USA > Illinois > Ogle County > Mount Morris > Mount Morris: past and present, an illustrated history of the township and the village of Mount Morris, Ogle County, Illinois, in their various stages of development, together with a local biographical directory > Part 13
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Before proceeding further, it will be well to mention two musical families who have lived in Mount Morris and were intimately connected for many years with all matters concerning the melodious art. Henry A. Neff has already been mentioned as a member of the first band in Mount Morris. His wife also possessed musical talent and their ear for the art was transmitted undiminished to their four sons, Milton, Clark, Addison W. and Emery I., and two daughters, Lura, (Mr. A. S. McCoy's first wife) and Nettie (Mrs. G. W. Deppen). Milton was the musical genius of the family, having been probably the best all-around cornet player the town has ever produced. When leader of the band, he con- tributed much to its success by his elegant execution of brilliant triple-tongue cornet solos. Clark Neff, for many years also leader of the band, was also a fine cornetist, and figured conspicuously in musical circles. Milton died at Mount Morris, in 1878, and Clark, in Mount Mor- ris, in 1892. A number of the older members of the family also devel- oped their God-given talent.
The other family in question is the McCosh family, consisting of Dr. and Mrs. John McCosh and their five sons, Prof. David S., James, Dr. George B., Scott, and Benjamin; and three daughters, Sarah, Susie and Lucia, the two former now being Mrs. Jacob Strock and Mrs. Charles Sharer. Prof. D. S. McCosh has in the past and is still making music his profession, and has written hundreds of fine selections for band and orchestra and led many large bands. He plays a variety of instruments and when younger was a fine cornetist. In fact he is the musical genius of the family. "Hear Dem Bells," a vocal selection composed by him reached the circulation of many hundred thousand copies. His musical publications have altogether been very successful on the market. Dr. G. B. McCosh attained much proficiency as a tuba player in some of the old bands, and he also plays a number of other instruments. He has composed some music, showing that he possesses much ability yet un- developed. Benjamin is also a music publisher and band leader liv- ing at St. Charles. These three and also Scott, who is dead, and James, now living in Tennessee, all were thorough musicians and played for
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
years in the old bands of Mt. Morris. Later mention is made of the three sisters of the family. It is a peculiar fact that every member of the family should have been so well endowed with the genius of a musi- cal ear. The children of a number of them are, with few exceptions, also born musicians.
To get back to the subject of bands, the first old band was disorgan- ized in about the early fifties, and from that time until after the Civil War, remained so. About the year 1867 a new band was organized with Morris Gaffin as leader. Some of the early members were Clark and Milton Neff, David aud James McCosh, William Bull, Calvin Potter, Dav- id Rine, John Nye, Frank Knodle, Lee Crofts, George Keplinger, Jacob Fager and Charles Knodle. The band continued in organization for probably not less than twenty years, with, however, a continual change of membership owing to the coming and going of musical talent. Prob- ably the best period in its existence was during the time when Milton Neff was leader. At that time some of the members were Clark and Emory Neff, George and Benj. McCosh, Charles and F. F. Knodle, Charles Sharer, Ed. Allen and James Webb. They played in a number of contests and had many engagements at fairs at Oregon, Rochelle and Mount Carroll, and for numerous other events. They became quite noted.
For a score of years past there have been a large number of bands, but generally they have been short lived, probably from a lack of suffi- cient financial support. In 1890 a " kid band" was organized, which, like the others, was of brief existence. During the winter of 1896-'97 another band of boys was organized and by diligent practice every week they have attained to a degree of efficiency equalled by very few of the old bands. The organization is known as the Mount Morris Military Band. A portrait of the band with its membership during the summer season of 1900 appears on the opposite page. A fine new band-stand was erected in 1898 upon the southeast corner of the campus. In this stand Saturday- night concerts are given during the summer, large crowds gathering from the surrounding country to hear the enlivening music. The band is finely uniformed and furnished with good instruments. Engagements have been filled at the Rock River Assembly, at Freeport, Rochelle, Lanark, Oregon, Polo, Forreston, and other places. The band was first organized under the leadership of Charles H. Canode, who was succeeded by William Lohafer, Jr., and later by Prof. David S. McCosh, who acted as instructor until his departure from Mount Morris in the spring of 1900, when Burton Strock took charge and is the present leader. Among the members connected with this band since its organization are the follow- ing, some of whom are not now members: Prof. D. S. McCosh and two sons, Leighton and Dudley; William Lohafer, Charles Canode, Burton Strock, Roy Brayton, Roy Jackson, Blair McCosh, Harvey Kable, Harry Kable, Robert Buser, Leslie Rees, Vernon Rees, Earl Clevidence, Ernest Brayton, William Fouke, Oscar Olson, Merritt Miller, Merritt Deppen, Edward Marvin, Fred Stoner, and Clayton Gloss. Elmer Shank is the band's drum major.
