698
HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
Among the early settlers In the eastern part of Virgil Township was Manly Powers, whose father, Abner Powers, was a patriotic and New Hampshire soldier in the Revolutionary War. The old veteran died in 1852, and was buried in the little cemetery at Canada Corners, now Lily Lake. In 1901 the propriety of erecting a monument in memory of this Revolutionary sire was suggested, and a committee consisting of the Hon. John Stewart, J. J. Read (a grandson of Joshua Read, the pioneer), L. M. Gross, Superintendent of Schools of near-by De Kalb County, and John Winterhalter, was appointed to have the matter in charge. The Supervisors of Kane County appropriated $200 toward the project, Elgin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution donated $25 and, in various ways, $475 more was raised. Wm. Outhouse and son, who were dealers in granite and marble work at Elgin, were also the son and grandson of that James Outhouse, who, with his father-in-law, Joshua Read, was one of the very first settlers in this region. In kindly memory of pioneer days, and in recognition of family and former neighborhood ties, they generously contributed whatever more might be required, and erected in this quiet burial place, where the vanished form of the old patriot had so long ago crumbled back to mother earth, a noble gray granite shaft rising, in severe and imposing symmetry, thirty feet above its broad secure foundation. Its first base is seven feet square and twenty-four inches high; the second base five feet square and sixteen inches high. The die is three feet and eight inches square and fifty-six inches high, and the tapering shaft is thirty inches square at the base and twenty-two feet high. Its proportions are excellent and, standing alone in that quiet rural surrounding, it is indeed an impressive memorial. In heavy letters, sunk deeply in the large base, is cut the inscription:
ABNER POWERS, 1760-1852.
"BENNINGTON, SARATOGA. VALLEY FORGE, YORKTOWN."
An immense concourse of people gathered to witness the unveiling and dedication of the monument, and subsequent celebration in the grove a mile away, on July 4, 1902. For the services at the cemetery a delightful chorus of young people from Sycamore furnished the singing; the Rev. A. T. Horn, of De Kalb, invoked the divine benediction; Mr. Gross, on behalf of the committee, read a brief, clear statement of the conditions that led up to the formation of the committee, reported upon its work, thanked those who had patriotically contributed to its success, and presented the completed monument to the community and to posterity. A beautiful little girl, of the fifth generation in descent from Abner Powers, drew the cord which loosened the great American flag with which it was veiled, and the stately monument stood forth in majestic and enduring beauty. A brief address was given by Gen. John S. Wilcox.
CHAPTER XVII.
TOWNSHIPS, CITIES AND VILLAGES.
INDIVIDUAL TOWNSHIP HISTORY - ORGANIZATION
AND LOCAL CHARACTERISTICS-EARLY SETTLE
MENTS CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PIONEERS-
EARLY INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
WILLIAM LANCE, A NOTED PIONEER SOME
GRASPING LAND CLAIMANTS-MANY ''FIRST"
EVENTS RECOUNTED CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS,
LIBRARIES, ETC.
AURORA TOWNSHIP.
The first white settler in Government Township 38 North, Range 8 East of the Third Principal Meridian, undoubtedly was Thomas (or Jacob, as it is given in some histories) Carpenter, who built a log cabin on the east side of Fox River about half a mile east of Montgomery, late in the fall of 1833, and during Christmas week of that year moved his family into it from Naperville, then a hamlet containing perhaps a half-dozen pioneer families. His father-in-law, Elijah Pierce, arrived in April, 1834, and erected a one-room cabin nearer the river within the limits of the present vil-
