Grundy County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 2 of those read), 1882 (part 3 of 4)

Oct. 25. ISU, and died Nov. 1, ISoO. Witli his niotlior's family lie moved overlaud Irom Ohio to Illinois in the spring of 1831, and located near where Lacon now stands, in April of that year. In August, of the same^'ear, the family moved to the present town of Deer I'ark, La Salic County. A man of great mental and physical strength, he was a born leader of men. In September, 184:1, he was elected sherift', and was re-elected several times thereafter. So great was his influence that he was generallj' called " the emperor of Grundy." He alwaj's had a host of friends, who looked upon him as their leader. Yet lie never appeared to seek their leadership. It was acconled him. In energy, perseverance and business tact, he had few equals. lie could plan and execute great undertakings, where the common man and mind could see nothing to do. He was probably the ablest man Grundy County ever had. lie with his wife and two daughters moved from Ottawa here in March, 1841, and took possession of the Chapin log cabin before described. With him cameGEOKOE H. KiEESTED, a graduate of South College, Kentucky. Mi. Kiersted was a man of liberal education and magnificent physical form, a man who would attract attention and admiration among a crowd of hundreds of fine looking men. There was a peculiar dignity - yea, majesty in his very step, whilst every motion of his fine form was graceful and easy. About six feet in height, with broad shoulders and powerful liinbs, yet he was as active as a cat; even up to the time of his death, which occurred but a few years since, he could turn ahandepring on the barn floor. AVith clear blue eyes, finely shaped head and remarkably pure complexion, he was a veiy handsome man. Fond of music, poetry and fiowers, and a poet himself of no common type, yet too modest to let his poetry see the light of publication. Possessed of a fine tenor voice, and master of the flute, and of great conversational powers, he was a welcome guest and leader of society. His life and history here are parts and parcels of the history of Morris. Ha was generous to a fault, and acquired money only for its use. Next to Mr. A. no man ever excelled him in influence in Grundy County, lie was defeated for the oftice of recorder by Mr. L. W. Claypool, May 24, 1841, and then accepted a position as assistant engineer on the canal, making his home still here. He married Miss B. KoUey, the accomplished sister-in-law of James Nagle, and upon the death of Mr. Nagle succeeded him as clerk of the county commissioners, court, June 5, 1843, which oflice he continued to hold until the oflice was changed to county clerk, in 1849. He also held the office of clerk of the circuit court from 1842 to 1853, and postmaster a short time under Polk's administration, but resigned it in favor of the writer in the spring of 1864. He died poor, leaving a large family - all daughters. The eldest, Anna, is the wife of D. 0. Huston, Esq.; the second, Abbie M., is the wife of Alexander Burrell, Esq., both of Morris. Both are ladies of fine physique and intelligence. Paschal Paola Chapin, before mentioned, was a brother of John P. Chapin, one of the proprietors of Morris and came here in 1842 to look after his brother's interest. A natural wag, yet handsome and accomplished. We find him acting as, clerk ^?'o tem. of the county commissioners court in the fall of 184:2. He was the first clerk of the circuit court of the county and " a liale fellow well met," in all the public gatiierings t'f the time. He went by the name of P'Flora P'Nellie or P. Chapin, and left here about the year 1845 and died in Wisconsin lately. He was "a gay and festive old bach," ever ready for sport and fun. Of medium size, dark complexion, jet black iiair and whiskers, he was decidedly handsome. James IIakt came here with his family in the fall of 1841 and located his cabin near tiie Cedar Poleon Wanponsee street. He was a giant in size and strength and possessed of good executive ability. In company with Mr. Armstrong he took one or two contracts on the canal, one of them being that portion which passes tiirough Morris. Teams and scrapers in digging canals had not come into use at that time, and if they had, they could not liave been obtained, for they were not in the countrj'. The work was done with the shovel and barrow, a very slow and expensive mode of digging a canal. In this slow mode of canal building, Mr. Hart was well educated, and would have made money on their contracts if the State had not gone into jiractical bankruptcy and paid their estimates in scrip, worth only about 33^ cents on the dollar. Notwithstanding this ruinous depreciation in the funds, Messrs. Armstrong & Hart finished up their contracts at a heavy financial loss. At the regular election, Aug. 7, 1843, Mr. Hart was elected school commissioner of the county and qualified as such Sept. 4th, giving a $12,000 bond, which oSice lie held to the time of liis death, which occurred in 1844. He left quite a family, of whom Mrs. Thomas Reynolds, Mrs. Wm. Teller and John

Hart, our popular blacksmith, still reside in Morris. Michael DePrenueoast came here from Ottawa in the winter of 1843-4 and built a double log cabin where the First National Bank of Morris now stands. Elected to the office of justice of the peace soon after coming here, he held that office up to August, 1846, when lie was elected probate justice of the peace. For him nature did but little, education much. He made a good justice of the peace and by no means a bad probate judge. He had been admitted to the bar, but never practiced as a lawyer. A man of inordinate vanity, he was extremely susceptible to flattery, but his honesty and integrity were never questioned. He built the fine brick block at the corner of "Washington and Wanponsee streets, known now as the Bank Block, but during his life-time as the " Pendegrass Block." It was asserted by some that his name when became from Ireland was Pendegrass and that for style he changed it to "DePrendegast" to make it Frenchy and aristocratic. He died about the year 1870, leaving his widow and one son surviving; both of whom died shortly after, leaving an estate for litigation without direct heirs. LuTHEK S. EoBBiNS, M. D., moved to Morris trom the Sulphur Springs, south of this city, in 1842, and took possession of the Chapin cabin when Mr. Armstrong moved to the Grundy Hotel. Dr. Robbins was doubtless the first regular physician of Grundy County, having located at the Sulphur Springs, now owned by George Harold, in 1834. He was elected probate justice of the peace in 1843 which he held to the time of his death, April 1, 1845. He was a man of good acquirements with considerable skill as a physician.

