USA > Illinois > Ogle County > Mount Morris > Mount Morris : past and present, an illustrated history of the village of Mount Morris, Ogle County, Illinois > Part 32
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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
THE OLD FOLKS HOME of the Brethren Church as it appeared in 1900 while Lewis Miller 0 was superintendent.
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The Ladies' Aid Society was organ- ized in 1895. The society is largely oc- cupied in raising funds for religious purposes by means of quilting and do- ing other sewing. It also collects gar- ments to supply needs at missionary points. It has proved a valuable adjunct to the church. The officers are: Mrs. Anna Long, president; Mrs. H. E. Kel- ler, vice-president; Mrs. Alta Barnhizer, secretary-treasurer.
The Missionary Society is interested in the study of the needs of the mission field and in the development of a truly missionary attitude. It meets for a pro- gram monthly at which time various phases of missionary interests are dis-
cussed. The officers of this organization are: A. E. Hecker, president; Jane Wingard, vice-president; Ira Rodeffer, treasurer.
Recently a Men's Brotherhood was organized in which all the men of the church are enrolled. It meets once each month to discuss problems vital to the church and to propose policies to be followed. Two results of its activities have been the liquidation of the par- sonage debt and the purchase of a Hammond electric organ for the church. The officers of the organization are: Ira R. Hendrickson, president; Dale Lizer, vice-president; Kenneth Zellers, secretary-treasurer.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
T THE Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Mount Morris was or- ganized in March, 1880, by State Evan- gelist J. H. Wright with about forty charter members. Prior to 1880 there were probably about a dozen members of this faith living in Mount Morris. The Christian Church at Pine Creek was the nearest place where they could worship according to their faith and frequently they were in attendance at that place.
During the fall of 1879, Rev. D. G. Howe, pastor of the Lanark Christian Church, conducted a series of revival meetings here, lasting over three weeks, during which time about fifteen con- verts were made. These, with those al- ready members of the church, imme- diately decided to establish a church in Mount Morris, and after extended ne- gotiations finally purchased the brick edifice in the eastern part of the town, which had been property of the Luth- eran Church and been used by them for many years, but was vacant on ac- count of the building of their new edi- fice in the west part of town. For this property they paid $900.00 and during the winter of 1879-'80 several hundred dollars more were expended in repair- ing the church-painting it inside and out, building the steeple, furnishing the interior with new seats and putting in the baptistry under the pulpit and the dressing rooms on either side.
After the building had been prepared
for occupancy, occurred the organiza- tion of the church by State Evangelist J. H. Wright, in March, 1880, as prev- iously mentioned. Jacob Keedy, W. S. Blake and Joseph Wagner were chosen the first trustees; Dr. Mershon and C. G. Blakslee, elders; and W. S. Blake and Scott Kennedy as deacons.
For about a year the organization conducted its own services, until 1881, when Rev. G. W. Ross was engaged as pastor, dividing his time equally with the Pine Creek congregation. Rev. J. H. Carr came next in the spring of 1885, and remained two years, and was fol- lowed by Rev. D. R. Howe, who came over from Lanark every two weeks to preach. His pastorate was brief, and the Rev. G. W. Pearl took charge, al- ternating every other Sunday with the Pine Creek congregation.
Following him came in succession the Revs. T. B. Stanley, C. T. Spitler, J. B. Wright and H. G. Waggoner, all of
REV. DAVID F. SEYSTER was pastor of the Christian Church for several years beginning in 1900. He was the son of David and Catherine (Newcomer) Seys- ter and was born June 14, 1858, in Pine Creek Township. He attended the coun- try school and Polo High School. He graduated from Eureka College in 1894 and entered the ministry. He served churches at Kankakee and Lynnville be- fore taking the Mount Morris and Pine Creek charges. He married Emma Wolf in 1885.
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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, which was built in 1854 by the Lutherans and sold to the Christian congregation in 1879, when it was repaired and improved.
whom devoted their entire time to the charge, each remaining about two years with the exception of Messrs. Spitler and Waggoner, who were here only about one year. After the departure of Rev. Waggoner the church was without a pastor about a year, until Rev. D. F. Seyster took charge in February, 1900. Rev. Seyster lived at Pine Creek and divided his time between the Mount Morris and Pine Creek churches.
Rev. Seyster served the church for a number of years, then was followed by a long list of ministers who served only one or two years, as follows: Revs. De- Poister, Goss, Carr (second ministry here), Hacker, Sales, Madden, Candler, Page, Shearer, Hurst, Sparks, and Neth- ercutt.
