Frankfort through time, a quick snapshot
By Sandy Vasko
Today, our ramble through history takes us to Frankfort, one of the earliest-settled townships in Will County.
Instead of telling one story, we will hop through time to grab a quick look at what was happening. Set the way-back machine to October 1856.
Although the Civil War had not yet been fought, in 1856 the Democrats and Abolitionists (Republicans) were at each other’s throats. It was no different in Frankfort. We read in the Joliet Signal:
“The Democracy of Frankfort are arousing and the vain boast of the Abolitionists that they are going to carry that town by one hundred majority has little now to sustain it.
“On Tuesday 9th inst., meetings were held at Frankfort and Mokena. We learn that there were between three and four hundred present at each of these meetings, and that the right sort of feeling prevailed. The speakers were enthusiastically applauded. Frankfort is Democratic and will give a democratic majority. The Abolitionists of that town are a shrewd set of fellows, but they ain’t sharp enough to catch the Democrats with their (n..ger) bait.”
While I do not have the election results from 1856, I do have them from 1860 when Frankfort went for Lincoln 255 to 104 for Douglas. I guess those Democrats weren’t so sharp after all.
Our next snapshot is from July 14, 1868 in the Joliet Signal:
“During the early part of last week, a fiend named Fellows, attempted to murder Jacob Baumgartner, an honest peaceable citizen who has resided near Frankfort in this county for over a quarter of a century. He had an old grudge against Mr. Baumgartner, went to his house at night and shot him through a window. The ball entered his cheek, passed round and lodged in the back of his neck. The wound is considered a dangerous if not a fatal one. Fellows has been arrested and lodged in jail.”
What can one say except, there will always be those who use violence against their enemies, real or perceived.
Our next entry reminds us that the good old days may not have been without sudden tragedy. From the August 27, 1872 edition of the Joliet Signal:
“Casualties in Town of Frankfort – Last Thursday as Mr. George Geither, accompanied by his wife and three children, were returning in a wagon from a neighbor’s when about one mile northeast of the village, the neck yoke slipped off the tongue which fell upon the ground. Mr. Geither jumped out of the wagon to arrange the same, when the horses took fright and ran furiously. Making a circle, he headed them off, and with the aid of persons who came to his assistance, succeeded in stopping the frightened animals.
“On looking into the wagon the children were there uninjured, but his wife was missing. He hastened back in the direction the horses had come, and after running about 30 rods found the body of the unfortunate woman lying on the ground in a horribly mangled condition. All signs of life were extinct. She had apparently been thrown in front of the forward wheels, her arms becoming entangled in one of them in such a manner that the bones were crushed to pieces from the shoulders down. The grief of the poor husband and children, on realizing the fearful casualty, would have melted the stoniest heart.
“On the afternoon of same day another shocking accident happened in the same town, less than two miles distant from the scene above described. Mr. John Nickerau had his right leg from the knee down crushed to a jelly, by coming in contact with the cylinder of a threshing machine. Proper efforts were not employed to check the flow of blood, and he died from exhaustion before competent medical assistance could be procured. He was about 21 years old, and was well acquainted with running threshing machines and their management.”
I became intrigued with one particular aspect of community events in Frankfort in 1875 – the meetings of the Frankfort Debating Society. Their topics for debated may seem archaic, but perhaps have some relevance today. All from the Joliet Weekly Sun:
“The amateur debating society had a lively time of it last Friday night, on the question, ‘Resolved, That a boy ought to be taught only those things which he is likely to need in practical life when he becomes a man.’
“The amateur debating society, on Friday evening last, debated the question: ‘Resolved, That there is more happiness than misery in the world.’ The question for discussion on Friday evening next, Dec. 3 is: ‘Resolved, That pride and ambition have been a greater curse to the world than ignorance and superstition.’
“The question for debate on Saturday evening next is: ‘Resolved, That an abundance of wealth is better than an abundance of education.’
“The Frankfort Amateur debating society will discuss on next Friday evening, the question: ‘Resolved, “That refinement, as it is at the present, is injurious to happiness.’
“The Frankfort debating society is now established, and is likely to prove of great service to the young folks of the neighborhood. Great interest is manifested. On Saturday evening next the following question is to be discussed: ‘Resolved, That drunkenness has caused more misery to the human race than war.’”
From January 20, 1876, proof that early Frankfort prospered because of ag: “The new elevator of Cannoll & Mayer, situated in this place, is now in full blast. They commenced running last Monday, and have been running from 16 to 18 hours per day. There was 253 wagons unloaded here at the elevator Friday, and it is said that some of the farmers went to Spencer with their loads, as they could not get in on account of the rush.
“They have 10 men at work constantly, and three men at the dump. It averages two minutes to each load. It is quite amusing to watch the farmers as they come in and try to get as near the elevator as possible so as to get unloaded first. Some hard words are used, and some very nearly to blows.
“Mr. Hunter, the way master, finds it very difficult to keep up his part, as they keep him flying around at a fearful rate. We notice the boys all have very bad colds on account of the dusty work. Mr. Palmer, the engineer, is a very content man of his charge. He has been running almost night and day.”
Sandy Vasko is Director of the Will County Historical Museum & Research Center and President of the Will County Historical Society.