History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 207

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875

USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time > Part 207

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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749

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON.

said sections to the east corner thereof, thence east along the line between Sections 14 and 23, 88 chains to the center of the east Milwaukee road.

The result of the first election in the township is given in full, the names of, and number of votes cast for the defeated candidates being given, as well as those of and for the successful candidates. Hereafter only the names of and votes for the officers elected will be given, and the classification will be based on the officers elected, instead of on the time of election.

Overseers of Highways. District No. 1 .- E. C. Parker, 1851 ; Lawrence Chistle, 1852, 1853, 1854 ; Thomas Freestone, 1850 ; Lawrence Chistle, 1856 ; Isaiah Van Brocklan, 1857 ; Lawrence Chistle, 1858 ; Jacob G. Bishop, 1859, 1860 ; Lawrence Chistle, 1861 ; 1 .. Turner, 1862 ; John Boelker, 1863 ; L. Turner, 1864 ; John Ahrens, 1865 ; John Balcow, 1866. 1867 ; Gustaff l'eterson, 1868 ; Joseph Chistle, 1869 ; Gustaff Peterson, 1870.

District No. 2 .- Joseph Bickerdike, 1851 ; Alexan- der Clark 1852, 1853 ; Major Noble, 1854: Joseph Bickerdike, 1855 : Albert Harding. 1856 ; Joseph Clark, 1857; William Wright, 1858; William Breth, 1859 ; Abel Kay, 1860 ; G. N. Bickerdike, 1861 ; C. T. Her- bert, 1862 ; Joseph Clark, 1863 ; C. T. Herbert, 1864 ; Nels Sutler, 1865 ; Major Noble, 1866 ; Joseph Bick- erdike, 1867 ; Major Noble, 1868 ; Richard Y. Spikings, 1869. 1870.

District No. 3 .- Richard Townsend, 1851 ; Samuel Coe, 1852 ; Nathan Squires, 1853 ; Thomas Vervat, 1854, 1855 : Richard Townsend, 1856 ; Thomas Bur- kill, 1857 ; Henry Moiscly, 1858; Frederick Wendt, 1859 : Thomas Carter, 1860, 1861 ; Frederick Wendt, 1862 ; Joseph Nelson, 1863, 1864 ; Thomas Burkill, 1865 ; C. Luther, 1866 ; Joseph Kay, 1867 ; Henry Hubbard, 1868 ; John Kay, 1869, 1870.

District No. 4 .- S. S. Abbott, 1851 ; Owen Keef, 1852, 1853 ; S. S. Abbott, 1854 ; Owen Keef, 1855 ; S. S. Abhott, 1856; Owen Keef, 1857, 1858 ; Patrick Arthur, 1859, 1860, 1861 ; S. S. Abbott, 1862 ; Henry Adams, 1863 ; J. Keef, 1864 ; S. S. Abbott, 1865 ; Pat- rick Arthur, 1866 ; John l'rimrose, 1867; P. Larsen, 1868 ; Doc Mercerau, 1869 ; Gustaff Nelson, 1870.

District No. 5 .- Nirain Sanford, 1851 ; Franklin Dickerman, 1852 ; Philip Townsend, 1853 ; Antes J. Snell, 1854: D. L. Roberts, 1855 ; Amos J. Snell, 1856 ; Brockman Hopkins, 1857-58 ; Amos J. Snell, 1859 ; D. 1 .. Roberts, 1860 ; Charles Peters, 1861 : C. W. Kelly, 1862 ; William Myers. 1863 ; B. Hopkins, 1864. 1865, 1866 ; S. S. Abbott, 1867 ; Charles Peters, 1868-69 ; Levi Walsh, 1870.

District No. 6 .- William McKey, 1851 ; George Mer- rill, 1852 ; Henry Vanatta, 1853 ; George Merrill, 1854 : Henry Vanatta, 1855 ; Mr. Crowley, 1856 ; George Merrill, 1857 ; John Conroy, 1858; Henry Va- natta, r859-60; John Murray, 1861 ; D). Jennings, 1862, 1863-64 : L. C. Maidens, 1865 ; Henry Vanatta, 1866-68; D. Jennings, 1869 ; Michael Moran, 1870.

