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 5
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A MEETING
of the inhabitants of the town of Mount Morris will be held at the chapel of said town on Saturday. the 8th day of January, (1848). at 2 o'clock. for the purpose of determin- ing whether we will incorporate said town. (Signed)
MOUNT MORRIS. Dec. 28. 1847.
MANY CITIZENS.
STATE OF ILLINOIS. ¿ OGLE COUNTY. SS. I, Daniel Brayton. of Mount Morris. Ogle county, Illi- nois, do hereby solemnly swear that there was over two hundred inhabitants residing in the town of Mount Morris. Ogle county. and state of Illinois. on the 28th day of De- cember. 1847, and that on the same day I posted three notices in three of the most pub- lic places in said town. The above notice. signed " Many Citizens." is a true copy of said notice.
DANIEL BRAYTON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 20th day of January, 1848.
E. WOOD, J. P. SEAL
In conformity to the above notice, a meeting of the white male in- habitants, of the lawful age, who had been residents of the village six months immediately preceding this date, or who were owners of freehold property in the village, was held, as ordered, in the seminary chapel, at the time specified. On motion, Daniel Brayton was called to the chair and F. G. Petrie appointed clerk. The following obligation was then taken:
I. Daniel Brayton. as president. and I. F. G. Petrie, as clerk, do solemnly swear by the everliving God. that we will faithfully discharge the trust reposed in us as presi- dent and clerk of this meeting.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 8th day of January, 1848.
F. G. PETRIE. Clerk.
(57)
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
A viva voce vote, to decide whether the village should be incorporated, was then taken. Nineteen votes were cast in favor of the measure and none against. The following notice was also posted by Daniel Brayton on the twenty-eighth day of December, 1847:
NOTICE.
A meeting of the inhabitants of Mount Morris will be held in the chapel of Rock River Seminary on the 15th day of January, 1848, at 2 o'clock P. M., for the purpose of electing. vive voce, five (residents and freeholders of said town) trustees of the same.
MOUNT MORRIS, Jan. 8. 1848.
F. G. PETRIE, CLERK.
This meeting was duly held, and the following trustees were chosen: Aaron C. Marston, Andrew Newcomer, James J. Beatty, Jonathan Knodle, Sr., and William McCune. On the twenty-second day of January, 1848, this board, with A. C. Marston as clerk, formulated and passed eight ordi- nances, which, possibly with a number of revisions, form the groundwork of the present excellent village ordinances. They are quite interesting from the fact that they are the first laws passed by the first Board of Trustees of Mount Morris. They are as follows:
PREAMBLE.
We. the president and trustees of the town of Mount Morris. as a body corporate and acting in accordance with the powers vested in Chapter 25. Section 12, of the re- vised statutes of the state of Illinois, do hereby declare and make known the follow- ing, as below subjoined, to be nuisances within our jurisdiction, and that after ten days' public notice being given, the same shall take effect. And any person or persons persisting. in whole or in part. in any infringement of the laws herein provided or en - acted by said Board of Trustees. be it unto them made known that civil process will be immediately issued against them according to the laws herein provided.
ARTICLE 1 .- Be it ordained by the president and Board of Trustees of the town of Mount Morris that the boundaries of said corporation shall be as follows: Commencing at a stake set at the southwest corner of the land owned by the Rock River Semi- nary. thence on a line due north one mile. thence east one mile. thence south one mile. thence west one mile to the place of beginning.
ARTICLE 2 .- Be it further ordained by the president and Board of Trustees of the town of Mount Morris. that the licensing of groceries for the purpose of retailing spiritous or malt liquors within the jurisdiction of the corporation is strictly injurious to the good and well-being of the citizens of said corporation.
ARTICLE 3 .- Resolved, therefore, and be it ordained by the president and trustees aforesaid, that the sale or vending of spiritous or malt liquor is, by virtue of this ordi- nance. strictly prohibited, and any person or persons found violating said ordinance. he or they shall be subject to pay a fine not exceeding five dollars for each offense.