Bartholomew McGratii came here from Dresden and built the " Morris Hotel " in 1843, which stood at southwest corner of Main and Liberty streets where the Gibbard brick block now stands. A natural mathematician and fine business man, he had been engaged for several years preceding as a canal contractor, and was elected one of the county commissioners to succeed Henry Cryder, Esq., Aug. 7, 1843. This office lie filled with credit to himself, and satislaction to the county for sevei-al years, and died of consumption, very generally regretted, in 1846, leaving a widow and three children, two of whom now survive, viz.: Thomas E. and Samuel D. McGrath, the former of this city, the latter a compositor on the Chicago Times. His widow became the wife of Col. James H. O'Brien, and died here in 1850.

John McNellis, or black Jack, as he was sometimes called, came herefrom Ottawa in 1844, and built a frame house, on the spot now occupied by Brown's drug store, for a boarding house and saloon. Unable to read or write, yet nature supplied this defect by giving him a large, well balanced and active brain. He did a good business, and accumulated some means so that when the canal was opened in 1848 he was able to purchase a fine canal boat, and christened it the General Shields. "With this boat and the exercise of good judgment in the purchase and sale of grain, he made considerable money. What would have seemed to others a misfortune not nnfrequently proved to him fortunate. For instance, on one occasion he bought several thousand bushels of wheat, which were shipped on the General Shields for the Chicago market; while on its waj' a break in the canal detained the boat some fifteen days, during which time the price of wheat went up several cents per day, so that he nearly doubled his money on this venture. AVhen the canal trustees held their public sale here,«Mr. McNeills purchased sixty acres of land, all now within the corporate limits of the city of Morris. He also purchased at that sale several other tracts of land. Honest in his dealings with thefarmershegained their confidence and good will to such a degree, that, other things being equal, he got their grain. Erecting a warehouse where the McEwen warehouse now stands, he did the leading grain business for many years. Having purchased the fine farm lying northwest of Morris, now owned by William Stephens and occupied by his son Charles, he built the fine brick dwelling thereon, and otherwise improved the place so as to make it one of the best farms of the county. A devout Catholic in religion, and feeling the want of education liimself, he erected afine four story brick building, and with ten acres of land surrounding it, he donated it for a " Catholic School forevery Thus was St. Angela's Convent, which is an honor to our city - founded. It was the munificent gift of John McNeills. Nor were his church donationscontined to his own church; liavine also given to the Catholic church two acres of land for a church building and parsonage, he also subscribed and paid $3,000 toward the erection of the splendid Catholic Church edifice, and then gave $250 to the Congregational, $100 to the Presbyterian, §100 to the Baptist,and $250 to the Episcopal Churches of Morris. Donations whose aggregate amount would make a moderate fortune to any individual. Bu'; be met irith re-rerses and is nc'^ ; ! " a- d pc»C!>r. Higii'sin^, ai one time durlr.^ tie war, went op to a high Vigare, which ind»ced him to ereci a disnilerr at the An Sable:, some ai miies east of Morris. This |wv»ve>i his downfall Of the practical workin» of a dlsnllerx be bad do knoirled- -^ --?Tier. He tried to operate it --sr : dndin^ it was proving a heavy loss, be then leased it to parties who raa "Cfoofced." wh«i his property was seized by tlie "ovemment and virraally connscated. What, between litigation and hope of the property being restored to him by tl»e govern meat, be has become broken down, mentally and physically, and is compiled to live on small means and cheaply. No man has done more toward the material prosperity of ICorris, than John McXellis. His bn>tber-in-law, Jitdge Pateick Htjois, came here also in IS-H. bnilt and started a blacksmith shop (the first in the pLace t on the lot just north of the present residence of his widow. He was elected Jnstiee of the Peace soon after eoniins: boe. and soeh was his fine sense of events- ' ''-::ce that be gave very general Si: - as sneh. Indeed, his decisions we»ie seldom if ever reversed on appeaL His fine jadgment pointed him ont as a snitable persim t<3 nil the vacancy in the (^ce <4 Connw Jndge on the resignation of Jndge Y - rr. in 155L In that tion to the amoirat of $1,000, and eiescased eertaln ehancery jurisdietion, he dis^targed the duties ther&jf very satisfactoriiy to the bar and the people, though be was not a lawyer, nor indeed had he ever read law. He die J of consumption in lS6<i>, leaving a widow and three children, all of whom are still living. Jndge Hynds was in many respects a remarkable man. He was a warm tme friend, of pjsitive character, generous impulses and high-toned honor. "WTiat he promised, that he did. There was do halfway business in his composition. His rule of life and conduct were based upon this thought : Whatever is honest must be right - whatever is dishonest is a crime that should be punished. Mahlox p. Wilsox, whose adz and driver have been heard from early morn to dewy eve for nearly forty years, was the first cooper of Morris. Indeed, we may say the only one, except his brother Alexander, who came many years later. On tiie iMth of May. IS-tL Mahlon P. with his wife and one child moved into the double log cabin erectei for a boarding house for canal bands, on the spot now occupied by the fine residence of S. S. Strong, Esq. Here he opened his shop Mid commence«i the manufacture of barrels, firkins, etc, which he has carried on continuously in Morris for over thirty-eight years. In 1S15 he erected a small frame house on the spot DOW i>ocnpie<i by the McCann brick bnildiri2 on Washington street, and moved his &mily into it and opened a boarding house.

Hannah built the brick building, this house ">ras removed and is still standing as a part of the Clifbon House (forming the kitchen, we believe). For many years past, his shop has been on Canal street, east of the court house, where from mom till late at i i_'ht his driver and aiz are in constant motion.

stock of goods or that of Col.Wm. L. Perce, was the first brought to Morris. They were both opened in 18i5 and were mere supply stores for the accommodation of the canal hands.

