USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 77
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"Poll book of an election held at the court house in Carthage agreeable to notice in ac- cordance to law for the incorporation of said town agreeable to statute in such case made and provided this 16th day of June, 1849."
Following this is a list of the names of the voters, and following the list is the certificate of the president and clerk of the meeting, dated June 16, 1849, at 8 o'clock P. M., which cer- tificate is as follows :
"We, the undersigned, do certify that at an election held at the court-house in the town of Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois, on the 16th day of June, 1849, to vote for or against the incorporation of said town there was thirty-eight votes in favor of incorporation of said town and eighteen votes against incorpora- tion of said town."
This certificate was filed by Geo. W. Thatcher, clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, on Sept. 4, 1849.
This was certainly a close vote. There being 56 votes cast, it required 38 to incorporate. If 37 had voted for the incorporation and 19 against it the incorporation would have failed. Those who voted at this election were the fol- lowing :
James C. McQuary, Jno. H. Lawton, Ralph Harris, Rudolphus Weston, John Carlin, Thomas S. Brockman, M. Couchman, E. Brooks, Wm. K. Kimbrough, M. Barnes, Sr., David Mack, A. Cherrill, M. Rickard, B. Avis, D. S. Harnace, L. Doolittle, B. Clarke, L. Evans, J. W. Marsh, M. Barnes, Jr., J. D. Hail, Wm. Mack, S. D. Ewing, A. N. Thompson, John Wil- son, Eli H. Williams, Asahel Smith, Wm. Kim- brough, Thos. L. Barnes, W. W. Steele, D. E.
Head, M. B. Mann, David Conklin, G. W. Wells, Lowel Mitchell, Samuel Pennock, F. Loring, L. Parker, E. 'S. Rand, Daniel Wells, John T. Barnes, A. Sympson, Jesse Bennett, Elisha East- erbrook, J. P. Haggard, A. Hamilton, S. C. Thompson, P. Allwin, Jas. Taylor, E. S. Free- man, Allen McQuary, L. C. Stevenson, B. T. Scofield, C. Wilson, Jas. H. Carothers, David Pennock.
The first trustees were elected on June 23, 1849, and they were Allen McQuary, William W. Steele, James H. Carothers, Artois Hamilton and Simon D. Ewing.
The law required the trustees to be residents and freeholders of the town.
If all white male residents in the town voted, the population of the town, allowing five per- sons for every voter, would not have exceeded 300. A vote could not have been taken if the number of inhabitants had been less than 150.
On Feb. 28, 1854, an act of the General As- sembly was passed, and went into effect, "to amend the charter of the town of Carthage, in- corporated by general law, approved March 3d, 1845." This amendment imposed a fine upon any officer or trustee of the town who should neglect or refuse to perform the duties required of him by the act of 1845, and declared that for the second offense his office should thereby be- come vacant, such vacancy to be filled by elec- tion.
Evidently the officers and trustees of the town were not very enthusiastic in the performance of their duty, or this emergency amendment, pointed at Carthage alone, would not have been passed.
This amendatory act is corroborative of the view above expressed that Carthage was first in- corporated as a town under the general law of 1845,
In 1867 the General Assembly passed an act, which went into effect on April 1, 1867, for the incorporation of the town of Carthage. This was a special act covering the question of mu- nicipal government quite fully, and granting the town extensive powers, and providing, in addi- tion to powers specifically given, that the town council should have and exercise such other and further powers, by ordinances or otherwise, not inconsistent with that act, as the city coun- cil of the city of Quincy had by law.
The special act or charter of 1867 enlarged and extended the corporate limits so as to em-
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brace all of the south half of section 18 and all of section 19, in township 5 north, range 6 west, and the southeast quarter of section 13 and the east half of section 24, in township 5 north, range 7 west.
On April 17, 1883, an election was held as the result of which the town of Carthage became in- corporated under the general law as the city of Carthage. The city was divided into three wards. Since that time the city government has been in the hands of a mayor and six aldermen elected in accordance with the general law for the incorporation of cities.
The following is a list of the presidents and clerks of the town from 1864 to the time of organization as a city in 1883, and of the mayors and city clerks from that time to the present.
