Early Settlers
Page 132
Mr. Julius Geweke, though not a pioneer, clearly remembers the many sided genius, Henry Harms. He refers to him as the great man of Niles Township; he seemed to hold all offices from the humblest to the highest, in Cook County. He was appointed by Abraham Lincoln to draft soldiers for the Civil War. He built the foundation for the previous County Court House. During the "Big Chicago Fire" he was running for the office of county treasurer, and was thought to be elected, but this could not be proven to the opposite party, for the ballots had been burned in that fire. He built the first electric road in the country, in Cincinnati, and was operating and owning at the time of his death, a steam road from Victoria to Etherly, Ill. There were originally three brothers, Henry, John, Carl and Christian, who fell in the Civil War. They came from Mecklenburg, Germany, of splendid family, and he married Louise Nichlaus, also from that town. They were all prominent in the German home.
Henry Harms, familiarly called "Farmer Harms" known all over Cook County was born at Mecklenberg Schwerin, Germany, in 1832. Immigrating to the United States in 1851, he worked at farming near Chicago and succeeded in getting his family to America with the exception of his elder brother, in 1856. He purchased a farm in 1854, and in 1855 he married Louisa Nicholas, of Mecklenburg. They had eleven children. He held many important offices as Constable, Supervisor, Commissioner of Highways, Cook County Drainage Commissioner. He was awarded the contract for the Chicago Court House in 1875 and finished it in a very satisfactory manner in 1876. Mr. Harms was the originator of the Lincoln Avenue and Niles Center gravel road. He was Postmaster at Niles Center for about twelve years. Mr. Harms was also the founder of three school districts east of the river. He had a store in Niles Center for six years and was a stockholder in the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. The drainage of Niles Township was conducted under his supervision and the construction of nearly all the public roads.
In 1839 Samuel E. Ferris settled in the woods about half a mile north of Niles Center and a bachelor named O'Brien started the village by building a log-cabin.
Thomas Jowarski, a native of Poland, settled on the south half of, Section, 27 and the Snell family settled in the extreme northwest corner of the town.
In 1840 John Richard built a log-house on Section 14 and Jacob Comstock built on the north half of Section 15.
Stephen Gage settled on the north half of Section 7.
Benjamin Hall, after whom Hall Road was named, and John Marshall built the tavern at Dutchman's Point, of which Benjamin was the first proprietor. It is now occupied by a tinsmith, Mr. Westermann. In this year, 1840, Benjamin Lupton moved into Niles.
John Shriggly soon succeeded Benjamin Hall as tavern-keeper at Dutchman's Point.
In 1841 Nicholas Meyer, John Schneider and William Huffmeyer settled in this township and also William White, who was for several years Supervisor of the Town. William White is still living in Glenview.
In 1842 John Rodgers, John W. Schwarz, Charles Ruescher, Nicholas and Peter Haupt, John Finke and his son, John L. Finke, all settled on the prairie in the east part of the township, and Mr. Eckhoff in the southern part. In 1843 Jacob Kercher and his father-in-law settled on Section 14. John Zobus near the school-house in District No. 2 and Sylvester Beckwith on the northeast quarter of Section 18. In 1815, George Proesel and Wolfgang Harrer, with his two sons, Michael and Henry, located on the east prairie near the edge of the forest. In 1847, Samuel Rohr moved from Evanston and located on the school section of Niles.
The east prairie lay between the timber land in Niles and the Evanston Ridge.
From this time on until the building of the Illinois and Wisconsin, now the Chicago North-western Railroad, and of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, the township of Niles received but limited additions to its population. Wood became valuable at this time, as their houses were being rapidly built. The timber land was soon cultivated.
Time is rapidly sweeping from the scene of action, the pioneers of your County. Even the recollection of their busy life will soon be a thing of the past, were no attempt made to perpetuate the history of this noble and worthy race of men and women.
The pioneers suffered, without murmur, privations and difficulties, in the early settlement of this country. By their energy, bravery, and sound practical sense, they have paved the way for the present enjoyment of our modern conveniences.
Due acknowledgment is accorded the many friends who have so willingly given their interest toward making this little sketch a possibility, and gratitude to them is hereby extended by E. Palma Beaudette.
Page 133
Page 134