District No. 7 .- William Brown, 1851 ; David Edwards, 1852, 1853; William P. Gray, 1854, 1855, 1856 ; John Gray, 1857-58 ; R. J. Edbrooke, 1859, 1860; C. Dickinson, 1861 ; D. Edwards, 1862 ; Zina Byington, 1863, 1864 ; John Voss, 1865, 1866; John Gray, 1867 ; William Wendland, 1868, 1869, 1870.

District No. 8 .- Daniel Booth, 1851 ; John Robin- son, 1852 ; John Rutherford, 1853 ; Henry Cookson, 1854 ; William E. Sayre, 1855 ; William Chappell, 1856 ; William E. Sayre, 1857 ; Daniel Booth, 1858 ; George Versema, 1859, 1860 ; James Jaques, 1861, 1862, Thomas Rutherford, 1863, 1864 ; Daniel Booth, 1865 ;

Thomas Rutherford, 1866, 1867 : Daniel Booth, 1868 ; Thomas Rutherford, 1869 ; Joseph Titley, 1870.

District No. 9 .- John Robinson, 1851; William Sporleder, 1852 ; Edward Brown, 1853 : G. V. Smith, 1854 ; John Robinson, 1855, 1856, 1857; George Drake, 1858 ; D). M. Woodard, 1859 : William Spor- leder, 1860 : John Robinson, 1861 ; William Sporleder, 1862 ; Abram Rundle, 1863 ; I. Leveninsk, 1864 ; J. K. Barry, 1865 ; John Robinson, 1866 ; J. K. Barry, 1867 : Fred Lipp, 1868 ; T. H. Seymore, 1869, 1870.

District No. 10,-Rees Eaton, 1853 ; Lewis Money, 1854 ; C. R. Brown, 1855-56 ; Niram Sanford, 1857 ; B. S. Cheever, 1858-59 ; I. G. Smith, 1860 ; Henry Sople, 1861-63, 1864 ; C. R. Brown, 1865 ; A. Dunning, 1866 ; Joseph Shean, 1867 : Thomas Grant, 1868 ; A. Dunning, 1869 ; Michael McDonald, 1870.

District No. 11 .- M. N. Kimbell, 1853 ; Edward Simons, 1854-55 ; M. N. Kimbell, 1856-57 ; William Buffington, 1858-60; Edward Simons, 1861 ; J. F. Powell, 1862 ; William H. l'owell, 1863-64 : Edward Simons, Jr., 1865 : William H. Powell, 1866-67 ; John Hise, 1868 ; Edward Simons, Jr., 1869 ; William H. Powell, 1870.

District No. 12 .- Thomas Freestone, 1859 ; L. A. Budlong, 1860 ; G. B. Smith, 1861 ; L. Maher, 1862 ; L. A. Budlong, 1863-64 ; Daniel Downing, 1865 : Squire Dingee, 1866-67 ; Thomas Freestone, 1868 ; Robert Leesley, 1869 ; Thomas Freestone, 1870.

List of Supervisors, with date of election and vote in parenthesis cast for the successful candidate :- George Merrill in 1851 (44), 1852 (39) ; W. P. Gray. 1853. (64', 1857 (-), 1858 (90), 1859 (105), 1867 (131), 1868 (232), 1869 ( 166 . 1870 (-) ; Daniel Booth, 1854 (46), 1855 (52) ; William E. Sayre, 1856 (65) : Robert J. Edbrooke, 1860 (119), 1861 (117), 1862 (104), 1863 (125. 1864 (134), 1865 (106 , 1866 (114).

Town Clerks. - Robert J. Edbrooke, 1851 (80), 1852 (77), 1853 (113), 1854 (66), 1855 81. 1856 (124). 1857 (-), 1858 (151), 1859 (192 ; J. F. Merchant, 1860 (156), 1861 (1251, 1863 (154), 1864 (228), 1865 (196). 1866 (226); George C. Klehm, 1862 99'; D. L. Rob- erts, 1867 (230); Henry Hubbard, 1868 (240); N. F. Corbett, 1869 (162); G. L. Gray, 1870 (-).

