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Canal Work
The Tampico Area Historical Society encompasses parts of Whiteside County and Bureau County in Illinois. Focus is on Tampico, Hume Twp., Hahnaman/Deer Grove, & Prophetstown in Whiteside County & Yorktown & Thomas in Bureau County.

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LesN
48 posts
Feb 19, 2006
7:10 PM

I saw Marla Johnson's posting in the Guest Book where she mentioned she was researching the Canal in the area. Here's some articles from The Tampico Tornado newspaper on the subject - Les Niemi:

November 17, 1894
The feeder to the Hennepin canal will run within a few miles of this place. The line will be between here and Deer Grove.

July 16, 1898
Work on this branch of the Hennepin canal will be commenced right away. There will be a chance for you to get a contract if you are looking for such work.

April 22, 1899
A telegram was received here last Wednesday morning announcing the death of Mr. GAMBLE's son in New York. Mr. GAMBLE is on of the canal contractors and he was in Chicago when the dispatch came.

April 19, 1900
LIFE's CLOSING DAY.
Emmet SIBLEY Answers the Final Summons. As does His Mother, Mrs. Polly A. SIBLEY.
Mr. Emmet SIBLEY, a highly respected citizen of Tampico and formerly of Portland township, died Sunday morning at 7 o'clock of plusery, after an illness of short duration.
Mr. SIBLEY was born in Portland in 1864, and had resided there nearly all his life, until a short time ago he moved with his family to Tampico, intending to work on the canal.
Mr. SIBLEY was taken sick about two weeks ago, and failed rapidly, the end coming with his dear ones at his bedside. A wife and two children Brace and Ward survive him, as does three brothers Charles E., of Prophetstown, Henry F., of Spring Hill and Truman B., of Portland, and three sisters Mrs. KRAUSE of Elkhart, Ind., Mrs. Ella KELLY of Dallas Center, Ia., and Mrs. Mary GARRISON of Prophetstown.
The funeral was held at Prophetstown at 1:30 Monday, burial taking place at Prophetstown cemetery.
Mrs. Polly A. SIBLEY, was born in Ferrisburg, Vermont, Sept. 26, 1824 and died April 17, 1900 at Tampico, Ill. She was married to John SIBLEY Oct. 18, 1847.
They came to Illinois in the fall of '49 and settled on a farm in Portland Township, where they resided up to the time of his death, Nov. 15, 1881, since that time she had made her home with her children. She came to Tampico April 9 to visit her son Emmet, who was very ill at that time with plura pneumonia, she contracted the disease and was ill only five days.
She leaves six children, Charles of Prophetstown, Henry, of Spring Hill, Truman B., of Portland, Mrs. Eunice KRAUSE of Elkhart, Ind., Mrs. Mary GARRISON, of Prophetstown, and Mrs. Ella KELLY of Dallas Center, Ia.
The funeral services were held in the Methodist church this afternoon at 1 o'clock, Dr. J.R. CREIGHTON officiating. Burial at Prophetstown.
Card of Thanks.
The children of Mrs. Polly A. SIBLEY wish to extend thanks to the people of Tampico for their kindness in their recent bereavement, and especially to Mr. and Mrs. S.H. PIERCE.

May 19, 1900
Ray McKENZIE and James STRUM took a ride out to the canal Sunday afternoon to see the auger dredge at Kinzer works, he tied his team to some willows and went on a sight seeing tour when they returned they found one of the mares, one which had recently got from his farm, and being unused to such long drives, it being nearly seven miles to this point, had got tired and laid down on the tongue of the buggy and broke it. The next time Ray goes out driving he will probably take some bedding along so as to make it more comfortable for the mare; they managed to get home after digging up a few nails from their pockets and binding the pole with straps.

August 18, 1900
Burton BROWN has added another specimen to his collection of natural curios. The new addition is a portion of the antlers of an elk recently dug up at a depth of two feet on KINSER & Son's work on the canal at mile 12. The antlers are in a fair state of preservation, considering the length of time they must have been buried in the soil.

August 25, 1900
O.D. PITNEY took his wife and daughter Mrs. Fred PITNEY and children out to view the canal Tuesday.

