USA > Illinois > Ogle County > Mount Morris > Mount Morris : past and present, an illustrated history of the village of Mount Morris, Ogle County, Illinois > Part 7
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JACOB STROCK purchased the gro- cery business conducted by John Tice in 1891 and conducted it for over ten years, selling out to Fred Middlekauff. He then moved to Colorado, where he died.
CHAS. E. ROHRER built the front sec- tion of the present Kable Inn in 1894 and conducted it as the Hotel Rohrer until his death on Dec. 3, 1895, aged 35 years. He was the youngest of a family of 11 chil- dren and was born in Rohersville, Md., Oct. 24, 1860. Before coming to Mount Morris he was clerk at the Central House in Forreston. On March 28, 1889, he mar- ried Miss Dora Boekholder, who later be- came the wife of Dr. David F. Stevens.
JOHN H. RICE, son of John and Eliza Kendall Rice, was born in Leaf River Township, Aug. 8, 1859, and died July 13, 1931, aged 72 years. He was the youngest of a family of five children. He attended Mount Morris College and Beloit College. He came to Mount Morris in 1887 and was employed in the Bank of Mount Mor- ris by Major Newcomer. In 1893, he and his cousin, Joseph L. Rice, organized the Citizens Bank, and continued as cashier of that bank for a number of years. In 1906, he married Miss Maude Rohrer, who died Jan. 1, 1936.
SAMUEL W. BARNHIZER died Dec. 20, 1899, aged 50 years. He was born in Pine Creek Township, Nov. 26, 1849, son of John and Elizabeth Barnhizer. He mar- ried Mary Elizabeth Royer, Nov. 12, 1876, and they had three children, Bertha, Minnie and Paul. He was engaged in the furniture business in Mount Morris in the nineties, in partnership with T. J. Watkins, with the firm name of Watkins & Barnhizer.
J. A. BRUBAKER in about 1895, doing business as J. A. Brubaker & Co., pur- chased the grocery and dry goods store of Daniel Wingert, and later took in Chas. H. Sharer as a partner. After several years he sold the grocery department to Mr. Sharer and the dry goods to R. E. Arnold.
OLIVER E. MARSHALL, son of Reuben S. and Matilda (Steffa) Marshall, was born on the Marshall homestead north of Mount Morris, March 21, 1873. He at- tended the community school and then entered Mount Morris College in 1886. He graduated from the Northwestern School of Pharmacy in 1893. He purchased the drug business of McCosh & Mishler in 1900, which he conducted until 1911, when he sold to F. J. Dean. He later owned drug stores in Lanark and Rock- ford, but returned to Mount Morris in 1933, where he is an employe of the Mount Morris Pharmacy. Mr. Marshall was married in 1903 to Mrs. Cora Drum- mond. He is a 32nd Degree Mason and was at one time Master of the local Ma- sonic lodge.
FRED B. STARK conducted a jewelry store and watch repair shop in Mount Morris in 1898 and several years there- after. He located in St. Paul when he left Mount Morris.
J. H. LAMBING conducted a black- smith shop in Mount Morris, beginning in the year 1900. His shop was located south of the old Startzman Building.
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EARLY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
WILLIAM DOMER, son of Samuel and Rachel (Varner) Domer, was born April 21, 1859, in Leaf River Township, and died in Mount Morris, Jan. 23, 1935, aged 76 years. For many years Mr. Domer conducted a livery stable in Mount Mor- ris and later a general teaming business. In 1881, he married Mary K. Alter and four children were born to them: Jesse M., Percy E., Mrs. Ethel Tracy and Bes- sie. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 19, 1931. The mother died Nov. 28, 1932.
ANDREW H. DAHL operated a shoe repair shop in Mount Morris during the nineties. His ad appeared in the Dec. 9, 1896, issue of the Mount Morris News.
J. I. HOUSEWERT came to Mount Mor- ris to operate the Hotel Rohrer in 1896 following the death of the owner, Chas. Rohrer, and continued in that capacity until the hotel was purchased by A. T. Olson in 1898.
