STEWARD
Steward, Illinois, was named for Wesley Steward,
who in 1855 came to this area in Alto Township to settle the land
owned by his father, Marcus Steward. John Grimes built the first
house in Alto Township in Plum Thicket in 1847, located east on the
outskirts of the village as it is today. In 1861, Mr. Steward married
and built the first farm house in the location of Steward, which is
still standing. The town is located in the west central part of Alto
Township and the northeast part of Lee County.
Mr. Steward was influential in getting the
Chicago and Iowa Railroad, now known as the Burlington Northern,
through the township extending from Hinckley, Illinois to Rochelle,
Illinois completed in 1870.
The Village Hall on Main Street is one of the
oldest buildings in existence and the jail cellsbought in 1903 and
housed in the building are still one of the few reminders of the
early days (not used). In 1872 Mr. Steward built the first elevator
at the east end of Main Street run by steam. The history of the
elevators in Steward over the years is a story in itself. The first
house in Steward after the town's formation is on John Street, also
standing today, built in 1872.
The railroad offices and warehouse were in Wesley
Steward's barn until 1871, when the first depot was then built. It is
said to have burned down in 1894. The present depot, no longer in use
by the Burlington Northern and in the process of being salvaged by a
group in interested citizens of the village as a historical landmark,
a museum, library, and social meeting place for anyone in the
community, was built in 1896. This project “The Steward Illinois
Depot Project, Inc.” was being projected as a Bicentennial venture
during the 1976 year.
The first businesses were a restaurant and
general merchandise store built in 1871. By the early 1900s, business
houses were located on both sides of Main Street with a steady growth
and expansion until the depression days when the town could then
gradually see a decline in the businesses.
In 1902 Steward was selected as the junctional
point for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company as
they recognized the need for a railroad to run south out of Rockford,
Illinois. The Milwaukee depot and switch tower for both railroads
were on the northwest edge of town.
The charter for the First National Bank of
Steward was signed and issued on December 18, 1902. A new building
was erected and business started January 2, 1903 and continued till
1933. The first Post Office was established at Heaton Aug. 31, 1871
and located in the Steward depot. It was relocated in Steward April
12, 1876. Today it is located in the old bank building on Main
Street. By 1976, the village became mostly a residential community
with the exception of the Post Office and a few stores.
Steward residents voted to join the Ogle-Lee Fire
Protection District and in 1974 the new station on Main Street was
erected and is a great asset. About in the middle of town is a
beautiful, well kept park, a memorial to Wesley Steward. During the
town's Centennial Celebration in 1970, a flag and flagpole were
donated and placed in the park now lit through the nighttime
hours.
C. T. Beitel, being interested in the welfare and
progress of his community, built the first power plant and light
company as early as 1913. About the same time Mr. Beitel built the
power plant, he put in the water system all to his expense. This same
system is still utilized used today. In 1972 a new well was drilled
to a depth of 450 feet with a submersible pump. In 1976 a
chlorination system was added to meet regulations of the
Environmental Protection Agency.
Just before the turn of the century telephone
service was available in Steward. Cement sidewalks were replacing the
boards in the 1900s. The streets were still gravel until the early
1950s.
The final resting place for many of those of
another generation and also used today, was donated by Wesley
Steward. The cemetery is known as the township cemetery and cared for
by the township. The first schoolhouse was built in 1859 on the
ground now occupied by Lee F .S. elevator. Then in 1881 a new
two-story school building was erected on the site where the present
school is situated. Over the years two schools have been destroyed by
fire. In 1954-55 the high school was discontinued and the youth have
been bused into Rochelle Township High School ever since. In 1962 a
new addition was completed to provide adequate space after the
closing of the country schools.
The
founder of the town considered a church to be of first importance to
the growth of the community. Work progressed and by September 6, 1874
the church was dedicated. The beginning of this church is unusual in
the respect that no social denomination was instrumental in its
formation, but finally decided for a number of reasons to give it to
the Methodists. In 1974 the United Methodist Church of Steward held a
year-long centennial celebration in the same old New England style
architectural church - the only church in the village - remodeled
some, as the years have passed and kept in fine shape by an active
congregation.
During the struggle over the question whether the
“Inlet Swamp” (Fertile Valley) should be kept for a game preserve or
be drained and made tillable, Mr. Steward, serving as one of the
first commissioners, stood uncompromisingly for the latter. The task
of draining the “Inlet Swamp” was a great one, and as to the question
of how well that task was performed is answered by the fact that by
1905 thousands of acres of rich land was worth $125.00 an acre and
were a profitless swamp before the great ditch and its tributaries
were made. This same land sells for better than $2,000.00 an
acre.
At one of the Township meetings of Alto it was
suggested an Honor Roll be erected in Steward to honor World War I
and II servicemen. It was erected on the northeast corner of the
school yard and was dedicated on May 30, 1946, one of the most
outstanding in Lee County at the time.
This Lee County town of Steward just 7 miles
south of Rochelle and on the eastern edge of Lee County is where one
finds solace, friendliness, and tranquillity from the hustle and
bustle of city life.
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