Ernest Brayton Harry Kable
Elmer Shank
Clayton Gloss Harvey Kable
Merritt Deppen Vernon Rees Leslie Rees Earl Clevidence
William Fouke
Oscar Olson Burton Strock
Roy Brayton
Roy Jackson
THE MOUNT MORRIS MILITARY BAND, SUMMER OF 1900.
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MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND FAMILIES.
In the way of orchestras, Mount Morris has had a great many, and any detailed account of them would be impossible. There were many very excellent ones, notable among which was Thompson's orchestra, of a half-score years ago. A photograph of this organization is reproduced on this page. Some of the best violin players of the present time are Gregor Thompson, Blair McCosh and F. F. Knodle.
In the past there have been a number of good pianists, several of whom gave instruction upon that instrument. Among them will be re- membered Alice Lott, Florence Brayton, (now Mrs. Gilbert of Iowa), Jose- phine Cheney and a Mr. Armsby. Miss Lucia McCosh is probably the
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E. E. Winders Henry Magoon John Thomas Oscar Doward Charles Ford Thos. Newcomer Gregor Thompson Levi Bear Irvin Thomas THOMPSON'S ORCHESTRA, NOW DISORGANIZED.
most accomplished pianist in Mount Morris at present, having devoted a great deal of time in training and practicing upon this instrument. She graduated with special honor from the Chicago Musical College in 1900. She does some composing and has charge of the musical depart- ment of Mount Morris College. Mr. U. C. Nye and Miss Olive Lipe are also graduate pianists, the former of the Chicago Musical College and the latter of the musical department of the Wisconsin State University, at Madison. Mrs. J. L. Rice received a year's training in Boston, and Miss Pearl Williams, a year in the Chicago Musical College. These five rank high in technical execution and are regarded as skilled musicians. Other musically-talented people in the community who have devoted
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
considerable time to the piano are Mrs. F. C. Remmer, Roy Brayton, and the Misses Susie Zumdahl, Myrtle Royer, Estella Fry, Olive Stahlhut, Gladys McCosh and Lura Neff.
Among vocalists who claim Mount Morris as their place of nativity, probably the most conspicuous have been Miss Catherine McNeill, daughter of Dr. Francis A. and Mrs. Barbara McNeill, who was married to Dr. Hoffman at Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, in 1899, and Miss Susie McCosh, now Mrs. Chas. Sharer, of Mount Morris. These ladies sang to- gether on many occasions, at one time taking a gold medal for the best duet at a musical convention held at Cedar Lake, Iowa. Miss McNeill's beautiful contralto voice was developed in the best schools at Boston and Paris, after which she traveled extensively with the best opera com- panies of the country. Mrs. Sharer possesses a very fine soprano voice and became very well known as a soloist, as much so in this vicinity as Miss McNeill. Many favorable newspaper comments were made con- cerning her singing. After one appearance in Mount Morris the Demo- crat said: "There are but few ladies outside of the role of professionals so able to captivate an audience. . . . It is proper to say-attribute it to whatever cause that there never sang a lady to our people who was so popular as Miss Susie McCosh." Miss Maria Hitt, now Mrs. Chas. Newcomer, was also a well-known vocalist, having had an excellent mu- sical training at Washington, D. C., and having been instructor in music in Rock River Seminary. J. M. Piper was a singer of note, having led the Methodist choir for years. Chas. H. Sharer was also a member of the M. E. choir, having an exceptionally fine tenor voice. He also played baritone in the band. A quartette, consisting of Susie McCosh, soprano; Sarah McCosh, alto; Charles H. Sharer, tenor; and Geo. B. McCosh, bass, was a very popular organization a few years ago, and did much singing in public. Other old singers were Misses Minnie E. Little and Lillie Knodle, sopranos; and William Little, bass, who were always called upon when any public entertainments were given in which local singers were needed. At the present time Mount Morris possesses a strong force of good singers, a number of them being included in the church choirs. Among those not already mentioned who have had considerable vocal training are U. C. Nye, Mrs. B. T. Ryder, Mrs. G. W. Deppen, Misses Eliza Canode, Myrtle Royer, Olive Lipe, Lura Neff, Minerva Eversole, Dr. J. B. Moats, and others.
