USA > Illinois > Ogle County > Mount Morris > Mount Morris : past and present, an illustrated history of the village of Mount Morris, Ogle County, Illinois > Part 41
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EVERETT R. SMITH, owner of the Pasturite Dairy, is the son of Alfred D. and Louise (Rosencrans) Smith. He was born in 1895 at Albany, Ill. He attended the public schools in Albany and came here from Morrison in January, 1937, hav- ing purchased the dairy business from Mrs. Ethel Coleman, which he now op- erates as the Pasturite Dairy. He was married in 1917 to Edith Ann Frost and they have two children, Louise (Mrs. Kenneth Anderson) and Jeanne.
GUERDON A. REED succeeded C. Ripp as manager of Kroger's Grocery in Octo- ber, 1937. He is the son of John and Lu- ella (Whitham) Reed and was born May 12, 1900, at Platteville, Wis. He graduated from Platteville State Teachers' College in 1919 and taught mathematics and man- ual arts for five years in Wisconsin. Pre- vious to coming here he had been con- nected with the Western Cooperative Egg & Poultry Association of Tacoma, Wash. He enlisted in 1918 in Student Army Training Corps at Platteville, Wis. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Fox Lake, Wis. Mr. Reed was married in 1923 to Lucile Siney and they have two children, Guerdon A., Jr., and Wesley S.
W. BOYD STOUFFER, son of Price and Emma (Haugh) Stouffer, was born Aug. 9, 1890, at Maryland, Ill. He graduated from Mount Morris high school in 1908 and finished commercial and liberal arts courses at Mount Morris College in 1912. For ten years he was employed in the advertising and circulation departments of the Poultry Tribune. Then he engaged in the poultry business until 1920, when he went into the hatchery business. He now operates hatcheries in Mount Morris, Oregon and Rochelle. He has associated with him in Mount Morris, James D. Edenbo, who came from Connelsville, Pa. Mr. Stouffer was married in 1923 to Pearl Butterbaugh, and they have two children, Virginia Lois and Sherwood Noel.
NELSON H. RITTENHOUSE, son of A. H. and Etta M. (Shirk) Rittenhouse, was born June 25, 1908, at Elgin, Ill. He attended the Elgin grammar school and graduated from the Mount Morris High School in 1926. He also graduated from Mount Morris College with the Class of
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1931, and in 1932 took the physical science course at the University of Chicago. He was ordained into the ministry of the Church of the Brethren in 1930 and has been pastor of the Pine Creek Church since 1933. He has been engaged in news- paper distribution for Rockford newspa- pers since 1920 and in general motor trans- portation for the Kable plant and others since 1931. Mr. Rittenhouse was married in 1930 to Virginia Hagemann and they live at 109 W. Main St.
DR. H. J. STENGEL, physician and sur- geon, is the son of Joseph E. and Anna (Wilt) Stengel. He was born in Mount Morris, July 17, 1904; graduated from Mount Morris High School in 1922; at- tended Carthage College 1922-1925 and graduated from Loyola University School of Medicine in 1929. He located in Mount Morris in 1931 and has offices in the Wishard Building. He is the village health officer, a member of the local Masonic Lodge and various medical societies. In August, 1932, he married Helen Anderson and they reside at 211 Emily Street.
W. A. ROBINSON came to Mount Morris in 1926 and operated a meat market for three years, then moved to his present quarters where he operates a grocery and meat market. He is the son of Charles and Cynthia (Williams) Robinson and was born Jan. 4, 1882, at Morris, Ill. He graduated from the Niles, Mich., High School in 1899. He is a member of the Mount Morris Business Men's League. At present he has in his employ Valorris Van Arsdale, Peter H. Peterson, Leonard Derby, Ralph Schell, Arthur Barnhart, Kenneth Kretsinger and Vincent Reine- ma. Mr. Robinson was married in 1905 to Katherine O'Dare and they have an adopted son, Robert L.