Col. "William L. Perce took the contract of building the aqueduct across Nettle Creek on the west side of the city, and came here with his family in 1845, occupying a frame house built by Geo. H. Kiersted where the residence of John F. Hamilton now stands. He was an elderly man of considerable means and large experience as a contractor. With him came Charles H. Goold, now president of the Grundy County National Bank, as book-keeper, and Alexander Morrison, now a member of the State Senate of Michigan and a leading capitalist of that State, as foreman. The stone for this aqueduct was quarried some seven miles below Morris, near the river bank and hauled by teams. It was a reddisli sandstone of inferior quality and disintegrated so that the aqueduct had to be rebuilt. Col. Perce opened a stock of dry goods in a room in the American House, with C. H. Goold as manager, in the fall of 18i5, wliich was probably the first store in Morris. He left here when the canal was finished and has been dead many years. Passionately fond of euchre he was a good partner if you understood his signs, and a dangerous rival in a four-handed game. He was bald iieaded and had large ears, which he could move forward or backward at will, and by means of his ears he could indicate to his partner whether he had one or more trumps, and in case the dealer turned down the trump card he told his partner what he desired for trump, by the motion of his ears. To those who did not know of this peculiarity his playing and luck were marvelous. Eli.tau Walker opened a boot and shoe shop in a log cabin where Alex Miller's residence now stands, in 1841. He was the first president of the board of trustees, under the special charter of the town of Morris in IS.JB, and served one term as sheriff of the county and was supervisor of the town in the county board. Defeated for re-election as slieriff, by John Galloway, in 185G, he became disgusted with politics and went to Iowa.

S. Woolsej, Jacob Jacoby and Eobert Kelley were tlie 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 swoni in aiid organizing the board, and defining the boundaries as follows: " Ordered that the jurisdiction be extended over and embrace tiie following territory, viz. : The southwest quarter of section 3; S. E. i of Sec. 4; N. fr. of K E. i Sec. 9; N. fr. N. W. i 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. i Sec. 9, and the N. fr. N. W. i Sec. 10 as aforesaid, and extendinofour 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 onlv survives. Old, yet hale and hearty. He has' retired from business and is spending his time in reading and conversing witii his

FROM April 12, 1842, to August 15, 1850, Morris was a kind of go-as-youplease 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 ciiapter 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 Ibrtj'-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.

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.

Tlie second meeting of tlie Board of Trustees was lield at the court house January 13, 1851, when they passed an ordinance establisliiiig the boundaries of the board as in the previous order, and fixed the reffuhir mectinjj of tiie board for second Monday of eacli month at 6 p. m., creating the appointive officers of the board as follows: One constable, pound master, street commissioner, fire warden, clerli and treasurer, defining their duties, and then appointed George Gillett, constable, Charles L. P. Ilogan, street commissioner, A. W. Newell, treasurer, and Robert Peacock, fire warden. At this meeting the}' passed a general code of ordinances for the police regulations of the town, many of which are stil! in force with but little alteration, and ordered them published b^' posting up three copies in public places in Morris. Tiie 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, 1811, 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 riofht to cross said river within a mile of tiie point where he may establish said ferry for ten j-ears, 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 midwives, 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 II. 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 $10i, 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 ofier 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 popidar 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 fen-y. 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 ferrj'ing a double team and wagon, and taking them back free on the same or succeeding day, was ratlier too small a business to ever be reniuneratis'e. 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 neo-lect 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 ]irice 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 reelected, 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, " fi^r 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. Xewell 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 atrain 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 tiie value of $1.50, " cautioning a'l persons against the danger of small-pox at the Franklin House in Morris." Onl}' tliis and nothing more was done. The first sidewalk ordinance was passed April 17, 1852. At this meeting Mr. Kiersted made a written ])roposal "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. Tiius the total expense of the municipal government of Morris for one year was just $30. The clerk of the board received $7 for his j'ear'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 An,'. 23, when George Fisher, Eugene Stan berry, Henrj' Benjamin, Orville Cane and James Barrett were elected trustees - a new board except Mr. Cane. Mr. Fisher was jnade President, and Wells F. Stevens, Clerk. We do not now remember what were the issues in tliis election, but from tlie clean sweep of the old board, there must liave been some cause of com])laint. Some political petard or bomb wliicli over-slaughed and retired them to private life. This new boiird held its first meeting Sept. 21. 1852, and appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. Fisher, Cane and Stanberr}', " to prejiare and report an amendment to the cliartcr more fully defining the limits of the corporation of the Town of Morris." Messrs. J'^isher, Staiiberr}', Cane and Barrett were appointed as a committee to procure a " bnring " ground. The latter committee reported an ordinance for the purchase of the E. i, S. W. i, Sec. 27, T. 34, K. 7, on Sept. 27, which was passed. At tiiis meeting Geo. Parmelee was appointed lire 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 di'awn. 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 wero appointed to kill and destroy ail 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 Kcynolds was appointed street com-nissioner, 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])oint out. If it is meant to apply to the amount of fees or salary paid to the town constable then tlie whole thine: "is clear as mnd," for from Sept. 13, 1850, to the date of this lueeting 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, 1853, 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 (beino- what is known as the Old Catholic Cemetery, north of Morris) was ordered sold and $29 was appropriated toward a hook aTid 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

Tiiis 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 oft' their per diem. It divided tlie town into tliree wards. All soutli of Washiui^ton street constituted the First; north of Wasliington and west of Liberty, the Second; and north of Wasliington 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 live 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 oflice until Sept. 2(5, 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 LeEoy 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, iu 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 vears was less than $100, all told. One of the last official acts of this old board reads as follows: " Ordered, that an order for thi-ee and I'JJi dollars be drawn in favor of L. P. Lott for paper and candles furnished the board." Tiiis 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. II. 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 & LeEoy. 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 8420.61 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 cetnetery 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 tiie board Nov. 28th an ordinance was passed selling the west half of the southwest J of township 27, 3, 4, and 7, to Patrick Terry, for $300, and the money to be derived therefrom was appropriated to tlie purchase of a Potter's Held 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 ofBcial seal until the spring of 1854. iSTor did the Board of Trustees have a finance committee untilJan'y, 1854. Messrs. Lott, Antis and Le Koy 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 membei-, Captain Starbnck, 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 tlie 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 tiie 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, LeRoy, 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,

