USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 45
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A meeting was held in pursuance of the call, and Lester H. Robinson was chosen President, and Wm. L. Coe, Clerk. The two gentlemen were sworn by C. J. Johnson, a Notary Public. The mecting procceded to ballot upon the ques- tion of "Incorporation," and upon canvassing the votes it appeared that "For Incorporation" received seventeen votes, and "Against Incorporation" received two votes. One vote cast was a blank. An election was held April 25, 1857, to elect five Trustees and one Police Magistrate. The whole number of votes cast was forty-four. Samuel H. Vroom, S. H. MeCrea, Lyman Johnson, James G. Gridley, and Wm. L. Coe, were elected Trustees, and Hiram Olmstead, Police Magistrate. Alphonso Bent was President, and Wm. L. Coe, Clerk of the elec- tion. The annexed is the first poll list of the town at that election : John H. Brown, Chas. Foster, John W. Weaver, N. Davidson, S. Eshleman, L. D. Laune, J. E. Bennett, Samuel Finch, Albert Plum, James Chapman, Rockwell Thomp- son, S. H. MeCrea, Thomas McClelland, S. W. Robinson, S. I. Davidson, W. L. Coe. A. Bent, R. M. "Thompson, Hiram Olmstead, W. F. Johnson, C. E. Wil- liams, John Davidson, H. S. Vroom, I. B. Neely, Silas Wilcox, Wm. Rusler, D. Quackenbush, G. L. Vroom, L. L. Lansing, H. J. Olmstead, C. J. Johnson, E.
309
CITY OF MORRISON.
L. Johnson, Chas. Potter, H. V. Brokow, Abe. Anthony, John King, Henry Spitler, John Furlong, Jacob Coon, J. G. Gridley, Henry Levitt, Wm. Paxton, John H. Lane, L. H. Robinson.
At the first meeting of the Board of Trustees Bela C. Bailey was appoint- ed Street Commissioner and Police Constable. Ordinance No. 1, fixing the boundaries of the town, was adopted June3, 1857. The description is : "Com- mencing at the northeast corner of lot 1, block 5; thence west along the street next north of said block 5 to the west line of the northeast quarter of the north- west quarter of Section 18; thence south along said quarter section line to the southwest corner of lot 15, block 20; thence along the south line of said block 20, east to the southeast corner of lot 1, block 20; thence south along the west line of Grape street to its intersection with the south line of South street; thence east along the south line of said South street to its intersection with the east line of Clinton street; thence north along the east line of Clinton street to its intersection with the north line of Grove street; thence west along the north line of Grove street 225 feet to the southeast corner of lot 4, block 24; thence north along the east line of lots 4, 3, 2, and 1, to the northeast corner of lot 1, block 24; thence in a northwesterly direction to the south corner of Bingham's two acre lot; thence north along the east line of said lot. and the east line of Knox's addition, to the northeast corner of lot 1, block 8, in said addition; thence west along the north line of said Knox's addition to the northwest corner of said addition; thence south to the place of beginning." In addition to this ordin- ance, seven others were adopted during 1857 : No. 2, prohibiting swine from running at large in the town under a penalty of $1,00 for each offense. No. 3, providing that each inhabitant over twenty-one, and under fifty years of age, shall pay a poll tax of four days labor upon the streets within a mile of the cen- ter of the town (this ordinance was repealed by No. 5, which fixed the labor at three days upon the streets, or, in lieu thereof, $3. ); No. 4, ordering a tax levy of fifty cents upon each $100 of taxable property; No. 6, providing for a fine of $5 upon any person who should sell spiritious liquors in less quantities than one gallon without a license-the license fee being fixed at $30 per annum; No. 7, fixing licenses for shows and exhibitions at not less than $2, nor more than $25; No. 9, to suppress billiard tables, and similar games-providing for a fine of $5 for each day the games, which were denominated as "nusiances," should be maintained.