DAN B. STARKEY, owner of the Kable Inn, came to Mount Morris in 1925 as editor of Outdoor Recreation and presi- dent of the Recreation Publishing Co. He is a native of Wisconsin and was for years a newspaper man, serving as po- litical editor, Washington correspondent, and filling many positions, including that of war correspondent during the Spanish-American War. He was private secretary to Governor Edward Scofield of Wisconsin and was given the title of "Colonel" as the result of serving as a special aid-de-camp and military secre- tary of the Wisconsin National Guard. He became a publisher through the purchase of the Northwestern Sportsman, which was later changed to the Outer's Book and later to Outdoor Recreation. It was moved to Mount Morris in 1925. In 1927, it merged with Outdoor Life, by which name it is still known. Col. Starkey took over the Kable Inn in April, 1933, and has striven to make the hotel an institution in which the community could take pride. He has regarded the hotel not merely as a private business but as a public responsi- bility. When the nation-wide celebration of President Roosevelt's birthday was planned in January, 1934, Col. Starkey decided to do something about it. By telegraphing the White House he found out that the President's favorite dish was scrambled eggs, which were served at the dinner. The Associated Press and the Columbia Broadcasting Company gave this wide publicity.
Col. Starkey has attracted a great deal of attention by the Kable Inn art galleries. Knowing there was considerable artistic talent in Mount Morris he conceived the idea of letting the local artists exhibit their work on the walls of the lobby and dining room. Later artists from other localities were invited to display their paintings and over 2,000 paintings have
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been displayed in this manner including those of Theodore Johnson, Theodosia Park Breed, John Nolf, Holger Jensen, Oscar Soellner, Florence Wilkins Furst, Anna Coy, Marques E. Reitzel, Myrtle Royer Myers, and others. Local artists who have exhibited their work are Doro- thy Niman, Milledge Newton, Burton Avey, Lloyd Wright, Trine Mann, Lizzie Shirk, Mrs. Ira Hendrickson, James Fer- guson and Maude McClure. These exhib- its have attracted people from a wide range of territory and have been the means of considerable publicity for the Inn and Mount Morris.
O. E. STOUFFER, owner of the Mount Morris Dairy, is the son of Hiram and Annie (Ridenour) Stouffer and was born in Mount Morris, Sept. 22, 1882. He at- tended Mount Morris Public School, grad- uated from the State Center (Iowa) High School in 1900 and attended Iowa State College at Ames. He engaged in farming for a number of years and for the last twenty years has owned and operated the Mount Morris Dairy. He employes Clar- ence Carr and George Hamilton. Mr Stouffer was married in 1905 to Effa Carr.
DR. DAVID F. STEVENS, veterinarian, is the son of David F. and Elizabeth (Fisher) Stevens. He was born March 5, 1852, at Three Springs, Pa. He attended public school in Pennsylvania and gradu- ated in 1888 from the Ontario Veterinary College, Toronto, Ont., Canada, and be- came a licensed veterinarian. He has practiced in Mount Morris continuously since 1888. He is a Past Master and oldest living member of the local Masonic Lodge. Dr. Stevens was married in 1898 to Mrs. Dora Rohrer and they have one son, Forrest. See picture on page 352.
MRS. HANNAH C. SHOOK, insurance agent, whose maiden name was Hannah Sikkink, was born at Sheboygan, Wis., and married J. H. F. Shook in 1892. They have six children: Marilla (Mrs. Ed. Heu- sinkveld), Eva (Mrs. Frank Graf), Bes- sie (Mrs. Lester Nunn), Warren F., John C., and Merlin L. Mrs. Shook is a grad- uate of the Palmer School of Chiroprac- tic and formerly practiced in Mount Mor- ris and Oregon with her son-in-law, L. E. Nunn. She came to Mount Morris in 1921 and is now in the insurance business.