Assessors .- Joseph Bickerdike, 1851 71), 1854 (40), 1858 (92); Daniel Booth, 1852 69', 1855 (66', 1859 (119); Niram Sanford, 1853 (113); John Robinson, 1856 (78), 1864 (125): Clark Runyon, 1857 (-); S. S. Abbott, 1860 :151, 1861 (125), 1862 (107), 1863 (149), 1865 (118), 1866 (226), 1867 (230), 1868 (224, 1869 (1641; Frank 1). Wulff, 1870 (-).

Collectors .- Alexander Clark, 1851 (26) : Franklin Dickerman, 1852 (34); Lorin McClenathan, 1853 (56); S. S. Abbott, 1854 (45), 1856 (63), 1857 (-); Frederick Townsend, 1855 (42); E. O. Keef, 1858 (64 ; George C. Miller, 1859 (74); Brockman Hopkins, 1860 (156), 1861 (125), 1862 (94); Charles Peters, 1863 (86); Will- iam Myers, 1864 (120), 1865 (117), 1866 (157); Frank D. Wulff, 1867 (130), 1868 (178), 1869 (145); N. A. Kinbery, 1870 (-).

Commissioners of Highways .- In 1851, S. S. Abbott (80), Charles R. Ball (72), Alexander McMillen (36/; 1852, S. S. Abbott (72), William E. Sayre (71), Israel G. Smith. (47); 1853, George Merrill (112), S. S. Abbott (63), William E. Sayre (56), William P. Gray (48); Alex- ander Clark (47), George Merrill :37); 1855. William P'. Gray (74), John Rutherford (56;, John Jenkins (52); 1856, Zina Byington (117), Samuel E. Jackson (88), James Petts, Jr. (75); 1857, Zina Byington, Samuel F. Jackson, James Petts, Sr .; 1858, William E. Sayre (95), D. M. Woodward (90), Joseph Clark (91); 1859, David

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750

HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

Jennings (99), John Robinson (180), J. G. Bishop (92); 1860, William E. Sayre (155), M. N. Kimbell (128), Samuel E. Jackson (116); 1861, William E. Sayre (125), M. N. Kimbell (125), Abel Kay (80); 1862, Abel Kay (169), Samuel E. Jackson (93). Patrick Arthur (79); 1863, Daniel Booth (61 ; 1864, Samuel E. Jackson(132); 1865, Clark Runyon (102); 1866, William E. Sayre (121); 1867-68, Clark Roberts (248); 1869, William E. Sayre (104); 1870, P. S. Peterson (-).

Constables .- 1851, Charles S. Perry (46); 1852, Jo- seph Burrows (37); 1853, Lorin McClenathan (73), Major Noble (72); 1854. James l'etts, Jr. (76), S. S. Abbott (41); 1855, Frederick Townsend (39); 1856, E. O. Keef (89); 1857, Augustus Byington (-): 1858, Lutz Marsten (138), E. O. Keef (62); 1860, B. Hopkins (156); 1862, B. Hopkins (174), David Jennings (68); 1863, L. C. Maidens (50); 1864, Theodore Schultz (81); 1866, William Myers (219), John Primrose (113); 1867, Frank D. Wulff (127); 1868, J. W. Kimbell (238); 1869, Henry Vanatta (91); 1870, Hugh Smeltzer, Thomas Freestone.

Justices of the Peace .- 1853, Niram Sanford (59); 1854, J. L. Warner (58), William P. Gray (51); 1855, David L. Roberts (57); 1858, David L. Roberts (113), Daniel Booth (83); 1862, T. W. Sampson ( 102), Daniel Booth (85); 1866, B. Hopkins (224), Daniel Booth (224); 1868, S. S. Abbott (194); 1870, Daniel Booth, L. A. Budlong.

Overseers of the Poor .- 1851, Niram Sanford (41); 1852, Charles R. Ball (43): 1853, Charles R. Ball (53); 1854, - -: 1855, B. Hopkins (4). After this the Supervisors were ex-officio overseers of the poor.

