Grundy County IL Archives History - Books .....Chapter 7 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com April 29, 2006, 3:37 pm Book Title: History Of Grundy County IL 1882 CHAPTEE VII* MORRIS CITY—THE SECOND PERIOD—GROWTH OF THE CORPORATION—OFFICIAL RECORDS- INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS—1842 TO 1850. FROM April 12, 1842, to August 15, 1850, Morris was a kind of go-as-you-please town organization, under general act and special charter. As before shown, the county seat of Grundy County was located and named April 12, 1843. It remained without being incorporated into a municipality a little over thirteen years. On the 15th of August, 1850, an election, in conformity with chapter 25 of the statute then in force, was held at the old court house in Morris, to vote upon the question of incorporation, under the section of the statute referred to: "the free white male residents of lawful age, who may have resided six months in said proposed incorporation, as a freeholder therein," were entitled to vote provided that said town or village contained 150 inhabitants. At this election L. P. Lott was chairman or president, and P. A. Armstrong, clerk of said election, who certify that "there were in favor of incorporation forty- nine votes, and against it no vote; a beggarly vote for a city, but it was all that were cast. On the 22d day of that month an election was held for five trustees, with the same election board, when there were seventy-six votes cast. As party lines were drawn at this election, this vote was very nearly a full one. Orville Cane, Ezra P. Seeley, Wm. *By Hon. P. A. Armstrong. S. Woolsey, Jacob Jacoby and Robert Kelley were the successful ones, each receiving about fifty votes, while their opponents received only about half that number. On the 2d of September of that year, the first village council met and organized by the election of E. P. Seeley, President of the Board of Trustees, and Henry Storr, Clerk. Beyond being sworn in and organizing the board, and defining the boundaries as follows: "Ordered that the jurisdiction be extended over and embrace the following territory, viz.: The southwest quarter of section 3; S. E. 1/4 of Sec. 4; N. fr. of N. E. 1/4 Sec. 9; N. fr. N. W. 1/4 Sec. 10, in town 33, R. 7 east, 3d P. M., and also that portion of the Illinois River lying opposite to the N. fr. N. E. 1/4 Sec. 9, and the N. fr. N. W. 1/4 Sec. 10 as aforesaid, and extending four rods on the margin of the south bank of said river, to be measured from the top of the bank," no business was transacted at this first meeting of the Town Council of Morris. Of these five trustees Mr. Cane only survives. Old, yet hale and hearty. He has retired from business and is spending his time in reading and conversing with his olden time friends. An old settler of the county, he was its second sheriff, and has lived on his farm, a few miles west of the city, for many years past, and returned to Morris some two years ago. The second meeting of the Board of Trustees was held at the court house January 13, 1851, when they passed an ordinance establishing the boundaries of the board as in the previous order, and fixed the regular meeting of the board for second Monday of each month at 6 P. M., creating the appointive officers of the board as follows: One constable, pound master, street commissioner, fire warden, clerk and treasurer, defining their duties, and then appointed George Gillett, constable, Charles L. P. Hogan, street commissioner, A. W. Newell, treasurer, and Robert Peacock, fire warden. At this meeting they passed a general code of ordinances for the police regulations of the town, many of which are still in force with but little alteration, and ordered them published by posting up three copies in public places in Morris. The next meeting of this board was held at the court house February 10th, 1851, when Capt. Charles L. Starbuck was elected clerk of the board, to fill the vacancy of Henry Storr, resigned. Under the impression that the charter granted by the Legislature to the late Wm. E. Armstrong, February 27, 1841, to establish a ferry across the Illinois River on section seven or nine, T. 33, R. 7, and granting him, his heirs and assigns the exclusive right to cross said river within a mile of the point where he may establish said ferry for ten years, was either inoperative or had expired, the board passed an impracticable, long ordinance to license and regulate the running of a ferry across the river here. There are seven sections in this ordinance prescribing the duties of ferrymen, and the running of the boats, their kind and size, and giving precedence to physicians, surgeons and mid wives, prescribing fines and penalties for the violation of any provisions of said ordinance. Upon the passage of this ordinance, Col. Eugene Stanberry, Byron Stanberry and George H. Kiersted, submitted to the incipient city fathers a proposition to pay into the town treasury for a license to run a ferry across the river at Morris during the period of three years, $305, viz.: for the first year $100, second $101, and third $104, subject to the terms and conditions of the ordinance on that subject. For the consideration of this proposition a special meeting of the trustees was held March 1, 1851, when the offer was accepted, and petitioners executed and delivered to the board a $500 bond for the faithful observance of the ordinance and performance of the duties therein prescribed. Big with expectation of golden rewards from this ferry license, Col. Stanberry ordered La Salle County's popular rope maker, Ole Johnson, to make him a ferry rope, some 700 feet in length, at a large cost, purchased an old flat boat and started his ferry. They kept it running just three days when they discovered that they had one lawsuit on their hands with a fine prospect for several others. Geo. W. Armstrong as the administrator of Wm. E. Armstrong, brought suit against the firm of Stanberry & Kiersted, for damages for intruding upon his "'tater patch," and received judgment; while several parties whom the company had ferried over and charged the regular rates of toll allowed under the Armstrong charter, when the license only allowed them to charge one fifth of that toll, were threatening to bring suit for extortion. Indeed, the Colonel came to the conclusion that five cents for ferrying a double team and wagon, and taking them back free on the same or succeeding day, was rather too small a business to ever be remunerative. He and his company became sad, melancholy, disheartened and abandoned it. Thus was Morris robbed of the services of three Charons, and the ferry license was "consigned to the tomb of the Capulets." It died of neglect and was buried without a mourner, and the Board of Trustees never after attempted to run a ferry. At the April meeting of the board several licenses to vend spirituous and vinous liquors were granted, the