In 1928, Rev. N. A. Bolinger began
what was to be the longest ministry in the history of the church, serving until early in 1938. During his ministry, he renewed the cooperative arrangement with the Pine Creek congregation, which had been discontinued some time previously.
In May, 1938, the present minister, Rev. W. Harold Wiltz, took charge, and he also serves both the Mount Morris and Pine Creek congregations.
During its occupancy by the Disciples of Christ, the church building was en- larged three times. About 1886, a small room was built as a wing to the south of the original brick building. In 1927, this wing was extended to its present size, and a kitchen was constructed at the rear of the wing. Then in 1936, a full basement was completed under the
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REV. NOBLE A. BOLINGER, who has just finished a successful pastorate of the Christian Church in Mount Morris, is the son of Andrew and Ida (Hoke) Bol- linger, and was born in Huntington, Ind. The family consisted of 13 children. He married Clara Elizabeth Wine in 1924 and they have two children, John Andrew and Harry Wayne. Rev. Bollinger is now lo- cated at Rock Island, Ill.
original building, a more modern heat- ing plant was installed, and various oth- er repairs were made.
Of far greater significance than these facts of ministers and buildings, was a change in program made at the be- ginning of 1935. The services of church and Sunday school were unified in program and budget. Special services for children were arranged, beginning with the church hour and continuing through the church school period. All offerings and methods of financing the work of the church except voluntary offerings at the church service were eliminated.
The reason this change of program is of interest to others than the local con- gregation is that its successful applica- tion here encouraged other congrega- tions of various faiths, who had been thinking along similar lines, to adopt these changes, resulting in a greater in- terest on the part of both children and adults, and the placing of church fi- nancing on a sounder basis in those churches.
Looking ahead, it is hoped that these first 60 years will be but the beginning of a long service to the community, ex- panding and strengthening the Christian faith among men, in close cooperation with other churches.
The church has grown with the com- munity and because the two have grown together we have a kindred spirit one with the other. The span of a hundred years history belongs to this people. From a group of houses and people, this church has witnessed the building of a highly progressive community with a publishing house that has risen from a very small beginning to one of the finest in the country. The things physical have helped us to grow but our real develop- ment and growth as a church depends on the Christian attitude of our people. We face the future with joy and antici- pation.
to
REV. W. HAROLD WILTZ came Mount Morris in May, 1938, to become pastor of the local Christian Church. He is the son of Oliver J. and Margaret (Fer- ris) Wiltz and was born March 1, 1907, at Champaign, Ill. His education was ob- tained in the Peoria schools and at Eure- ka College where he graduated in 1931. His theological training was at the Hart- ford Theological Seminary, Hartford, Conn., where he received his B. D. de- gree in 1935. He has been in the ministry since 1927, serving churches at St. Augus- tine and Lexington, Ill., Bolton, Conn., and Havana, Ill. Rev. Wiltz was married Oct. 15, 1933, to Edna Maye Richey.
Chapter 16 MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS
T HE people of Mount Morris have been in many respects different from those in other communities. The village was founded by the semi- nary and as a result enjoyed an unusual educational and religious atmosphere during her entire hundred years of existence.
Furthermore, Mount Morris people seemed to have unusual musical talent and produced many competent mu- sicians and musical organizations.
As early as 1845, only six years after the founding of the village, a brass band was organized to which many early citizens belonged who later be- came prominent men in the commu- nity. This was doubtless the first band in the county. Old records of the band preserved by Mrs. Mary Knodle, kept by her husband, Peter Knodle, show that the members were H. J. Burns, Peter Knodle, John F. Grosh, Samuel Knodle, Jacob A. Knodle, Jonathan Knodle, Nathan Evans, A. C. Marston, Simon Warner, A. Coffman, Robert S. Hitt, Chauncey Sheldon, Andrew Hitt, Frederick Finkbohnar, Christian Fink- bohnar, Frederick B. Brayton, Henry Neff, William Lott, William J. Fouke, F. Hendrick and B. G. Stephens. These were not all members at its first organ- ization, but some came in later to sup- ply the places occasionally made vacant by the dropping out of older players.
John F. Grosh assumed the leader- ship shortly after organization. This band appears to have existed until sometime in the early fifties, and, ow- ing to the scarcity of such organiza- tions in northern Illinois at that time, traveled among the surrounding towns quite extensively.