November 23, 1901
The first spade of dirt for the Hennepin canal was thrown July 1st, 1892 at Milan by Capt. L.L. WHEELER of Sterling. At the end of 1901, nine years afterward, the excavation of the twenty-eight miles of the feeder is practically done and considerable work has been done on the main line. Nine years more ought to see lake steamers tied to the Tampico wharf.

May 24, 1902
The narrow gage railroad along the tow path of the canal was completed this week as far as the railroad bridge east of here. This makes a continuous railroad line from Rock Falls to Tampico, but as it does not carry passengers or freight there is not probability of heavy traffic between the two places. The road is used exclusively to hall crushed rock to riprap the banks.

August 23, 1902
JOHN AYDELOTT DIES IN CHICAGO
John AYDELOTT, until recently a resident of this place, had for over sixteen years the trusted superintendent of the firm of KINSER & Son, contractors, died very suddenly of apoplexy last Sunday night at 9 o'clock in his room in Chicago. His death was very sudden as he had been well and found dead at the desk, his head resting on his hand, by a follow resident, Mr. BENTON. The remains were brought here to the home of James STURM, a friend of the deceased's family, and the funeral service was held Thursday at 2 o'clock in the Methodist church, Rev. BERNREUTER officiating. Interment was in the cemetery here.
Born in Rushville, Ind., May 14, 1858, the deceased lived there until 1882 when he moved to Munic, where he was married on May 14, 1880 to Mrs. AYDELOTT. During the past sixteen years his work with KINSER & Son has taken him all over the United States, having no location for a permanent home. During the excavation of the canal feeder here he had charge of the work and lived here for two years, going to Chicago this spring to take charge of some work there for KINSER & Son.
His wife and one daughter, Mrs. Arlie LOVE, survive and are prostrated by his sudden and unexpected death. Mr. AYDELOTT made numerous friends here, who sympathize with him and regret that a good man, liked by all, has bee stricken down.

August 1, 1903
Three years at least will elapse before the Hennepin canal will be completed, according to Major WILLARD, the engineer in charge of the project, who has just made a report to the war department. Much delay has been caused by the litigation instituted by the highway commissioners and by the weather and floods.

August 1, 1903
Congressman HITT, Major WILLARD and his successor, Capt. RICHE of Chicago, with Capt. WHEELER, made a tour of inspection of the canal east of here Wednesday and Thursday. Capt. RICHE is the new engineer in charge of the work, replacing Major WILLARD, who has been in charge, with headquarters in Chicago. He came from Galveston, Texas, and is a young man about thirty-three years old. Major WILLARD has been transferred to Los Angeles, Cal.

August 15, 1903
The body of John HUTTEN, a brother of Christian HUTTEN of this place and of Mrs. Henry LAUFF, of Hahnaman, was found in the drainage canal at Joliet Wednesday morning. The remains were badly decomposed when found and had probably been in the canal since last Saturday. The particulars of his death are not known. The deceased was about sixty-two years old and formerly resided in Sterling. He was known here.

November 20, 1903
WIN CANAL BRIDGE SUIT
Judge KOHLSAAT Renders a Decision Favorable to Commissioners Monday.
After a stubborn legal contest of over three years, the highway commissioners have won their suit against the government over the bridges question.
Judge KOHLSAAT of Chicago rendered an opinion Monday which he overrulled the demurrer entered by attorn. BETHEA for the government. The demurrer declared that the courts have no jurisdiction over the war department under whose supervison the case is built, that the department is supreme to any court. Judge KOHLSAAT overruled this and said the courts had a right to try the case.
There is now no question as to the right court in which to try the cases and the government will now have to prove that the bridges, approaches and grades are not according the original condemnation decrees or erect them in the highways as the commissioners want them.

November 20, 1903
The work on the canal feeder from Sterling to the south end was suspended Tuesday for the winter and the Tampico men employed are out fo a job for the winter. About the only work being don on the canal at present is on the main line near Colona.

November 27, 1903
The canal is frozen over sufficiently so that there is good skating on the glassy surface.

December 4, 1903
CANAL BRIDGE CASES ARE CONTINUED
The canal bridge case which were recently before the United States district court inChicago by the highway commissioners including the January term of court by Judge KOHLSAAT. It will be remembered that a recent decision was given whereby the court ruled that the United States court had jurisdiction and now the case will be tried to acertain if the original decree must not be obeyed by the government and the bridges made the required width, placed in the highways and having the proper approaches.

