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 16
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
agent in October, 1895. Longer than the term of service of any of these agents is that of James Driscoll, who has been foreman of the section dur- ing the greater part of twenty-one years past.
The record of the big fight carried on by Mount Morris for so many years in an attempt to avoid the payment of the money voted to be donat- ed to the railroad is in some respects a rather peculiar piece of history. The complications arising in the case render the task of tracing it one of great delicacy. As to the propriety of voting the donation of $75,000 in the first place there is of course a diversity of opinion, and also upon the right and wrong of attempting to evade the payment of the same, but it is not the purpose of this book to render any verdicts, one way or another, but merely to give the facts in the case. Undoubtedly the township has derived $75,000 worth of actual benefit from the presence of the railroad and would not part with it for that amount of money, or even for the larger amount actually being paid in consequence of the addition of inter- est during the period of litigation.
By the terms upon which the donation of $75,000 was voted by Mount Morris, the company was required to complete the road through the town before the bonds should be issued. While the work was progressing the people apparently somewhat regretted their liberality and the minority, who had strongely opposed the measure at the election, decided to do all in their power to prevent the issuing of the bonds. Consequently an in- junction, signed by Daniel J. Pinckney, John W. Hitt, Jacob H. Mumma, John E. McCoy, Milton E. Getzendaner and John Sprecher, was drawn up and filed in the circuit court of Ogle county, praying that the township of Mount Morris be restrained from the issuing of bonds for the payment of the seventy-five thousand dollars, or any part thereof, or the interest thereon, or any part thereof; also to restrain the township from causing any tax to be levied for the payment of the same. In the writ, an alleged illegality of the election, when the donation was voted, was claimed as the pretext for filing the injunction. The injunction was temporarily grant- ed and the case brought up in the circuit court. But while the slow pro- cesses of law were at work on the matter negotiations were in progress between Mr. Hinckley and Supervisor J. W. Hitt for an amicable settle- ment of the matter, and an agreement was finally reached to compromise the bond issue at $50,000. This arrangement was decided upon by the people at a special town meeting held March 19, 1875. Regarding this meeting and its action the old village record book has the following:
Special town meeting met at the shopof A. W. Little in persuance of call. On mo- tion A. Newcomer. Esq., was chosen moderator and O. H. Swingley, secretary. On motion, the meeting adjourned to Seibert Hall. The hour of two o'clock, P. M., hav- ing arrived, the meeting proceeded to business. On motion the supervisor (J. W. Hitt) of the town of Mount Morris was requested to make a full statement to the meeting of all correspondence and negotiations that had taken place between himself and Mr. Hinckley with regard to the settlement of the claim of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad Company against the town, whereupon the supervisor made a full statement of all that had taken place between himself and Mr. Hinckley, including Mr. Hinck- ley's proposition for a final settlement of the question at issue, viz ..
That the Chicago & Iowa Railroad Company would accept bond to the amount
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of $50.000 dated. March 1, 1875, running not to exceed ten years, at ten per cent annual interest, or in lieu thereof $45,000 in cash in full liquidation of said claim. After full and free discussion the following resolutions were adopted without a dissenting voice.
RESOLVED, that after a full consideration of the terms of the proposition made by Mr. F. E. Hinckley, president of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad Company through our supervisor to settle the claim of said company against the town, now in litigation, we regard said proposition as alike fair and honorable on the part of Mr. Hinckley, and are of the opinion that the same ought to be accepted in the same spirit in which it is offered.
RESOLVED, That fully recognizing the services rendered the town by the parties who, with honest and consistent purpose, have so persistantly contested the issue of the bonds of the town to the amount of $75,000 we are partly in favor of so arranging the settlement with Mr. Hinckley that they shall receive, at the expense of the town. the sum of sixteen hundred dollars ($1,600), being the amount they have expended in lawyers' fees, traveling expenses and court charges.
RESOLVED, That the parties in the suit and the town authorities be and are here- by requested to conclude the settlement without unnecessary delay.
On motion of A. Q. Allen, the following was offered and unanimously adopted :
RESOLVED, That we are largely indebted to our supervisor, J. W. Hitt. Esq., for the faithful, efficient and successful manner in which he has conducted these negotia- tions and guarded the interests of the town, and that a vote of thanks be and is here- by tendered him.