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 al- ready been mentioned as a member of the first band in Mount Morris. His wife also possessed musical talent and this talent was transmitted undimin-
DAVID S. McCOSH, nationally known band leader and composer, was the son of Dr. John and Elizabeth McCosh, and was born Dec. 15, 1847, in Franklin Coun- ty, Pa. He died at Polo, Ill., Nov. 1, 1936, aged nearly 89 years. The family moved to Mount Morris when he was 17 years old, and after attending Rock River Semi- nary, he began his musical career. He became a talented cornet player and was the director of many famous bands and orchestras. He wrote and arranged hun- dreds of band and orchestra selections, the most famous of which was "Hear Dem Bells." In later years he became an ex- pert music engraver and was engaged by music publishers to write, arrange and engrave books of orchestra dance music. For a number of years he resided in Mount Morris and directed the local band. In 1879, he married Charlotte Huntington, and two sons, Dudley and Leighton, were born to them.
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GREGOR THOMPSON'S ORCHESTRA of about the year 1890. Front row, left to right, Chas. Ford, Thomas Newcomer, Gregor Thompson, Levi Bear, Irvin Thomas; standing, E. E. Winders, Henry Magoon, John Thomas and Oscar Doward.
ished 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 gen- ius of the family, having been proba- bly the best all-around cornet player the town has ever produced. When leader of the band, he contributed much to its success by his fine execu- tion of cornet solos. Clark Neff, for many years also leader of the band, was also a fine cornetist, and figured conspicuously in musical circles. Mil- ton died at Mount Morris in 1878, and Clark also died in Mount Morris in 1892.
The other family in question is the McCosh family, consisting of Dr. and Mrs. John McCosh and their five sons, David S., James, Dr. George B., Scott, and Benjamin; and three daughters, Sarah, Susie and Lucia. D. S. McCosh made music his profession, and wrote hundreds of fine selections for band and orchestra and led many large bands. He played a variety of instruments and when younger was a fine cornetist. In fact, he was 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 also played a number of other instruments. He composed some music, showing that he possessed much undeveloped ability. Benjamin also became a music pub- lisher and band leader. These three and also Scott and James, who lived in Tennessee, all were thorough musi- cians and played for years in the old bands of Mount Morris. The three daughters of the McCosh family were equally talented. Sarah, who married Jacob Strock and raised a musical fam- ily, was a talented vocalist. Susie, who married Chas. H. Sharer, raised a large family, all of whom had exceptional musical ability. She possessed a fine soprano voice and became very well known as a soloist. Lucia, who married Milo R. Maltbie, now living in New York City, became a very talented pianist and for a number of years headed the music department of Mount Morris College.
Among vocalists who claimed Mount Morris as their home, probably the most conspicuous was Miss Catherine McNeill, daughter of Dr. Francis A.
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MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS
ULYSSES C. NYE, a talented musician who spent many years in Mount Morris, was the son of John H. and Catherine R. (Coffman) Nye and was born at Mount Morris, Apr. 12, 1864. He was educated in the Mount Morris Public School and Mount Morris College, after which he spent seven years at Huron, S. Dak., re- turning to take up a musical course at Chicago Musical College, where he grad- uated in 1894. He spent two years in Cali- fornia and then returned to Mount Mor- ris, where he followed his vocation of music teacher, part of the time with Mount Morris College. In 1887, he married Ella M. Fellows, who died in 1895. Their daughter, born in 1888, died in infancy. Mr. Nye moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where he married again and is now a resident of Los Angeles, Calif.
and Barbara McNeill, who was married to Dr. Hoffman at Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, in 1899. Miss McNeill's beau- tiful contralto voice was developed in the best schools at Boston and Paris, after which she traveled extensively with the best opera companies of the country.
Among the talented musicians Mount Morris has turned out, in addition to the Neff and McCosh families, should be mentioned Mrs. Maria (Hitt) New- comer, who taught music in Rock River Seminary; U. C. Nye, a graduate of Chicago Musical College; Olive Lipe, daughter of Rev. L. L. Lipe and a graduate of the Wisconsin State Uni- versity; Mrs. J. L. Rice, who studied in
Boston; Miss Pearl Williams, student at Chicago Musical College; Mrs. Aida (Neff) Remmer, talented pianist; Lura (Neff) Chambers, who taught both voice and piano at Mount Morris Col- lege; William Lohafer, cornet; Merritt S. Miller, violinist, graduate of Chicago Musical College; and many others of exceptional ability.
