Otto’s Column

LOCAL HISTORY 1872 Ogle County Atlas described as “splendid”

Editor’snote:OttoDick,Oregon has researched thepeople,places and events important in the Oregon area’s history for the Ogle County Historical Society. The following is one of a series of the articleshehaswritten.

BY OTTO DICK

The following article was printed on the front page of the Ogle County Reporter, Sept. 19, 1872. This was the year the C&I Railroad arrived in Oregon.

“(A Splendid Atlas) The success of the new atlas of Ogle County is now insured. We have had an opportunity to examine quite minutely, a copy of this valuable work and are confident that but few of our citizens fully realize the great labor and expense connected with the publication of such a map.

“For at least one year a corps of men been constantly and persistently engaged in compiling material for its publication. Whoever has taken the trouble to observe these men will agree with us that they are entitled to full credit for their faithful and persevering labor upon the details of this Atlas.

“We venture the assertion that there are few sections of land in this county that have not come under their personal inspection and their lines and location noted by actual observation.

“This will account for the almost surprising accuracy of the various township maps and the exact location of objects of even minor importance. We predict that very few complaints will or can be made against this map by those who have ordered copies in advance.

“In addition to its correctness the work is in every way finely executed, its maps being engraved, printed and colored in a superior manner and its views drawn upon Bavarian Marble with artisSupplied by Otto Dick

ABOVE: This shows the Railroad Addition in the 1872 atlas. BELOW: This notice, which appeared on the front page of the Ogle County Republican “Our Dunn Horse”, encouraged readers to pay for their newspaper subscriptions.

tic skill, the whole neatly and substantially bound in cloth, with leather facings, marbled leaves and embossed title, making it a volume not only of great interest for its information and official uses, but equally acceptable for the parlor or library.

“This atlas contains one hundred pages, 37 maps and 242 lithographic views with a brief history of the county and its cities and villages. The delivery has already commenced and we trust that the publishers will meet with the success their work so justly entitles them to.”

In my research, this first Ogle County Plat Book provides several sketches of Oregon Township farms.

The Daniel Etnyre Farm located in Section 4, Oregon Township, shows his house, barn and in the field a boy leading a horse.

The Oregon City Map has sketches of four buildings in the business district that have since been demolished. It also shows a sketch of the Lutheran Church located on the Courthouse Square.

The Hill Railroad addition EastWest Streets were named A, B, and C. When viewing this plot of Oregon Township and the City of Oregon it reminds me there were no cars in Oregon, the dirt streets were dusty during the dry season and muddy during the wet seasons.

Most Oregon residents had a milk cow.

This atlas also has a directory giving the names of the professional and business men in each city and village. I could find no women listed in these directories.

On the front page of the Ogle County Republican was a cartoon of “Our Dunn Horse”. Do you think you would see something like this in today’s newspaper?

• Oregon Republican Reporter • Mt. Morris Times •Tri-County Press • Forreston Journal