TOWN PRESIDENTS
-1864, David E. Head ; 1864-'65, Jacob Sholl ; 1865-'66, Squire R. Davis; 1866-'67, Francis M. Corby ; 1867-'70, Wesley H. Manier ; 1870-'71, Jesse C. Williams; 1871-'72, Hiram G. Ferris ; 1872-'73, Thomas C. Sharp; 1873-'75, Hiram G. Ferris; 1875-'76, Jesse C. Williams; 1876-'77, David Mack; 1877-'78, Bryant F. Peterson ; 1878-'79, William C. Hooker ; 1879-'80, Hiram G. Ferris; 1880-'81, William Baird ; 1881-'82, Jesse C. Williams ; 1882-, William C. Hooker (Dur- ing Mr. Hooker's term changed to City Gov't).
CITY MAYORS
1883, William C. Hooker ; 1883-'S9, Orville F. Berry ; 1889-'93, Apollos W. O'Harra; 1893-'97, Edward M. Robbins; 1897-'99, Melvin P. Berry ; 1899-1901, Adolphus N. Cherrill; 1901-'03, Mel- vin P. Berry ; 1903-'05, Stephen H. Ferris ; 1905- '09, Orville F. Berry ; 1909-'13, John J. Welch ; 1913-'15, John B. Johnson; 1915-'17, Leon Che- villon ; 1917-20, William H. Hartzell; 1920, to fill out the year on account of Mr. Hartzell's resignation, William McGuilvery; 1920, Frank Edison.
TOWN CLERKS
Bryant F. Peterson ; 1864-'65, Bryant F. Peter- son ; 1865-'66, John D. Miller; 1866-'68, John Moffitt ; 1868-'70, John D. Miller; 1870-'71, Theo. F. King ; 1871-, S. W. Merrill.
CITY CLERKS
-'97, S. W. Merrill ; 1897-'99, J. M. Springer ; 1899-1901, Jno. S. Cochran; 1901-'13, Will C. Newton; 1913-, Bernard P. Darham (Darham called into service under Selective Service and John McCarty appointed in April, 1918, to fill vacancy. McCarty served until July, 1918, when he also went into the service and Vernon Westfall was appointed to fill the vacancy) ; 1919-1920, Vernon Westfall.
CITY OFFICIALS, 1920
The officers serving in the city at the present time are as follows: Mayor, Frank Edison ; Clerk, Vernon Westfall ; Treasurer, Will C. New- ton ; Marshal, Clarence Allen ; City Collector, George Windman; Superintendent of Water Works, Mannie Mosley; Health Officer, Ed Fletcher ; Sexton, Charles Long ; Street Commis- sioner, Richard White; City Attorney, James D. Baird; Aldermen (First Ward), T. E. Burner, Thomas Rand; (Second Ward), R. D. Denton, M. W. Pennock; (Third Ward), Fred L. John- son, Ed. L. Bootlı.
WATER AND LIGHT
The water-works at Carthage have been in ex- istence about thirty years. Now the supply of water is from an artesian well not far from the court-house square. The city water is used for all purposes except beverage and culinary, and is used to some extent for these purposes also. As a rule, the city is abundantly supplied with good, pure water from wells of ordinary depth.
A franchise for lighting the city by electricity was granted the Carthage Electric Light and Power Company on September 6, 1891, the same being for a period of twenty years.
The present system of illuminating the city has been in effect since about 1915, when the corporation which furnishes light and power from the power-plant at the great Mississippi dam at Keokuk secured the franchise.
Feeling the need of a City Hall, November, 1895, the city bonded itself for $4,500 with which to erect the City Hall building. These bonds drew five per cent interest. In 1897, in order to complete the building, city bonds to the amount of $1,500 were issued. This structure
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
stands on the south side of the public square and has within it city offices, fire department, public library, etc.
The first brick paving in Carthage extended from the depot of the C. B. & Q. R. R. Co., to, and around, the court-house square. Later the pavement was extended east on Main street to the corporate limit.
Between 1885 and 1901 Carthage was credited as having made improvements and expenditures as follows :
Carthage College (in twenty-five years) $50,- 000. Business and Dwelling-houses, $600,000. City Water-works, $55,000. Sewerage System, $6,000. Public Buildings, $6,000. Fire Depart- ment, $3,000. City Library, $4,000. Total, $724,000.
The city had to bond itself to the full legal limit in order to make these improvements, but this was doubtless an act of wisdom upon the part of the citizens.