ARTICLE 4 .- Provided always and be it ordained by the president and Board of Trustees of the town of Mount Morris. that a permit may be granted from time to time for the sale of spiritous liqnors for medical and mechanical purposes, and for none other.
ARTICLE 5 .- Be it ordained by the president and trustees of the town of Mount Morris. that all gambling and drunkenness of whatsover class may be, is, by virtue of this ordinance, declared a nuisance and will be proceeded against as such; and any person or persons found violating said ordinance shall be subject to pay a fine not ex- ceeding twenty-five dollars for each offense.
ARTICLE 6 .- Be it ordained by the president and trustees aforesaid. that all shows, circuses, theaters. or exhibitions of that class. not having license under the seal of the president of the Board of Trustees of the town of Mount Morris are. by virtue of this
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INCORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE.
ordinance, strictly forbidden to exhibit such shows, theaters or performances, under a penalty of paying a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each offense.
ARTICLE 7 .-- Be it ordained by the president and trustees of the town of Mount Morris, that all riotous behavior, such as quarreling, fighting, or in any way disturb- ing the quiet and peace of the citizens of said town. is strictly forbidden. Any person or persons wantonly or presumptuously violating this ordinance shall pay a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each offense.
ARTICLE 8 .-- Be it ordained by the president and Board of Trustees of the town of Mount Morris, that horse-racing is hereby strictly forbidden and prohibited within the limits of the corporation ; also that shooting at marks or firing of guns within the limits of this corporation is, by this ordinance, declared a nuisance, and any person or persons violating this ordinance shall pay a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each offense.
The record next contains six more ordinances, passed by the same board in a meeting held April 5, 1848. The first prohibited persons from suffering the carcasses of animals, owned or claimed by them, to remain unburied, and provided a penalty for the same. The second prohibited the indecent exhibition of animals in the village. The third provided that all male residents of the village, who had arrived at the age of twenty-one years, should labor three days on the roads, streets or alleys, as they might be directed by the supervisor of the same; and further provided that any one neglecting to do so when notified should be fined one dollar for each day's labor neglected, the same to be laid out on the streets where labor might be required. The fourth provided a penalty and method of prosecu- tion of persons who should idle away their time, or act disorderly, or re- fuse to obey the supervisor under whose charge they were placed when working on the streets. The fifth specified the duties of the supervisor of the town. The sixth provided penalties for the wanton or malicious de- struction of property within the corporation. At this same meeting the board passed the following resolution:
Resolved, That all trials shall be before the president of the board and conducted in the same manner as they are before justices of the peace, and all fees and costs pro- ceeding therefrom shall be the same as if issued before a justice of the peace.
These two meetings of the board appear to have been the only ones. No corporation officers were appointed, and for several years nothing fur- ther was done, at least there are no records of any elections until January 1, 1856, when the following notice appeared:
ELECTION NOTICE.
There will be an election held at the house of William S. Blair in the town of Mount Morris. on the 15th day of January. 1856, for the purpose of electing five trus- tees of the town of Mount Morris, in Ogle county, Illinois.
MOUNT MORRIS, Jan. 1, 1856.
F. G. PETRIE, CLERK.
Jacob Coffman, Frederick B. Brayton and D. A. Potter were appointed judges of this election, and had the following oath administered to them by James M. Webb, Justice of the Peace:
I,- -, do solemnly swear that I will perform the duties of judge according to law, and the best of my ability, and that I will studiously endeavor to prevent fraud. deceit and abuse in conducting the same.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
As a result of this election, Jacob Coffman, David A. Potter, Elias Baker, William Schultz and Henry I. Little were the trustees elected. The whole number of votes cast was thirty-six. The poll-list was as follows:
William Little, W. S. Blair,
William Hedges, Simon H. Coffman,
Thomas Winston.