The following is a list of the Trustees and Clerks of Morrison from its in- corporation to its organization as a city in 1869. The name of the President of each Board is in italic : 1857-Wm. I .. Coe, Il. S. Vroom, S. H. MeCrea, Lyman JJohnson, J. G. Gridley; Clerk, Hiram Olmstead. 1858-Wm. L. Coe, S. H. McCrea. Lyman Johnson, H. S. Vroom, J. G. Gridley; JJohn E. Bennett was elected Clerk, but resigned. and H. P. Roberts was appointed. 1859 Joseph M. Gilman, H. P. Roberts, John Devine, John E. Duffin, Thomas MeC'lel- land; Clerk, James A. Fisher. 1860-S. H. McCrea, R. D. Stiles, L. Il. Robinson, O. B. Crosby, J. E. Duffin; Clerk, John Devine. 1861-C. M. Ger- ould, S. W. Robinson, Ira Robinson, A. McFadden, D. Quackenbush; Clerk, A. McFadden. 1862-C. M. Gerould, James Cobleigh, W. F. Johnson, Lyman Johnson, Ezra Finch; Clerk, James Cobleigh. 1863 -- J. P. Martin, A. Farring- ton, D. Quackenbush, Sewel Smith, J. R. Bailey; Clerk. Sewel Smith. 1864- Samuel Taylor, D. S. Spafford, Wm. L. Coe. D. L. Columbia, W. F. Johnson; Clerk, D. S. Spafford. 1865-C. J. JJohnson, Wm. Spears, F. W. Chapman, W. J. Savage, JJohn J. Beattie; Clerk, F. W. Chapman, 1866 -- James Cobleigh, J. E. Duffin, F. W. Chapman, A. B. Lukens, John Furlong; Clerk, F. W. Chap- man. 1867-J. R. Ashley, E. L. Worthington, R. V. Stocking, J. S. Green,
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Marx Kahn; Clerk, E. L. Worthington. 1868-R. V. Stocking, J. S. Green, A. J. Jackson, S. Taylor, C. W. Sholes; Clerk, A. J. Jackson.
The Legislature of the State, in session in 1867, passed a bill incorporat- ing the "City of Morrison." In the description of the location, range four was by some means substituted for range five, thus locating the "City of Morrison" in Union Grove instead of Mount Pleasant township. An election was how- ever held under the "Charter," and two tickets put in the field, the issue being "Charter" and "Anti-Charter." The "Anti-Charter" ticket was elected by a large majority, and the anomaly of a Board of City Officers was presented working under a charter in opposition to which they had been elected; but the difficulty was finally settled as to "whether Morrison had, or had not, a City Government," by bringing the case before the Circuit Court under a writ of quo warranto against the acting officers of the City. The Court decided that there was no city government, inasmuch as no vote of the people upon the question of the adoption of the charter had been taken.
In 1869 the Legislature passed an act to incorporate the "City of Morri- son." The act was approved February 23, 1869, and an election to decide upon the adoption or rejection of the charter was held March 29, 1869; 217 votes were cast, of which number 168 were for adoption, and 49 against. The first charter election was held on the first Monday of April. The licensing of saloons was a prominent issue, and an anti-license Board was elected. The officers chosen were George A. Whitcomb, Mayor, and W. J. Savage, Jas. Cob- leigh, W. L. Coe, S. W. Robinson, J. S. Green, and J. A. Mckay, Aldermen. J. S. Green was chosen Treasurer, L. G: Johnson, City Attorney, and W. E. Savage, Clerk. In 1870, N. M. Jackson was elected Mayor by 23 majority. Three Aldermen, Jas. Cobleigh, Charles Bent, and J. N. Baird, were elected. The issue was upon the question of licensing saloons, the anti-license party upon the general issue being successful. George H. Fay was elected Police Magistrate, J. S. Green Treasurer; L. G. Johnson was elected City Attorney, but resigned soon after, and F. D. Ramsay was appointed. W. E. Savage was appointed Clerk, but resigned the office, which was filled by J. H. Calderwood. In 1871, Charles Spears was elected Mayor by 50 majority, license again being the issue, the result being in favor of the license party. A. Nowlen, Wm. Lane, and R. V. Stocking, were elected Aldermen. Warren Wilder was chosen Clerk, by the Board, and J. S. Green, Treasurer. The saloon license fee was fixed for the municipal year at $300.00. The indebtedness of the city was re- ported at $6,296.37. In 1872, George H. Fay, J. W. Riner, and E. W. Payne, were elected Aldermen, and Charles Spears was re-elected Mayor. A. Farring- ton was appointed Clerk. License to saloons was voted by one majority. The proposition to vote a two per cent. tax was adopted by a majority of five.
November 12, 1872, the citizens voted upon the question of re-organiza- tion of the city under the general laws of the State; also for or against minority representation in the City Council. "For re-organization" received 172 votes, and "against re-organization," 45 votes. "For minority representa- tion in the Council" received 30 votes, "against," 156 votes.