These were the Urst set of standinij 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, lS5i, the record says: "The president issued an order for tlie attendance of Antis, Turner and Goold, served by E. Stanberry, who reported Mr. Goold sick, Mr. Turner absent from town, and Mr. Antis present, wliich formed a quorum." Whether this order was a summons, notice, attachment, or capias ad respondendum, the record fails to show. At this meeting President Atlierton 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 passasje of ordinances, and then enforcinj; or suspending them by resolution, thej' were never excelled if equaled. Indeed, this board assumed legislative jurisdiction over everyrliing 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. Le Roy asked leave to present a bill. On motion of Mr. Lott tlie 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, where- upon the president withdrew his vesitrnation." At tlie October meeting Chapin Park was ordered to be inclosed. It is now known as the Public Park. Mr. Uodson 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: Win. T. Hopkins, president; B. F. Hall, A. n. Bishop, Bobert Longworth, Nathan B. Dodson, James N. Reading and E. B. Hanna, trustees; H. B. Atwater, clerk; Geo. E. Parinelee, 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. Wood row, 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 $128.5-1, 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.

$3,777.70. L. P. Lott was elected city clerk by the council. At the April election, ISCO, 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 G. Storr, aldermen. Messrs. James Eeardan, H. C. Goold and J. W. Massey, holding over.

or ; and C. H. Goold, assessor, who declined, and H. P. Gillett was elected in his place. Siininel B. Thomas and Ca!(^uhann Grant were designated as police justices. George Fisher was appointed health officer. Drs. Mathews, Hand and Antis, healtli commissioners, and James Miller, chief of the tire department, and for the first time in the history of the municipal government of Morris, standing committees of three members each were appointed. May U, ISCO: six standing committees were established, finance and claims, streets and alleys, licenses, judiciary, lire and water, and health. The fiscal report of the finance committee shows total receipts for the year ending April 15, 1S60, were Si,09S.6S, of which $855.00 was for liquor licenses, and $80.00 for billiard table licenses. The expenditures were fire dep ; : tment, $311.26 ; streets and alleys, $827.05 ; street commissioner's services, $256.29 ; cit}' marshal, $56.00 ; city clerk, $212.31 ; printing charter ordinances, etc., $364.32, etc. The samecommittee reported $1,175.81 in hands of the late treasurer. This city council seem to have gotten down to business and reduced everything to rule, while tiieir 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 tiiat year as his successor. The late treasurer's bond, if any he ever gave, could not and never Las 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

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. South worth, 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, Ilirani 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 3'ear. 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; AVilliam Grant, city attorney; A. M. Cleveland, surveyor, and Thomas Reynolds, assessor; Juo. W. Woodrow was elected chief engineer of the tire department, with David Conlong and John Gunlock, assistants. The officers for 1863 were Geo. F. Brown, 'mayor; Wni. 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 Conch "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. Heading, city attorney, and Jno. W. Woodrow chief of the fire department, with David Conlong and Charles B. Ingersoli, 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, ISGi, E. B. Hanna was elected mayor; Charles Sparr, treasurer ; E. T. Hopkins, marshal ; J. H. Oliver, collector ; Wm. H. Eogers, street commissioner, and H. E. Eeinhart, W. U. 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 dejiartment 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 de])artraent, with D. Conlong and Jacob Meyer, assistants, and Nathaniel JNIcBride, 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 tlie ciiuiieil proceedings. At the meeting of the council, Dec. 19, 1864, a bill of two dollars and fifty cents was paid for "remi>vini:" five dogs, and one dollar for hauling tboni to the boneyard. Did the assassin (jiiiteau 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 ofi^ 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.

Tlie writer stood within a few feet of Mannalian when he was instantly killed by a piece of tiie anvil striking his head. Mr. Donnovan was a blacksmith, and it was his own anvil that killed liim.

The total receipts by the city treasurer for the year were $5,450.10. Of this sum $1,275 were from liquor licenses, $215.4:4 from fines and judgments. The clerk's salary was $195.32; attorney's, $163; marshal's, $170.21; fire department cost $.J5G.14, and police $188.04. At the April election, 1865, E. B. Hanna was re-elected mayor, and Geo. W. Gran by, 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. Onr 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, treasui-er; J. R. Combs, collector; Abram Bogart, street commissioner; N. McBridc, police magistrate; and James Miller, Edward Sauford, Wm. Sheehan, aldermen. This council elected F. C. Mayo, clerk; A. Bennett, attorney; Thomas Reynolds, assessor; and Joseph Hicks, health oflicer.

Total receipts of the treasurer for past year were $9,436.51; disbursements, $8,167.30; liqnor 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 :

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 Wra. 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 ofBcer. 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. llanna was again elected mayor; John (Jnfred, marshal; Nelson Carpenter, collector; Abram Bogart, street commissioner; and L. P. Lott, George Galloway, and Jl 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. Birnoy, city attorney; Thomas Reynolds, assessor. The total receipts of the treasurer for the past j'ear 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 till 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.