RALPH R. THOMAS, retired farmer and member of the high school board, is the son of Geo. S. and Elizabeth (Wolf) Thomas and was born Aug. 6, 1885, near Leaf River, Ill. He learned the trade of blacksmith and wagon-maker and fol- lowed that trade for seven years in Wis- consin; lived in California for 14 years, and has been a resident in or near Mount Morris for 22 years, where he has been active in farm and school affairs. In 1907 he married Edith May Buterbaugh and they have six children: Grover S., Mary E. (Mrs. Oscar Barnhart), Robert E., Florence E. (Mrs. Wm. Suhring), Helen E. and Ada Fern.
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THE KABLE INN was originally built in 1894 by Chas. Rohrer and was known as Hotel Rohrer. In 1898 it was sold to A. T. Olson, who operated it as the Olson Hotel until 1921, when it was pur- chased by Kable Brothers Company and it was enlarged and com- pletely refurnished. The name was changed to the Kable Inn
and was managed by Mrs. Robert Malmberg for several years, then by Elmer Snowberger, followed by Robert Harvey. O. W. Wright purchased the property in June, 1928, and after several years sold it to Dan Starkey, who is the present owner.
MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
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C. C. WEAVER has owned and operated a jewelry store in Mount Morris since 1926. He came here originally from Free- port in 1917 to open a branch jewelry store for a Freeport firm, Emerick & Ringer. He is the son of George and Anna (Clair) Weaver and was born May 31. 1876, at Freeport, Ill. He attended the Freeport schools and then learned the jewelers trade. He was married twice, his second wife being Miss Mabel Shaw. He has two children, Elmore and Margaret, by his first marriage.
FRANK SECKY, who operates the rec- reation hall and tavern in the Baker Building, is the son of Joseph and Anna (Ruzicka) Secky and was born Jan. 23, 1893, in Prachovice, Czechoslovakia. He attended grammar school in his native country and came to the United States in 1910, receiving his citizenship papers in 1918. He enlisted in the army in 1917 at Schenectady, N. Y., in Company E, 2nd Infantry, New York National Guard. He was transferred to the 42nd Machine Gun Battalion, 50th Infantry, at Fort Riley, Kans. He belongs to the Business Men's League and the American Legion. He was married in 1913 in New York to Betty Wokal.
EUGENE B. TRACY, Junior member of the contracting firm of D. C. Tracy & Son, is the son of Dennis C. and Mae (Baker) Tracy and was born Jan. 29, 1909, at Mount Morris. He graduated from the Mount Morris High School in 1926 and has since engaged in carpenter work. In 1935, he went into partnership with his father with the firm name of D. C. Tracy & Son. Mr. Tracy was married in 1935 to Nelle Garrison and they live at 302 Emily Street.
JOHN SPRECHER & Company is prob- ably the oldest continuous business firm in Mount Morris. In April, 1866, John Sprecher and Henry H. Clevidence started the business under the name of Sprecher & Clevidence. This partnership continued until March, 1891, when they sold out to L. C. Stanley of Chippewa Falls, Wis. In the fall of 1893, John Sprecher started in business again under the firm name of John Sprecher & Co., and continued until his death in April, 1911. Since then, the business has been carried on under the efficient management of Katherine Sprech- er Miller, ably assisted by her two broth- ers, Charles C. and Wentworth Sprecher. The firm is now composed of Katherine Sprecher Miller, Wentworth W. Sprecher, Ella B. Sprecher and Addie May Axton as equal partners. The company conducts a very complete dry goods business.
CHARLES A. WISHARD was born July 25, 1873, at Waynesboro, Pa. He graduated from the Waynesboro High School in 1892 and attended the Bryant & Stratton Busi- ness College at Baltimore, Md. He came to Mount Morris in 1898 and since that time has been actively engaged in various enterprises. He was in the meat market business for eight years with Upton Powell; he built the Central Garage and sold automobiles for six years. He started the first motion picture theatre in what is now Hagemann's Service Station. In 1920, he built the large building which bears his name on the corner of Wesley and Main Streets. He has served as president of the Citizens State Bank since 1924. He is now operating a number of large farms in the vicinity of Mount Morris. He en- listed for service in the Spanish-American War, but was not called for service. He was a member of the Illinois National Guard for four years. In 1904, he mar- ried Elizabeth Stoner, and they had two daughters, Mary and Mildred. Mrs. Wishard passed away in 1928.
