, with the entire line being opened for business on January 15, 1871. In 1871, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy gained control of the line. Eventually, the line was extended to tap the coal mines in Streator, IL. Poors Manual of 1903 indicates the line began in Geneva, rather than Aurora. 1977- The Fox River Branch line between North Aurora and Geneva was abandoend in 1977 (this line ran on the west side of the Fox River). ------------------------------ The Chicago, Millington & Western Railroad was chartered to build a 210 mile line from Chicago, Illinois to Muscatine, Iowa, via Warrenville, Millington, Princeton, and Neponset, paralleling the Burlington Railroad. (Ref 1). Ten miles of the road were graded some rails were laid by 1875, but no further work done, the railroad never opened. See also Chicago & Muscatine Railroad, which may be related. (Ref 1) The End of the Millington Narrow-Gauge Railroad (Ref 2) The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad has secured possession of the Chicago, Millington and Western railroad, a narrow-gauge line running from Chicago to a point known as Brush Hill in DuPage county. (Brush Hill seems to be part of Naperville, which is located on the Burlington mainline. There were many gravel pits in this area, which may account for the construction of the line. With a length of 11 miles, the road would not have started in Chicago proper) The road was secured at a private sale and the consideration in the neighborhood of $75,000. The road was commenced in 1874, and was contemplated to extend to the Western limits of the state, but the scheme failed and nothing has been done toward extending the road beyond its present terminus since that time. The road begins at the bridewell and runs west, crossing the Burlington road near Lawndale and thence to some gravel beds at Brush Hill. It is expected the Burlington Company will relay the tracks and use the road to transport gravel from the company’s pits located near the near the present terminus of the line. The rolling stock and other machinery of the road was purchased by some parties interested in an eastern narrow-gauge road.--Aurora Herald. ------------------------------ Standard Time (1883): “On Sunday next, Nov. 18th, 1883, at noon, the Standard Time of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R.R. east of the Missouri river will be changed to conform to the 19th meridian or central time, which is nine minutes slower than Chicago time, which is the present standard. This new time will be generally adopted by all the railroads in this section of the country and I would suggest the advisability of your considering its adoption for the standard time in your city. For your further information, I will send you by mail today a copy of our instructions to employees in regard to carrying the change into effect.” Oswego Depot 1884 "The business doings of the depot during 1884 are summed up as follows: Total number of car loads sent and received, 1,468; of which there were that of ice 1,089; stock 127; household goods 18; lumber 68; coal 97; the remainder were miscellaneous. The number of tickets sold is 12,093. Supposed to be a respectable showing for Oswego." New Yorkville Depot 1885 "The good people of Yorkville and vicinity are greatly pleased with the new railway station and the appointments thereto belonging. They feel that thanks are due to the officials of the Great Burlington Route for their care of the little Fox River branch, and the improvements made thereon. The new station house is 50 feet longer than it was. The freight room on the east end and takes up about 50 feet. In this room, in the northwest corner, has been placed a tight little safety-box where packages of value can be securely locked up. Coming next is the gentlemen’s waiting room-- then the office where Brother Lyons holds forth in pride and benignant joy; and west of this is the ladies’ waiting room where they can be to themselves away from soggy pipes, bad cigars, steaming garments, and all the ills with which men are afflicted. They have a pleasant room. The interior of the waiting rooms and office is painted a light blue, with drab trimmings, white ceiling, and maroon shelving. The bay window in the ticket office is a great improvement and Agent Lyons can now see the trains coming without risking his neck and his health. We all feel proud of our new depot, of the Burlington officials, of our Station Agent, and of our town." Flagman rule implemented (1889) Business on the Fox River road has picked up in the past few weeks. All the regular freight trains are running and some extra ones. Under the new rules of putting a flagman to the rear of all trains, they make more noise than a pig under a gate in whistling them back again. Block Signal station