Drainage Commissioners .- For some years the Com- missioners of Highways were also Drainage Commis- sioners, but in 1859 separate officers were elected upon whom devolved the duty of keeping the drainage of the township in good shape Those first elected to this office were: In 1859, 1). M. Woodward (53), Edward Dymond (53); William P. Gray (53); 1862, B. Hopkins (68), William E. Sayre (41), D. L .. Roberts (42); 1863, E. Simons (86), Orton Hubbard (88), Augustus Bying- ton (87); 1864. M. N. Kimbell (150), Clark Roberts (150), I. G. Smith (127): 1865, Herman Legelker (103), A. J. Sncll (102), C. Dickinson (99): 1866, D. S. Dun- ning (106), H1. Vanatta [108), E. G. Merrill (108).

The town organization has been continued since the organization of the village. The officers have been as follows: Supervisors-William P. Gray, from 1870 to 1875; Brockman Hopkins, from 1875 to 1879; and Theodore Schultz from 1879 to the present time. Assessors-S. S. Abbott, 1870; F. D), Wulff, from 1871 to his death in 1882; William Johnson, from 1882 to the present time. Collectors-Frank D). Wulff, 1870; L. A. Budlong, 1871; Brockman Hopkins, from 1871 to 1874; William Johnson, from 1874 to 1880: M. N. Kimbell, 1881; Daniel Booth, Jr., 1882. Clerk-D. N. Kelsey, 1870; Nicholas B. Hansen, from 1871 to the present time.

THE TOWN HOUSE. - Early in the history of this township the necessity was felt for some place in which to hold elections and to conduct the public business. Upto 1856 private houses were used for these purposes. At the annual meeting held April 1, 1856, on motion of M. N. Kimbell, it was resolved that $2,500 be raised for the purpose of building a town house. The vote for the resolution was fifty to forty-six against it. On the 13th of the following December a special meeting was held for the purpose of selecting a town house site, but it was voted to postpone the selection until the next annual meeting. Town house trustees were, however,

elected to secure plans and specifications for a town house of lumber, and also to procure an act by the Leg- islature to supply any lack of power in the town to act legally in the premises. The trustees elected were as fol- lows, by the appended vote : M. N. Kimbell by twenty- eight votes, Robert J. Edbrooke twenty-five and David L. Roberts thirty-one. At the annual meeting of April 7, 1857, two locations for the proposed town house-one to be designated the "Center," was proposed by John Gray, the other to be designated the " Ridge," proposed by David 1 .. Roberts-the land needed to be donated by Mr. Gray or Mr. Roberts, upon the selection of the legal voters of the township. At this meeting the ques- tion was voted upon and carried in the affirmative that the town house should be of brick and two stories high. Seven hundred dollars additional was also voted for the purpose of building this house. At the annual meeting of April 6, 1858, $1,000 was appropriated "to complete the Town House. Thus the total cost of the Town House was $4,200. It is a two-story brick structure, 20x35 feet in size, and is located at "the Center of the 'Town," on Milwaukee Avenue, one and a quarter miles southeast of the village of Jefferson. A safe was put in it in 1870, "to accommodate the clerk."

After the first election of trustees of the town house in 1856, the following were elected, in 1857: John Gray, Robert J. Edbrooke and Israel G. Smith. In 1859 Chester Dickinson was elected trustee by 72 votes; in 1860, John Gray, by 141; in 1861, Robert J. Ed- brooke, by 123 ; in 1862, Chester Dickinson, by 107; in 1863, John Gray, by 59; in 1864, William Dymond, by 99 ; in 1865, George Dunlop, by 80 ; in 1866, Ed- win Dimond, by 113; in 1867, John Gray, by 127: in 1868, George Dunlop, by 243; in 1869, John Gray, by 260; in 1870, D. S. Dunning.