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HARRY SCHMUCKER, who was in the garage business in Mount Morris from 1934 to 1938, purchased the Granada Cafe in March, 1938, from Elgin Bucher. Mr. Schmucker was born Aug. 13, 1896, at Johnstown, Pa. He attended grade and high school at Dixon, Ill., and took train- ing in automotive mechanics at Detroit. During the war, he entered the motor transportation corps at Jefferson Bar- racks, Mo., in May, 1917. He is past presi- dent of the Mount Morris Business Men's League, member of the American Legion and the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Schmuck- er was married to Stella Sorrenson and they have four children: Charles, Stanley, Harriet and Margaret.
DENNIS C. TRACY, head of the contract- ing firm of D. C. Tracy & Son, is the son of Benjamin F. and Mary J. (Potter) Tracy and was born in Mount Morris, May 19, 1879. He attended the Mount Mor- ris Public Schools and took a business course in Mount Morris College. He learned the carpenter trade under his father and Samuel Kinsey, who were partners in the contracting business. He worked with his father until his death in 1910 and then continued in the business until 1935, when his son, Eugene, became associated with him under the firm name of D. C. Tracy & Son. Mr. Tracy has erected a number of important buildings in Mount Morris, including the Brethren Church, part of the High School Building, Baker Building, Sharer Garage and others. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Village from 1922 to 1926, the last two years as president. He is a member of the Masons and Modern Woodmen. He was married in 1903 to Mae M. Baker and they have three sons: Harold, Eugene and Dennis.
RALPH H. ZICKUHR is the proprietor of the Mount Morris Pharmacy which he purchased from O. E. Marshall in March, 1937. He is the son of Henry C. and Augusta (Krueger) Zickuhr and was born Sept. 4, 1910, at Marengo, Ill. He is a graduate of the Marengo High School and received his Ph.G. degree from the University of Illinois School of Pharmacy in 1932. He has in his employ O. E. Mar- shall and Annette Towns. Mr. Zickuhr married Alice J. Driver in 1935 and they have a daughter, Sylvia Jean.
THOMAS I. SPRECHER, owner of a grocery store in Mount Morris, is the son of Franklin and Annie (Ringer) Sprecher.
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He was born Dec. 9, 1874, in Hagerstown, Md., and graduated from the Hagerstown High School in 1893, and also graduated from Wolf's Business College in Hagers- town. He served in the Spanish-American War with Co. B, First Maryland Infantry, from April, 1898, to February, 1899. He came to Mount Morris in 1899 and worked as a clerk in various stores until 1932 when he purchased the grocery business from Fred Middlekauff estate. He was married in 1925 to Beatrice Johnson and they have a son, Thomas Barton.
CHARLES WENTWORTH SHARER, owner of the Sharer Garage, is the son of Charles H. and Susan (McCosh) Sharer and was born in Mount Morris, April 18, 1889. He graduated from Mount Morris High School, attended Mount Morris College and graduated from Northwest- ern University in 1913. He enlisted dur- ing the World War, in April, 1917, at Jef- ferson Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., and was assigned to the 17th Cavalry, regular U. S. Army. After the armistice was signed he was transferred to the 8th Cavalry. He was discharged in September, 1919. He worked in the office of Kable Brothers Company for several years and served as mathematics teacher and athletic coach in Mount Morris High School, also as coach in Mount Morris College for sev- eral years. In 1923, he started in the auto- mobile and garage business and in 1924 erected the present building in which he operates a repair shop and is agent for the Chevrolet automobile and the John Deere farm machinery. He employs Sam- uel Frey, A. E. Clevidence, Frederick Fouke and Paul Mongan.