The first election for city officers under re-organization was held April 15, 1873. E. B. Warner was elected Mayor; J. M. Burtch, Clerk; John S. Green, Treasurer; Geo. II. Fay, City Attorney; W. F. Johnson, J. W. Riner, Warren Wilder, Wm. Lane, D. S. Spafford, and E. W. Payne, Aldermen. For licensing of saloons received 73 votes, and against license received 134 votes. April 22, 1873, the city debt was $4,194,47. In 1874, A. Nowlen, M. Mead, and R. V. Stocking, were chosen Aldermen. 186 votes were cast for license, aud 85 against. Saloon licenses were fixed at $400. In 1875, A. J. Jackson was elect-
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CITY OF MORRISON.
ed Mayor; W. H. Boals, Clerk; Geo. H. Fay, Attorney; and John S. Green, Treasurer; Ed. A. Worrell, M. V. B. Smith, and Chas. Bent, Aldermen. For license received 136 votes; against license, 72. The saloon license fee was fixed at $600. In 1876, Oliver Baker, Geo. W. Mackenzie, and H. R. Sampson were elected Aldermen, the majority for license being 131. In 1877, Geo. A. Whitcomb was elected Mayor; J. S. Green, Treasurer; J. M. Burtch, Clerk; F. D. Ramsay, Attorney; W. S. Wilkinson, J. B. Mason, Leander Smith and John Clark, Aldermen. The vote upon the license question stood 206 votes for, and 205 against. The license fee was continued at $600 per year.
The only contests the citizens of Morrison have had at the polls have been upon the question as to the liquor traffic, and methods of regulation; the ques- tion of the levy of a two per cent. tax; the adoption or rejection of the city charter; and the question of re-organization under the general laws of the State in 1872. April 22, 1873, the debt of the city was $4,194,47. The first loan was made by the City Council under Ordinance No. 22, passed April 28, 1873. It was for $7,000, payable in seven annual installments of $1,000 each. Pay- ments have been regularly made according to the provisions. On September 30th of the same year, a further loan of $3,600 was made, payable in three an- nual installments. December 22, 1874, a loan of $500 was made, and a tem- porary loan of $1,500 on treasury orders. These loans were promptly paid at maturity. Of the annual appropriation bill of 1875 the sum of $4.260 was in- cluded therein to pay matured indebtedness, and the Council deemed it best to fund a portion of the amount, and negotiated a re-loan of $3,500, payable in seven annual installments, beginning July 1, 1877. Provision has thus far been made to meet payments. At the beginning of the municipal year in 1877, the funded indebtedness of the city was $9,600, drawing interest at ten per cent. per annum.
The indebtedness of the city as it matures can, and doubtless will, be promptly met, and with ordinary fortune and careful management the city can soon be out of debt. Since 1873 great improvements have been made, requir- ing a large outlay of money; all this had to be provided for, as well as the large debt that accumulated in the early history of the town and city. Among the improvements mentioned, has been the erection in 1877, at a cost of over $2,000, of a city building 24x40 feet in size, and two stories in heighth. On the first floor, and to the rear, is the city jail, divided into three iron-lined cells; the balance of the room on this floor is fitted up for use of the hose cart and other property of the fire department. The second floor is divided into two apartments-a large one for the use of the City Council, and a small one to be used as headquarters for the fire company.
The water problem is one that is important in most cities, and is a ques- tion of vital importance for many reasons. Not only for every-day domestic use, but for manufacturing purposes and the extinguishment of fire. The water «question has, from the origin of the town, been of peculiar interest to Morrison, as the supply had to come from wells sunk to great depths, and cisterns. It was the importance of the question that caused a publie meeting to be held March 7, 1868, when the citizens authorized the Board of Trustees to bore an artesian well, and for that purpose asked that $3,000 in bonds be issued, the contract not to be let until the bonds were taken. The contract was finally let to Mr. Joseph Shirk, who, under many difficulties, bored to the depth of 1,200 feet. The water arose within about 20 feet of the mouth of the well, where it still stands, and furnishes water in ample quantity to supply the town. Mr. Shirk's bill for boring the well was $3 per foot for the first 600 feet, $4 per foot for the next 400 fect, and $7 per foot for the last 200 feet. Pipes were
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
laid from the well, and a tank capable of holding 90,000 gallons was erected where a supply of water was to be kept in case of fire. One of the largest sized wind-mills was provided for pumping purposes, but was not entirely suc- cessful. In November, 1874, the tank burst when containing about 75,000 gal- lons of water. The flood of water caused considerable damage to surrounding property, and the wind-mill was wrecked. After this a new plan was adopted, a powerful steam engine procured, and two pumps, one a Blake and the other a Dean, are used for pumping. The entire arrangement is upon the Holly plan. The tank is still used for a water reserve in case of fire. The capacity of the pumps is about 1,200 gallons a minute. Water mains with fire plugs are distributed through the principal business parts of the town, furnishing an unlimited sup- ply of water for daily use and the extinguishment of fire. Morrison has a well drilled and equipped fire company provided with about 1,500 feet of hose, hose cart, and other necessary fixtures. Mr. H. S. Ferguson is foreman. The com- .pany was organized in 1876, since which time it has several times responded to the alarm of fire with good effect; at the time of the burning of the lock-up, in 1876, when a prisoner named Thomas Gaffey was burned to death, the company, by their promptness and the help of the excellent water works, saved much val- uable property. The present system of water works have cost the city about $10,000,