price being $25 per year, with a $500 bond. Four saloons were granted licenses at this meeting. An election for trustees was held August 22, 1851. At the meeting of the board August 11, each member of the board had been paid three dollars for his services as trustee for one year preceding. An exceedingly modest board was this. At this election the old board (except that James B. Jones was elected in place of Mr. Kelley) was re- elected, and Mr. Seeley was elected president. The treasurer's report for the preceding year showed the sum of $160 collected as grocery and circus license, and $74.30 paid out as the expenses of running the "city government" per year. A corporation tax of fifteen cents on each $100 worth of taxable property was levied at their meeting Sept. 8, 1851, "for establishing a grade of the town and defraying the other expenses of the corporation." Oliver S. Newell was re- appointed treasurer on bond of $200. Dr. Newell died a few days later, and L. P. Lott was appointed his successor Nov. 10th, and the bond raised to $300. The board did not meet again until January 27, 1852, when the only business transacted was the drawing of the per diem of the board and town officers, amounting to $17. This was rather a cheap town board. The next meeting was held April 7th, when printed hand-bills were ordered to the value of $1.50, "cautioning all persons against the danger of small-pox at the Franklin House in Morris." Only this and nothing more was done. The first sidewalk ordinance was passed April 17, 1852. At this meeting Mr. Kiersted made a written proposal "to establish grades on all the streets and alleys of the town of Morris, and additions placing stones of grade at the intersection of the several streets, and making profiles and a map of the same for $50." The record says: "After mature consideration the above proposition was accepted and a contract entered into," etc., and an order was drawn on the treasurer in favor of Mr. Kiersted, as an advance payment, for $6. But as Mr. K. was rather backward in coming forward with his grade, this contract was rescinded August 9, 1852. At this meeting the salaries of the town officers for the past six months were ordered paid, amounting to the sum of $13. Thus the total expense of the municipal government of Morris for one year was just $30. The clerk of the board received $7 for his year's salary, whilst the street commissioner and fire warden were paid by the honor conferred by the title. The election for a new board was held Aug. 23, when George Fisher, Eugene Stanberry, Henry Benjamin, Orville Cane and James Barrett were elected trustees—a new board except Mr. Cane. Mr. Fisher was made President, and Wells F. Stevens, Clerk. We do not now remember what were the issues in this election, but from the clean sweep of the old board, there must have been some cause of complaint. Some political petard or bomb which over-slaughed and retired them to private life. This new board held its first meeting Sept. 21, 1852, and appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. Fisher, Cane and Stanberry, "to prepare and report an amendment to the charter more fully defining the limits of the corporation of the Town of Morris." Messrs. Fisher, Stanberry, Cane and Barrett were appointed as a committee to procure a "baring" ground. The latter committee reported an ordinance for the purchase of the E. 1/2, S. W. 1/4, Sec. 27, T. 34, R. 7, on Sept. 27, which was passed. At this meeting Geo. Parmelee was appointed fire warden, and John Galloway, town constable; and a tax of fifteen cents on each $100 of taxable property for municipal purposes was levied. The treasurer's report submitted and approved, showed $180.28 received the past year from all sources, and $31.50 paid out on orders drawn. Surely these were economical times. Up to this date not a dollar had been expended to enforce police regulations or for assessing or collecting revenue. At a special meeting of the board, Oct. 2, 1852, James Jacoby in company with the street commissioner and town constable were appointed to kill and destroy all dogs running at large contrary to the form and effect of this ordinance. This committee were probably inefficient, as no pay was provided for their services, nor were the kind of dogs to be "killed and destroyed" very clearly defined—whether biped or quadruped. On the 23d of October Thomas Reynolds was appointed street commissioner, and it was "ordered that the fees of the street commissioner be the same as those of town constable for like service." Now what similarity there could be between the duties of street commissioner and constable we will not attempt to point out. If it is meant to apply to the amount of fees or salary paid to the town constable then the whole thing "is clear as mud," for from Sept. 13, 1850, to the date of this meeting the town constable worked for nothing and boarded himself so far as drawing any money from the town treasury is concerned. At this meeting the town clerk's salary was fixed at one dollar per meeting for recording the proceedings and ordinances. At a special meeting, Dec. 13, 1852, Eugene Stanberry was appointed street commissioner (Mr. Reynolds not qualifying), and was paid by an order of the treasurer $15 for services, cleaning streets, etc. This was the first money paid by the board for work on the streets of Morris. At this meeting the land purchased for a cemetery (being what is known as the Old Catholic Cemetery, north of Morris) was ordered sold and $29 was appropriated toward a hook and ladder for the Fire Company. In February, 1853, there was a mad dog scare, and a proclamation issued on that subject. This appears to have been the first scare of that kind. Liquor licenses were raised to $50 at the March meeting of the board, 1853, and four licenses granted. On February 12, 1853, a special charter, incorporating the town of Morris, was passed, submitting the same to the people of Morris for adoption. This election was held May 2, 1853, and the record says "Eugene Stanberry was Juge, and W. F. Stevens, Clerk," who certify that there were 141 votes cast at said election, of which 101 were for and 40 against said charter. This new charter did not change the name or style of the corporation, but increased the number of trustees to six instead of five, and cut off their per diem. It divided the town into three wards. All south of Washington street constituted the First; north of Washington and west of Liberty, the Second; and north of Washington and east of Liberty, the Third ward; each ward to have two trustees, the president to be elected on general ticket; so the council would consist of seven instead of five members. Under this charter the treasurer and town constable were elected by the people. The treasurer was ex- officio assessor, and the town constable was collector. The old board, however, remained in office until Sept. 26, 1853, when they canvassed