WILLIAM WOHLSCHLEGEL came to Mount Morris from Aurora, Ill., in Sep- tember, 1935, to become manager and athletic director of the Community Gym- nasium. He is the son of Adam and Otillie Wohlschlegel and was born Dec. 1, 1908, at Mannheim, Baden, Germany. He attended the public schools and the Handelschule Business School at Mann- heim. He came to America and was naturalized in 1931. He has two brothers, Ludwig and Karl, living in Germany. Ludwig is a Schutzstaffel (picked Hitler guard). His father fought as a German commanding officer during the World War. Mr. Wohlschlegel was married June 12, 1938, to Katherine Bintener, of Aurora.
VICTOR P. SOITZ, professional at the Sunset Golf Club, is recognized as a com- petent teacher and an excellent player. He came to take charge of the local club in the spring of 1938 after seven years service with the Southmoor Golf Club at Palos Park, on the south side of Chicago. Mr. Soitz is unmarried.
THE MOUNT MORRIS COMMUNITY GYMNASIUM
The Community Gymnasium, which is one of the most modern recreation centers in northwestern Illinois, was built following the destruction of the old college gymnasium by fire in April, 1931.
The building was originally con- structed to be used as a college gym- nasium and was financed by public contributions with the agreement that should the college ever become insol- vent, it would be turned over to the village for public use. In 1932 Mount Morris College merged with North Manchester College and, as a result, the coliseum was deeded over to the village by Kable Brothers Company, who purchased the entire college prop- erty.
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THE WISHARD BUILDING, in the foreground, was erected by Chas. A. Wishard in 1920. The building fronts south and is 73 by 93 feet in size. The construction was su- perintended by N. E. Buser. This corner was originally occupied by Mount Morris's first hotel which was built by James Clark in the early forties.
Erected at a cost of $50,000, the build- ing contains a large swimming pool, which is operated to meet state require- ments, under the sanitation code.
William Wohlschlegel has served as manager and athletic director, assisted by Willis Stouffer, since September, 1935. Prior to this, the gymnasium was managed by Charles Boston, Jay Shel- don and Cyril Ewert, at various inter- vals.
By special arrangement, the gymna- sium is used by the grade and high schools as an athletic recreation center, and it is by the financial assistance de- rived from these institutions that it is possible to maintain it, without addi- tional tax levy.
CITIZENS STATE BANK
Mount Morris's first bank was estab- lished in 1877 by Chas. Newcomer and Isaac Rice. Mr. Rice sold his interest in 1880 and Mr. Newcomer continued the
bank until 1899. In the meantime, Joseph L. Rice and John H. Rice estab- lished the Citizens Bank in 1893 and in 1899 absorbed the Bank of Mount Mor- ris. In 1914, the institution was incor- porated as a state bank and the name changed to the Citizens State Bank, with Joseph L. Rice as the first presi- dent. He retired from the presidency and active interest in the bank in 1925, when Charles A. Wishard was elected and has served in that capacity up to the present time.
Other officials who have served the bank since it was incorporated were B. S. Price who was cashier from 1914 to 1920 and D. L. Miller who was cash- ier from 1920 to 1924. J. W. Wine came to the bank in 1923 and served in the capacity of vice-president and cashier until shortly before he died in 1926. Harold M. Knodle served as cashier from 1927 to 1931, George Snyder from 1931 to 1935, and Leslie Lundgren from 1935 to the present. Fred J. Dean was
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elected vice-president in 1927 and has been active in the bank since March 1, 1930.
The present officers of the bank are Charles A: Wishard, president; Fred J. Dean, vice-president; Leslie C. Lund- gren, cashier; and Mary J. Stouffer, as- sistant cashier. The directors are Charles A. Wishard, Fred J. Dean, E. S. Mumma, Price Heckman and R. W. Hough.
MOUNT MORRIS PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Mount Morris Public Library had its beginning in the Current Events Club which is still responsible for its maintenance, to some extent.
The Current Events Club was organ- ized in 1895 with its object as a rest and change from home duties and to become more familiar with current events. Meetings are held fortnightly. The club was first named Philomathian and later changed to Current Events Club.
In early days, the members read aloud a number of books at the meet- ings besides the current events. The early ambition of the club was to es- tablish a public library which was first realized when each member purchased a book and exchanged it with the oth- ers. It was first cared for in the homes and by 1913 a central library was lo- cated in Clapper's store. It was later moved to the Town Hall and then to the Village Hall.