The Morrison carriage works were established in 1871, by A. J. Webster, in what is known as the Library Hall Building, on the corner of Main and Base streets, in a small way at the outset. Mr. Webster continued the business about a year and a half, when the Works were purchased by Wilder, Ely & Co., who introduced various improvements, and considerably increased their capacity. This firm carried on the business for a year, when Mr. R. S. W. Ely purchased the entire interest, and managed the Works alone for about a year, adding con- tinually to their efficiency. In August, 1875, Mr. Geo. A. Whitcomb bought a half interest, and the firm name became Ely & Whitcomb. Both of these gen- tlemen are able, active, thorough-going business men, and under their manage- ment the Morrison Carriage Works have attained a position second to none of the kind in the Western States. Their aim from the start has been to give every purchaser a vehicle that would please him as long as he used it, and judging from the rapid increase of their sales, this aim has been scrupulously adhered to. The size of the main factory, which faces on Main street, is 40 by 80 feet. This includes the whole of the lower floor of Library Hall Building, with the exception of the entrance to the Hall. Besides this, there is an addi- tional building on the east of, and adjoining the Hall building, 26 by 80 feet in size, and two stories high, the lower floor of which is at present used for storing manufactured work, and the upper story for storing materials. In the rear of the main factory is the blacksmith shop, 24 by 60 feet. A part of the wood work for the carriages is also done in a building on Main street, a little west of the principal factory. So rapidly, however, has the business increased, that it was found necessary to erect another building into which the painting, varnish- ing and trimming departments could be located. This building has been put up the present season, and is situated on Grove street, to the north of and almost opposite the main factory on Main street. It is two stories high, 40 by 80 feet in size, and is heated by a furnace. It is also provided with an elevator, so that carriages can be hoisted complete from the lower to the upper story, and thus save the trouble of taking them apart and carrying them up a flight of stairs by hand. The firm now occupy 16,000 feet of surface for manufacturing purposes. The establishment is divided into four departments, termed the wood work, the ironing, the painting, and the trimming; and in each of these the firm employ
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CITY OF MORRISON.
the most skillful and experienced hands. The work turned out consists of car- riages, phætons, jump seats, open top buggies, three spring democrats, platform wagons, and the celebrated side spring with equalizing rods. All the work done at the factory is taken from the rough, and followed up in the different depart- ments until the splendid vehicle stands ready on the platform for use. The wood used for the main or substantial parts of the carriage, is of second growth hickory, brought from the State of Ohio, and the iron selected from the very best that can be obtained. Neither common wood nor common iron is used in the construction of any part of the work turned out at this factory. It has been the purpose of the firm to avoid cheap work, their object being to use the best materials, employ the best artisans, and adopt every improvement worth consideration, and by maintaining this standard their business has increased, while that of most of the carriage manufacturers throughout the country has been dull. The firm buy all the material necessary to be used, outside of their own manufacture, directly from the manufacturers, and in large quantities, thus saving the profits of the middle men. The extent of territory in which their carriages are now sold reaches from Chicago to California, and from St. Paul to St. Louis. It is noticeable, also, that at every Fair where their carriages have been exhibited, they have taken the first premiums. Their sales for the year 1877 have increased over eighty per cent. above those of any former year.
The Morrison Agricultural Works were established in June, 1873, by a stock company, with a capital of $20,000. The stock was all taken in that month, and the Company organized by the election of the following officers: President, R. V. Stocking; Secretary, S. W. Robinson; Treasurer, A. J. Jack- son; Directors, S. W. Robinson, D. S. Spafford, J. S. Green, R. K. Hiddleson, M. V. B. Smith, Wm. Forsting, and R. V. Stocking. The Works were placed in R. V. Stocking's foundry and machine shops on the corner of Market and Madison streets, which were afterwards enlarged. The buildings of the Com- pany now consist of the main building of brick, two stories high, 32 by 60 feet in size, in which the wood work is done; a foundry on the south side of the main building, 20 by 52 feet in size; a blacksmith shop on the west side, 24 by 60 feet in size, and a paint shop opposite the main Works, on the south- west corner of Market and Madison streets, 24 by 36 feet in size. The Com- pany manufacture the Morrison wagon, Morrison (field) stalk cutter, and the Morrison bob sled, a large number of each being manufactured annually, and of excellent make and finish. The present officers are: President, M. V. B. Smith; Secretary and Treasurer, W. S. Wilkinson; Superintendent, R. V. Stock- ing; Directors, S. W. Robinson, D. S. Spafford, W. S. Wilkinson, M. V. B. Smith, R. V. Stocking, and Wm. Forsting.