at Oswego (1889) "Station Agent Lyons is now practicing on the new semaphore and signals, which were put on the depot at Yorkville last week. It is quite an imposing machine. A long wooden box or tube 20 or 30 feet high runs from the office floor above the roof of the station; on this are signal arms, green and red, worked by levers in the office; also lamps which are raised and lowered in the tube by a crank and chain in the office. The signals made above are repeated before the operator in the office, and mirror, slantwise, at the bottom of the tube shows that the lamps are burning all right. It takes a good deal of machinery to run all this, and Mr. Lyons is certainly warranted in having his salary raised." Train delays "A broken rail down near Ottawa Monday night detained all freight trains on the Fox River road, and the up-river passenger Tuesday morning was an hour and a quarter late." Train Strike February 1888 "Yorkville: At 4 o'clock Monday morning the 2,000 locomotive engineers and firemen on the Burlington system between Chicago and Denver run their trains to the nearest terminus of the road, detached their locomotives, and abandoned them after safely housing them in the roundhouse. The strike involves to a greater or less extent all classes of railroad employees." "Yorkville: So far as the Fox River line is concerned, it would seem that the strike had failed, for our passenger and freight trains are running as usual and on time. But on the main line there is still some delay as to stock and freight trains. (March 14, 1888...)" Railway Post Office "A mail pouch between Aurora and this place (Oswego?) is now being conveyed in addition to the regular mails; it is received from the 6:30 p.m. train and sent on the 8:54 a.m. Mail matter to be sent by it must reach the postoffice by 8:30 when it will be closed. It is important to be on time as there can be no mailing on the train when too late at the postoffice." Train "Bandits" "Andy Taylor, the “bandit king” of Tennessee, was hung Friday. While on a train going from Knoxville to London, he slipped a revolver out of a guard’s pocket and got the muzzle to the head of the Sheriff. Mistaking the weapon for a self-cocker, he lost time and was knocked down before he could raise the hammer. The rescue of the eldest Taylor by his two brothers, involving the assassination of a Sheriff and the capture of a train with 100 passengers, the death of the two elder Taylors, and the killing of still another Sheriff are matters of quite recent but highly remarkable history." Snow storms "Monday’s Aurora News, in speaking of the railroad blockade, says: The snow plow went west on Saturday and went through to Mendota. After it left Plano, going west, freight train No. 47 left Plano for the east. Before it reached Bristol it was stalled and the snow began piling up against it. On one side, the snow was as high as the cars and on the other about four feet deep. All the space under the cars was filled. this entirely blocked the road then. All attempts to move the train or dig it out on Saturday were in vain, as the snow blew in as fast as it was dug out. Mr. Olsen, with a gang of men and three engines, left here this morning to clear the north track between here and Mendota. When near Bristol two of the engines left the track and blockaded the track that had been cleared of snow. The wrecker went down to straighten things out." "Bristol: The worst snow storm of the season on Friday last, with the mercury 20 degrees below on Thursday and our coal dealer clean out of coal. Some were necessitated to go to Yorkville through the driving storm to procure coal to keep from freezing out altogether. Coal dealers in Streator telegraphed dealers here that they could not get cars to ship; too bad that the CB&Q Company are limited on their line in transportation." "Yorkville: Fox River freight trains are very uncertain as to time this cold weather.(1884..?)""“Is the train in?” asked an anxious individual of Arthur Dixon, assistant manager of the Yorkville depot Monday afternoon. “Yes, she’s in,” said Dixie; “In a snow bank!” The “open winter” man had the last sod put on his prophetic grave Friday morning when the thermometers here indicated 32 degrees below zero. It was a still cold day--but it was cold. Regular Minnesota weather." "During the storm two weeks ago all who were caught in the drifts in the vicinity of AuxSable Grove made tracks for the old Cherry mansion in which Charley Cherry and his accomplished wife held forth. Sleigh after sleigh entered the yard and the occupants were ushered into the large parlors and thawed out before the fires. From Sunday the 15th until the middle of the week, 18 persons depended on the hospitality of these good people Charley had killed one of his fattest cattle and with the