THE POST-OFFICE
The Carthage post-office was established April 27, 1833,-four score and seven years ago. The first postmaster was Wesley Williams. Through the kindness of the department at Washington, we are able to give the reader the following list of postmasters, with dates of service. The first postmaster, Mr. Williams, served from April 27, 1833, to April 6, 1839; Malcolm McGregor, April 6, 1839, to September 12, 1840; Chauncey Robison, September 12, 1840, to July 15, 1846; John Carlin, July 15, 1846, to May 19, 1847; George Backman, May 19, 1847, to February 17, 1849; Allen McQuary, February 17, 1849, to December 2, 1853; C. R. Hendricks, December 2, 1853, to April 27, 1861; U. C. Taylor, April 27, 1861, to June 20, 1866. Thomas W. Hurst, June 20, 1866, to September 20, 1866; William Lynch, September 20, 1866, to April 5, 1869; L. B. Cockern, April 5, 1869, to September 22, 1873; C. Y. Long, September 22, 1873, to January 24, 1882; William H. D. Noyes, January 24, 1882, to January 13, 1886; John D. Stevens, January 13, 1886, to July 2, 1889; Charles S. DeHart, July 2, 1889, to Oc- tober 20, 1893; William R. Hamilton, October 20, 1893, to October 22, 1897 ; Charles W. Taylor, October 22, 1897, to May S, 1902; J. E. Helfrich, May 8, 1902, to December 4, 1914; I. C. David- son, December 4, 1914, to the present time.
This makes nineteen postmasters in the dura- tion of the office to present date, or an average of more than four and one-half years for each postmaster.
Carthage is now a second-class post-office. It has been on its present site (southeast corner public square) since July, 1898. Before that date it had been at various places on the north, west and south sides of the square. The amount of business done during the last year-ending July, 1918-was $16,213.61. There are now six rural free delivery routes extending out from this office. The city delivery went into effect August, 1910.
The office force at this post-office at the time of this writing, is as follows: postmaster, I. C. Davidson ; assistant postmaster, F. A. Strader ; clerks, Edward R. Boswell, Litta Bolles, Warren E. Kirkpatrick; city carriers, Wm. B. Stowe, Ralph Wood; auxiliary clerk-carrier, Paul Brakenseik ; rural carriers, A. B. Mathews, F. W. King, J. F. Price, John Walker, A. J. Lowery, W. E. Green; mail messenger, Ellis E. Cox.
CARTHAGE BUSINESS DIRECTORY FOR 1859
Ferris, Hooker & Edmunds, Attorneys. Mack & Draper, Attorneys. George W. Batchelder, Attorney. Scofield, Ferris & Manier, Attorneys. Dr. G. W. Hall. Dr. A. 'Spitler. Dr. A. J. Griffith. Edw'd Harris, Staple & Fancy Dry Goods & Groceries. C. Wilson, Staple & Fancy Dry Goods & Groceries. A. N. Hawley, School Commissioner. F. M. Corby, County Clerk. Sympson & Montague, Land Agents. T. Durant, Land Dealer. D.
Greenleaf, Druggist and Justice. C. S. Hamilton, Carthage Hotel. W. A. Patterson, Patterson House. M. Couchman, Manufacturer Agricultural Implements. G. M. Child, Ed. and Pro. "Carthage Republican." Wm. R. Hamilton, Sheriff. C. Winston, Staple and Fancy Dry Goods & Groceries. W. J. Pierce, Stoves & Tinware. A. & M. McQuary, Real Estate Dealers. J. C. & W. H. Williams, Dry Goods and Groceries. Sholl & Paterson, Dry Goods and Groceries. E. Showers, Drugs and Medicines. J. S. Spangler, Dry Goods and Groceries. J. R. Cunningham, Dry Goods and Groceries. W. J. Dale, Collector. A. Stults, Hotel Proprietor. Jas. McQuary, Carthage . Livery and Sale Stable.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
BUSINESS MEN OF 1880
Among the business men of Carthage in 1880 may be mentioned the following: Christopher Y. Long, postmaster and stationer; Shultz & Son, William T. Smith, and Dwight Cutler, druggist; James Sample, dealer in furniture ; Willian W. Hughes, dealer in saddlery and harness ; Dr. E. M. Robbins, dentist ; William B. Bennett, J. C. Williams and J. W. Everett, dry goods merchants; The Dale Millinery Co .; Wil- liam H. Patterson, grain merchant; J. B. Strader & Son, proprietors of an extensive ware- house and dealers in fence posts and drain tile ; Foutch & Shultz, Taylor Bros., dealers in fence posts and drain tile; J. Mack Sholl and John Boyd, hardware merchants; Charles G. Clark & Sons, lumber dealers; Stephen S. Wilson, mil- ler ; W. P. McKee, dealer in agricultural imple- ments ; O. P. Carlton, grocer ; James N. Currens, boots and shoes; Will O. Sharp, photographer ; J. S. Johnson, manufacturer of his own patented corn-husker; F. M. Miller & Co., grain dealers ; J. M. Ferris, T. C. Sharp, W. E. Mason, W. C. Hooker, M. P. Berry, O. F. Berry, J. D. Miller, W. H. Manier, Geo. Edmunds, George J. Rogers, David Mack, B. T. Scofield, C. J. Scofield, T. J. Scofield, A. W. O'Harra, H. W. Draper, J. B. Risse, William Baird, attorneys; Drs. J. W. Carlton, Y. M. Kellogg, R. C. Halladay, W. F. Hannan, W. H. D. Noyes, and J. H. Callahan, physicians ; H. G. Ferris, A. J. Griffith, William Griffith and Sholl & Cherrill, bankers; Henry C. Wilson and E. T. Dorothy, proprietors of livery stables; The Stevens House run by J. Jackson, and the Rohrer House run by C. G. Rohrer, hotels; Charles E. Smales and John Helfrich, meat markets.