FRED L. WATTS, son of William and Anna (Ankney) Watts, was born on the Watts homestead south of Mount Morris on Feb. 17, 1869. He graduated from the Mount Morris High School and from the commercial department of Mount Morris College in 1892. He engaged in farming for a time, then purchased the harness business of J. D. Miller, in 1902. Later he engaged in the grocery business dur- ing several different periods. He then purchased the Wm. Rowe farm, north of town, where he lived from 1926 to 1934, when he retired to Mount Morris. He served several terms on the village board and was Democratic committeeman for 20 years. He is a 32nd degree Mason. Mr. Watts was married in 1894 to Fannie Felker. Mrs. Watts passed away Dec. 25, 1923. Mr. Watts was married in 1926 to Elizabeth Slifer.
DAVID S. CRIPE, son of Tobias and Anna Cripe, was born in Sacramento, Calif., Feb. 17, 1864, and died June 4, 1928, aged 64 years. In 1887, he came to Mount Morris and attended the College for three years, and in 1891 he started in the mercantile business in Mount Morris. which he continued for 37 years. In 1891 he married Elva Newcomer, and seven children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy. Those remaining are Elmer, Merl, Mrs. Mary Wright and Mrs. Cora Birdsill, together with the mother.
NEWCOMER BROTHERS (Henry and Ernest) conducted the City Meat Market for a number of years. The former later went to farming and the latter became a traveling salesman.
O. E. HUFF came from Egan City in 1902 and bought the bakery and restaur- ant of Walter Wolfe, which he continued to operate for a number of years.
FRED C. SCOTT purchased the grocery store of Jacob Strock in 1902 and con- ducted the business for several years. He was a former resident of Oregon.
G. W. HAMLIN purchased the dry goods store of R. E. Arnold in 1900 and con- ducted it for several years. He came here from Rochelle.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
CALVIN H. MISHLER, son of Emanuel and Susannah Mishler, was born at Kent, Ill., August 21, 1857, and died Oct. 29, 1929, aged 72 years. He attended Rock River Seminary and Iowa State Normal College, and taught school in Iowa for several years. He located in Mount Mor- ris in 1888 and was engaged for 15 years as carpenter and builder, later conducted a drug and book store for a number of years, and worked at the Kable plant for four years. He served the community as Village Trustee, as Village Clerk, and as Justice of the Peace. In 1883, he mar- ried Louise A. Miller, and they had five children: Mrs. Evangeline Olson, Mrs. Vinette McRae, Max and Eugene, twin sons, and a child that died in fancy.
BYERS BROTHERS conducted a livery stable in Mount Morris beginning in 1903. They purchased the business of Chas. Niman.
JESSE B. BAKENER bought the gro- cery store of A. M. Newcomer in 1904 and conducted it for several years, finally selling the business to Flory & Son.
FRED W. RINE, son of Benjamin Rine, conducted a barber shop in Mount Morris beginning in 1904. His shop was located over the Watts store.
FLORY & SON (A. M. Flory and Elmer Flory) purchased the grocery store of Jesse B. Bakener in 1905 and continued the business several years.
B. I. GRANGER (colored) for several years, beginning in 1905, conducted a barber shop in Mount Morris. He was the son of Mrs. Margaret Granger and was born in Mount Morris.
C. F. ZOLLER sold pianos and organs in Mount Morris in 1902 and several years following. He married Florence Thomas, daughter of Henry Thomas.
HENRY E. NEWCOMER died March 6, 1906, aged 36 years. He was born in Mount Morris, March 25, 1870, and was educated in the local public school. His parents were Henry F. and Elizabeth Ann (Knodle) Newcomer. He conducted a very successful business in Mount Mor- ris, consisting of a jewelry and stationery store and insurance business. He was married in 1901 to Lanah H. Janssen, who since his death has successfully continued the insurance business.
W. H. JOHNSON opened an undertak- ing and furniture establishment in Mount Morris in 1907, which he later sold to Louis Finch.
Dr. J. B. BYWATER was a practicing physician in Mount Morris in 1909. His office was located over the Price & Blair hardware.
DR. L. W. MUNGER, dentist, practiced in Mount Morris for several years, be- ginning in 1909, with offices in the Bray- ton Block.