the votes cast at an election held Sept, 24th under the new charter, and declared Elijah Walker elected president, Geo. E. Parmelee, treasurer and assessor; James B. Jones, constable and collector; L. P. Lott and George Turner, trustees of the 1st ward; Geo. W. Lane and Charles H. Goold of the 2nd; David LeRoy and John Antis of the 3rd. The retiring board, not one of whom had been re-elected, audited their own accounts for services for the past year at $5 each, and a like sum to their clerk for his year's services. The record book of the board of trustees, in which were kept the proceedings and ordinances of the board for three years, was a two-quire paper-back ledger, costing as per price mark 75 cents, and the record covers 42 pages, while the entire cost of running the municipal government for the three years was less than $100, all told. One of the last official acts of this old board reads as follows: "Ordered, that an order for three and 75/100 dollars be drawn in favor of L. P. Lott for paper and candles furnished the board." This was before the days of kerosene or gas, or indeed of camphene, and yet but twenty- nine years have elapsed. At the first election under the new charter there were only 136 votes cast, all of which Mr. Walker received. Indeed there was little or no opposition to those elected from president to constable. The new board met at the office of C. H. Goold Sept. 27, 1853, and elected Nathan B. Dodson, clerk, and Messrs. Lott, Lane and Goold were appointed a committee on "Rules of Order." Messrs. Goold, Lott and Lane were appointed as a committee to receive the books and papers of the former board, examine the same, and make a condensed report thereon." Their first regular meeting should have been held Oct. 10, 1853, but there was not a quorum present, and they adjourned to Oct. 15th to meet at the office of Drs. Hand & LeRoy. No quorum present at that time, and adjourned to the 17th, when a full board were present, when Mr. Lott, from committee on rules of order, reported a series containing twenty-four rules of order, which was adopted. Messrs. Lott and Lane, from the committee to receive and examine the books of the late board of trustees, submitted a report accompanied with a resolution, which was also adopted. Among the suggestions of this report they say, "We carefully inspected said books, etc., and find nothing contained therein that will need any action of this board for the present. The books and papers have been kept in a somewhat careless and loose manner," etc. Mr. Lott, as late treasurer, submitted his report of receipts and disbursements, showing total receipts from January 15, 1852, to Sept. 28, 1853, to be $473.71, with the sum of $420.61 paid out, leaving a balance of $53.10. He also reports the receipt of notes from Patrick Terry (now Dean Terry, of Chicago) amounting to $162.59, for sale of forty acres of cemetery land sold him, and a note for $25 given by Dominic Henry for liquor license. Here the old board was very obliging to the liquor vender, granting a license "on tick." At a meeting of the board Nov. 28th an ordinance was passed selling the west half of the southwest 1/4 of township 27, 3, 4, and 7, to Patrick Terry, for $300, and the money to be derived therefrom was appropriated to the purchase of a Potter's field to bury the poor in the Morris cemetery. They also passed two other ordinances at this meeting, the one entitled "Hogs," the other "Dogs." Though a body politic, the town of Morris had no official seal until the spring of 1854. Nor did the Board of Trustees have a finance committee until Jan'y, 1854. Messrs. Lott, Antis and Le Roy being the first. It would seem that absenteeism in the board was becoming a serious question about this time, and at a meeting Jan'y 12 the record says: "Mr. Lane offered his excuse for absence at last meeting; Mr. Goold came in; Mr. Turner was, by order of the president, summoned to appear before the board immediately; John Antis was deputized to serve the summons." At this meeting an ordinance entitled "Compensation of Town Officers" was passed containing nine sections. Messrs. Goold, Lott and Lane were also appointed to suggest amendments to the charter. At the next meeting Feb'y 13, this committee reported "that they had taken legal advice, and got Col. Bennett to draw up a code of amendments, and submitted the same to our member, Captain Starbuck, who had requested to have the whole matter left to him." This report was adopted and committee discharged. At this meeting one "Henry Fay applied for a license to sell liquor by the small, which was unanimously refused." The clerk presented his bill for services, $38.53—a sum larger than any previous year's entire expenses of the officers of the corporation. At the March meeting, on motion of Mr. Lane, the board purchased blocks nine and twelve, in the Morris Cemetery for the sum of $200 for "burial purposes." J. M. Goold was paid "fifty cents for killing a dog." Mr. Le Roy moved that the president and clerk be authorized to provide a supper to be given to the present board, and the new members elected at the coming election, and that an order be drawn on the treasurer for the cost thereof." But the board sat down on the motion instead of sitting down to the supper. On the 1st of March, 1854, the charter of the town of Morris was amended by the General Assembly, fixing the time of election on the first Monday in April. At this election the following were elected: B. M. Atherton, president; Levi Hills, assessor and treasurer; Alban Bennett, police magistrate; John Galloway, constable and collector; N. B. Dodson, clerk; and the old aldermen, Lott, Turner, Lane, Goold, LeBoy, and Antis. At a meeting of the board April 10th, for the organization of the new board, six standing committees were appointed as follows: Finance and claims, L. P. Lott; Fire department, G. W. Lane; Streets and alleys, George Turner; Health, David Le Roy; Judiciary, C. H. Goold; License, John Antis. These were the first set of standing committees in the town council of Morris. There were one hundred and sixty-nine votes cast at this election, and in the 3d ward David Le Roy and E. P. Seeley each received thirty-two votes for alderman. Instead of deciding which was elected, by drawing cuts, it was referred to the board, and by the board referred to its president. At the second meeting of this new board April 17, 1854, the record says: "The president issued an order for the attendance of Antis, Turner and Goold, served by E. Stanberry, who reported Mr. Goold sick, Mr. Turner absent from town, and Mr. Antis present, which formed a quorum." Whether this order was a summons, notice, attachment, or capias ad respondendum, the record fails to show. At this meeting President Atherton submitted a long report upon the tie vote between Messrs. Le Roy and Seeley, finding in favor of Le Roy on the ground of a failure to elect his successor. This