From: Neva Babcock <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, 14 May, 2000 06:37 PM Subject: David Atwood > This was also found in PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, starting on page > 473. > > DAVID ATWOOD > > David Atwood, for many years an agriculturist of Winnebago county and > also connected with banking interests as a stockholder, took up his abode > here in the fall of 1844, and was therefore one of the pioneer residents of > this part of the state. Sixty years have since elapsed and many changes have > occurred, for at the time of his arrival he found a district largely > unimproved, while Rockford was a little village giving small evidence of > future development and growth. Mr. Atwood was born in Middleville, Berkshire > county, Massachusetts, June 11, 1824, his parents being Phineas and Huldah > (Hascall) Atwood. The father was a native of Great Barrington, > Massachusetts, and the mother of Peru, that state. In his native town he > learned and followed the blacksmith's trade and also engaged in farming > there. He was likewise active in the work of the church and was an ordained > minister of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, preaching at both > Middleville and Washington, Massachusetts. In 1842 he removed to Lewis > county, New York, where he resided until 1845, when he came to the west, > settling in Winnebago county. For a short time he resided in New Milford and > then went to Harlem township, where he became owner of a large tract of land, > to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies as a > general farmer for many years. Later he lived retired, making his home there > until his death, which occurred in Harlem township when he was eighty-five > years of age. He had served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812 as a > drummer boy, and was equally loyal to her welfare throughout his entire life > and also to public progress and improvement along the lines that promote the > material, intellectual and moral development of the race. His widow died in > Harlem town ship at the age of ninety-four years. There were ten children in > their family, of whom four are living, namely: Jonathan, a retired merchant, > residing in De Kalb, Illinois; Mary W., who is the widow of Charles Haskins, > and resides at No. 415 East street in Rockford; Hezekiah, a retired merchant > living in Boone, Iowa; and Sylvester G., who is living retired at No. 1904 > Harlem avenue in Rockford. Those deceased are Phineas, Harriet N., Patience, > David, Louisa and Bradley S. > David Atwood acquired a good education in the east and in 1842 > accompanied his parents on their removal to Lewis county, New York, where he > lived until 1844. The brothers came west on account of the health of > Jonathan Atwood. They made the journey by way of the Great Lakes to Chicago > and by stage to Rockford. Here Mr. Atwood began working by the month as a > farm hand and finally located on the place now known as the old Hastings farm > in New Milford township, living there for a few years. Subsequently he took > up his abode in Harlem township where he purchased a tract of wild prairie > land for seven dollars per acre and on this he built a small house. He then > began clearing his land, and as the fields were prepared for the plow he > turned his furrows and planted his crops. He paid for his farm by hauling > his corn to Beloit, Wisconsin, which was then the nearest market, receiving > for his product twenty cents per bushel. Desiring a companion and helpmate > for life's journey, Mr. Atwood was married November 15, 1848, to Miss > Elizabeth Crill, better known as Libby. She was born in Stark, Herkimer > county, New York, October 10, 1831, her parents being James and Susan > (Guivits) Crill, both of whom were natives of Herkimer county. The family, > however, is of German lineage, and the grandfather, Thomas Crill, was the > first of name to come from Germany to America, emanating from a noble family. > He served as a soldier of the Revolutionary war and died in Herkimer county, > New York. James Crill and his wife moved to west in 1844, and first settled > in New Milford township, Winnebago county, on a farm where they lived for > four months. They then removed to Monroe township, Ogle county, where Mr. > Crill became the owner of extensive farming property land. Subsequently he > engaged in general farming until his later years, when he removed to the > village of Monroe, where he lived retired. In the meantime he had become > very wealthy and was there engaged in loaning money, while his two sons, > Isaac and John, now deceased, looked after the farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Crill > resided in the village of Monroe until called to their final rest. > Mr. and Mrs. Atwood became the parents of two children. The elder son, > James M., married Lilly Tuttle, and they now reside in Guilford township > where he is engaged in farming. Charles D. Atwood married Emma Shaul, a > native of Amsterdam, New York, and they reside with his mother in Rockford. > He, however, is engaged in business in Chicago and spends only Sunday at > home. Mr. and Mrs. Atwood also adopted and reared three children: > Millicent, the wife of Gilford Smith, living near Holcomb, Illinois; Kitty, > who now resides in Marion, Ohio; and Henry, who lived with Mrs. Atwood until > nineteen years of age, and is now a resident of California. > Mr. Atwood continued his farming operations in Harlem township and > purchased more land there until he owned an extensive tract. He was > practical and progressive in his farming methods, adding good buildings to > his place and cultivating his land so that it produced excellent crops. He > there carried on general farming until the marriage of his younger son in > 1888, when he turned over the farm to the care of his sons and the property > is still a part of the estate. Mr. and Mrs. Atwood then removed to Rockford, > and throughout his remaining days he enjoyed the fruits of his former toil. > He passed away here September 22, 1904. For several years he had been a > director in the Rockford National Bank and he left his family in very > comfortable circumstances. His possessions had all been acquired through his > own efforts and his example should serve to encourage and inspire others, > showing what may be accomplished through determined purpose, laudable > ambition and unfaltering industry when guided by sound judgment. In politics > he was a democrat, and he belonged to the Masonic lodge of Rockford for over > a half century, the fiftieth anniversary of his connection therewith being > celebrated in August, 1904. He also belonged to the Order of the Eastern > Star. He contributed toward the building of the Crill Methodist Episcopal > church of Monroe township, and both he and his wife attended the services of > that denomination, but were not members thereof. Mr. Atwood, known and > honored as one of the wealthy and prominent men of the county, left behind > him many friends. The family is prominent here and Mrs. Atwood and her son > occupy a commodious and beautiful residence at No. 215 Kilburn avenue. > > As near as I can tell, this is another totally different Atwood. Hope > someone finds this helpful. > > Neva