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. Ilanna was again elected mayor; E. T. Hopkins, marshal; Joel W. Ellis, collector; Jacob Geisen, treasurer; Alex. Bnshnell, street commissioner, and the following named aldermen: Oliver Hanlen, A. M. Cleveland, J. S. li. 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. R.Jordan, attorney; H. Piiin]>- ton, 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. Gift'ord, A. P. Buckley, A. F. Hand, Geo. W. Hussite) and E. Sanford, aldermen; J. II. Pettit was re-elected clerk; A. E. Jordan, attorney: Tlios. Reynolds, assessor; E. Ridgeway, cliief engineer of the fire department, with II. L. Miller and Geo. Green, assistants. The fiscal report of the year ending April 11, 1870, shows receipts, $ll,181t.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 AYauponsee 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; Ale.x. 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. Mc- Keen, aldermen elect, was eligible to the oiBce - 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 etal. V. McCabe,^ 111. Reports, 195, which, upon examination, it will be found, has no sort of bearing upon the case whatever. Ilence, the opinion of the judiciaiy 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 b}' 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, ma>or, 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 ap])ointiueiit8 of certain persons as the several committees, some of wlioiri appear from the records to be aldermen, and some do not, but no copy of said appointments Las been filed with the clerk." The record of this meeting shows a first-class 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 C5ity of Morris, May 15, 1871. George W. Howard, City Clerk." Mr. Howard gives his version of that celebrated meeting of April 17tli on the following page of the record. It is a very different record. At this meeting Messrs. Burry and ifcKeen 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 $13,109.48. The spirit licenses amounted to $2,724.00; shows, $322.50; expenditures, $12,679.78; leaving in the treasury, $729.70. Mayor Scovill was reelected April 2, 1872, E. T. Hopkins was elected marshal ; Valentine Zimmerman, collector; Jacob Geisen, treasurer; Alex. Buslinell, street commissioner; and Henry Rutherford, L. Irons, A. F. Hand, Geo. W. liossiter 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 reelected; 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 Jlernan, treasurer; T. Reynolds, assessor; Val Zimmerman, collector; Alex. Bushnell, street commissioner; N. jNIcBride, police magistrate, and the following aldermen: H. Rutherford, H. C. Gifibrd, J. Gorich, G. A. Acton and A. Harrison; F. B. Handwork was elected clerk, and A. R. Jordan, attorney. The fiscal report of the cleik 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 this3'ear upon street repairs, $3,216.41. and $990.50 in the fire department. The assets of the city are given

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. lieynolds, 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. Kidgeway, who had been for several years chief engineer of the fire department, was again appointed to that office, with H. S. Beading 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.

Mernan, treasurer; Geo. M. Jones, collector; Thomas Reynolds, assessor, and Geo. Taylor, street commissioner, with R. L. Schofield, C. J. 1. Murray, Henry Fey, Thomas Owen and Wm. Rolley, aldermen; Mr. Prindle was re-elected clerk; Armstrong, attorney; E. Ridgeway, chief engineerof the fire department, wjth H. A. Cleveland and L. Irons as his assistants. Mr. Prindle pi'epared 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; Win. 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, leavinga 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 II. 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 2-1 of the Statute entitled "Cities, Villages and Towns." The petition was granted, and an election held for that purpose on the ISth 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, 1S7S, Aldermen Eolley, 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.

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 $9-41.47. 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, 1S79, 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 Oanahan, aldermen. At a meeting of the council April 30, 1S79, Mayor Antis read a veto of the ordinance allowin;^ the major and aldermen compensation for their official services. Tiiereupon the vote by which said ordinance was passed at the last meeting was reconsidered, and the ordinance again jmt upon its passage notwithstanding the mayor's objections. But it failed to pass, ayes 5, noes 3. Not a twothirds vote, as required to pass an ordinance over the mayor's veto.

The receipts for the year were $13,459.15, disbursements 811.604.07, leaving $1,855.08 in the treasury. The expense of the police were unusually heavy, being $68(3.25. Geo. W. Lane was re-appointed clerk, and Henry S. Reading chief of the fire department, with 11. L. "Miller and Win. Gibhard assistants. This city council was a " go-as-youplease 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 R. M. Wing, aldermen.

the mayor holding over (under the law the mayor is elected for two years). The mayor re-appointed Mr. Lane clerk, IT. S., Reading chief, and H. L. Miller and Wm. Gibhard assistants of the fire department. Tiie 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 vear'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.

TURN we now from the noise, bustle and confusion, of the city to the country. Tiie question of adopting township organization having been submitted to a vote of tlie people and carried by a large majority, the county court at its December term, ISil), appointed George II. Kiersted, Philip Collins and Robert Gibson, commissioners, to divide the county into towns or townships. This committee submitted their report in writing to said county court at its March meeting, 1850, which report was approved by said county court, March -i, 1850. Under and b}' virtue of this report, and its approval, the township or town of Morris embraced the following territory: "Tiie whole of the north fraction of Congressional Township No. thirty-three (33) north, of R;mge No. seven (7) east, together with that portion of Section No. six (6) in Township No. tiiirty-three (33) nortli. Range eight east, lying north of the Illinois River; also the island in said river, with the exception of that portion of Waupecan Island lying on the south half of Section No. seven (7) in Township No. thirty-three (33) north. Range No. seven (7) east, et to constitute one division to be known hy the name of Morris." The territory embraced in the township of Morris, as established by the commissioners, contained about

4,000 acres of land as follows: All that portion of Sec. 6,T. 33, R. 8, lying north of the Illinois River; also so much of Sections 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10, as lie north of said river, with Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 entire. But since then Morris has been badly shorn of her territory by taking from the Sections 5, 6, 7, and 8, and attaching or adding them to tlie town of Erienna, leaving Morris but a small town in point of territory. The fraction on Section 6, T. 33, R. 8, and the north fractions of Sections 1 and 2, and a part of the east half of Section three, compose, witli the lands embraced in the city, our entire territor}' as a township. The town of Morris was fully organized by the election of town officers, on the first Tuesday in April, 1850. At this election P. A. Armstrong was elected supervisor; E. W. Hulburd, town clerk; Thomas Reynolds, assessor, etc. The first board of supervisors of the county convened at the old court house in Morris, June 12, 1850, and oi-ganized by the election of Philip Collins, chairman. At this meeting of the county board, George II. Kiersted and Robert Gibson were each paid $11.00, and Philip Collins ^1.25, for their services as commissioners in dividing the county into towns. Wliy the services of Messrs. Kiersted and Gibson were worth so much more than those of Mr. Collins the record fails to disclose.