report was laid on the table on motion of Mr. Lott, and no further action seems to have been taken on the subject. Mr. Le Roy continued in the council during the year. At this meeting C. R. Parmelee, Patrick Hynds and H. P. Gillett were elected street commissioners, and P. A. Armstrong, city surveyor. This was a somewhat noted board in the introduction and passage of ordinances, and then enforcing or suspending them by resolution, they were never excelled if equaled. Indeed, this board assumed legislative jurisdiction over everything animate or inanimate within the limits of the corporation, and put on more style, " than a country school ma'm." Let us give a little copy from their record, viz.: "Mr. LeRoy asked leave to present a bill. On motion of Mr. Lott the bill was read by its title, and referred to the last named committee. The committee appointed to draft an ordinance on revenue reported with a bill which was read for the first time. On motion, the second reading was by its title. The bill was then referred to a committee of the whole, and made the order of to- morrow." We suppose tomorrow meant the next regular meeting of the board, but can only guess at it. It was a monster ordinance covering 21 sections, and was passed April 24, 1854. At a special meeting April 29, the board by a vote of five to one refused to grant liquor licenses; what was the effect of that action we do not remember, but are inclined to the belief that whisky was about as free as usual that year. At the May meeting the record says: "It was ordered by the board that Mr. Turner be fined for absence at the meeting of May 6th; Mr. Turner came in quarter to nine o'clock." But we are giving too much in detail, and must hurry along with our chronicle. A corporate seal was not adopted until May 29, 1854. The revenue collected this year was $1,274.97. The city surveyor completed a general system of trade, and an ordinance establishing the same was passed July 10, 1854. There seems to have been a coolness about this time between President Atherton and the trustees, and at the August meeting "President Atherton tendered his resignation. Mr. Antis called for ayes and nays. Messrs. Le Roy and Lane voted aye, Messrs. Lott, Antis and Turner nay, whereupon the president withdrew his resignation." At the October meeting Chapin Park was ordered to be inclosed. It is now known as the Public Park. Mr. Dodson resigned and Alban Bennett was elected clerk, Nov. 13, 1854. At the April election, 1855, there were 227 votes cast, and the following were elected: Wm. T. Hopkins, president; B. F. Hall, A. H. Bishop, Robert Longworth, Nathan B. Dodson, James N. Reading and E. B. Hanna, trustees; H. B. Atwater, clerk; Geo. E. Parmelee, assessor and treasurer, and Abel Longworth, constable and collector. This was another clean sweep of the old board and a new deal throughout—except assessor and treasurer. Mr. Atwater, however, did not accept the office of clerk and Mr. Bennett held over. Before the next election a new charter had been granted by the Legislature, creating another ward. The election was held April 7, 1856, and resulted in the election of the following: W. T. Hopkins, re-elected president; L. P. Lott, B. F. Hall, S. C. Bliss, Geo. W. Lane, J. B. Jones, Patrick Hynds, A. Kirkland and Samuel Fatsinger, trustees; J. W. Woodrow, clerk; W. S. Gibson, constable and collector, and Hiram Mallory, assessor and treasurer. Another clean sweep except on president. This retiring board had learned to vote aye on appropriations and salaries, the clerk's fees allowed being $128.54, for the year; the treasurer reported receipts for the year, $2,877.29; disbursements $2,456.25, and his fees for collecting and paying out the same, $53.33. During this year another charter was obtained, creating Morris a city with a mayor and common council, a police magistrate, street commissioner, etc. At the April election, 1857, the following officers were elected: F. S. Gardner, mayor; Elijah Walker, marshal; Patrick Hynds, treasurer; Wm. Skehan, collector, T. A. Henry, street commissioner; A. Clark, J. B. Davidson, Wm. B. Grenell, S. W. Harris, Philip Hart, S. Fatsinger, L. P. Lott and L. Ashton, aldermen. This council elected J. M. P. Butler, clerk. At the April election, 1858, the following officers were elected: C. K. Parmelee, mayor; F. S. Goold, marshal; George Selleck, treasurer; H. P. Gillett, collector; J. L. Dow, street commissioner, J. P. Southworth, police justice, and one alderman from each ward, viz.; Miles Gordon, C. H. Goold, Geo. F. Brown, E. S. Webber and C. Storr were elected; Jno. W. Woodrow, was elected city clerk; Oscar Bangher, city attorney. The collector collected $3,588.19 of taxes this year. At the next election, April, 1859, the following were elected: J. W. Newport, mayor; F. S. Goold, marshal; F. K. Hulburd, treasurer; J. L. Dow, street commissioner; John Barr, collector; H. C. Goold, J. W. Massey, Jno. G. Armstrong and David Pratt, aldermen. The taxes collected this year were $3,777.70. L. P. Lott was elected city clerk by the council. At the April election, 1860, the officers elected were Wm. C. Hammill, mayor; Alex Bushnell, marshal; James McWilliams, collector; Geo. W. Lane, treasurer; James H. Oliver, street commissioner; E. B. Hanna, Hiram Plimpton, Daniel Matteson, Wm. A. Kiersted and C. Storr, aldermen. Messrs. James Reardan, H. C. Goold and J. W. Massey, holding over. The council at their meeting of April 23d elected L. P. Lott, city clerk; David Le Roy city attorney; Nathaniel McBride, surveyor; and C. H. Goold, assessor, who declined, and H. P. Gillett was elected in his place. Samuel B. Thomas and Calquhann Grant were designated as police justices. George Fisher was appointed health officer. Drs. Mathews, Hand and Antis, health commissioners, and James Miller, chief of the fire department, and for the first time in the history of the municipal government of Morris, standing committees of three members each were appointed. May 14, 1860: six standing committees were established, finance and claims, streets and alleys, licenses, judiciary, fire and water, and health. The fiscal report of the finance committee shows total receipts for the year ending April 15, 1860, were $4,098.68, of which $855.00 was for liquor licenses, and $80.00 for billiard table licenses. The expenditures were fire department, $311.26; streets and alleys, $827.05; street commissioner's services, $256.29; city marshal, $56.00; city clerk, $212.34; printing charter ordinances, etc., $364.32, etc. The same committee reported $1,475.81 in hands of the late treasurer. This city council seem to have gotten down to business and reduced everything to rule, while their records were well kept, and are very full. Alderman H. C. Goold having moved out of his ward, L. B. Ray was elected in June of that year as his successor. The late treasurer's bond, if any he ever gave, could not and never has been found. The