From the History of Afton, Illinois History of DeKalb County, Illinois. By Henry L. Boies, 1922.
I have been writing about this town in my RoadDog's RoadLog Blog in conjunction with the DeKalb Road Day back in 1916.
The name of the town comes from a favorite song of one of the early settlers, "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton."
The town was organized in 1854.
During the Civil War, 81 men went into Union service out of a population of just 516. Fifty-nine of them volunteered When a tax was levied on the town because of the need for more men, seven more joined.
In the summer of 1864, with the huge casualties suffered as Grant battered Lee in Virginia, an additional tax was levied on the town, totaling $14,000 and fifteen more men joined.
Among those Afton residents who gave their lives: Charles Elliott, DempsterWheeler, Alexander Campbell, Emerson T. Knight and Lewis Olverson of the 105th Regiment. Also, L. Deforest of the 8th Cavaltu gave his life for the Union.
I did not know about taxes for troops.
--Old Secesh
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