FRED A. MIDDLEKAUFF was born at Beaver Creek, Md., Nov. 15, 1858, and died in Mount Morris, April 19, 1930, aged 711/2 years. At the age of 17, he came to Illinois, where he farmed for a while near Polo and later conducted a res- taurant in Polo. He came to Mount Mor- ris in 1903 and engaged in the grocery business until the time of his death. In 1905, he married Miss Minnie Longman, and they had two children, Mrs. Winfield Colvin and Robert Middlekauff. The mother died in July, 1937.
EARLY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
27.
GROUP OF BUSINESS MEN AND CLERKS of Mount Morris picknicking at Bovey's Springs in August, 1904. Front row, left to right: Rosa Brubaker, Clarence Hanstine, Oscar Olson, Pearl Buser, Rilla Baker, Bertha Gloss, Reuben Marshall, Susie Kerns, Gertrude Marshall, Mae Ankney; second row: Allie Kable, Myrtle
Royer, Mrs. C. J. Price, Elsie Griswold, Mrs. Goldie Alter, Bessie Griswold, Mrs. B. S. Price, Mrs. R. O. Brown, Minnie Longman, Annabelle Smith; standing: Roy Withers, Leslie Rees, Dr. C. J. Price, Daniel Kees, Vernon Rees, Harry Castle, Sherman Alter and son, Benj. Price, Fred Middlekauff, Silas Goughnour, Harry Kable.
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
FRED LONG, son of Andrew J. Long, operated a livery stable for a number of years in a barn located just north of the present Wishard Building. He is now an employe in the electrotype foundry at the Kable plant.
THOMAS O. WATTS died Oct. 23, 1919, aged nearly 69 years. He was born Jan. 10, 1851, in Pine Creek Township, and was the eldest son of William and Anna Watts, early pioneers. He engaged in farming for a number of years and after moving to Mount Morris conducted a grocery store about the year 1906 and thereafter. He was married to Martha Avey in 1876, and two children were born to them, Grace (Mrs. Frank Baker) and Earl Watts. Mrs. Watts died July 12, 1931, aged 80 years.
J. P. HOLSINGER, son of Christian and Barbara Holsinger, was born at Baker Summit, Pa., Oct. 17, 1864, and died July 7, 1931, aged nearly 67 years. He came to Mount Morris in 1894 to attend Mount Morris College. After finishing school he remained in Mount Morris and associated with R. E. Arnold, C. H. Sharer and O. S. Watts. In 1913, he purchased the Shar- er grocery, which he conducted until the time of his death. He was an active mem- ber of the Church of the Brethren and a trustee of Mount Morris College. In 1887, he was married to Minnie Biddle, and two sons were born to them, Clyde and Paul.
LEWIS A. BRINKER operated a Ford automobile agency and service station in Mount Morris for a number of years and in recent years has been an employe in the press room of Kable Brothers Com- pany. He was the son of John and Dora- tha (Neidenkirchen) Brinker and was born in Maryland Township. He married Anna Garkey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Garkey.
OLIVER S. WATTS, son of William and Anna (Ankney) Watts, was born in Pine Creek Township, March 28, 1871. He at- tended the Pine Creek country school and Mount Morris Public School; also gradu- ated from the commercial department of Mount Morris College in 1892. He en- gaged in the grocery business in Mount Morris for a number of years and later in the dry goods business with J. P. Holsinger. In 1898, he married Ada E. Mumma, and they had one daughter, Marian, who died at the age of nine years.
PAUL KENT came to Mount Morris in 1927 and for five years conducted a Ford agency and service station. For the last five years he has been an employe of Kable Brothers Company. Mr. Kent is the son of Gustav and Clara Kent and was born in Chicago, June 15, 1894. He was raised in Chicago and educated in Chicago public schools. He was a private in the army during the World War. He is a member of the American Legion, the Masons and a former Kiwanian. He was first president of the Mount Morris Busi- ness Men's League and has been active in civic affairs. Mr. Kent married Frances Dickerman and they have two sons, Wil- liam and Robert.
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EARLY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
CLINTON E. PRICE, son of Samuel and Sarah Long Price, was born near Mount Morris, Nov. 27, 1854, and died at Mount Morris, July 10, 1937, aged nearly 83 years. Practically his entire life was spent in Mount Morris, most of the time engaged in the hardware, plumbing and heating business. He purchased the hardware business of J. M. Piper in 1890, and con- ducted it for a number of years. His brother, Benj. S. Price, became associated with him and later he sold his interest to George Blair. In later years, he operated a plumbing and heating business, until his death in 1937. In 1885, he married Catherine Winders, who passed away in 1919. They had one daughter, Mrs. Pauline Metzger. Mr. Price was again married in 1923 to Miss Lula Barber.