Among musicians of the present day should be mentioned Lorraine Brown Thomas, pipe organist at the Lutheran Church and former instructor of piano at the college; Mrs. Robert Hough, pipe organist at the Methodist Church; Mrs. Dolores Huffman, instructor of piano; Jerry Huffman, cornet soloist with local band, formerly with Sousa; Howard Bronson, director of Kable Band and formerly with Sousa; and many other members of the band who
MERRITT S. MILLER, only son of Jacob G. and Anne Catherine (Swingley) Mil- ler, was born in Mount Morris, May 5, 1885. He graduated from Mount Morris High School and the commercial depart- ment of Mount Morris College. He at- tended the Chicago Musical College, where he graduated in violin, harmony and theory. He also attended the Machek Violin Institute in Chicago. He was em- ployed as linotype operator by Kable Brothers Company from 1907 to 1910 and during this same period was director of the Kable Brothers Company Band. Since 1910 to the present, he has been continu- ously employed as a linotype operator on Rockford newspapers, and in the mean- time he has kept up his work as a pro- fessional musician. He was married in 1910 to Lela Keedy and they have one daughter, Jean Elizabeth.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
THIS PICTURE shows the first public appearance of the band organized in the winter of 1897, which has been in continuous organization for over forty years. This picture was snapped of the Decoration Day parade and the old soldiers may be seen following the band with Robert Crosby carrying the flag. The members of the band are Harvey Kable and Harry Kable at the front, followed by Robert Buser, Leslie Rees, Earl Clevi- dence, Burton Strock, Wm. Fouke and Vernon Rees.
formerly were professional musicians.
To get back to the subject of bands, the first old band was disorganized in about the early fifties. 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 and James McCosh, Wil- liam Bull, Calvin Potter, David Rine, John Nye, Frank Knodle, Lee Crofts, George Keplinger, Jacob Fager and Charles Knodle. The band continued
THIS MOUNT MORRIS ORCHESTRA was in existence about the year 1900, and in- cludes the faces of some of Mount Morris's best musicians. First row, left to right, Mildred Strock, H. G. Kable, Verne Roland, Joseph Moats, Blair McCosh, Frank Knodle, Chas. Weaver, David S. McCosh, Merritt Deppen; standing, Burton Strock, Oscar Olson, Merritt S. Miller, Roy Brayton, Oscar L. Doward.
MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS
5
McCOSH'S ORCHESTRA OF 1907: (1) Wentworth Sharer, (2) Aida Neff Remmer, Chas. Weaver. (4) D. Geo. B. McCosh, (5) Merritt Deppen, (6) Max Sharer, (7) Harvey Kable, (8) Milford Hinds, (9) Frank Knodle.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
THIS WAS THE FIRST BANDSTAND built in Mount Morris. It first stood on the corner of the campus opposite the hotel, but was later moved north to the center of the business section. It was torn down in 1917 to make room for a larger and more modern stand.
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. Probably the best period in its existence was during the time when
JOSEPH VEZZETTI was director of the Kable Brothers Company Band in the year 1918. He was an Italian and a musi- cian of unusual ability both as a per- former and as director. When last heard from he was located in West Virginia.
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.
The outstanding musical organization in Mount Morris, however, during the past 40 years has been the concert band, now known as the Kable Broth- ers Company Band. This famous musi- cal organization was organized in 1897 by Chas. H. Canode and H. G. Kable. On page 336 will be seen a picture of
JAMES WATSON came to Mount Morris as director of the band in November, 1916. He was born in Scotland, and at the age of eight years he started his musical career by playing cornet on the concert stage. Later he came to Canada and di- rected a number of bands. For five years he was director of the Montana State Prison Band. Mr. Watson directed the Mount Morris Concert Band from Novem- ber, 1916, to the end of the 1917 season.
the first appearance of this band of only eight pieces and the members who belonged to it. During the inter- vening 40 years the band existed un- der a number of different names and was directed by a long list of com- petent bandmasters.
When organized in 1897 it was known as the Mount Morris News Band and was taught by Chas. H. Canode, the publisher of the Mount Morris News. The next director was Burton Strock, a descendant of the musical McCosh family, and he was followed for a short period by Wm. Lohafer.