city, however, obtained some Iowa land for the $1,475.81 in his hands, but were the losers. In the early spring of 1861 a new charter for the city had been obtained. It was very long, and indeed a copy of the charter of Chicago. It was, however, submitted to a vote of the people March 23d, and literally snowed under, there being 224 votes against and only 26 for its adoption. At the city election, April 2, 1861, there were 440 votes cast. This was by far the largest vote ever cast before that time and resulted in the election of John Antis, mayor; Geo. W. Lane, treasurer; F. M. Robinson, (now member of the Legislature) marshal; Wm. A. Rogers, street commissioner; William McFarland, Jr., collector; and L. P. Lott, Eli F. Johnson, Charles Comerford, and C. G. Conklin, aldermen. The fiscal report for the year ending April 15, 1861, shows total receipts, $4,667.83, of which liquor licenses furnished $1,385; show licenses, $61; ball alley licenses, $48; billiard tables, $40, and fines, $76. Total liabilities of the city, $4,422.19, with assets of $10,943.05, which was certainly a fair showing. Charles Turner was elected city-clerk; John P. Southworth, city attorney; H. P. Gillett, assessor, and C. Grant and Samuel B. Thomas were designated as city justices; James Miller was elected chief engineer of the fire department, with Daniel Matteson and John Barr, assistants. On the 1st of April, 1862, there were 462 votes cast and Uri B. Couch was elected mayor; Geo. F. Brown, treasurer; John C. Jones, marshal; Jacob Gorich, street commissioner; John Vesly, collector; with the following aldermen: E. B. Hanna, Hiram Plimpton, M. K. Keller, and Alex. Bushnell. The receipts for the year were $4,300.77 of which liquor licenses were but $650.00, a falling off of one half from the previous year. The city clerk got $169.30 for his year's service, an income of $162.30 over Capt. Starbuck for like duties ten years before. Charles Turner was re-elected clerk; William Grant, city attorney; A. M. Cleveland, surveyor, and Thomas Reynolds, assessor; Jno. W. Woodrow was elected chief engineer of the fire department, with David Conlong and John Gunlock, assistants. The officers for 1863 were Geo. F. Brown, mayor; Wm. McFarlan, Jr., collector; Jacob Gorich, street commissioner; Geo. W. Lane, treasurer; Wm. Zimmerman, marshal; and S. B. Thomas, D. O. Goodrich, Geo. Fisher and Charles Comerford, aldermen. The retiring Council for the first time in the history of the corporation tendered a vote of thanks to retiring Mayor Couch "for the impartial, prompt and efficient manner in which he has presided over the deliberations of the Council during the past year." C. Turner was re-elected city clerk; Hiram C. Goold was elected assessor; James N. Reading, city attorney, and Jno. W. Woodrow chief of the fire department, with David Conlong and Charles B. Ingersoll, assistants. B. M. Atherton and Thomas Alford were designated as city justices. This new council seem to have been one of great ability in auditing accounts and drawing orders on its treasurer. It was also pretty heavy on dogs, as a large number of bills were presented for "burial of dogs," and allowed at fifty cents each. At the next election, April 5, 1864, E. B. Hanna was elected mayor; Charles Sparr, treasurer; E. T. Hopkins, marshal; J. H. Oliver, collector; Wm. H. Rogers, street commissioner, and H. E. Reinhart, W. H. Parmelee, N. C. Petteys and T. Donnovan, aldermen. The finance committee report receipts by the treasurer for past year $4,687.82. Expenditures $4,502.84. The amount received for liquor licenses was $1,055; shows $83.00. Bridge stock dividends, $441.00; fines, $75.00. This was a good year for the city attorney, as he got $212.00; city clerk, $151.57. The fire department cost $323.72, and the sum of $1,254.49 was expended on street repairs. The administration of justice this year was expensive. In addition to the $312.00 paid to the attorney, there were $331.70 paid to justices and constables for fire and police services. W. H. Parker was elected city clerk; T. B. Rice, attorney; J. W. Massey, assessor; Jno. W. Woodrow, chief of the fire department, with D. Conlong and Jacob Meyer, assistants, and Nathaniel McBride, inspector of weights and measures. Whether Mc ever performed service in this office or not the record fails to state. George H. Kiersted was elected surveyor. Mr. Parker, the new clerk, kept a very full and well-arranged record of the council proceedings. At the meeting of the council, Dec. 19, 1864, a bill of two dollars and fifty cents was paid for "removing" five dogs, and one dollar for hauling them to the boneyard. Did the assassin Guiteau steal this term from the common council of the city of Morris ? Page 358 of the record is as follows: "To the memory of Timothy Donnovan, who received injuries from the explosion of an anvil while firing a national salute on the 22d Feb'y, of which injuries he died Feb'y 26, 1865." Mr. Donnovan was an alderman, and while endeavoring to fire off an anvil on the news of the evacuation of Richmond, on the 22d of Feb'y, he was fatally injured, and John P. Mannahan, one of our best business men, was instantly killed by the bursting of the anvil. Many other people stood near the spot, but fortunately no others were injured. The writer stood within a few feet of Mannahan when he was instantly killed by a piece of the anvil striking his head. Mr. Donnovan was a blacksmith, and it was his own anvil that killed him. The total receipts by the city treasurer for the year were $5,450.10. Of this sum $1,275 were from liquor licenses, $215.44 from fines and judgments. The clerk's salary was $195.32; attorney's, $163; marshal's, $170.21; fire department cost $556.14, and police $188.04. At the April election, 1865, E. B. Hanna was re-elected mayor, and Geo. W. Granby, Geo. W. Lane, Geo. Fisher and C. G. Conklin were elected aldermen. Colquhann Grant was elected clerk; J. W. Massey, assessor; J. N. Reading, attorney; and Geo. H. Kiersted, surveyor. Judge Grant made an excellent city clerk. David Conlong was elected chief of the fire department, with Miles Gordon and Jacob Geisen, assistants. Our friend Geisen must have been many pounds lighter then than now. He would make a decidedly weighty fireman now. Deacon Bross was elected collector. The assessor, Mr. J. W. Massey, gave a bond in the sum of $10,000, conditioned that he would well and faithfully perform the duties of assessor, etc. Under no circumstances could the assessor handle the money of the city,—not a dollar came to his hands,—hence we fail to see any reason, good or bad, requiring a $10,000 bond from a town assessor. At the next city election, April 3, 1866, E. B. Hanna was again elected mayor; E. T. Hopkins, marshal; Charles Sparr, treasurer; J. R. Combs, collector; Abram Bogart, street commissioner; N. McBride, police magistrate; and James Miller, Edward Sanford, Wm. Sheehan, aldermen. This council