Ezra Toms,
Jonathan Mumma, B. F. Shryock,
F. B. Brayton,
John Winders,
L. J. Brogunier,
Jesse Mayberry,
Henry Coggins,
Hiram Beard.
E. W. Little.
B. R. Thomas,
E. M. Cheney, Robert O'Neal,
D. S. Coffman.
Jonathan Knodle,
Jacob Coffman,
D. A. Potter,
John F. Wallace,
Richard Brown,
J. D. Hays.
J. A. Knodle,
G. W. Harshman,
Andrew Newcomer,
J. M. Webb. Thomas Clems,
B. Cooper,
C. R. Cheney,
Peter Knodle, Jr.,
J. A. Noel,
Peyton Skinner, A. H. Bailey.
The newly-elected board met and organized January 19, 1856. D. A. Potter was elected president; William Schultz, clerk; Jacob Coffman, treasurer; and Peter Knodle, Jr., constable. The first business of im- portance transacted was concerning the taxes. By a unanimous vote the motion was carried that a tax be raised of fifty cents on the one hundred dollars of all the real estate within the limits of the corporation, accord- ing to the last assessment, for the purpose of making sidewalks and im- provements of roads, streets and alleys within the corporation. The ordinances passed by the trustees in 1848 were re-enacted at this meeting. Peter Knodle, Jr., was appointed corporation tax-collector.
February 15, 1856, it was provided that sixteen blocks of sidewalk be built, and the same to be made three feet wide and of two-inch plank, the lots in front of walks to be taxed to pay three-fourths of cost of same.
February 22, 1856, a tax of fifty cents on the one hundred dollars was again levied on all real estate in the corporation, and the collector author- ized to proceed to collect the general tax in ten days. March 7, Jacob Coffman was appointed street commissioner. April 11, the cost of build- ing sixty-six feet of sidewalk was estimated at $13.34 by the trustees. June 13, all huckstering was forbidden in the seminary square and within the bounds of the streets surrounding the same; also the sale and firing of firecrackers or any kind of fireworks was prohibited within the limits of the corporation, except by permit.
March 28, 1857, fifty dollars was appropriated to build a pound. April 22, William Schultz was appointed assessor and his compensation fixed at $1.50 per day. William H. Coho was appointed constable and pound- master. May 1, Jonathan Mumma was appointed street commissioner with a compensation of $1.25 per day. Provision was also made for nine more blocks of sidewalk, the owners of land to pay three-fourths of the cost of building in front of their lots. May 15, Lewis Fletcher was ap- pointed collector for the ensuing year, his compensation to be three per cent. A tax of five mills was levied on all taxable property.
March 1, 1858, the spring election took place in the house of W. S. Blair. Jacob Coffman, D. A. Potter and William Schultz were judges. New names appearing on the polling-list were those of Elias Williams, Nelson Potter, S. V. Miller, William Knodle, Jeremiah Stuff, Warren Little,
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INCORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE.
Eugene Mattison, George Davis, H. I. Little, B. G. Stevens, D. C. Wagner, A. Q. Allen, H. N. Ryan, Samuel Knodle, J. L. Nye, D. Routzhan, George W. Fouke, L. Fletcher, Reuben Wagner, Andrew Newcomer, F. A. McNeill, Michael Noel, H. A. Neff, L. Redfield, A. B. Pickard, William Schultz, H. H. George, Solomon Davis, L. H. Coffman, W. S. Pope, H. H. Newcomer, Charles Brook, E. Baker, and J. M. Webb. The trustees elected for the following year were Elias Baker, D. A. Potter, J. B. McCoy, William Schultz, and J. McClelland Miller.