JAMES L. WATTS, fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. William Watts, was born on the home farm in Pine Creek Township, August 27, 1864, and died in Mount Mor- ris, Jan. 22, 1925, aged 601/2 years. He farmed the home place for a number of years, then moved to town and conducted a harness shop, after which he had charge of the village pumping station. In 1902, he married Mrs. Ida Castle Baker, who sur- vived him. They had no children.
LESLIE STONE started a restaurant in 1911 in the room now occupied by Crat- ty's clothing store. Later he operated the hotel dining room.
DR. JOHN A. GARDINER practiced in Mount Morris from 1913 to 1918. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto with degrees of Master of Arts in 1907 and Doctor of Medicine in 1911. He served his interneship at St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago and located in Mount Morris in 1913. In 1918, he moved to LaGrange, Ill., where he has a lucrative practice. Dr. Gardiner was born in 1883 at Walton, On- tario, Canada. While in Mount Morris, in 1916, he married Edith Miles and they have a son, Miles Gardiner.
JOSEPH FREDERICK O'HARA, son of John and Laurinda O'Hara, was born at Port Byron, Ill., March 25, 1872, and died at Mount Morris, May 26, 1934, aged 62 years. In 1900, he married Miss Aimee Rees, and two children, Vera and Mary, were born to them. Following the death of his wife in 1911, Mr. O'Hara moved to Mount Morris from Port Byron, and for 23 years conducted a barber shop, mak- ing his home with Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Rees.
JOHN W. WINE, son of Jacob W. and Katherine Brubaker Wine, was born in Northampton, Ohio, Dec. 27, 1873, and died Dec. 25, 1927, aged nearly 53 years. He was educated at Bridgewater, Va., and at Mount Morris College, and then
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filled several responsible positions in Louisiana and Missouri. In 1907, he came to Mount Morris and was connected with the Buser Company, the Farmers' Ele- vator Company and in the coal business for himself. In 1921, he became cashier of the Citizens State Bank. He served on the school board and village board and two terms as mayor. In 1896, Mr. Wine married Floy A. Buser, and three daugh- ters were born to them, Lucille, Lois, and Florence.
ARTHUR E. CLEVIDENCE, son of Henry H. and Sophia Clevidence, was born in Mount Morris, June 11, 1869. He attended public school in Mount Morris and also Mount Morris College. He was associated with his father in the grain and imple- ment business, and continued to conduct the business after the death of his father in 1901. In January, 1903, he and Ira W. Wingert went into partnership, combin- ing the lumber business of Mr. Wingert. This partnership continued until the death of Mr. Wingert in 1912. In 1895, Mr. Clevidence married Lillie D. Billig, who passed away in 1935.
JOHN H. SWINGLEY was born near Hagerstown, Md., Oct. 12, 1840, and died at Mount Morris, July 22, 1922, aged near- ly 82 years. In 1846, he came to Illinois with his parents, Benjamin and Catherine (Hershey) Swingley, and located three miles north of Mount Morris, which be- came the Swingley homestead. His broth-
er, Oliver and two sisters, Ellen and Louise, came with the parents from the east, and four sisters were born here, viz., Anna, Laura, Alice and Grace. Mr. Swingley spent most of his life in or near Mount Morris. He engaged in farm- ing for a number of years, and later went into the grocery business with Henry Sharer and later with Daniel Wingert. He spent about ten years in business at Kansas City, Mo. In 1868, he married Anna D. Sharer, and three children were born to them-Charles, Frank and Cor- nelia (Mrs. George Farwell). Mrs. Swing- ley died Nov. 16, 1930.
DR. W. G. DAHLKE, dentist, practiced his profession in Mount Morris, begin- ning in 1922. He was located in the Wish- ard Building.