O. H. SWINGLEY, Secretary.
A. NEWCOMER. Moderator.
In compliance with the above, bonds to the amount of $50,000 were is- sued to the railroad company and sold, the German Insurance Company of Freeport purchasing most of them. According to the above agreement the bonds and interest were to be paid in ten years and the matter rested quietly for seven years. Then again in 1882, seven years after the bonds had been issued, plans were again laid by the minority who opposed the payment, to restrain the officials from levying any tax at the expiration of the ten years with which to pay the bonds. Accordingly a second injunc- tion was filed in the circuit court in that year by John Harmon, Samuel Domer, Daniel Fager and Reuben S. Marshall. The case came up in the circuit court shortly after and was finally decided against the town. It was then appealed to the supreme court of the state of Illinois and in the year 1888, was finally also settled there, the verdict again going against the town, and the injunction was dissolved, after a continuous term of lawing extending over a period of about six years.
The decision in 1888 by the supreme court dissolving the injunction did not yet bring the town to its last extremity and the payment was fur- ther staved off several years by electing town clerks and immediately sending them away, and paying them to stay away. It being necessary to have the signature of the clerk on the paper making the levy, this very ef- fectually preventing the necessary levy and the owners of the bonds were still compelled to carry the indebtedness. Finally, however, as many peo- ple anticipated, the town was compelled to give up and the injudicious fight was discontinued. N. A. Watts became clerk of the town and not be- ing willing to "skip" as his predecessors had done, the payment of the vast sum of money, then more than doubled by the accumulation of the ten per cent interest, became no longer avoidable and the levy was made
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
for the first payment,- the sum of 847,000,-which was collected by D. B. Keedy, in the spring of 1894. This large payment, more than three times as large as the usual tax, was met with considerable difficulty by many tax- payers, but with a year's notice to prepare for it, few people were actually crippled financially, and all were glad that the attempt was made after it had been paid. The heavy debt hanging over the town was a great men- ace to its prosperity, and it was certainly a wise measure to no longer de- lay its obliteration. Not only did the former condition of affairs drive people away who might have settled in the township, but the credit of the township was kept worthless. By this one stroke, the payment of the $47,000, Mount Morris was again put upon a solid financial basis and the best of credit restored.
The remaining $50,000 of the debt was disposed of by the issuing of new bonds to be paid off in yearly installments. A special town meeting was held to make this arrangement, the town clerk's record of which is as follows:
Special town election. held the ninth day of December, 1893, at the village hall, town of Mount Morris, Ogle county, Illinois, the form of ballot being as follows:
Proposed issue of twenty town bonds for $2,517.50 each, aggregating $50,350, bear- ing five per cent interest, one bond payable May 1st of each year till all are paid, com- mencing May 1st, 1894. the interest on all said bonds payable annually, said bonds to be issned in lieu of bonds held by the German Insurance Company, of Freeport, Illinois, the principal and interest of which will aggregate $50,350 May 1, 1894, and which are numbered 1, 2, 5, 9, 12, 14. 16, 21. 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31. 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. 37. 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43. 44. 45. 46 and 47, for $500 each ; and eleven bonds, numbered 57, 65, 66. 68. 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75. for $1,000 each, bearing ten per cent interest.
The result of this election was 250 votes in favor of issuing the bonds and 61 against. It seems, however, that these bonds were not accepted and new arrangements were necessary. The following petition was filed in the town clerk's office on the 30th day of April, 1894:
To the Town Clerk of the Town of Mount Morris, Ogle County, Ill .:
The undersigned legal voters of the town of Mount Morris, being residents there- n respectively request and petition that a special election be called to submit to the voters of said town the question of issuing the bonds of said town of the third class to the amount of $57.600, consisting of 112 bonds of $500 each. and 16 bonds of $100 each, bearing interest at the rate of five per cent per annum, said bonds to be dated the first day of June, 1894. and be made payable at the office of the state treasurer, in the city of Springfield, Illinois, said bonds to be so issued that $3,600 thereof shall become due June 1st, 1895. and a like amount annually thereafter until all are paid ; said bonds to be issued for the purpose of refunding the following indebtedness of the town of Mount Morris, to wit :
Judgment of George W. Sanford, and interest .. $ 4,738 32
Judgment of Emma E. Pitt. and interest, 5,066 30
Judgment of William Talcott, and interest. 4,520 48
Judgment of Chester K. Williams, and interest, 32,537 40
Judgment of A. A. Viele. and interest, .. 2.215 67
Judgment of Catherine Randall, and interest,
2.315 96
Bonds numbered 28. 48. 49 and 50 of $500 each, and bond num-
bered 67 for $1.000, issued to the Chicago & Iowa Railroad Company, 6,535 12
Total. $57,929 25
The above petition was signed by 49 legal voters of the town. In com- pliance with the petition a special election was called by posting ten no- tices in ten of the most public places in said town, also by notice being
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published in the MOUNT MORRIS INDEX. The question of the issuing of new bonds, substantially as quoted in the above petition, was voted upon on the 26th day of May, 1894, the date set for the election, and the follow- ing result obtained: For issuing the bonds, 248 votes; against issuing the bonds, 43 votes. These bonds were then issued and accepted by the creditors of the town.