It is interesting to note the gradual increase of the annual appropriations for road and bridge purposes, as it may indicate the increase of the amount of labor per- formed on them. In 1850 at the first annual meeting, $150 was appropriated. In 1851. $274 was the sum voted upon, but this amount failed by a vote of thirteen for, to seventeen against it, and the records do not show that any amount was appropriated that year, nor in 1852. In 1853 $100 was voted to be expended on roads. In 1854 no amount appears. In 1855 $375 was agreed upon as the amount to be expended on roads, etc .. $100 on the telegraph road, $100 from Carpenter's bridge to the plank road, $100 from Whisky Point to Lovett's Ridge, and $75 on the Slough Bridge near S. S. Stick- ney's. In 1856 the sum appropriated was $400; in 1857, $600; in 1858, $1,275; in 1859. $1,100; in 1860, $1,155; in 1861, 8275, but little being done this year except to keep the roads in repair; in 186z and :863 no money appears to have been raised for road purposes; in 1864, $4,500 was voted to reimburse those who sub- scribed toward the war fund for filling the quota of the town, which probably prevented any action with refer- ence to the improvement of roads and bridges that year. There is no data on this subject now until 1868, when $8,000 was the sum agreed upon. In 1869 it was voted to levy a tax of $1,500 to build a bridge across the North Branch at Albert Street, and that $6,000 should be ex- pended on roads and bridges. It was also voted at the meeting, which was held November 2, that horses and cattle should not run at large without a permit from the Board of Trustees. In 1870 $5,000 was appropri- ated to build a new bridge to take the place of the old one known as Finney's bridge, and $3,000 voted for general road and bridge purposes.

It may be of interest to note when certain streets

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON.

were authorized to be laid out by the Commissioner of Highways. On June 7, 1870, Huntington Street was opened, and Jefferson Avenue improved by grad- ing from Huntington Street to the bluff, near the Chi- cago River, at anestimated cost of $2,000. On June 17 Clark Street was opened from Cheney to Lewis : Jackson, from Milwaukee Avenue to East Street ; Gray, from Lewis to East ; Stone, from Hollowell to East : Dwight, from Danforth to East ; Weld, from Everett to East ; Williams, from Clark to Lawrence : East, from Cotes's south line to Lawrence Street ; Everett, from Clark to the N. W. R. R .; Hollowell, from Clark to Danforth : Lewis, from Clark to the railroad ; Jones, from Clark to Elderkin ; Devire, from Elderkin to northeast corner of Block 3. The estimated cost of opening these streets was $1,650. On August 6, 1870, Albert Street was authorized to be improved by grad- ing to the width of 66 feet from Jefferson Avenne to the center of Western Avenue, which is the east line of the town, at an estimated cost of $7,000. On May 23. 1871. it was voted that a bridge be built across the North Branch where Jefferson Avenue, if extended in a straight line, would intersect the same, and that the avenue be extended north from the bluff on the south side of the river, in a straight line to the center of the Stiner road. On June 3, 1871, Jefferson Avenue was extended north 1,632 feet, commencing 300 feet south of the Indian boundary line. On October 3, 1871, California Avenue was extended to the north line of Section 25. and Humboldt Boulevard was ordered to be improved by planting 10,000 elm trees on each side of the street, 30 feet apart, at an estimated cost of $10,000. On December 30, 1871, Irving Park Boulevard was anthorized to be improved by graveling fromn Milwau- kee Avenue to the east line of the townshijf, at an esti- mated cost of $10,000. Jannary 6, 1872, Clybourne Avenue was improved at an expense of $7,000, and Peterson Avenue at an expense of $4,000. On the 12th of this month Huntington Street was improved at a cost of $845, and Jefferson Avenue at an equal expense. These particulars will be sufficient to give an idea of the expense of improvements of these kinds in this town- ship. And the following tables, compiled from the annual reports of the Clerk of the village of Jefferson, show the aggregate receipts and disbursement for all purposes, except for schools, from 1877 to 1882 inclu- sive : the year closing with March 1 ; the year 1882, closing March 1, 1883 :

GENERAL FUND.

YEARS.

RECEIPTS.

DISBURSEMENTS.

1877.

$15, 115.51

$15.113.04

1828

17.453.98

17.117.34

1879.

19.637.11

12,945.53

1880.

20,251.40

13.004.85

1881

29.994.31

22.346.86

1882.

37.926.86

36.991.31

The amount paid out for street work, culverts, cross- ings, etc., during the year ending March 1, 1883, was $26,767.70. The total valuation of the property of this township at this time was as follows;

First precinct (Jefferson). 8484,597.00

Second precinct (Bowmanville)

108,600.00

Third precinct ( Maplewood). 575.882.00

Railroad assessments (estimated)

100,000.00

Personal property.