good cookery of which the house is noted, every meal was a feast. When the storm was over and the roads had been opened so the folks could go on their way, there was a genuine sigh of regret. They had been made so welcome that it was hard to tear themselves away. Charley Cherry is gaining the reputation for hospitality and big-heartedness that characterized his good old father during his time, when the country was new." "Yorkville: The Ottawa Free Trader of last Saturday says the ice in the rivers began moving yesterday afternoon, and has since been running at times heavily. The chief damage done was to the trestle work at the south end of the public bridge over the Illinois river here. Some props were knocked out, rendering some 30 feet of the roadway dangerous. Repairs were begun immediately. The iron armor of one pier of the same bridge was also knocked off." Farming interests: "The dairy interests of this part of Kendall county continue to grow rapidly. Friday morning, the shipments by express from Yorkville and Oswego detained the train at each station to load milk, butter, and though not a dairy product, eggs. From Oswego, half a ton of butter was shipped for New Orleans. There are two cheese and butter factories at Oswego one at Bristol Station, one at Yorkville, and a butter factory at Plattville." "George Ernst, a young fellow, and the Sorg boys--small boys--bound and shocked 35 acres of oats in five days in Michael Sorg's farm." Dec. 15: Hogs are booming; six carloads were shipped last night." "Wm. Findley & Bro. are agoing to set out 12,000 catalpa seedlings the coming spring. The catalpa tree is considered the most durable timber for fence posts and railroad ties.(our farm had about half a dozen catalpa trees in back of the corn crib...probably came from this group)." Oswego Creamery: "This factory started last May to collect cream on the Fairlamb system. The cans used seem to have proved very popular with the farmers, and they claim they can get almost as much money for their cream as for their milk, besides having the skim milk left on the farm in good condition for feeding, an important item with the farmer. Mr. Partridge has over eight hundred cans which have been distributed among one hundred and seventy patrons with a prospect of a large increase the present season. ...Total number of cream cans received: 88,253; Total pounds of butter made, 88,007; Cash received: 21,408.25; Cash paid patrons, 17,604.66; Butter drawn out by the patrons for own use, 6,013; Average pounds of butter made per day, 400." "At the Fox River Creamery there is a new washing machine which is said to beat anything in creation for doing its work and doing it fast. George Inman washed with it 100 milk sets in six minutes by the watch." "The Millington Creamery will be operated this season.." Ice Houses made up about 85% of the carloads shipped on from Yorkville or Oswego during the 1880's "The ice harvest has been carried on the past week with energy--the workmen even forgetting when Sunday came. The large ice houses above Yorkville are nearly filled and great quantities have been shipped to Chicago for storing. Beck, Sullivan, Churchill, and Starr have all filled their houses, so we can keep cool next summer. The ice is fair--some of it extra good being from nine to eleven inches thick." "Troy, the suburb of Oswego, is improving very much; besides the building of some private residences, the ice company is putting up six new ice houses. They being much larger than the old, 150 feet long and also higher--covering quite a tract of ground. " THE OSWEGO ICE COMPANY Correspondence Aurora Beacon Our enterprising ice company merits especial mention. Messrs. Esch Bros. & Rabe understand their business, and do not hesitate to put money and energy into it. Their houses are twenty in number, and are located some three-quarters of a mile north from the depot, and connected therewith by telephone. They and the men in their employ compose nearly the entire population of Troy, a suburb of this village, and since they have been there that locality has vastly improved. Fourteen of their houses are in one block and joining James Murphy's place on the north, and cover an area of 100 by 400 feet with twenty-five foot posts. These were built four years ago...Last fall they erected six enormous houses 150 by 180 feet with thirty foot posts thereon. This puts Murphy in bad shape--with a long row of high ice houses on the north of him, and another still higher shading him on the south, with the trestle work and machinery for hoisting and filling the houses still higher on the west, and all in close proximity, the railroad and side track in addition cutting him closely on the east, all of which hems him completely in, and renders his property of but little value. This company