In 1900 the Harmonia Male Quartette, consisting of Walter Wolfe first tenor; U. C. Nye, second tenor; F. C. Remmer, first bass; C. H. Can- ode, second bass, was formed and was in demand upon special occasions.
Mention has already been made of a number of musical families. This faculty is also quite noticeable among the Knodles, as will be no- ticed by the frequent occurrence of that name in connection with some of the bands mentioned. F. F. Knodle is still a resident of Mount Mor- ris, devoting his entire time to composing orchestra music and giving lessons on the violin. The family of William Lohafer, Sr., is also musically inclined. Henry and William Lohafer, Jr., are old band boys,
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MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND FAMILIES.
the former playing tuba, and the latter, cornet. William is a triple- tongue cornet soloist of much ability, being the best in this part of the country. Misses Rosa, Nettie and Pearl are good vocalists. The three sons of A. W. Brayton are all connected with musical organizations, the eldest, Louis, being leader and first mandolin player of the State Uni- versity mandolin club.
Besides local musical talent there is always a considerable number of students at Mount Morris College who possess ability in that line, there being ample provision for the study of both vocal and instrumental music in that institution.
BAND STAND. Southeast corner of college campus.
CHAPTER X. LOCAL CALAMITIES.
IT is probably a fact that no village or township or municipal corpor- ation over the broad states of the entire Union has escaped with a local history void of calamity by storm, fire or pestilential disease with result- ant losses of valuable property and possibly life, in greater or less degree; and so it is with Mount Morris, with which this book is concerned, although it must be said that the number of calamities has been probably below the average, especially in the way of fires and contagious diseases.
In the history of Mount Morris is recorded the occurrence of two torna- does, one passing directly over the village on the morning of June 8, 1874, and the other devastating a path of destruction across the southeast cor- ner of the township on the evening of May 18, 1898. The first passed as nearly through the exact center of the village as would be possible from the fact that the college campus lay immediately in its path, the roof of the large stone dormitory being partly carried away. Concerning this tornado the following newspaper writeup was sent to the Ogle County Grange for publication by some resident of Mount Morris, and appeared in that paper. It gives a good idea of the storm:
"About five o'clock this morning two great black clouds. one from the east and one from the west. were seen approaching. Over the northwest portion of Mount Mor- ris they met and spread devastation far and wide. For about ten minutes there was a terrible roaring of wind and crashing of trees and houses. Then followed the calm. Citizens hurried together from all quarters. S. Mumma's stables were completely wrecked. The pieces were scattered in every direction. some even passing through the siding and plastering of the houses of adjoining residents. The horses and a yard full of stock escaped unhurt. The harnesses were carried across the garden and rolled in the mud. One new buggy was torn in pieces and much fruit destroyed. Sid- ney Redfield's house was staved in and carried clear off its foundation. His wife was severely injured but the baby was dragged unhurt from under a pile of debris. Peter Glasgow's house was completely riddled by flying fence-boards and other missles; stove broken into bits, barn destroyed. the garden deprived of its fence, and many fruit trees blown down. Mr. James Withers lost one entire part of his house. Close by was the residence of Widow Weakle, the windows of which were broken, sash and glass. The raging storm next seized the residence of Elder Walker, now occupied by F. Black. and tore up his trees, demolished the barn and out-houses: ripped up the fence and sidewalk, sending one large timber through a window across a bed contain- ing two men. and smashed into the partition on the other side. The occupants were some injured by the flying glass. One rocking-chair took a flying leap into the Sem- inary yard. Mrs. M. A. MeKean lost half the roof of her house. The adjoining resi- dence of Mrs. E. Crofts received but little damage, but the fruit trees were laid in all directions. Two large cherry trees standing close to the house were completely twist- ed off. Thence the storm swept over the Seminary tearing off the west half of the roof and scattering the debris over the principal street. It injured Seibert some, smashing in half the front of his billiard hall. The east end of D. Rine's agricultural
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LOCAL CALAMITIES.