The following, the latter part of the oath of office taken by the trus- tees at this time and for several years later, would sound rather queer, and, of course, would be entirely unnecessary at this time: "Also we do solemn- ly swear that we have not fought a duel, nor sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel, the probable issue of which might have been the death of either party, nor in any manner aided or assisted in such duel, nor been knowingly the bearer of any such challenge or acceptance since the adop- tion of the Constitution, and that we will not be so engaged or concerned, directly or indirectly, in or about such duel during our continuance in of- fice. So help us God!" This part was dropped in 1871, and a briefer form adopted.
The board organized March 19, 1858, with D. A. Potter president and William Schultz clerk. J. B. McCoy was elected treasurer; H. N. Ryan, corporation attorney; J. S. Nye, constable and pound-master; J. McClelland Miller, street commissioner; William Schultz, corporation assessor. April 9, J. McClelland Miller was elected collector and Peter Knodle, Jr., assessor. April 14, an ordinance was passed, providing that many of the sidewalks of the town be widened from three to four feet. The tax levy for this year was forty cents on the one hundred dollars.
At the spring election of 1859, eighty-eight votes were cast, and Elias Baker, James B. McCoy, Henry Neff, Samuel Knodle, and Andrew New- comer were elected trustees. At their first meeting, Elias Baker was chosen president; Samuel Knodle, clerk; and H. A. Neff, treasurer. Later, Sam- uel Knodle was elected collector and town constable, and Jonathan Knodle, street commissioner and pound-master. September 2, a tax of twenty-five cents on the one hundred dollars valuation of real and personal property was assessed.
March 5, 1860, at the annual election, fifty-three votes were cast, and J. B. McCoy, Andrew Newcomer, Samuel Knodle, Henry A. Neff, and James M. Webb were elected trustees. Andrew Newcomer was elected president; Samuel Knodle, clerk; and Henry A. Neff, treasurer. The board appoint- ed Peter Knodle, Jr., and William L. Coho corporation constables, and Jacob Coffman, street commissioner. A tax levy of twenty cents on the one hundred dollars was made for the year.
The same trustees were re-elected in 1861, and the president, clerk, and treasurer remained the same. A tax rate of twenty cents was again levied for the year.
December 7, 1861, the following petition, signed by twenty-six citizens, was presented to the board:
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF MOUNT MORRIS:
Gentlemen :- In view of the fact that an ordinance of this village against the sale of beer. etc., is daily violated by certain shopkeepers, and of the fact that all good citizens desire the abatement of this nuisance:
Therefore, we, the undersigned, beg that your body will assemble and either call a public meeting of the citizens. to take some measures for the suppression of this traffic, or that you will yourselves, having knowledge of the fact named, take due course for the execution of the law, and in maintaining temperance and the honor of our community.
In compliance with the above, the board called a meeting of the citi- zens of the village, to devise some means to suppress the nuisance. The meeting was held in the Methodist church, but no record of the action taken by the assembly can be found.
The tax rate for 1862 was placed at ten cents on the one hundred dol- lars. The trustees for this year were the same as the year previous.
March 2, 1863, seventy-nine votes were recorded at the election. The trustees elected were all new men, as follows: James Clark, W. H. Atchi- son, H. I. Little, F. B. Brayton, A. Q. Allen. They organized with James Clark as president: A. Q. Allen, clerk; and William H. Atchison, treasurer. This board continued in office two years. July 25, 1864, Peter Funk was appointed pound-master and William Bull, street commissioner.
In 1865, votes polled, twenty-three. Trustees elected: James B. McCoy (president), A. Newcomer (clerk), Henry I. Little (treasurer), J. McClelland Miller, and F. B. Brayton. Appointments: J. McClelland Miller, street com- missioner at $2.50 per day; Peter Knodle, constable; William Nichols, pound-master.
In 1866, twenty-nine votes were polled. Trustees elected: F. B. Bray- ton (president), Andrew Newcomer (clerk), Henry I. Little (treasurer), Mar- tin T. Rohrer, and J. McClelland Miller. Appointments: J. McClelland Miller, street commissioner; Peter Knodle, constable: William Fish, pound- master. (The pound at this time, and a number of years previous, appeared to have been used a great deal for the imprisonment of hogs, many of which were allowed to run upon the streets. The trustees often had oc- casion to legislate upon this nuisance.)