In addition to the manufactories mentioned, there are those of R. P. Goodenough, and P. F. Hellerstedt, at both of which carriages, buggies, and platform wagons are manufactured. These gentlemen are skillful mechanics, and turn out superior work, for which they have a large sale. Morrison is a commercial town. On all sides there is a magnificent farming country tribut- ary, and the town is supplied with an excellent class of business houses which provide for the wants of the farmers. In 1877 there is in the town, five dry good stores, six grocery stores, six hardware and implement houses, three cloth- ing establishments, five tailoring establishments, eight dealers in and manufac- tures of boots and shoes, two grain dealers provided with elevators and modern contrivances for weighing, five blacksmith shops, three wagon shops, five har- ness shops, one cooper shop, several dealers in flour and feed, three livery stables, six hotels, four restaurants, four saloons and billiard halls, three meat markets, two butter dealers, two cigar manufacturers, four drug stores, three
[40-K.]
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.
book stores, one printing office, two photographers, six real estate and insurance agents, one abstract firm, one bank, two furniture dealers, one upholsterer, two jewelers, five millinery establishments, six dress making establishments, one exclusive hat and cap store, two dealers in musical instruments, three sewing machine dealers, eight physicians, five lawyers, two dentists, four barber shops, four paint shops, two lumber yards. There are also three stock dealers who disburse an immense amount of money annually for cattle and hogs, which are the leading products of the farmers in the neighborhood of Morrison. The city has an excellent graded school, seven churches, and a fine publie hall.
NEWSPAPERS.
In 1857 the new town of Morrison was well on the road to prosperity, and its citizens felt that a newspaper medium should be established by which its advantages as a commercial point, and its fine location in the midst of one of the most fertile agricultural districts in the State, could be made more gener- ally known. With this view they invited Mr. Alfred MeFadden, who had formerly published the Fulton Investigator, to take charge of an office in Mor- rison, which invitation he accepted. They advanced a considerable sum of money to him, which he was to repay in advertising, and copies of the paper. A hand press, and a sufficient amount of type to print the paper, and do ordinary job work, were purchased, and on the 23d of July, 1857, the first number of the Whiteside Sentinel was sent forth to do its work in assisting to build up Mor- rison. The Sentinel was conducted by Mr. MeFadden until 1862, when, owing to broken health, he leased it to Elmer Searle for one year. At the expiration of the lease, Mr. McFadden resumed its publication, and in 1866 enlarged it to eight columns. In July, 1867, the Sentinel was purchased by Messrs. Charles Bent and Morris Savage, who published it until May, 1870, when Mr. Bent be- came the sole proprietor. He instituted many improvements, supplying the office with a cylinder power news press, and power presses for job work, and an abundant supply of new tpye for all classes of work. He also enlarged the paper in 1874 to nine columns. In 1877 Mr. Bent sold the office to Robert W. Welch, of New York city, who is now the editor and proprietor. The Sentinel has always been a staunch advocate of the principles of the Republican party. and almost from the outset has had a wide circulation in Whiteside, and ad- joining counties.
The Reform Investigator was started by Mr. Elmer Searle, in 1868, as a weekly paper devoted to financial and other reforms. It was published for a short time at the Sentinel office, when a stock company was formed, with Mr. Searle as editor and manager of the paper, an office purchased, and the paper devoted in part to local news. The business did not prove remunerative, and in 1870 the office and paper were removed to Chicago, and the paper mainly devoted to financial matters. In the great fire at Chicago in October, 1871, the office was completely destroyed, and was not resurrected "Phoenix like from the ashes."
During the Greeley campaign in 1872, a printing office was established by a stock company, and the Morrison Independent issued, with L. S. Ward as business manager, and J. W. Huett as editor. The paper was devoted to local news, and the advocacy of Ilorace Greeley to the Presidency. Mr. Huett re- mained as editor for some time, after which Mr. Elmer Searle assumed editorial charge. For lack of support the paper was discontinued in 1874. In July of the same year the office was purchased by G. J. Booth & Son, formerly of the Fulton Journal, who commenced the publication of a paper called the Morrison Times. It was devoted to local news, and politics, the latter being in opposi-
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