house was lifted and moved around upon the foundation of Sprecher & Clevidence's new storehouse. In the southeast part of town the gable end of the brick residence of Widow McCoy was tumbled in upou nice furniture and fine carpets. The barn and out-buildings were severely racked. Both gable ends of the brick residence of E. Lott were thrown in upon the nicely-furnished rooms. One hundred apple trees and a barn were destroyed for A. Cunningham. The town residence of A. Q. Allen lost part of its roofing. The barn and fence of George Fouke were blown down. Such was the destruction wrought here in so short a time that no one had time to become fright- ened or be aware of the extent of the danger before it was all over. Then they found this part of the town to have been subjected to a terrible calamity. No lives were lost and none seriously hurt."
The tornado of 1874 was a wonderful exhibition of the marvelous power which the winds are able to exercise, but compared with that ter- rible devastating cloud which hewed a path of destruction across Ogle county in 1898, was but a breeze, a gentle zephyr toying with the foliage of a forest. All have yet a vivid remembrance of that 18th day of May. Those who had an opportunity of viewing the huge, black, revolving cloud and heard its sullen roar as it licked up every available object and whirled it into the terrible vortex above, grinding and mincing and scat- tering to the four winds, will never forget it.
During the afternoon of the day of the storm the appearance and maneuvers of the clouds were remarkable. At times far overhead could be seen light clouds floating lazily in one direction, while much farther beneath were blacker, heavier clouds moving in exactly the opposite direction, showing that there were two distinct layers of air. Fitful gusts of wind and short showers of rain and hail were frequent during the afternoon, but toward five o'clock the air became still and calm, and re- mained so for about an hour. The clouds were of inky blackness, some- times of slightly different hues, and presented a most ominous appear- ance. Not a leaf was astir; the atmosphere became oppressive and breathing difficult. Between five and six o'clock persons out of doors detected a dull rumble coming from the southwest which at first was supposed to have been thunder, but the persistency of the sound and its gradual increase in volume soon attracted attention, and persons in the country and the south and west parts of town were appalled by the ap- pearance and rapid approach of one of those funnel-shaped clouds, the identity of which was not long in doubt in the mind of anyone. The cloud continued to approach in a path apparently headed for Mount Morris, but when within about three miles from town could be seen to shift more to the southward, which was afterward proved by an examina- tion of its path. This change of course carried the cloud about a mile south of town and it very soon receded in the distance, disappearing from view beyond Rock river.
Although this storm passed over only a small corner of Mount Morris township, it will probably not be out of place to trace its terrible work through a part of Buffalo, Pine Creek and Rockvale townships, consider- ing the fact that it came so near the village, and traversed a territory so familiar to Mount Morris people.
After leaving the vicinity of Polo the cloud encountered the G. E.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
Fahrney premises, about three miles west of Stratford, and demolished the residence, barn, and all the outbuildings, his farm machinery being destroyed and considerable stock killed and injured. The family escaped death in the cellar. The barn of the farm of Mr. Fahrney's mother, a little farther east, was in the track of the tornado, and was demolished. One mile east of Mr. Fahrney's premises the lawn trees at the residence of George Garnhart were uprooted, but the house and barn escaped with but slight damage. At this place a wing of the cloud swung to the south- ward and swept a path through about one-half mile north of Stratford, demolishing the barn on the Charles Hayes farm. The main body of
SNAP-SHOT OF THE TERRIBLE CLOUD.
Photographed by Prof. W. L. Eikenberry.
the cloud crossed the farm of William Coffman, one mile northwest of Stratford and almost completely obliterated the fine residence and farm buildings, which covered nearly an acre of ground. The next day the place presented a desolate appearance, and was viewed by hundreds of people. Men were gathering up wounded pigs, calves, etc., in the barn- yard, and eighty rods northeast of the house five horses were being buried that had been carried away with the barn. The inmates of the house had a narrow escape. They all went to the cellar except the hired man who had gone up stairs for his pocketbook, which was in his Sunday pants. While he was on the second floor the building was carried away
A Tree " Slightly Twisted' by the Storm
Another View of the Terrible Cloud.