And thus the matter was finally amicably settled. The payment of the remaining portion of the debt continues each year in small install- ments which are not noticed in the least by the taxpayers of the township. The last payment will be made in the year 1909. Although these pay- ments are being made each year, it is a fact that the rate of assessment in Mount Morris is as low and most cases lower than in the other towns in Ogle county. At the present time the credit of the town is restored, the ill-feelings engendered by the controversy concerning the bond case for- gotten and " All is well."
CHAPTER XII.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
The religious advantages of Mount Morris, both in the past and pres- ent, have been, and are, unexcelled in Northern Illinois. It is an undis- puted fact that the morals among both the young and old in " The College Town" are above the average in any other places in the county or neigh- boring counties. The fact is often commented upon by visitors from abroad, and it is a condition continually boasted of by the people them- selves, and by Mount Morris College in advertising the village as a safe place for young men and women, leaving their homes to get an education. The religious atmosphere of the place has always prevailed against the great evils common in many towns and kept the environments of its young people pure and clean and untainted. Open saloons were opposed from the time of the first settlements, as will be seen in the chapter on "Vil- lage Organization" and at other places in this volume. Open saloons have, in fact, been tolerated but on one or two occasions and at very short periods at that. For a score of years past there has not even been an attempt made to gain a saloon license. If license and anti-license were made an issue at a village election it would be voted down by an over- whelming majority, without doubt. Such is the sentiment which the churches of Mount Morris have created in the hearts of her good people.
Four Christian denominations are well represented in the village and township, and each has a commodious place of worship. And though they differ somewhat in faith and practice, still they dwell together in perfect harmony. Few places of like population can claim so many ministers, there being no less than fifteen or eighteen at one time, yet one never hears of any unpleasantness among them. In fact Mount Morris might be called the "Preachers' Paradise."
Of the four churches in Mt. Morris the history of the Methodist Epis- copal dates back the farthest.
The first preaching in this part of Ogle county, at least the first under Methodist auspicies was by the Rev. Thomas S. Hitt, father of Hon. R. R. Hitt, a cultured and earnest local preacher, who came to this state in 1837 and settled with the Maryland colony. He entered a large tract of land, but devoted his time very largely to the development of the religious and educational interests of the country. He was in frequent demand for fu- nerals, weddings, church dedications and educational meetings. He was largely instrumental in securing the seminary at this place, for which he contributed liberally, and by his influence and eloquence raised large amounts of money. As a pioneer preacher he did faithful work, and laid
(176)
REV. THOMAS S. HITT. Father of Hon. R. R. Hitt and one of the promoters of early Methodism in Ogle county.
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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
the foundation from which many strong churches have grown and pros- pered.
One who recollects Rev. Hitt as he was in vigorous manhood describes him as follows: " As a speaker he was interesting, with a clear musical voice, which expressed every shade of feeling. His language was choice and copious. In bearing he was dignified and easy and his gestures were natural and graceful. He stood six feet tall and seemed under all circum- stances, in public or private, perfectly possessed."
He died September 23, 1852, having successfully planted Methodism in this section and giving its religious and educational interests an impulse that has been felt ever since.
Rev. Barton Cartwright was appointed to the charge, then part of a large circuit, in the fall of 1838.