1
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
As contrasted with the above, the list of the business and professional men of the present day is very interesting.
Amusement Houses-C. A. Garard, Manager of The Woodbine Theater ; Frank Walton, Man- ager of The American Theater. Architects-G. W. Payne & Son. Attorneys-J. A. Baird, J. D. Baird, M. P. Berry, O. F. Berry, J. Paul Califf, B. M. Cavanagh, E. S. Coombs, L. Cruise, C. S. DeHart, W. W. Dunham, C. P. Johnson, W. H. Hartzell, D. E. Mack, E. C. Mack, E. S. Martin, Samuel Naylor, A. W. O'Harra, C. J. O'Harra, R. B. O'Harra, W. H. Orr, C. J. Sco-
field, L. Sienbenborn, W. A. Symonds, H. S. Walker, J. W. Williams, E. W. Wood. Automo- biles and Garages-Carthage Auto & Garage Co., J. H. Hendricks, H. B. Massie, M. E. Mon- roe, Wilcox & Davison. Abstract of Title- William M. Gordon, E. G. McAnulty, Marine Trust Co. Banks-Dime Savings, Hancock County National Bank of Carthage. Barbers- L. C. Corson, Frank McWhorter, Ray Mosley, Lee Price. Books and Stationery-Ed Hoch, W. W. Nichols. Blacksmiths-Booth & Cun- ningham, George Edison, Rand & Edison. Candy Kitchen-Huston's "Sugar Bowl." Carthage Dairy-H. Miller. Carthage Greenhouse-R. C. Crum. Cement Work-Samuel VanHove, ce- ment blocks and burial cases. Cigar Maker- H. Niehaus. Cleaning and pressing clothes- E. A. Tucker. Clothing-J. Culkin & Sons, Em- rick-Owsley Clothing Co. Dentists-G. K. Flem- ing, J. F. Goodrich, E. M. Robbins, R. S. Run- yon, D. L. Frazee. Drugs-S. G. Case, J. L. Shultz. Dry Goods-Boston Store; Emrick, Owsley & Helfrich, Mrs. E. McClure. Electri- cians-C. I. P. S. Co., M. Powell, Symonds Bros. (Farm Lights), Carl Martin. Farm Loans- Mack & Son, O'Harra Farm Mortgage Co., Sharp & Berry & Berry Bros. Feed-J. F. Kirkpat- rick. Furniture-J. E. Williams. Grain Dealer -James McCarty. Grocers-L. Burner, R. N. Calhoun, E. P. Cutler, G. Egbers, N. J. Helfrich & Co., L. Shipton, J. J. Welch. Hardware-W. H. Bartels, Reaugh Hardware Co., Taylor & Edwards. Hotel-"The Cutler," "Wood Inn." Ice-John L.' Paris. Implements and farm ma- chinery-Leon Chevillon, W. M. Smith. Insur- ance Agencies-William Booz, J. A. Califf & Son, Harmony Mutual County Fire Insurance Co., L. L. Helfrich, D. D. Meaux, Mecum Bros., C. B. Newcomer, R. Saers, D. S. Strader, Tri- State County Mutual Insurance Co. Jeweler- D. G. Berry, L. W. Berry. Junk Dealers-Jas. Corbin, D. Harbour, P. Harbour. Livery-E. E. Cox, Samuel Huston. Lumber-Alexander Lumber Co., W. E. Lyon & Co. Meats-Gardner & Peters. Helfrich & Williams, George Orth. Millinery-Mrs. E. McClure, Miss Adelaide Mer- rill. Monuments-William McGuilvery. News- papers-The Carthage Gazette, The Carthage Republican, The Hancock County Journal. Op- tometrists-S. J. K. Hartman, J. W. Porter. Osteopaths-Miss Catherine Cherill, H. J. Elsea. Paints and Wall Paper-Russell N. Smith. Phonographs and Pictures-L. A. Swain. Pho-
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
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tographer-S. J. K. Hartman. Physicians-C. L. Ferris, W. P. Frazier, J. T. Jenkins, L. C. Knight, S. M. Parr, G. E. Pumphrey. Pianos and Music-George T. Davis, L. A. Swain. Plumbing and Heating-Ed Kelly, Fred Reyer, A. Wright. Poultry & Eggs-Roy H. Weaver. Restaurants-R. L. Carlton, C. A. Orth, J. E. Pennock, E. S. Seger. Shoe Dealer-E. P. Rowe. Shoe and Harness Repairs-Carl Baum, O. L. O'Dell, J. T. Radford, H. Shilling. Standard Oil Co. Tailors-John Brussel, J. Johansen, John Jurgens. Tinner-Charles Meals. Trans- fer and Coal-J. L. Paris. Undertakers-G. H. Hearne,. Nelson & Nelson, J. E. Williams. Variety Stores-G. P. Harper, Milborn Bros. Veterinaries-E. H. Herring, C. L. Miller. Willard Battery Station-R. E. Compton.