9
Major Newromer s Timber
2) Lath Driven Through Pine Boards. Corn-crib on the Farm of Betty Fridley
A Chicken Rendered Featherless
Photographs by W. L. Eikenberry,
SCENES IN THEPATH OF THE CYCLONE OF 1898,
A Tree Shattered by the Storm.
Ruins of the Lawrence House.
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LOCAL CALAMITIES.
and he was dashed to the ground with the falling timbers, receiving only a few scratches. He crawled out of the wreck and spied his pants hanging on a tree near by with the money safe. The family had taken refuge in the northwest corner of the cellar, where nothing injured them. A pitch-fork and set of harness were dropped just in front of them but no heavy timbers fell near them. Had they taken refuge in any other part of the cellar the result might have been otherwise, as it was filled with the collapsed walls, and no one could have escaped.
From the Coffman farm the whirling monster passed north of George Clevidence's residence, and sweeping through his pasture field, killed a number of cattle and horses. It next encountered the tenement property of Charles Weller, which was occupied by Samuel Lawrence. The house was carried but a short distance from the foundation and demolished. The steel roof with the gable ends still in place was left lying near, as is seen in the halftone on the preceding page. Here the safe part of the cellar was the southeast corner, where the family had fortunately taken shelter. The remainder of the cellar was filled with timbers, stones and bricks; and a pig sty, which had occupied a position about fifty feet to the southeast, was picked up and dropped in upon the mass of rubbish. The corner sought by the family came also near proving a death trap, a large cook-stove having landed upon the wall just over their heads. Had it been moved but a few feet farther they would have been crushed.
The next residence was that of Joseph Artz. A large barn, 24x64 feet was swept away, very little of it being left to mark the spot. The roof was taken off of the west side of the house and several corn cribs dam- aged. A new granary which stood about twenty rods west of the resi- dence was demolished, and a new buggy and considerable farm machinery destroyed. Mr. Artz had a fine lawn set with immense shade trees in which he had taken much pride. After the passage of the storm these large trees were found either uprooted or broken off and the beauty of the place sadly ruined. The roadway was completely blocked by the trunks of some of the trees carried from this yard.
One of the most peculiar sights along this route was the manner in which the buildings upon the farm of William Ambrose were handled. The residence is built of brick and stands on the brow of a hill about ten rods back from the road. The entire wall on the south side of this brick structure was drawn out, leaving the floors and rooms on that side exposed. All of the furniture was carried from one of the rooms on the second floor while another retained only the bedstead and springs, ready to receive again the bedding if it ever should be found. The large bank barn was entirely carried away except the lower floor and wall and ma- chinery which was dropped on the south side and badly damaged. A new wagon was dashed into the hollow near the barn, one of the wheels of which had the tires with all the felloes in place torn from the spokes almost as smooth as a wagon-maker could have cut them. Leaving this scene of destruction the cloud passed near the farm of Charles D. Weller, one wing demolishing sheds, tearing doors from the barn and scattering
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his farm machinery over the surrounding country. A hay loader in one of the sheds was literally torn to pieces. Mr. Weller was the only man in that section who had his loss covered by tornado insurance.
The tornado crossed Pine Creek about five rods north of the Pine Creek bridge and entered the timber owned by William Watts and Oliver Coffman, doing serious damage. Trees were felled into the road from either side, completely blocking it, and a large amount of cord-wood ranked in the east part of the timber, south of the road, was scattered over the fields for half a mile to the eastward, as were also the rails from the fences along the road. Amos Baker and family fled to the fields upon the approach of the cloud and escaped its fury, as did also their house, al- though numerous trees were broken down. Across the road in the field a
DESTRUCTION WROUGHT ON THE D. E. PRICE FARM.
roll of fence wire weighing four hundred pounds was picked up and car- ried half a mile and then dropped in the outer course of the storm. A wing moved out south of the main body and did considerable damage on the Samuel Price farm. The Salem church escaped, although several rods of fence immediately north of the structure were demolished.
The tornado now appeared to gather new energy and swept across the open field north of the residence on the farm owned by Elder D. E. Price, unroofing the north part of the house and completely demolishing the barn. A large pine tree in the yard had part of its top mowed off as if cut to order. The barn was 34 by 56 feet with a granary 26 by 34 feet. Nearly 1000 bushels of oats and about 900 bushels of corn were stored in the barn and granary, but the greater part was saved, as the floors were not moved.
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