This was a very economical board. At their November meetiiiij they appointeil a committee consisting of P. A. Armstrong, Geo. H. Kiersted and L. W. Chiypool "to count the assessment rolls and carry out in appropriate columns the several aniouuts of taxes in dollars and cents, and also to prepare the collector's warrants for the different towns of this county," fi.xing the compensation at one dollar and a half per day. Thus the board took fiom the county clerk, Mr. E. W. llulbnrd, abi>ut the only paying work of his office. The books used by tins committee for collector's books are a curiosity. They are small sized account bo()ks costing about twenty-five cents each, and are laid away among the archives as a witness to the over zealous disposition manifested by this first county board to be very economical. Tliej' never repeated the experiment. This board also attempted to make each town maintain its own paupers, and passed a resolution to that effect; but as it was diametrically opposed to the statute, the resolution was " more honored in the breach than in the observance." At the November meeting, 18.50, Mr. Armstrongpresented a petition of Jacob and L. W. Claypool for a license to establish a ferry across the Illinois river at Morris, accompanied with a resolution granting the same for a period of five years, npon condition that they execute a bond in $500, to keep the same in accordance with the statute, and pay into the count}' treasury ten dollars per year as tax, establishing the rates of toll at fifteen cents per team over and back the same day, and ten cents for crossing one way. For man and horse over alone on the flat boat, ten cents, all owing double ferriage after 8 p. m., etc., which was, after various attempts were made to raise tlie auKPiint of tax payable to the county, adopted, witliout amendment, by a vote of six to three.

Fearing that the county officers might be extravagant in the purchase of stationerv, on motion of Supervisor Jacob Claypool, Mr. Armstrong was appointed "special . agent to purchase and provide stationery for those officers entitled to the same, and that the board would audit no bills for stationery presented by any othei- person." Mr. Jacob Claypool, a member of the first County Board in 18-il, and the first Board of Supervisors in 1850, has been d ad sevei'ul years, but his gramJson, Henry C. Claypool, now wears the toga and represents the town of Wauponseo so long represented by his grandfather in the Board of Supervisors. What, between Jacob Claypool, L. W., his son, John and Henry, his grandsons, Wauponsee has been represented in the County Board by a Claypool, the greater portion of time, for thirty-two years past. At the fall election, 1853, P. A. Armstrong was elected connty clerk, and as in his judgment the old court house had no suitable place to keep the books and pajiers of the office, or afford comfortable quarters, he rented the north room on the second story of a frame building standing where the (JIaypool block now stands, and then known as Goold's bank building, and moved the office to that room. This was a severe shock to the nerves of the economical Solons of the County Board. There was a special meeting of the board A])ril 17, 1854. They met at the old court lionse instead of the county clerk's office. The clerk alone had the right to organize them. After some parleying the mountain went to Mahomet, and held their meeting, as the motion was " to Mr. Armstrong's office." AVhen the rent for the use of the othce fell due, they paid it, however. At the Septemher meeting that fall, Mr. E. Walker, supervisor of the town of Morris, offered a resolution declaring in favor of hiiilding a new court house. On the passage of which, the a3'es and nays were called, and it was adopted, ayes, 9, nays, 2. Messrs. Augustine, Walker and Kenne, were appointed a committee to prepare plans, etc., who reported in favor of building a court house forty by seventy feet, at a cost not exceeding $8,000. On motion of Supervisor Justice Renne, " the clerk of the board was appointed to procure from some good architect a plan and specifications of a building for a court house, of nearly the dimensions of the one proposed by the building committee, to be presented for action at the next meeting of the board." But the clerk enlarged the plan or size of building to tifty-four by eiirhtv-four, and obtained from J. M. Van Osdell, of Chicago, the plan of the present court house, which was adopted by the board, April 17, 1855, and a loan of $5,000 was ordered to raise funds to help build the same. The building committee, having advertised to let the contract to build such a building of brick, found the lowest bid was over $18,000.00, and therefore was afraid to let the contract.

A special meeting of the board was called June 15, 1855, when Supervisor L. W. Clay pool offered a resolution, limiting the amount to $18,000, exclusive of superintendence. Supervisor Walker offered an amendment to strike out $18,000 and insert $20,000, which amendment was carried by ten to four, and the resolution of Mr. C'laypool, as amended, was adopted by a like vote. The old court house was ordered to be sold; the log jail had already been sold for $14. Mr. Miles Hills having resigned, as a member of the building committee, Mr. L. W. Claypool was appointed in his place, which committee consisted of Supervisors C. Grant, E. Walker, and L. W. Claypool. This committee awarded a contract, to build said court house of brick, to R. J. Cunningham & Co. for $19,360, who built the foundation and commenced on the brick walls. The brick were of an inferior qnalit3\ The clerk becoming disgusted with the appearance of the work, called a special meeting of the board Oct. 9, 1855.*

* Mr. L. W. Claypool adds: "After various preliminaries, the board decided on building the court house of brick with stone trimmings; and in June, 1-55, the building- committee, consisting of C, Grant, Miles Hills and E. Walker, let the contract to Cunningham, Foster and Williams for $19,:j60 ($20,000 being the limit).

At the September m9eting, 1855, Superintendent Grant tendered the resignation of Miles Hills, and L. W. Claypool was elected to fill the vacancy.

At this time the foundations were all built to the top of the water table, and the brick were being delivered for the main walls. Mr. Claypool at once declared that he would have nothing to do with the building if such brick were to be used, and being ably assisted by County Clerk Armstrong, Superintendent Watkins, E. P. Seeley, and p'articularly Mr. Dubreil, one of the contractors for, and then engaged in building the piers for the Mon-is bridge, being an expert in stone work, in computing the difTerence in cost between stone and brick, on a careful estimate, found that the additional cost of stone would not exceed $3,400.