THE FIRST TELEGRAM
The Carthage Gazette, issne of Feb. 8, 1866, says :
"Telegraph communication is now open be- tween Carthage and the rest of the world. The first message was sent by our express agent, R. H. Hardy, Esq., on Wednesday last."
CARTHAGE PUBLIC LIBRARY
City Ordinance No. 36 of the city of Carthage passed under Mayor E. M. Robbins, September 11, 1893, provides in sections one and two as follows :
"Sec. 1: Be it ordained by the city council of the City of Carthage, That there is hereby established and shall hereafter be maintained for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of said city a Library and which shall be forever free to the use of such inhabitants, always subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as the board of directors of such library may adopt.
"Sec. 2: The affairs of such public library shall be managed and controlled by a board of nine directors who shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council, and who shall be chosen from the citizens at large with reference to their fitness for such office. At least three of said directors shall be women, and not more than one member of the city council shall be at any one time a member of the said board."
Just prior to the above action on the part of the city, a few women of Carthage organized
the "Columbian Society" for the purpose of as- sisting in the Hancock County exhibit at the World's Fair at Chicago. The president of this Association was Mrs. W. C. Hooker. After a few weeks effort in behalf of the exhibit the members concluded that something done for the interests of the City of Carthage would be of more lasting benefit, and Mrs. Hooker sug- gested founding a Public Library. Not dis- couraged by the fact that there was just one dollar and fifty cents in the treasury, the members rallied to Mrs. Hooker's suggestion and many more women joined the society which was then .called the "Columbian Library Asso- ciation." Mayor E. M. Robbins was consulted, the idea gained his approval and he immediately appointed a "Board of Trustees," called for by the State law, the members of that "Board be- ing Mr. M. P. Berry, Mr. A. N. Cherrill, Judge C. J. Scofield and Judge D. E. Mack, Mesdames Wm. C. Hooker, S. L. Botts, E. M. Robbins, Elizabeth Cherrill and Duane Pennock.
When Mr. M. P. Berry, who was in Chicago at this date heard of the appointment, he wrote the Secretary of the Association, Mrs. L. W. Berry, that he would give five hundred dollars to start a library if the citizens of Carthage would give a like sum and the library be made free to the public. This offer was accepted, and a committee appointed to solicit the amount. In three days' time the committee reported $618.00 raised, so loyal and interested were the citizens. Mr. John Culkin offered the use of a room over his clothing store for one year, rent free. Market days and lecture courses were held, many of our men and women giving time and talent to make the lecture courses a success. The churches were offered free of charge for the lectures. Those taking part in first lecture course were : Mr. M. P. Berry, Mr. Chas. De- Hart, Mr. A. W. O'Harra, Judge D. E. Mack, Major R. W. McClaughry. After a trip to Enrope Mr. M. P. Berry gave a course of five lectures describing his journey, and the pro- ceeds were given to the library fund. Later another course of lectures was given by Judge C. J. Scofield, Mrs. Sherman Hill, Mr. C. S. DeHart, Miss Mary Davidson, Judge D. E. Mack and Mr. M. P. Berry.