67,648.00

$1.336.727.00

The assessment of 1881 was

1,169,019.00

Showing a gain in two years of

$165.708.00

VILLAGE OF JEFFERSON.

'T'he change from the township organization to the village organization took place on Tuesday, August 6, 1872. This change was effected in accordance with the general law of the Legislature of that year The peti- tion for the election was signed by thirty of the voters of the town. The judges of election were as follows: Clark Roberts, John Gray, S. S. Abbott and Charles Peters. The whole number of votes cast was eighty. two, of which number seventy-two were in favor of the village organization, and ten against it. It was then declared that the village of Jefferson was organized according to law.

The Board of Trustees then proceeded to elect as President William P. Gray. On August 24 twenty-five voters of Norwood Park petitioned for the appointment of James Winship as a member of the Board of Trus- tees to fill a vacancy. And on this day the corporate seal was changed to conform to the new village organi- zation. The ordinances were revised by a committee appointed for the purpose, consisting of W. P. Gray, James Winship, and S. M. Davis; and the ordinances as revised were adopted September 28, 1872.

The Boards of Trustees under the village organiza- tion have been as follows: Elected in 1872-the Super- visor, Assessor, and three Commissioners of Highways. P. P. Powell was appointed to fill the vacancy. the law allowing six Trustees. In 1873-William P. Gray, by 146 votes; Lyman A. Budlong. 135; Theodore Schultz, 124; Andrew Dunning, 121; M. N. Kimbell, 103; W. C. Hazelton, 97.

In 1874-James D. Dymond, by 500 votes; David B. Fonda, 366; Frederick, Hansen, 421: Henry Van- atta, 370; Squire Dingee, 375; Leon C. Welch, 380.

In 1875-Frederick Hansen, 537 ; Henry Vanatta. 503: Squire Dingee, 517: Charles Peters, 455; David B. Fonda, 367; John Austin, 357.

1876-James D. Dymond, 421; Frederick Hansen, 388; John Brunton, 375; David B. Fonda, 393; John Austin, 503: Henry Vanatta, 403.

1877-John Brunton, 446; H. F. Holcomb, 445: Frederick Hansen, 428; James D. Dymond, 338; John Austin, 329; Henry Vanatta, 261.

1878-Henry Vanatta, 400 : J. J. Chase, 212 ; Fred- erick Hansen, 368 ; John Brunton, 416 ; H. F. Holcomb, 422 : James D. Dymond. 381.

1879-H. F. Holcomb. 434 ; J. J. Chase, 329 : Frank D), Wulff, 565 : Joseph Titley, 571 ; Michael Moran. 471 ; Richard Y. Spikings. 323.

1880-H. F. Holcomb, 366 ; Frank D. Wulff, 537 : Richard Y. Spikings, 329 ; Michael Moran, 338 ; Joseph Titley, 538 ; S. W. Riderburg, 305.

. 1881-S. W. Riderburg, 623; Frederick Hansen, 335 ; Joseph 'l'itley. 339 : elected for two years,

1882-Ilenry Wulff, 464; L. A. Budlong, 455 ; Michael Moran, -; total vote, 680.

In 1883-Joseph Titley, Ferdinand Hansen and Mr. McCormick,

List of Clerks .- D. N. Kelsey to December 14, 1870; George 1 .. Gray to November 7, 1871 ; S. M. Davis, from November, 1871, elected by 250 votes, to April, 1874, elected in 1873 by 140 votes : in 1874, David S. Pride, 385, total vote 530 : 1875, Charles T. Linscott, 375 : 1876, Charles T. Linscott, 346, total vote 503 ; 1877, Nicholas B. Hansen, 338 ; 1878, Nicholas B. Han- sen. 431 ; 1879, Mark H. Reynolds, 216; 1880, Mark H. Reynolds, 505 ; 1881, Henry Esdohr, 317 ; total vote 633 ; 1882, Mark H. Reynolds, 380, total vote 680; 1883, Mark H. Reynolds.