The board was called together by the clerk, with the advice of the building committee, no doubt, to meet Oct. 9, 1S.55, when Superintendent Claypool offered the following resolution: liesolrerl. That the court house building committee be, and they are hereby authorized, to change the plan of the court house with the contractors thereof, so that said building shall be built of stone on exterior walls, after the manner and of similar stone and dimensions as the Joliet court house ; provided, however, that the cost thereof shall not exceed $3,- 400, the original contract price, and that any order oi

The record reads as follows: "Tuesday, October 9, 1855. The Board of Supervisors met at the county clerk's office tliis day pursuant to a call from the county clerk, for the purpose of considering the propriety and exjiediency of usin<j stone entirely in lieu of brick in the construction of the courthouse." Mr. L. "W. Claypool offered a resolution for such change, " provided the cost should not exceed ^3,400 over the original contriict price and that any order of the board previously passed llni 'ding the cost of the court liMise to S-0,000 be and the same is altered to 8l'3,4:00, to suit the above proposed change, if lUcule by the committee" - the board heretofore passed, limitingr the entire cost of court house to |20,0^)ii, be, and the same is altered to $23,400, to suit the above proposed change, if made by the committee : ami if not made, the committee ui-e hereby instructed to have the exterior walls of said court house built of first-class common brick, such as are, or should b' used, in constructing buildinss of that dimension and cost, being in accordance with plan and specifications now on file. And should .said commi;tee make such change, the contractors are hereby allowed until the 2oth of September (next) to complete said building." Adopted without division.

At th's time no good brick were being made in or near Morris; the contractors would be obliged to ship tliem quite a distance, at great expense; hence were quite willing to accept the proposition of the committee, to construct of stone at the cost of $3,400.

Nov. 19, liSoo, board met. E. Walker resigned as member of the committee, and F. S. Watkins was elected to fill the vacancy. Nov. 20, Superintendent Walker moved to retire Grant from the building committee, on account of ill health, and nominated Superintendent Keune in his place; adopted.

Till' tmilding committee, now consisting of Claypool, Watkins iind Lolt, completed the building, and March 6, 18o8, made final settlement with contractors, and accepted the building; entire cost, $22,700; and as the contract was missing, it was stipulated in the settlement that if found at any time thereafter, all errors should be corrected, and money over-paid to be i-efunded, the committee believing that the contract price was $22,:!60. The contract was never found, and no money refunded.

which resolution was adopted by the board, and the building committee succeeded in effecting a change from brick to Joliet stone in tiie contract without increasing the cost but three thousand four hundred dollars. Thus, by the action of the county clerk, Mr. L.W. Claypool, and a few other liberal men, did Grundy County obtain a building 54 by 84, instead of 40 by 70, and at a cost of $22,760, instead of not exceeding $8,000 and lastly, a permanent stone building, instead of a tun b e-down soft brick structure - for at that time no good brick had ever been made at or near Morris. We confess that it required a good deal of finessing and skill to work the country Solons up to the liberal point required to vote for so large an approjjriation at that time. An appropriation equal to $100,000, now. It was accomplished, however, and the county has a court house that will serve all the purjioses required for half a centurv. The old court house was in the way of building the new one, hence it had to bo taken away, leaving the county with no place to hold courts. The clerks of the circuit and county courts had taken possession of the two offices of the brick jail, which had "been built in the fall and winter of 1854, at a cost of $3,180. The Court House Committee had sold the old court house to Messrs. Foster & Williams (who had the contract for the carpenter work of the new court liouse) for $255, and they had sold it to II. L. Smith (better known as Husband Smith), who had moved it to his fiirm, W. i, S. W. i S. 31, T. 34, II. 7, some three miles northwest from Morris, when after re-clothing and painting, it presented quite a respectable appearance as a farm dwelling, and where it still stands as a painted ghost of former times. The building committee rented the carpenter shop, now occupied by the Morris Cutlery Company, for the purpose of liolding the fall and spring terms of the circuit court, and said court was there held. The first jail of the county was ordered built by the county commissioners at their December meeting, 1845. Jacob Clay])Ool and George H. Kicrsted were appointed as a special committee to prepare plans and specifications, and let the contract to build a jail to be located on the southeast corner of the court house square. They were men of genius as well as ability, with a keen sense of the ludicrous. The}' knew that the county board expected a jail to be built which Would cost not to exceed §200 when completed. Both had a strong prejudice against building a jail independent of a court house, or before building a court house. Hence they decided to make the thing as ridiculous as they conveniently could, and accordingly decided to buiM a jail of green logs, with the bark on. The size, as we now remember, was 14 by 16. The bottom logs were placed some ten feet below the surface, a hole Ixaving been first dug and the bottom covered with logs, as nearly straight as possible, so that they could be placed closely side by side. Then the log walls were carried up to the surface, when another log floor was laid and then extended up some ten feet above ground. A trap-door (iron lattice work) was placed in or near the center of the upper floor, hung at one side with heavy iron hinges and a heavy staple and clasp on the opposite side, to be fastened by a mammoth padlock. The underground compartment was to form the cells, where the prisoners were to be put at night, and the upper part was for corridors. To put the prisoners in the cell, the jailor, after throwing back the trapdoor, would cause the prisoner to let hiinself down by suspending himself through the trap hole the length of his arms, and then letting go, alighting on his feet. To get them out in the morning, the jailor, who was physically very powerful, would reach down, and taking hold of their wrists, pull them u]i by main strength. True, they had a ladder, which, however, was sel dom used. This jail was let to the lowest bidder, and our old friend, Dominic Mc- Grath, was the successful one. His bid was $202.60, just $2.60 more than the county commissioners felt like investing in the jail business. But as it was so near to it, the committee let the contract, to be paid for in county orders. Mr. McGrath used hickory logs in the construction of the jail, and soon had it completed, but when he applied for his county order, the county board cut him down to $162.60, simply on the ground that the contract price was too high. Rather than go to litigation, " Old Dom." accepted this price and was paid in county orders, worth about 75 cents on the dollar. This jail was sold for $14 in 1855. As a place to keep prisoners, this jail was a dead failure. Capt. Jeremiah Cottrell, who had been charged with the larceny of almost everything, from a trace chain to a threshing machine, in Cook county, took a change of venue to this county. Comphxining of rheumatism. Sheriff Armstrong was too humane to put him down in the underground cell, where there war. no light, save that which came throus-h the grated trap-door, hence he was put in the corridor or upper part. IIo soon mauaffed to get out aad report liiinself for duty at the ferry across the river at Morris, telling the sheriff tiiat lie was an old and experienced boatman and could and would, if permitted, make himself useful in that cajiacity. Struck with the impiulent boldness of the man, and iiis unquestionable desire to be of use, the sheriff trusted him, not only M-ith his entire libert3-, but soon entrusted the entire manngoment and control of the forry to him. This trust he never attempted to betray, but he used his position as the trusted agent of the sheriff to manage the ferry, in niakiiig friends, and protesting his innocence of the crime charged against him. so that when his trial came off he was acquitted, notwitiistanding the proofs of his o-uilt were clear and overwhelming. Hon. 1>. C. Cook was the prosecutor, and ever after held that the fact of a juror being on the Cottrell jury was a better cause for challenge than any defined in the statute. His first question to a juror was, " Were you a juror on the Cottrell trial?" If the answer was in the affirmative, Mr. Cook's reply was, "stand aside." And this he kept up as long as he practiced law in our court.