In 1867, twenty-four votes were polled. The trustees elected were the same as the previous year. Appointments: Stephen H. Cheney, road commissioner; William Myers, assistant. A tax of fifty cents on the one hundred dollars was assessed for the year's expenses.
In 1868, forty-seven votes were polled. Trustees elected: Elias Wil- liams, Samuel Knodle, Morris Gaffin, John Sprecher, Henry Middlekauff. There is no record that the members of this board ever took the oath of office or held a single meeting during their year of office. From appear- ances, the board of the year previous met in their stead.
In 1869, the board of 1867 was again elected in the spring election, in March. They chose F. B. Brayton president, M. T. Rohrer clerk, and W. I. Little treasurer.
In 1870, eighty-two votes were polled. Trustees elected: F. B. Bray- ton (president), M. T. Rohrer (clerk), W. I. Little (treasurer), A. Newcomer,
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INCORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE.
and Samuel Lookabaugh. Commencing at this election, the president was elected by direct vote instead of being selected by the trustees from among their own number, as was done heretofore. April 27, this board passed a stringent ordinance, "relating to the sale and traffic in wine, rum, gin, brandy, whisky, beer, cider, or other intoxicating liquors." For the ensuing year a rate of one dollar on each one hundred dollars' worth of property was levied.
In 1871, eighty-eight votes were polled. The board elected was as fol- lows: Samuel Knodle, president; Ezra Toms (clerk), Upton Miller (treas- urer), M. Stroh, S. H. Cheney. A tax of two dollars on each one hundred dollars was levied for the ensuing year. January 27, a considerable amount of new sidewalk was ordered built and the contract let to John T. Stewart at thirty-five cents per rod.
In 1872, seventy-six votes were polled. Board elected: Henry Sharer, president; Jonathan Knodle (clerk), Henry Clevidence (treasurer), Henry H. Newcomer, John Startzman. More sidewalks were laid this year to keep up with the rapid growth of the village. A tax of $500 was levied for corporation purposes for the ensuing year.
In 1873, fifty-seven votes were polled. Board elected: Martin T. Rohrer, president; Samuel Lookabaugh (clerk), Henry H. Clevidence (treasurer), Oliver H. Swingley, John French. S. H. Cheney was appointed street commissioner, and a tax of $700 was levied.
In 1874, seventy votes were polled. Board elected: Samuel Looka- baugh, president; Samuel Mumma (clerk), Henry Sharer, J. A. Knodle, H. H. Clevidence. Stephen H. Cheney was reappointed street commis- sioner, and a tax of $800 levied. On February 25, 1875, a petition was pre- sented to this board, asking that an election be held to vote for or against village organization under the general law, enacted by the General Assem- bly of Illinois. The petition was granted and the election was set for March 27, 1875, with H. I. Little, Elijah Scott, and John Sharer, judges, and Peter Householder and A. W. Little, clerks of the election. The elec- tion resulted in favor of the proposed village organization, thirty-five votes being cast for the measure to one against.
In 1875, an election was called and held April 20, to elect six trustees, a village clerk and police magistrate, as required by the new organiza- tion. The result was as follows: Andrew Newcomer, I. H. Allen, H. I. Little, H. H. Clevidence, Peter Householder, J. M. Piper, trustees; village clerk and police magistrate, M. T. Rohrer. The vote polled was 110. O. H. Swingley was appointed treasurer, and Stephen H. Cheney, street commis- sioner. September 4, a tax levy of $500 was made. September 17, a con- siderable amount of new sidewalk was ordered built at a cost of thirty- four cents per rod.
