Traveling in the earlier days was somewhat of a long and tiresome task
compared to that of today.
This story I am about to relate is about the
conditions that existed between the years 1870 and 1880, before any form of
motor car, even the more convenient carriages were used. The old lumber wagon
and the open two-seated carriage, known as "Democrat buggy," were the popular
conveyances.
My grandmother was quite a small girl when she remembers
making her first trip to Ottawa with her parents, who lived near Grand Ridge,
then known as "Livonia." This little village was then in its infancy, only a few
houses and a small store had been erected.
Many of the needs of the
family could not be had here, so a larger town had to be sought for some
articles of food and clothing as were required by the family.
As Ottawa
was a flourishing town at that time, many of the settlers preferred to make
their purchases there. A trip to this city was not only considered a profitable
one, but was looked forward to by the family as a sort of holiday, for these
occasions were few and far between.
The few miles lying between the two
towns today seems but a short distance. For then a full day was required to make
the round trip, for, of course, the wheat which would be left nt the mill must
be ground into flour and ready to take home that evening The mill in which this
work was done stood where the car barns are today, near the Illinois river.
On the day of the trip the family was up early, chores were attended to for
the day, and after donning their best clothes, were in readiness for the trip.
Traveling west for three-fourths of a mile they came to the Bloomington
road, now known as Route 23. Very little improvement had been made on this road
then. Gravel was needed badly, and as the townships could not furnish it, a toll
gate was placed south of where Peck's dairy farm is today. A fee of fifteen
cents was charged those who passed through it, and in this way they obtained the
money to gravel the road. In some instances there would be people who did not
have the money on their way to town and were forced to leave their coat or some
possession until their return. This was quite a prominent structure, being
enclosed on both sides and overhead. It was wide enough for a wagon to pass
through, and long enough to allow it to be covered while stopping. A little
house stood at one side for the convenience of the toll-keeper in bad weather.
At the top of Covel creek hill, where we now find a farmhouse, was an
inn known as the Ostrander inn. Here one might stay overnight, and also might
find their favorite drink, if they so desired, because a bar was to be found
there, as well as in the cities. Yes, grandma says there were roadhouses in
those days, too.
A little farther south at the next crossroad they would
pass where only a short distance west stood the Strawn schoolhouse, where on
Sundays the earlier settlers met to worship and to found a religion which would
go far toward developing this new country into a desirable place to live.
The day in the city would be spent visiting the various stores, some of
which were Scott's drygoods, Lynch's drygoods, Megaffin's shoe store, and
others. Two places in which something to eat might be obtained were Mitchell's
restaurant and Roberts' bakery.
Ready-made clothes were hard to get and
yard goods had to be purchased and the clothes made at home.
One of the
long-remembered days to be spent each year was the old settlers' picnic held in
Allen park. Boat rides were taken in pleasure boats on the river. One of the
boats was named "The Bell of Ottawa," another "The Sidney S." A big picnic
dinner featured, and visiting among the various families, with contests and
sports.
Grandma says these were sure great times, but I believe she is
more than glad today to step into a comfortable automobile and travel on our
fine concrete roads, and in less than a half hour make the trip she did then in
almost a half day with old "Dobbin."
Extracted 08 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from Stories of Pioneer Days in La Salle County, Illinois, by Grammar Grade Pupils, published in 1932, page 32.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
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Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