The library was transferred to the town by the club in May, 1931, through a special election approving financial assistance for its maintenance out of the tax apportionment.
In 1933, the library was moved to its present quarters on the first floor of Old Sandstone. When it was turned over to the town in 1931 there were 1,406 books on hand and at present the total number circulated is 5,725, with the yearly records showing that 14,000 or more are read each year. Many pa- trons from rural districts take advan-
ART STUDIO of Miss Maud McClure and her picture in upper left. Miss McClure has the distinction of being the only sculptor in Mount Morris whose work ranks as professional. She also does many other kinds of art work and has maintained her studio here for a number of years. She was born in Mount Morris and is the daughter of Robert D. McClure, granddaughter of A. Quinby Allen, and great granddaughter of Michael Swingley, who was one of the original "Maryland Colony."
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tage of these library privileges.
Miss Ella Rohrer has served as li- brarian since June 1, 1926, and is a charter member of the Current Events Club. The assistant librarian is Miss Edith Hanstine who has served since 1933.
The present library board consists of Mrs. D. E. Thompson (president), Mrs. Agnes Price (secretary), Mrs. Fred Dean, Mrs. Harry Longman, Milo Zim- merman and Harold Ross.
The present membership of the Cur- rent Events Club is as follows: Mrs.
Ira Hendrickson (president), Mrs. Wm. Hance Miller (vice-president), Mrs. Harry Longman (secretary-treasurer), Mrs. Hugh Allen, Mrs. Paul Barnhizer, Mrs. John Blakley, Mrs. Warren Burch- by, Mrs. H. W. Cushing, Mrs. Fred J. Dean, Mrs. Charles Edson, Mrs. Robert O. Harvey, Mrs. Pearl Kable, Mrs. Fred V. Pearce, Mrs. Charles J. Price, Mrs. Wm. Prugh, Miss Ella Rohrer, Mrs. Fayette Rose, Mrs. Fred H. Steffen, Mrs. David E. Thompson, Mrs. Mary Thomp- son and Mrs. Clyde Walkup.
BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION
T THE Mount Morris Building and Loan Association was organized in January, 1926, with an authorized capi- tal stock of $1,000,000.00. The original incorporators were H. G. Kable, H. J. Kable, S. C. Spalding, John W. Prend- ergast, S. E. Avey, W. I. Prugh, N. E. Buser, H. E. Longman, Harvey Long, and A. S. Barre.
At a meeting held Jan. 18, 1926, the following officers and directors were elected: H. G. Kable, president; J. W. Watt, vice-president; Lanah H. New- comer, secretary; Harvey Long, treas- urer; H. J. Kable, J. L. Rice, F. J. Dean, H. E. Coffman, H. E. Longman, direc- tors. The same officers have served 12
consecutive years. Two of the directors died, H. J. Kable and J. L. Rice, and their places were taken by Robert Hough and Harold Ross.
After 12 years the association is in excellent condition under the efficient management of the secretary, Lanah H. Newcomer. The assets are in excess of $365,000.00, nearly all of which is loaned on residence property in Mount Morris. All matured stock and withdrawals are paid promptly and the association does not have a single piece of property on its hands because of foreclosure. Ma- tured stock has netted in excess of 7% on the investment.
MOUNT MORRIS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
TWENTY-FIVE volunteer firemen comprise the local fire department which is given a 98% rating for the efficiency of its men and equipment. These men meet once each month and are drilled for action twice monthly. As a member of the Illinois Firemen's Association, this unit qualifies for finan- cial benefits from the state. Each year two men attend the annual fire college at the University of Illinois in Cham- paign. Building inspections are made regularly about town.
Prior to 1924 there was no fire truck here and at times of fire it was neces- sary to either pull the hose cart by hand or attach it to a car and then de- pend entirely upon city pressure for the flow of water to quench the blaze. In 1924 the first truck was purchased and
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