In 1876, the village officers elected were as follows: John H. Swingley, H. H. Clevidence, Henry I. Little, Joseph M. Piper, J. A. Knodle, Charles Miles, trustees; Martin T. Rohrer, village clerk. Mr. Little was selected as president. A. W. Little received the appointment of street commissioner, and J. B. McCoy that of village constable. The annual appropriation bill
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
was passed July 29, providing a tax of $625. Later an additional appropri- ation of $100 was made, to build a calaboose.
The election held April 17, 1877, was as follows: For trustees, Henry Clevidence, John H. Swingley, Samuel Mumma, Benj. G. Stephens, Jacob A. Knodle, Thomas Williams; village clerk, John Sharer. B. G. Stephens was chosen president. O. H. Swingley was appointed treasurer: Peter Funk, street commissioner; and J. B. McCoy, village constable. The an- nual appropriation was $500.
In 1878, the election was held April 16, and resulted as follows: For trustees, H. L. Smith, T. C. Williams, H. H. Newcomer, L. J. Brogunier, H. H. Clevidence, W. S. Blair; village clerk, Arthur M. Newcomer. H. H. Clevidence was chosen president. Appointments: O. H. Swingley, village treasurer; Rigdon McCoy, street commissioner; Addison W. Neff, village constable. During this year the first licensed saloon was opened by W. H. Wallace, who paid $400 per annum for the privilege. Licenses were also granted to Pool Brothers and Solomon Davis to run billiard-halls. An ap- propriation of $400 was made for all purposes for the ensuing year. B. F. Tracy was appointed street commissioner September 9, to fill vacancy, for the remainder of the term.
In 1879, the election resulted as follows: Trustees, John W. Hitt, John H. Nye, Charles C. Miles, George W. Shank, Lewis Sprecher, J. F. Whit- man; village clerk, Edward Mooney. John W. Hitt was elected president. Appointments for the year: O. H. Swingley, village treasurer; James B. McCoy, village constable; H. C. Clark, street commissioner. A levy of $500 was made to meet the year's expenses.
In 1880, the election resulted as follows: Trustees, Charles Newcomer, Peyton Skinner, George H. Riner, John French, Samuel Middour, H. H. Thomas; clerk, E. L. Mooney. License was made an issue at this election, and apparently a very strong sentiment had arisen against the saloons, as the result shows that 174 votes were cast against and not one for license. The board organized with Charles Newcomer as president. At this time the term of the trustees was changed from one to two years, three of the six to be elected every year. It being necessary to divide the board into two classes, one to serve one year and the other, two, lots were cast, which resulted as follows: Charles Newcomer, Peyton Skinner, and John French were to serve one year, and George H. Riner, Samuel Middour, and H. H. Thomas, two years. Appointments for the year: Village constable, A. W. Neff; treasurer, O. H. Swingley; village clerk, to fill vacancy caused by res- ignation of clerk-elect, Holly C. Clark; street commissioner, B. F. Tracy. Later H. L. Smith was chosen to succeed Mr. Neff as village constable. The sum of $1,075 was appropriated for the year's expenses.
In 1881, the three new trustees elected were Andrew Newcomer, George Sprecher, and John French. Holly Clark was elected village clerk and Andrew Newcomer was chosen president. Appointments: O. H. Swingley, treasurer; B. F. Tracy, street commissioner; Robert Crosby, marshal. Rigdon McCoy was later chosen to succeed Mr. Crosby as marshal. The annual appropriation was $800.
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INCORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE.
In 1882, the trustees elected were as follows: H. H. Clevidence, Luther J. Brogunier, Archibald S. McCoy; village clerk, W. H. Miller. H. H. Clevidence was chosen president. Appointments: David Rine, treasurer; B. F. Stouffer, marshal; Robert Crosby, street commissioner. A saloon and a billiard-hall were licensed by this board, the former paying a license of $500. The annual appropriation bill amounted to $1,000. Rigdon McCoy acted as marshal during the latter part of the fiscal year.
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