J. ELMER CLAPPER, son of Ludwig and Malinda (Himes) Clapper, was born at Rogersville, Ind., April 8, 1870. He gradu- ated from the High School at Madrid, Nebr., in 1891 and attended the Western Normal School at Lincoln, Nebr., in 1892. He taught school for several years, then engaged in farming until 1904. He served as clerk in the Sharer and Middlekauff groceries. From 1910 to 1920 he was in the grocery business at Maryland, then re- turned to Mount Morris and in partner- ship with Chas. Eigenbrode purchased the Murdock grocery. He purchased Engen- brode's interest in 1926 and sold out in 1931. In 1937, he was elected as assessor of Mount Morris Township. Mr. Clapper was married in 1907 to Grace Hanstine and they have two sons, Ivan H. and Robert L.
Chapter 3
INCORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE
I 'N an investigation of the past history of the churches, schools, and even of the Township of Mount Morris, it is found that the old records, in the majority of cases, have been woefully neglected, many of the old books being entirely lost sight of. In the case of the village, however, the clerks whose duty it was to keep the minutes of the pro- ceedings of the Village Board of Trus- tees preserved the old records from the time of the first movement toward or- ganization of the corporation to the present time.
From the time when the first settlers built their rude dwellings within the present limits of Mount Morris, late in the thirties, until 1848, Mount Morris was simply a precinct of Ogle County. The first step toward incorporation was made Dec. 28, 1847, when copies of the following notice were posted about the town:
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 Janu- ary (1848), at 2 o'clock for the purpose of determining whether we will incorporate said town. (Signed)
MANY CITIZENS. Mount Morris, Dec. 28, 1847.
In conformity to the above notice, a meeting of the white male inhabitants, of lawful age, who had been residents of the village six months immediately preceding this date, or who were own- ers of freehold property in the village, was held, as ordered, in the seminary chapel, at the time specified. On mo- tion, Daniel Brayton was called to the chair and F. G. Petrie appointed clerk.
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 28th 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, viva voce, five (resi- dents and freeholders of said town) trus- tees 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 22nd day of January, 1848, this board, with A. C. Marston as clerk, formulated and passed eight ordinances, which form the groundwork of the present village ordi- nances. 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 cor- porate and acting in accordance with the powers vested in Chapter 25, Section 12, of the revised statutes of the state of Illinois, do hereby declare and make known the following, as below sub- joined, to be nuisances within our juris- diction, and that after ten days' public notice being given, the same shall take effect. Any person or persons persist- ing, in whole or in part, in any infringe- ment of the laws herein provided or enacted by said Board of Trustees, be it unto them made known that civil proc- ess will be immediately issued against them according to the laws herein pro- vided.
ARTICLE 1 .- Be it ordained by the president and Board of Trustees of the town of Mount Morris that the boundaries
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT
of said corporation shall be as follows: Commencing at a stake set at the south- west corner of the land owned by the Rock River Seminary, 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 li- censing 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 trus- tees aforesaid, that the sale or vending of spiritous or malt liquor is, by virtue of this ordinance, strictly prohibited, and any person or persons found violating said ordinance, he or they shall be sub- ject to pay a fine of 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 liquors 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 whatsoever 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 exceeding 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 seal of the president of the Board of Trustees of the town of Mount Morris are, by virtue of this ordinance, strictly forbidden to exhibit such shows, theaters or performances, under a penalty of pay- ing a fine not exceeding twenty-five dol- lars 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 disturbing the quiet and peace of the citizens of said town, is strictly for- bidden. Any person or persons wantonly or presumptuously violating this ordi- nance shall pay a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each offense.
ARTICLE 8 .- Be it ordaind by the president and Board of Trustees of the town of Mount Morris, that horse-racing is hereby strictly forbidden and prohibit- ed 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 pro- vided a penalty for the same. The sec- ond prohibited the indecent exhibition of animals in the village. The third pro- vided 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 supervi- sor 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 pro- vided a penalty and method of prosecu- tion of persons who should idle away their time, or act disorderly, or refuse 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 destruction of property within the corporation. At this same meeting the board passed the fol- lowing resolution:
Resolved, That all trials shall be be- fore the president of the board and con- ducted in the same manner as they are before justices of the peace, and all fees and costs proceeding therefrom shall be the same as if issued before a justice of the peace.
These two meetings of the board ap- pear to have been the only ones. No corporation officers were appointed, and for several years nothing further was done, at least there are no records of any elections until Jan. 1, 1856, when the following notice appeared:
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