elected F. C. Mayo, clerk; A. Bennett, attorney; Thomas Reynolds, assessor; and Joseph Hicks, health officer. Total receipts of the treasurer for past year were $9,436.51; disbursements, $8,167.30; liquor licenses, $1,150; expended on streets, $2,380.89; gutters, $2,339.41. This was a year of taxes and improvements. Mr. Mayo did not qualify as city clerk, and Judge Grant seems to have held over. The receipts for the year ending April, 1867, were $10,240.80, and expenditures, $9,717.10. The liquor license money this year was $1,614.30. The total assets of the city were reported as follows: In hands of Treasurer - $523 70 Bridge stock - 6,300 00 S. W. Harris' note - 4 33 Fire King engine, hose and carriage - 2,500 00 Niagara do do - 1,200 00 Lots in Morris Cemetery - 200 00 Furniture in Council room - 30 00 Tools in Street Commissioner's hands - 50 00 Real estate—Iowa lands, 160 acres - 800 00 Engine building and lot - 700 00 Total - $9,308 03 Liabilities were stated at "outstanding orders, $209.50." This was surely a fine showing. The city clerk received for his year's services $299.75. At the election April 2, 1867, S. B. Thomas was elected mayor; E. T. Hopkins, marshal; C. Sparr, treasurer; J. R. Combs, collector; and A. Bogart, street commissioner; with Wm. B. Field, Charles H. Goold, D. R. Holmes, James B. Jones, Joseph Hicks, Wm. Selleck, and Samuel Jordan, aldermen. A fifth ward having been added, thus increasing the number of aldermen to ten—Mr. Holmes having been elected to fill a vacancy in the second ward,—Judge Grant was unanimously re-elected clerk; Charles Turner was elected attorney; L. Whitney, assessor; A. M. Cleveland, surveyor; and E. T. Hopkins, health officer. At this city election nearly 500 votes were cast. The total receipts of the year ending April, 1868, were reported to be $12,839.50; expenditures, $8,111.27; leaving a balance in treasury, $5,251.93. Total assets are given at $9,141.26, with liabilities for outstanding orders, $80.03. At the election April 7, 1868, E. B. Hanna was again elected mayor; John Unfred, marshal; Nelson Carpenter, collector; Abram Bogart, street commissioner; and L. P. Lott, George Galloway, and B. Olin, aldermen, with a tie between E. Pyle and B. F. Hall in the second ward, and between John Vesley and Jacob Gouch in the third ward. These gentlemen "cast lots" for the position, when Pyle and Gouch were the successful ones. This council elected Lucius Whitney, clerk; Gen. Wm. Birney, city attorney; Thomas Reynolds, assessor. The total receipts of the treasurer for the past year were $12,843; disbursements, $8,246.21. The sum of $1,937.08 was expended on street repairs, and $736 for night watch services. The amount received from liquor licenses was the large sum of $3,126.47. The amount of fines collected was $473.55, which was probably the largest amount ever collected in one year in Morris. On the 10th of August, 1868, Alderman Olin resigned, and Edward Sanford was elected to fill the vacancy. Mr. Unfred, the city marshal, resigned in October of that year and E. T. Hopkins was appointed by the council to fill the vacancy. At the council meeting of the 8th of March, 1869, the committee on fire and water submitted a long report on the expense of the fire department, from which we glean the following items. That Shaboneh steam engine cost $4,500; necessary hose, $2,925. That the city hall building together with engine, hose and fire apparatus cost $14,927.82. This committee was composed of Aldermen Lott, Selleck, Field and Jones, with Mayor Hanna. To raise the means to meet these expenditures, interest-bearing bonds to the amount of $9,250 were issued and sold. At the election of April 6, 1869, E. B. Hanna was again elected mayor; E. T. Hopkins, marshal; Joel W. Ellis, collector; Jacob Geisen, treasurer; Alex. Bushnell, street commissioner, and the following named aldermen: Oliver Hanlen, A. M. Cleveland, J. S. E. Scovill, and Charles Wilkins. There being a tie in the 3d Ward, between James Honie and George Baum, lots were cast and Honie won. The financial statement shows the total receipts for the past year were $16,575.66, of which "spirit licenses" were $2,625.68, and show licenses $309.00 with $5,251.93 in the treasury at commencement of the year, making a total of $21,837.59, with disbursements of $20,408.70, leaving in the treasury $1,430.89. This was a large sum of money for one year's municipal transactions. J. H. Pettit was elected clerk; A. B. Jordan, attorney; H. Plimpton, assessor. The city election of April 5, 1870, was a warm one, and nearly 600 votes were cast, resulting in the election of David D. Spencer, of State Savings notoriety, Major E. T. Hopkins, marshal; C. W. Card, collector; Jacob Geisen, treasurer; Wm. Mason, Jr., street commissioner; N. McBride, police magistrate, with E. Gifford, A. P. Buckley, A. F. Hand, Geo. W. Rossiter and E. Sanford, aldermen; J. H. Pettit was re-elected clerk; A. R. Jordan, attorney: Thos. Reynolds, assessor; E. Ridgeway, chief engineer of the fire department, with H. L. Miller and Geo. Green, assistants. The fiscal report of the year ending April 11, 1870, shows receipts, $11,189.91, with amount in treasury at commencement of the year, $1,430.89, making a total of $12,620.80. The liquor licenses for the year were $2,706.99; show licenses, $334.33. The disbursements were $9,491.07, leaving $3,129.73 in the treasury. Among the expenditures were $956.75 for repairs on Lisbon road, and $350 for Wauponsee road, south of the bridge across the Illinois river, and $1,107.82 on street repairs. At the next election, April 4, 1871, John S. R. Scovill was elected mayor; E. T. Hopkins, marshal; C. W. Card, collector; Leander Irons, treasurer; Alex. Bushnell, street commissioner; with D. W. Burry, James McKeen, George Baum, Wm. M. Collins, and Wm. Mason, aldermen. This was the most hotly contested election our little city ever had, and the judiciary committee assumed judicial functions in canvassing the aldermanic vote, and reported that neither Mr. Burry nor Mr. McKeen, aldermen elect, was eligible to the office—Mr. Burry, "because he is not a naturalized citizen. The papers under which he claims citizenship, were issued about the last days of March, 1871, by the county court of Grundy County, Illinois," citing Mills et al. v. McCabe, 44 Ill. Reports, 195, which, upon examination, it will be found, has no sort of bearing upon the case whatever. Hence, the opinion of the judiciary committee of the common council of the city of Morris, that county courts under the statute laws of Illinois, have no jurisdiction over naturalization of aliens, was a little "too previous." In the case of Mr. McKeen, the committee say he has not resided in the city limits one year next preceding his election as required by the city ordinance. Now, it so happened that Mr. McKeen had been a resident of the county nearly forty years, and of the second ward in the city, from