also owns a number of tenant houses for those in their employ, and two large boarding houses, where they board those temporarily, in their employ while harvesting the crop. The arrangements for gathering the crop is in every way complete--an engine, with thirty-five horsepower, with endless chain, and so perfectly adapted to the work that they can, with ease, house 1,000 tons of ice daily. The ice is gathered from Parker's mill pond, and is of superior quality, fifteen inches thick and perfectly free of anything but solid crystal ice. At the present writing their houses are about half filled, and fifteen days of good weather will complete the work of filling. It will be seen at a glance that this company will do a large shipping business next summer, and if the Northwestern R.R. Company want their share of it, they should get their branch down through here as soon as possible. It is not too much to say that Messrs. Esch Bros. & Rabe's freight bills the coming season will amount to $50,000. Success to this enterprising company. May their shadow never be less." "The ice company is shipping on the average four car loads of ice per day.""The Chicago Ice Company put men to work on the river here Saturday cutting ice and storing it in the big houses. Saturday night about 30 men came out from Chicago and have made the ice cakes rattle lively. The ice is in splendid condition--clear, hard, and about the right thickness." Manufacturing: "Yorkville-The building of the Fox River Paper Company’s mill has taken about all the available help about these villages, and it is a busy place...An engine room is being built to the new mill on the west side for a horizontal engine of 40 horsepower." "Hord & Co. are still making that famous White Rose flour. Their mill has been rebuilt, and the roller system of grinding introduced. They make three brands besides the White Rose, viz.: Lily White, Daisy and Minnesota. [The business operated at Gray’s Mill.]" Oswego Depot February -- 1883 Feb. 1: The freight business at this station (Oswego?) for 1882 was 1,170 carloads received and forwarded. This is exclusive of the Express business. Oswego Public Schools: "The following is the report of Oswego Public School for month ending February 7th, 1883: Primary department, H. Ella Kerr, teacher. No. enrolled, 50. Average attendance, 39. Roll of Honor: Edith Schamp, Mabel Cooney, Jimmie Dwyre, George Lippold, Jay Richards, Charlie Willis. Intermediate department, Kate Cliggitt, teacher. No. of pupils enrolled, 63; average daily attendance, 55. Roll of Honor: Martha Potter, Emma Sierp, Allie Switzer, Fanny Varner, Gracie Miller, Emma Haines, Harvey Dickerson, Paul McConnell, Henry Miller, Earl Mullen, Arthur Switzer, Pearce Wormley. W. McFarlane’s Room. No. of pupils in attendance, 49; average daily attendance, 44.13. Roll of Honor: Libbie Andrews, Adda Van Evers, Jesse Hill, Will Cooney Harry Minkler, Charles Herren, George Hill. " (This is an interesting report. When I was in Oswego Grade School, we had one class per grade, and altho they were large classes (30-35) for one teacher, the classes were smaller than this reported 67 years before. Our high school graduating class had 44 young men and women in 1958)" Civil War Reunion 89th Illinois: Arrangements have been made to have the first reunion of the “old Railroad Regiment” on the Kendall County Fair Grounds of Thursday of next week, Sept. 4th, at which time it is expected that Gov. Oglesby will give an address. Silliness "Aurora papers say that D.J. Hoff, formerly a photographer in Yorkville, late a brakeman on the CB&Q road, has fallen heir to a large fortune in New Jersey. There are several here who would like to see him if he has lots of money." ------------------------------ Thumbnail histories of important towns and cities along the Burlington. The early economic growth of these cities can be traced directly to the Burlington. Sourced from Wikipedia, "BNSF Station Lists" http://www.nprha.org/NP%20Trac Aurora was settled 1834, Incorporated as a village 1845, The Aurora Branch RR (predecessor the CB&Q) opened in 1850. Up through the 1950's, Aurora was an important manufacturing town. Plano settled 1835, founded 1870 http://www.cityofplanoil. Mendota incorporated 1853, same year it became a station stop on the CB&Q See "Magnificent Whistle Stop: The 100 year story of Mendota" https://archive.org/stream/ma Oswego settled 1833, OO&FRV opened 1871. Yorkville found 1833, OO&FRV opened 1871 Ottawa incorporated 1853, OO&FRV opened 1871 Streator settled 1821 OO&FRV opened 1871, Chicago & Alton 1871, Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern (predecessor of the Santa Fe) 1873. See https://en.wikipedia.org/w ------------------------------ __._,_.___ Posted by: William Husband <kybillhusb@gmail.com> __,_._,___ |