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752

HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

The Village Treasurers have been as follows, elected by the Board of 'I'rustees ; 1872-73, William P Gray ; 1874-75, Richard F. Race ; 1876-77, Edwin Dymond ; 1878, Theodore Schultz, who has been Treasurer ever since.

Up to 1875 the village had no regular attorney. In April of this year it was resolved that a village attorney should be appointed annually by the president and Board of Trustees. Under authority of this resolution S. M. Davis was appointed. May 8, 1876, S. J. Hanna was appointed, and served from 1876 to 1880. William Robinson served one year, commencing in 1880. Fran- cis De Pfuhl was then appointed, aud has served as attorney ever since.

Up to 1876 the salaries of the town officers were not definitely fixed, but on May 8, of this year, they were determined by ordinance, as follows : Captain of police, $500 per annum ; first and second sergeants, $400 each. The attorney's salary was fixed at $720, and the village engineer was allowed $5 per day for the time actually employed. On May 1, 1877, the salaries were reduced to the following sums : Attorney's, $700 ; engineer, $300 per annum ; captain of police, $300 ; the two sergeants, $200 each ; the Clerk's salary was fixed at $350; the Village Treasurer was allowed one and a half per cent on all disbursements, and the Street Commissioner was allowed $3 per day with team, and $1.50 per day with- out team. On the 4th of June, 1881, the salaries were changed to the following sums : Attorney's, $500; Clerk's, $500 ; engineer, $600 ; captain of police, $600 ; sergeants', $250 ; night watchman, $350, and the Treas- urer was allowed two per cent on all disbursements.

The Artesian Wells of this township are a noticeable feature in its improvements. The first one bored was that on the farm of M. N. Kimbell, in 1869. A depth of 653 feet was reached, at a cost of $4,000, and there was originally a flow of two hundred gallons per minute, the quantity being ascertained by repeated and careful measurement. That in Maplewood, on Section 25, was bored in 1869, to a depth of 720 feet. John Gray's was bored in 1870, to a depth of 1,600 feet at a cost of $5,- 000, and a flow of about fifty gallons obtained. That of William P. Gray was bored in 1871, originally to a depth of 750 feet, and subsequently to a depth of 1,676 feet, at a total cost of about 87,000. From this well there was originally a flow of about two hundred gallons per minute. Joseph Bickerdike's well on Section 25 was bored in 1874, to a depth of 740 feet at a cost of $3,000, and a flow of about 200 gallons obtained. The deepest well in the township is that bored by the Trustees of Jefferson, being 2,200 feet deep, costing $4,500, and flowing 200 gallons per minute. The total number of these wells is nine. The quantity of water given as the flow of the wells is in most cases estimated, and in nearly every case it has very greatly diminished since the water began to flow. From that of Mr. Kimbell the flow is now intermittent, and only very light. Only a small stream flows from each of the others, with the exception, perhaps, of Mr. Bickerdike's, which has main- tained its flow more nearly than any other. The reason for the decrease is, in some cases at least, the gradual filling in of the boring, especially in that part of it pas- sing through shale. While the water is excellent, and a great boon to those who can not have water from the city water works or good well water, yet the reason for the existence of artesian wells on this level prairie is as yet somewhat enshrouded in mystery.

SCHOOLS,-The first school district was organized in 1836. It included the whole township. Reese Eaton was the first teacher and his salary was $11 per month,

out of which he paid for his board. L. H. Smith was the second teacher. His salary was 815 per month and "board around." Soon after this M. N. Kimbell or. ganized a school which was taught in his own house for two consecutive seasons, during which he boarded the teacher. To this school the pupils came a distance of from one to four miles, and when the weather was severe they remained at his house all night, At this time there were four school-houses in the town, and the long winter evenings were devoted to spelling schools, held in turn at each of the houses. In addition to the spelling exercises, which are said to have been posi- tively bad, there were declamations, vocal and instru- mental music, and occasionally a tableaux entertain- ment. The day schools are described as having been practical ones, in which the principal branches taught were reading, writing and arithmetic, the time not being devoted mainly to map drawing "at the expense of a dead failure in all other departments of knowledge."

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 207

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas Number of Pages: 875

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875