The library was opened to the public on March 10, 1894. Just before this date a book shower was held at which time a large number of books was contributed by the citizens. When
Eng by ES Mimams & Bin NY
Lowella manifold.
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Munsell Publishing Co.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
the City Hall was built a room upstairs was of- fered to the library, this offer accepted, and after remaining for two years in Mr. Culkin's room the library was removed to the City Hall. In 1900, Mr. M. P. Berry seeing the need of larger quarters, and believing a lower room would be a better place for the now growing institution, proposed to the City Council to furnish at his own expense the large lower room if the Council would give this room to the li- brary as a permanent home. Mr. Berry's offer was accepted and in November of 1900 the li- brary moved into the room it now occupies in the City Hall.
Several legacies have been left to the library fund : the first by Mr. Willis Bernethy, which was $1,000.00; another by Mr. Chellis Hooker, $35.00; and one of $500.00 by Mrs. Elizabeth Cherrill.
A committee with Mr. M. P. Berry as chair- man is working on a Memorial Endowment Fund, by which it is hoped the Library will be made a strong power for good in an educational way. The library is now taken care of finan- cially by the city.
The Shadrach Bond Chapter, D. A. R., and the Missionary Union have each placed a book-case in the library where special literature pertain- ing to their work can be found.
Tickets of membership are sold to non-resi- dents at $2.00 per annum.
The library responded promptly to the le- mands made by war activities. In response to request from the "American Library Associa- tion" books for soldiers and sailors were solic- ited from the citizens. Nearly five hundred vol- umes were recived, prepared for the shelvs, packed and sent to the distributing stations.
The library now contains about 8,000 volumes, has a well equipped reading room, and is a' Government Depository. War literature and posters have been filed for future reference.
Twice while working to establish the library Mr. Will Sharp permitted the Columbian Library Association to edit the "Carthage Gazette," and retain the proceeds for library fund.
In 1918 the Illinois State Library Commis- sion divided the libraries of the State into dis- tricts, and assigned meeting places. Carthage was chosen the place of meeting for this district, time Feb. 12, 1919, with librarians from Nau- voo, La Harpe, Hamilton, Warsaw and Quincy as delegates. The Carthage Library Board de-
cided to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the library at the same time. This proved a delightful and instructive meeting.
This library has had but one librarian, Mrs. Duane Pennock.
The officers and Board of Trustees are as follows: President, Mrs. A. W. O'Harra ; Vice-president, M. P. Berry; Secretary, Miss Mary Davidson; Trustees, Mrs. L. W. Berry, Mrs. Wm. Boswell, Wm. McGuilvery, Edward Hoch, John Welch, and Dr. W. K. Hill.
THE CARTHAGE CIVIC LEAGUE
The Carthage Civil League was organized January 27, 1914, growing out of a movement that started in Chapter J, P. E. O., to provide a recreational center for boys and youth of the town. The first officers of the League were President, Miss Mary Davidson ; vice-president, Mrs. Anna Cashen; Chairmen of Committees --- Finance, Mrs. J. W. Williams; legislative, Mrs. J. A. Baird; Social service, Mrs. Ellen Scofield ; Program, Miss Leona McAnulty ; Humane, Miss Josephine Simmons; Membership, Mrs. J. P. Beckman; Recording Secretary, Mrs. C. L. Fer- ris; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. M. Franc Harris; Treasurer, Miss Emily Pennock.
The chief object of the organization found expression in the organization of a Y. M. C. A. with quarters nicely equipped in the Reyer building and with C. A. Harridon of Pontiac in charge, as secretary and physical director. Much good was accomplished for two years when the Y. M. C. A. idea was given up under pressure of many difficulties. This effort was made at an annual cost of $1,800.
During this period and following it the other committees of the League were very active, and speakers from out of town were secured to speak on various topics which had to do with com- munity health and sanitation, city-beautiful ideas, education and civic improvement.
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