That Mrs. Ann Xagle, widow of James i^agle, the first clerk of the commissioners' court of Grundy County, opened and taught the first school in Morris, there is no doubt. After the death of her husband in 184:3, she opened a private school (for in those days we could have no other as we had no school fund) in her double-log cabin, which stood a little southeast of the present depot of the C. R I. & P. E. R. in Morris. Of her scholars several survive, among whom are Thomas J\rernan, John Hart, widow Reynolds, Jacob Griggs, John Claypool, etc., all living now in Morris. She continued her school for a year or over. The next school was taught bv Miss Adelia "Wilkes, now the widow of E. P. Seeley, deceased, and residing on Washington street. The next was Miss Mary Hyslap, now Mrs. J. Biauding, and al^o living on East Washington street in this city. The next was diaries M. Lee, afterward county judge of Livingston County, Ills. The next was Charles R. Starr, who has since been judge of the circuit court of Kankakee County. All of whom, except Mrs. Naglc, occupied the old court house. Of course, there was a school vacation during court weeks. The first record we can find of any school board bears date Dec. 21, 1843, when Peter Griggs, Perry A. Claypool and William Brown (who signed his name by making a cross) met at the recorder's office in Morris, and divided township 33, R. 7, as follows: " Ordered, that the E. ^ of T. 33, of R. 7 E. 3d P. M., on the south side of the Illinois River, shall compose one school district to be known and designated by the name of the Mazon District, and that the west ^ of said township on south side of the Illinois River shall compose one school district, to be known and designated by the name of the Waupecan District, and all that portion of said township lying north of the Illinois River shall compose one school district, to be known and designated by the name of Nettle Creek District. Ordered, that William White, Sen., Barton Ilalderman and Edmund TJrown be ai^pointed trustees of scliools in the Mazou District. Ordered, that James Ilobb, William Patteson and James Thompson be appointed trustees of schools in AVaupecaii District." In January, 1844:, E. Warren was appointed "Treasurer of School Lands," on bond of §200. The first school money received by the treasurer of the board of trustees, seems to liave been a warrant issued by the Auditor of Public Accounts on the State Treasury for $18.12, which the treasurer was "directed to sell at ten per cent, discount, and pay Waupecan District §4.89, Mazon District Si-^iG, iS'ettle Creek District §8.27, in auditor's warrants or cash, if sold at ten per cent, discount, and that he retain 50 cents auditor's warrants to purchase a book for the use of the treasurer." It seem from this that auditor's warrants on the State Treasury were divisible adinfinitum. At the regular meeting of the board, Oct. 5, 1846, we find the following entry:

"Whereas it appears that no returns were made in said township except in Waupecan district for the year 1845, and the treasurer reporting $35.34 auditor's wan-ants, therefore ordered that Waupecan district receive the sum of $35.34, and the treasurer is ordered to pay out the money to school teachers in said district, entitled to it according to law, and that the treasurer sell the auditor's warrants on hand at not more than 20 per cent, discount." This, then, was the condition of the oblii;:ations of the great State of Illinois thirty-seven years ago. Twenty per cent, discount.

On the 8th of January, 1848, at a regular election held at the house of James Berry, P. A. Armstrong, John Antis and A. G. Barber were elected trustees. This board selected L. W. Claypool as their ti-casnrer. This board chany-ed the names of the three school districts from I^t'ttle Creek to District 1 ; Waupecan to District 2, and Mazon to District 3, Jany. 11, 184^.

At the April meeting, 184S, the treasurer, Mr. Claypool, reported the receipt " from tlie school commissioners, the school, college and seminary fund appropriated to town 33, R. 7, for 1847, in cash $16.34, auditor's warrants $5.90. Also same fund for $18.45, in auditor's warrants $1.91; total $24.15." lie was ordered to sell the auditor's warrants at not more than ten per cent, discount, and distribute the same in direct ratio on returns of Dist. No. 1, filed Jan'y 20, 1848-95 scholars; Dist. JSTo. 2 - 22 scholars; Dist. Xo. 3 - 48 scholars," total number of scholars in the township, 165. This embraced Morris, Wauponsee and part of Erienna. One hundred and sixtyfive persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The apportionment of the school fund was made April 5, 1848, as follows: To District 1, $16.68; District 2, $3.17; District 3, $6.91. At the January (1849) meeting of the board, Mr. Claypool, as treasurer, reported that he had on hand eighty-four cents, being one year's interest on Thompson's note. Ordered, that it remain on hand until next meeting. This note seems to have been for ten dollars and eighty-four cents. At the March meeting,

1849, the treasurer reported the receipt of $19.60 in auditor's warrants, which he sold at ten per cent, discount. This with other funds on hand amounted to §31, for the year, and was apportioned as follows: Dist. No. 1, §17.85; Dist. No. 2, $4.14, and Dist. No. 3, $9.01. At the March meeting,