December 11, 1903
The old switch track at the canal east of here was torn up this week by section forman VAUGHAN and his force of men. The rails were brought here and shipped to company headquarters.

December 18, 1903
TRY THE CASES IN JANUARY
Canal Bridge Cases Will be Settled in Latter Part of Next Month
The case of the highway commissioners against the government in regard to the manner of constructing bridges over the Hennepin canal feeder, will be called for trial in Judge KOHLSATT's [sic] court in Chicago sometime during the month of January.
Attorneys F.E. ANDREWS and C.L. SHELDON appeared in the interests of their clients, the commissioners, before Judge KOHLSAAT [sic] last Friday and the judge said it was a mistake that the case was to be tried Dec. 22.
The testemony concerning the case will first be taken by a master in chancery or a special master in Sterling, previous to the date of the hearing in Chicago, and the evidence thus collected will then be submitted to Judge KOHLSAAT. From the present indication the prospects are good for a decision of the case some time during the latter part of January. The attorneys for the road commissioners believe that they are now at the beginning of the end of the case and that the decision of Judge KOHLSATT will be final.

December 25, 1903
COMMISSIONERS MEASURE BRIDGES
A committee of the highway commissioners of Tampico, Montmorency, Coloma and Fairfield townships were in Tampico Tuesday and with Surveyor AREY and Attorney F.E. ANDREWS, measured every highway crossing, the grade, angles, etc., over the canal in Fairfield township and north. The committee of commissioners consisted of John PIPPERT of Coloma, Theordore FRANK and Thos CONBOY [Conroy?] of Montmorency, T.O. STEADMAN of Tampico and C.A. BROOKS of Fairfield.
The grades, approaches, angles etc. of every highway were measured by Surveyor AREY and accurate figures taken so that they can be presented as evidence in the trial with the government over the bridges, which is set for January.

December 25, 1903
The marriage of Miss ALICE BLACKBURN and Samuel T. ASH will occur Thursday, Jan. 7, at high noon at the home of the bride's parents four miles north-west of here. The bride-to-be is well known here and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.W. BLACKBURN. Mr. ASH was formerly employed by the government on the canal feeder here and is quite well known in the vicinity. He is abrother of Engineer Harry ASH. After the marriage the couple will make their home in a fine new house Mr. ASH recently built on Fourth avenue in Sterling.

June 11, 1904
Mr. BEGDAHL and family of Sterling have moved into the DOW house on Benton street. Mr. BEGDAHL is employed on the canal.

July 22, 1904
Robt. ALDRICH and Bennie BRAINERD went to work on the canal this week.

August 5, 1904
H.C. ASH who formerly resided here and was one of the government engineers connected with the canall writes from Duluth to J.H. CAIN that they are all well and he is working hard. He is busy as a resident engineer of the Great Northern Power Co. and is making arrangements to develop 100,000 horse poweer on the St. Louis river which is about the size of the Rock River. The fall on the river will be 378 feet about three times the drop of Niagra falls, so he evidentally has something big on his hands.

August 5, 1904
The engineers in charge of the building of the big aqueduct where the canal crosses the Green river south of here, have had serious trouble this week on account of the high water. The recent rain caused the river to raise and it broke through the dikes around the pits were excavation had been made for piers. The pile driver was entirely under water for a couple of days and the force of men were temporarily laid off on account of not being able to work while the water was so high.

September 30, 1904
The Hennepin canal bridge case will be delayed considerably it is thought because J.M. BOOTH, special master in chancery, who took the testimony in the proceedings, died at this home in Chicago two weeks ago and is death will considerably delay the settlement in the case. The remainder of the work will be done by a brother of the deceased, who also had charge of a portion fo the work after Mr. BOOTH became ill.

December 9, 1904
GREEN RIVER ACQUEDUCT IS COMPLETED
One of the largest concrete structures ever undertaken in Northwestern Illinois is the huge aqueduct over the Green river for the Hennepin canal feeder, which has just been completed. It required 3,820 barrels of cement in the construction of the work. The aqueduct is so constructed that the volume of water that supplies the feeder passes over the river.