Merritt S. Miller directed the band
MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS
THIS PICTURE of the Mount Morris Military Band was taken in 1898 while the band was filling an engagement at Forreston. First row, left to right, David S. McCosh, Blair McCosh, Roy Brayton, Leighton McCosh, Burton Strock, H. J. Kable, H. C. Walrath; top row, Roy Jackson, Leslie Rees, Earl Clevidence, Ernest Brayton, Wm. Fouke, Robert Buser, Harry Kable, Vernon Rees.
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MOUNT MORRIS has always had a good band. Here is the band which existed in 1900. It was named the Mount Morris Military Band and Burton Strock was the leader. Those in the picture are, top row: Ernest Brayton, Harry Kable, Elmer Shank, Clayton
Gloss and Harvey Kable. Middle row: Merritt Deppen, Vernon Rees, Leslie Rees, Earl Clevidence and Wm. Fouke. Front row: Oscar Olson, Burton Strock, Roy Brayton, Roy Jackson.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
THE ABOVE picture of the band, which was then known as the Mount Morris Concert Band, was taken during the summer of 1905. From left to right, those in the picture are George Emmert, Frank Canode, Perley Rees, C. G. Gloss, Clifford Miller, Roy Deppen, John Donaldson, Wentworth Sharer, Clyde Davis, Ray Iler, Carl Stutsman, S. E. Avey, Dr. C. J. Price, Chas. Baker,
Chas. Weaver, Merritt S. Miller, Mac McCosh, Merritt Deppen. U. C. Nye, Walter McNett, Frank Brinker, Harry Longman, H. J. Kable, Roy Thomas, S. S. Goughnour, Dr. J. H. Ritson, Max Sharer, Maurice Tice and H. G. Kable. Many of these members were beginners, and not one of them is now a regular member of the band. Merritt S. Miller was the director of the above band.
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NORR
MY MORRU
MORRIS
THE ABOVE picture of the Mount Morris Concert Band was taken at Mount Carroll, Ill., on Aug. 27, 1913, at which time the band was awarded first prize in a band contest at the Carroll County Fair. Those in the picture are, from left to right, top row: Mac McCosh, H. E. Longman, Harry Rock, Leslie Rees, Clifford
Windle, C. G. Gloss, Wentworth Sharer, William Lohafer, Robert Clark. Second row: H. J. Kable, Max Sharer, Oscar Olson, John Donaldson, Joe Rock. Front row: H. G. Kable, Robert Toole, Ed. Marvin, D. S. McCosh (director), Max Mishler, Frank Knodle and Orville Rock (at bottom).
MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
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MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS
THIS BAND STAND was erected on the college campus in 1917 at a cost of $500. Herlock Longman solicited the funds for building the stand and superintended its con- struction. This stand was replaced in 1922 by the present shell.
THE TUBA or bass section of the Kable Brothers Company Band in 1920. From left to right, H. E. Longman, Emmert Wolfe, Leslie Rees and Harry Rock.
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FRANCIS A. MYERS, well-known com- poser and bandmaster, came to Mount Morris in 1920 and was director of the Kable band for three years, during which time the organization made marked prog- ress. Prof. Myers returned to Utica, N.Y., where he has since continued his band work.
for two different periods, first in 1905 and again in 1909 and 1910.
David S. McCosh directed the band during the season of 1906 and also from 1911 to 1915. Dr. George B. McCosh was the director during the season of 1907.
From 1916 to 1920, the band had a
MURDOCH J. MACDONALD, talented cornet and xylophone soloist, and band- master, came to Mount Morris to take charge of the Kable band in November. 1927. The concert season of 1928 was one of the most popular in the history of the band. Mrs. Macdonald, a professional vocalist, added much to the programs. Mr. Macdonald is now located in Detroit.
different director each season, as fol- lows: 1916, M. G. Rader; 1917, James Watson; 1918, Joseph Vezetti; 1919, Ned Smith.
In 1920, Francis A. Myers came to Mount Morris from Utica, New York, and over a period of three years built the organization up to a fine 50-piece concert band. During this period the band shell was erected. From that time until the present, the band has been recognized as one of the finest concert bands in the country.
ยท GERALD HUFFMAN, talented cornet so- loist and assistant director of the Kable band, came to Mount Morris in February, 1930. He previously played with Sousa's Band, the United States Navy Band, Smith's Scotch Highlanders and other organizations. He belongs to a musical family and is considered one of the very best cornet soloists in the country.
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