THE TOWN OF WOOSUNG

The Illinois Central Railroad was opened between Freeport and Dixon in 1853, and to Amboy in 1855. The work associated with the building of the rail-line and construction of telegraph lines, was pushed vigorously in 1855-56. The railroad and its President, J. N. Griswold, were very instrumental in the founding of Woosung. It was Mr. Griswold who advised long time friends, Samuel A. Brimblecom, Harvey Roundy, and John H. Anderson who were sea captains, to seek homes in Northern Illinois, which had become known to many as the "far West."

Woosung, Illinois was founded in June, 1855, by the three sea captains. They were said to have made their fortunes in the China Trade and came to this spot to retire. Because the rolling prairies reminded them of the country surrounding Woosung, China, on a branch of the Yangtse River, they named their new home Woosung, meaning "Haven of Rest."

In 1854, the Government conveyed the land of the present village to Henry Cross and Aaron Porter, both of Dixon. Early in 1855, Amos C. Stedman, of. Dixon, acquired all of Section 11 and other lands in Township 22. On April 23, 1855, all of Section 11 and other lands, over 2,000 acres, were sold by Mr. Stedman to Captain Brimblecom, Captain Roundy and J.N. Griswold for $20,000. Woosung was laid out and surveyed by Miles B. Light and Francis Chase.

A ten acre tract was set aside for a park which was given to the people by the three sea captains and named Russell Square, for Russell Square in Boston Massachusetts. Two years later, two additions were added, one to the West and one to the North, and the village renamed "Juniata City." However, the change was not permanent and in a very few years it again became Woosung, and still remains so.

In December, 1855, a post office was established, with William Brimblecom, as postmaster. Though Captain Anderson was instrumental in founding and naming Woosung, he didn't arrive there until 1856. He then assumed the duties of Land Agent. The railroad had established a station and he was the first station agent. His son, Charles, learned telegraphy and was the first telegrapher.

A school building 24 x 33 was erected at a cost of $1200. Later, an addition 24 x 30 was added, and two teachers were hired for the 70 students that were enrolled. The first church was built in 1867, by the United Brethren people at a cost of $3,000. Ten years later it was purchased by a group of citizens and became a Union Church, open to all denominations.

The captains built large and pretentious homes. A 12 room brick house was erected West of the park. "The Brick" as it was known, stood as a landmark until 1946. Henry Brimblecom later acquired "The Brick" from the captains. More recently his grandson, Henry Brimblecom, owned it.

The captains also had 400 acres of land northeast of Woosung. A large Colonial type house was built there. It was also an old landmark, always spoken of as "The Farm House." It was said to have had three stories. The first one, built into the side of a hill, was of stone. Also that there was a series of rooms, 29 in all, and 18 employees. The upper two stories were of sawed lumber. The stage coach stopped there in early days. This house was removed in 1950.

A.C. Stedman erected the first store building. It was opened by a branch of the Boston Store at Dixon, and owned by Gilman, Bowman and Company. Charles Rummell put up a windmill to operate a grist mill. By 1867, Woosung was a thriving village and people traveled miles for their mail, to shop and to ship their produce. At the time there was a flouring mill, three grain warehouses, and two grocery and dry goods stores.

The business district of the village was located on Central Street. A large general store was on the corner of Central and Canton Streets. Groceries, dry goods, shoes, boots, hardware, etc. were sold there. North of the big store was a small general store and another building later used as a cobbling shop. On the corner was a blacksmith shop and across the street, a butcher shop. There was also a wagon shop where buggies and wagons were made, repaired and painted.

The elevator and feed mill proprietors also sold coal and lumber. A large agricultural building stood on the corner southeast of the large store where farm implements, windmills, etc. were sold. At one time there were two ice cream parlors, a boarding house, well drillers, barbers, carpet weavers, butchers and windmill and pump men. In fact, all of the business activities needed to make up a bustling, growing community could then be found in Woosung.

As the years rolled by, automobiles replaced the slower methods of travel and the small towns and the villages began to share their business with the larger neighboring towns. The highway, U.S. 52 and Ill. 26, was built through Woosung in 1924, taking the traffic route away from Central Street. In 1939, passenger service on the railroad was discontinued and the depot was removed the following year.

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