August 3, 1906
Grant HUGHES was compelled to lay off from the carpenter crew on the canal Monday on account of mashing the bones in one of his fingers. A bar slipped and caught the finger. Casper SCHWAMBERGER also mashed one of his fingers by getting it under a heavy wagon box.

October 5, 1906
Morris RUSSELL has secured the contract for the grading of the approaches for two bridges over the canal at mile 5. His bid was about $3000 and was the lowest. The work has been commenced.

December 14, 1906
Engineer H.C. ASH who formerly had charge of a section of the canal when it was being built and resided in Tampico, has completed his work on the power development plant near Duluth and is now in Oklahoma where he is expected to tackle another engineering problem. Carl RICHARDSON who has been assisting Mr. ASH is expected home soon.

May 31, 1907
The highway bridges over the canal at the DARLING and BURKE crossing have been completed and are open for traffic. The approaches since the commissioners compelled the government to cut them down and are not difficult of ascent and are macadamized so that they wil be in good shape for traffic. Other bridges will be thrown open soon.

May 31, 1907
The first boat on the Hennipin canal appeared about 5:30 Wednesday evening. It was a gasoline launch owned by Major James H. LONG, of Wyanet, and was an experiment with a two horse power engine attached to a sixteen foot row boat. E.J. WHEELER and H. NELSON of Wynet placed the engine in position and after a few trials they made what proved to be the first trip in a motor boat on this part of the canal. The boat is stationed at Lock 19, and will be on exhibition daily during the summer.

November 1, 1907
Canal Banks Leak
The water in the canal east of town has raised [sic] several feet since the water was turned in at Sterling last week. Haney CAIN and his force of men have been very busy watching the breaks or seepage which so far has given some trouble in the vicinity of Ed BRADY’s south of Tampico. The water boils under the banks in several places like it boils up out of a spring. The “leaks” are not serious and the government has a force of me and teams at work grading and strengthening the banks at the weak spots.

October 2, 1913
Prominent Couple Married
The marriage of Tracy E. DENISON and Miss Jennie SCOTCHBROOK last week Wednesday proved somewhat of a surprise to all but their close friends and relatives who knew of it. Mr. DENISON and Miss SCOTCHBROOK motored to Rock Falls with Mr. and Mrs. Emmitt CUMMINGS and were married at the Methodist parsonage by Rev. James POTTER formerly pastor of the Methodist church here. The wedding party then returned to Tampico to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry DENISON, the groom's parents, where a good, big wedding supper was served to the relatives and close friends. The Tampico Band of which the groom has long been a member serenaded the couple after the concert[sic] on Main street and the members were invited in where they were also given a fine spread.
The bride has made her home in Tampico for several years and is a splendid young lady in every way being active in church circles and has many friends. The groom is the youngest son of a well known, old family of this community, Henry DENISON and at present is employed as patrolman on the Hennepin canal. He is a steaey [sic] young man of ability and good habits. Many nice presents of cut glass, silver ware [sic], etc., were received by Mr. and Mrs. DENISON who are also receiving the hearty best wishes of all their friends for many happy years.

June 24, 1915
Were Married In Morrison
Miss Jennie BACON and Leroy J. DARNELL were married last week Thursday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the Methodist parsonage in Morrison by Rev. James POTTER, a former pastor of the Tampico Methodist church. The wedding was a quiet affair and after the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. DARNELL returned to Tampico where they have established their home and will reside. The bride is the daughter of overseer Wm BACON on the canal at the county line and has many friends in Tampico. Mr. DARNELL is the son of Joseph DARNELL of this place and has resided here for a number of years also has many friends who are extending congratulations.

December 25, 1919
C.D. LOVE completed the filling of his ice house last Sunday noon and says that he has the finext "crop" of ice this year that he has ever put up. It was 9 inches thich when he began to put it up and it grew until it was 13 inches. The cakes are clear, solid, without any air bubbles and spaces and of most excellent quality free from all dirt. Wm. FOY and his helper, G. STICKEL made good records in hauling the ice from the canal to the ice house. They hauled fourteen and fifteen loades on the auto trucks every day, making some 100 miles daily back and forth with some twenty cakes to a load and the load weighing 3500 to 3800 pounds.

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