which he was elected, several years, having purchased a lot and built a nice residence there, but had been temporarily absent with his wife visiting his son in the town of Mazon, on his old homestead. This report was however, adopted by the old council, and Aldermen- elect Burry and McKeen, by a vote of five to four, were declared ineligible, and Messrs. Coy and Bliss, by a like vote, were declared elected, though both were defeated at the polls. Mayor Scovill, having qualified as such, called a special meeting of the council April 17, 1871, for the purpose of electing city clerk, attorney, assessor, etc. The record of this meeting, as kept by the clerk, shows a want of accord between the mayor and the clerk. We give one extract to show the general tenor. It says: "The meeting was called to order by J. S. R. Scovill, mayor, who immediately commenced calling the names of individuals, some of whom, as appears from the record, are aldermen, and others not, omitting the names of Aldermen Hamlin and Bliss, and substituting the names of Messrs. Burry and McKeen. The mayor proceeded to read a paper, no copy of which has been handed the clerk, and then proceeded to read the appointments of certain persons as the several committees, some of whom appear from the records to be aldermen, and some do not, but no copy of said appointments has been filed with the clerk." The record of this meeting shows a first-class wrangle covering two full pages, and at a meeting of the council, May 15, 1871, the entire record of this meeting was ordered to be expunged, and the words, "Expunged by resolution passed by the common council of the City of Morris, May 15, 1871. George W. Howard, City Clerk." Mr. Howard gives his version of that celebrated meeting of April 17th on the following page of the record. It is a very different record. At this meeting Messrs. Burry and McKeen were admitted to their seats, and Geo. W. Howard was elected clerk, W. T. Hopkins, attorney, and Thomas Reynolds, assessor. The fiscal report for year ending April, 1871, shows receipts of $10,279.75, with balance over from previous year, $3,129.73, making total of $13,409.48. The spirit licenses amounted to $2,724.00; shows, $322.50; expenditures, $12,679.78; leaving in the treasury, $729.70. Mayor Scovill was re-elected April 2, 1872, E. T. Hopkins was elected marshal; Valentine Zimmerman, collector; Jacob Geisen, treasurer; Alex. Bushnell, street commissioner; and Henry Rutherford, L. Irons, A. F. Hand, Geo. W. Rossiter and A. Harrison, aldermen. Mr. Howard was elected clerk; P. A. Armstrong, attorney; T. Reynolds, assessor. The receipts for year ending April 8, 1872, were $8,661.62, including amount from former treasurer ($729.70); disbursed, $8,648.71, leaving $1,291 in treasury. On April 1, 1873, Mayor Scovill was re-elected; Mr. Hopkins was also re- elected marshal; Geisen, treasurer; Bushnell, street commissioner, and L. P. Lott, T. W. Tupper, J. C. Carr, Wm. Handwork and Michael Gormley were elected aldermen; F. B. Handwork was elected clerk; P. A. Armstrong, attorney. The financial report for year ending April 7, 1873, shows receipts $7,549.18, of which spirit licenses furnished only $1,500.00. The expenditures were $6,917.61, leaving $631.57 in the treasury; the total assets of the city are given at $20,847.39, with liabilities for outstanding orders, $1,009.10; Mr. Handwork made a very fine clerk; his record is clear and full. At the April election, 1874, Mr. Scovill was again elected mayor, and E. T. Hopkins, marshal; Thomas Mernan, treasurer; T. Reynolds, assessor; Val Zimmerman, collector; Alex. Bushnell, street commissioner; N. McBride, police magistrate, and the following aldermen: H. Rutherford, H. C. Gifford, J. Gorich, G. A. Acton and A. Harrison; F. B. Handwork was elected clerk, and A. R. Jordan, attorney. The fiscal report of the clerk shows total receipts, including $631.57 on hand, at beginning of the year, $33,535.81, of which liquor licenses furnished $1,716.16; other licenses $390.00; expenditures, $28,940.57, leaving balance in treasury, $4,086.14; among the items of expenditures are two entries of permanent improvements amounting to $18,200.00; this was for investment in the Sherwood School Furniture Manufacturing Company, and bonus to obtain its location here. We find there were expended this year upon street repairs, $3,216.41, and $990.50 in the fire department. The assets of the city are given at $24,815.01, and liabilities $20,049.49; among the assets are engine house, $5,786.43; fire department, $10,961.95; real estate, $1,301.50, and $4,086.14 in the treasurer's hands, and $877.16 in hands of F. K. Hulburd, late treasurer; outstanding bonds, $18,000.00, the last eight of which ($4,000.00) mature Feb'ry 1, 1884. Alderman Carr having moved out of the 3d ward, P. A. Armstrong was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy in November, 1874. At the next election of city officers in April, 1875, Mayor Scovill was re- elected; E. T. Hopkins was again elected marshal; Alex. Bushnell, street commissioner; Thos. Mernan, treasurer; T. Reynolds, assessor, and Geo. M. Jones, collector, with the following named aldermen: John W. Miller, Ono Earnshaw, Geo. Baum, J. O. Levitte and John Barr; M. S. Prindle was elected clerk; P. A. Armstrong, attorney; Dr. E. Ridgeway, who had been for several years chief engineer of the fire department, was again appointed to that office, with H. S. Heading and James Johnson, as his assistants. Mr. Handwork, the retiring city clerk, submitted an elaborate trial balance of the books; from this and the report of the finance committee, a very clear statement of the financial standing of the city is made; the total receipts were $12,474.24, expenditures, exclusive of permanent improvements and interest on bonds and loan orders, $9,073.70. The assets of the city are given at $22,136.24, and liabilities at $21,169.03; of this latter amount city bonds make the sum of $19,000.00, and outstanding orders, $2,169.03. Amount in the treasury $1,357.72; again was Mayor Scovill re-elected at the April election, 1876; E.T. Hopkins, marshal; T. Mernan, treasurer; Geo. M. Jones, collector; Thomas Reynolds, assessor, and Geo. Taylor, street commissioner, with R. L. Schofield, C. J. I. Murray, Henry Fey, Thomas Owen and Wm. Rolley, aldermen; Mr. Prindle was re-elected clerk; Armstrong, attorney; E. Ridgeway, chief engineer of the fire department, with H. A. Cleveland and L. Irons as his assistants. Mr. Prindle prepared and submitted a full and detailed statement of the fiscal year, showing receipt for the year $17,879.86, with amount in treasury at close of previous year, $1,357.72, total, $19,237.58; paid out on orders, $17,865.02; leaving on hand, $1,372.56. The saloon licenses amounted to $2,117; other licenses, $471.10. The expense of the fire department this year was $2,496.30, and for street repairs, $640.47. The city assets are given as $23,181.52, and liabilities at $19,107.09; being for city bonds, $19,000; orders outstanding, $107.09. At the next election, April, 1877, Dr. John Antis was elected mayor; Timothy Rodd, marshal; Wm. Jones, treasurer; and Fred Johnson, street commissioner; with Wm. Humble, James McHoran, Dr. A. E. Palmer, O. J. Nelson, J. McCambridge and Wm. Mason, aldermen. The fiscal report shows receipts, $18,198.20; with amount from former treasurer, $1,372.56; total, $19,570.82. Disbursements, $18,659.27, leaving a balance in treasury of $911.56. Total assets, $24,503.48; liabilities, $16,183.97; outstanding city bonds, $16,000. This was a discordant council. L. Irons was appointed and confirmed as chief engineer, with H. S. Reading and James W. Willard, assistants. His Honor the mayor's appointments of clerk and attorney were not concurred in, whereupon he issued a manifesto to the council, whereupon the council adjourned without action. Geo. W. Lane was finally confirmed as clerk, and C. Grant as attorney, when matters moved along smoothly. At the November meeting a petition signed by 99 legal voters of Morris was presented to the council, praying that an election be called to vote for or against abandoning the special charter and organizing under Chapter 24 of the Statute entitled "Cities, Villages and Towns." The petition was granted, and an election held for that purpose on the 18th day of December, 1877. The vote resulted in favor of the reorganization under the general law by sixty majority in a light vote cast. Minority representation in the council was defeated by a larger majority. At a special meeting of the council Jan'y 21, 1878, Aldermen Rolley, Humble and Fey, a committee to divide the city into wards as required bylaw. This committee reported to the council at their next regular meeting Feb'y 11, 1878, dividing the city into four instead of five wards, when an ordinance was passed entitled "An ordinance dividing the city into wards," as follows: "All that part of the said city which lies south of the south line of Main street and east of Nettle Creek shall constitute the First Ward. "All that part of the said city which lies west of Liberty street, south of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, and included in the First Ward, shall constitute the Second Ward. "All that part of the said city which lies east of Liberty street, and between the south line of Main street and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, shall constitute the Third Ward. "All that part of the said city which lies north of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad shall constitute the Fourth Ward." At the regular March meeting of the council, an ordinance was passed making the marshal and superintendent of streets (as called in the statute) elective by the people annually, on the third Tuesday of April, being the time filed under the statute for city elections. By the reorganization Mayor Antis held over another year while an entirely new council had to be elected. At this election, April, 1878, N. McBride was elected police magistrate; Fred Johnson, superintendent of streets; E. T. Hopkins, marshal; and Geo. M. Jones, Francis Hall, Wm. Mason, L. W. Claypool, O. J. Nelson, Henry Fey, T. Owen and J. O. Levitte were elected aldermen. The fiscal report of the preceding year shows receipts including amount from former treasurer, $12,839.32, disbursements, $11,897.85, leaving balance in treasury $941.47. During this year there was a general revision of the ordinances made, so as to conform more nearly to the provisions of the statute. At an adjourned meeting of the council April 21, 1879, an ordinance was passed fixing the salary of the mayor at $100 per year payable quarterly and allowing aldermen $2.50 for each meeting actually attended by them. At the election April 15, 1879, John Barr was elected mayor; Geo. W. Lane, clerk; Wm. Jones, treasurer; Thomas Murray, marshal; Fred Johnson, superintendent of streets; A. L. Doud, attorney, and A. E. Palmer, Wm. Mason, O. J. Nelson and Charles Canahan, aldermen. At a meeting of the council April 30, 1879, Mayor Antis read a veto of the ordinance allowing the mayor and aldermen compensation for their official services. Thereupon the vote by which said ordinance was passed at the last meeting was reconsidered, and the ordinance again put upon its passage notwithstanding the mayor's objections. But it failed to pass, ayes 5, noes 3. Not a two-thirds vote, as required to pass an ordinance over the mayor's veto. The receipts for the year were $13,459.15, disbursements $11,604.07, leaving $1,855.08 in the treasury. The expense of the police were unusually heavy, being $686.25. Geo. W. Lane was re-appointed clerk, and Henry S. Reading chief of the fire department, with H. L. Miller and Wm. Gibhard assistants. This city council was a "go-as-you-please one." It was harmonious, though by no means orderly or dignified. At the next election Fred Johnson was re-elected superintendent of streets, Thomas Murray marshal, and Geo. M. Jones, Wm. Stephens, Henry Fey and E. M. Wing, aldermen, the mayor holding over (under the law the mayor is elected for two years). The mayor re-appointed Mr. Lane clerk, H. S., Reading chief, and H. L. Miller and Wm. Gibhard assistants of the fire department. The receipts of the year were $9,993.59, of which spirit licenses furnished $2,258.70; billiard tables $150.00. The expenditures were $8,880.16. Of this the police department cost $1,127.20. An amount which is startlingly large, and makes a bad showing for the peace and order of our really quiet and orderly city. This brings us down to the election of our present mayor, Hon. John S. R. Scovill in April, 1881, who is now on his ninth year's service in that capacity. We close this branch of our history with an apology for its length. Indeed, we bit off a larger slice than we intended, when we started on this subject. It was rather more than we could chew. Quite too much to be easily digested or profitably swallowed. Mr. Prindle is again the clerk, and is one of the best the city ever had. Additional Comments: HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY ILLINOIS; Containing a History from the earliest settlement to the present time, embracing its topographical, geological, physical and climatic features; its agricultural, railroad interests, etc.; giving an account of its aboriginal inhabitants, early settlement by the whites, pioneer incidents, its growth, its improvements, organization of the County, the judicial history, the business and industries, churches, schools, etc.; Biographical Sketches; Portraits of some of the Early Settlers, Prominent Men, etc.; ILLUSTRATED. CHICAGO: O. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, Lakeside Building. 1882. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/history/1882/historyo/chapter711gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 56.1 Kb