Aug. 20, 1840, Rock River Conference was organized, at a camp-meet- ing held in the grove two miles northwest of town. Bishop Waugh was the presiding bishop and Rev. B. T. Kavanaugh, secretary.
The location of Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris, under the con- trol of the Conference, gave the local church quite an impetus. When the first seminary building was completed in 1840, the north portion was used for church purposes, until the erection of the second building called " Old Sandstone," when the two lower stories of the east part were fitted up as a chapel and used by the church for about 25 years.
The location of the school gave the church considerable prestage dur- ing its earlier history and some of the strongest men of those times served it as pastors. It has been impossible to obtain a complete list previous to 1857, but the following list is nearly accurate: Revs. Thos. Hitt, Barton Cartwright, Worthington, McMurty, Snow, Walker, Wagner, Jewett, Jud- son, Stuff, Cone, Winslow, Keegan, Stoughton, Parks. Rev. Blanchard was pastor in 1857, followed by Rev. J. H. Vincent, now bishop, in 1859.
From 1860 until the present time the following pastors were assigned in their order: 1860, L. Anderson; 1863, W. A. Smith; 1865, J. H. More; 1867, W. A. Stout; 1868, C. R. Ford; 1869, S. H. Adams; 1872, L. Curts; 1875, E. M. Battis; 1876, E. W. Adams; 1878, A. T. Needham; 1879, James Bush; 1882, G. L. Wiley; 1885, Robert Proctor; 1887, R. Brown; 1890, J. H. Thomas; 1895, A. S. Mason; 1898, F. W. Nazarene.
For a number of years Mount Morris was the head of a district, and the home of the Presiding Elder. Among others who resided here while filling that office were Richard Haney, Hooper Crews, John Clark, Philo Judson and Luke Hitchcock.
The congregation worshipped in the seminary chapel until the school passed from the control of Rock River Conference in 1877. During the pastorate of Rev. E. W. Adams, the present edifice was erected at a cost of about $8,000. It is a beautiful and commodious building situated on the corner of Center and McKendrie streets. It has a large auditorium, with gallery, and lecture room, etc. It has been kept in thorough repair and remodled several times, and fully meets the necessities of the congrega- tion. The first parsonage was erected in 1852, a grout building located
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
southwest of the seminary. It appears in a view from the seminary on page 54. It was used until 1890 when the present convenient house was erected, just south of the church.
The church has always stood well in the charges of Rock River Con- ference, and has constantly developed along all lines of church enterprise. At the present time it enjoys a good degree of prosperity, and has a good property free from debt. It contributes liberally for pastorial support, and the various benevolences of the church. The present membership is about two hundred. The Sunday school is in a prosperous condition, un- der supervision of Mr. Charles H. Sharer. The Epworth League, with A. M. Newcomer as president, is a very earnest and aggressive body of young
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
people. All the departments of church work are organized and are work- ing harmoniously and successfully.
The sixtieth anniversary of the organization of the church at Mount Morris was celebrated with special services of an interesting nature, be- ginning Dec. 4, and closing Dec. 11, 1898.
Following is a short biographical sketch of Rev. F. W. Nazarene, the present pastor:
REV. F. W. NAZARENE. the youngest son of Frederick and Mary A. Nazarene, was born in Washington county, Md., January 25, 1856. He removed with his parent to Ogle county, Ill., in the spring of 1864. The first year of his sojourn in Illinois was spent at Mount Morris. In the spring of 1865 the family moved on a farm
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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
near Brookville, and the following spring to Polo, where his parents resided until their death. His father died in June, 1898, and his mother in June, 1899. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of Polo, graduating from the High School of that place in June, 1874. He spent some time teaching and then attended the Rock River Seminary, under the presidency of N. C. Dougherty. He united with the Polo M. E. church in 1875, and was licensed as a local preacher in 1877, and united with Rock River Conference in 1881, at which time he was ordained to Deacons orders by Bishop Wiley. He was ordained to Elders orders by Bishop Fowler in 1885, at which time he completed the four years theological studies prescribed by the Conference.
His first pastoral charge was at Davis, Ill., where he labored for two years. The church there was greatly strengthened by a remarkable revival, and by the remodeling and repairing of the church building. The new church building at Rock City was also erected during this pastorate. This was followed by a full pastorate o three years at Orangeville, during which time a new church was erected on the charge. Successful and pleas- ant pastorates followed at Hanover, Shirland, Leaf River and Byron. In the autumn of 1892, on account of the failing health of his younger daugh- ter, and by advice of physicians, he took a supernumerary relation to his Conference and moved to South Dako- ta, and served as pastor at Milbank and Aberdeen, two of the leading ap- pointments of that Conference. In the fall of 1896 he went to Jameston, North Dakota, where he had one of the best years of his ministry. His REV. F. W. NAZARENE. daughter's health having been fully restored he returned to Rock River Conference in 1897. and the following February was appointed pastor of the Mount Morris church, it being his third pastorate in Ogle county. His work here has been pleasant and evidently satisfactory to the membership, as at the end of each succeed- ing Conference year the official board has given him a unanimous invitation to re- turn. The church property has been thoroughly remodeled and improved during his pastorate, the finances all met and all the departments of the church are working pleasantly and harmoniously. On the first day of June, 1880, he was married to Miss Amy S. McHoes, the eldest daughter of Peter McHoes, of Davis, Ill. They have two daughters, Mary and Ida, both in school in this city ; the former at the College, and the latter in the High School.
LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
The first Lutheran minister in this part of the state was Rev. N. J. Stroh who came from Pennsylvania in the fall of 1845 and settled at Ore- gon. He began preaching at once in Mount Morris every two weeks in the chapel of the old M. E. Seminary. In consequence of many conflicting ap- pointments in the Chapel, he quietly withdrew and began holding services
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
in a schoolhouse a few miles from Mount Morris on the Oregon road. When a school house was built in Mount Morris he began preaching in that, but soon having more appointments than he could fill, he relin- guished Mount Morris and Oregon to Rev. Nicholas Burket. Rev. Burket. was succeeded in turn by Revs. Ephraim Miller and A. A. Trimper. Un- der the pastoral care of Rev. Trimper the congregation was fully organized and a constitution adopted which, with only fews changes, is still in force, though the exact date of the formal organization can not now be ascer- tained, as the earliest records have been lost. It seems that a church building was about this time begun, Rev. Stroh having solicited the funds, and on June 17, 1854, the corner stone was laid by Rev. Stroh, assisted by Rev. Dr. C. B. Thummel.
Rev. Geo. A. Bowers was pastor here for a season during which a " fine brick church " was dedicated May 2, 1856, at a cost of $3000.00, all " paid for by the active band."
On the 23rd of April, 1857, Mount Morris became a separate charge, hav- ing been in connection with Oregon to that date, though Rev. Bowers, pas- tor at Oregon, continued to preach here occasionally.
Rev. Cornelius Riemensnyder became pastor in April, 1858, and served one year. In October, 1859, came Rev. Daniel Schindler who likewise was pastor one year, when Rev. Ephraim Miller again took charge, continuing until Apr., 1863. Rev. Rufus Smith became pastor in May, 1864, and served for more than a year, during which time a parsonage was purchased, April 29, 1865, for $900.00. Rev. Whitehill came in October, 1867, and was suc- ceeded in November, 1869, by Rev. A. Frick, who in turn was followed by Rev. L. L. Lipe in January, 1872, who continued in the pastorate until Oc- tober, 1879.
In May, 1877, it was decided to select another location and build a new church costing $5,000, more or less, the work not to begin, however, until $3,500.00 had been provided for that purpose, independently of the old property. The cornerstone was laid September 30, 1877, Rev. Detweiler preaching the discourse. The church was dedicated November 10, 1878, the venerable Prof. Samuel Sprecher, D. D., L. L. D., Springfield, Ohio, de- livering the sermon, after which $1800.00 were raised for the indebtedness. The church and furniture cost a little over $7000.00, the lot which was do- nated by Hon. R. R. Hitt not included.
Rev. J. W. Henderson, coming to the pastorate in October, 1879, and continuing until March, 1881, was followed by Rev. Max Lentz, July, 1881, who served until February, 1884. During his pastorate the old parsonage, now the improved property of Josiah Avey, was sold for $1,100.00, as had been the old church to the Christian denomination for $900.00 previously, the proceeds of both going to the payment of the indebtedness on the new church, which was fully met and cancelled by additional subscriptions.
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