Ogle County, Illinois - The whole text, 1878 (part 11 of 25)

Here the matter seems to have stopped, as there is no record of the issue of any bonds in payment for the stock voted for. Various individuals, however, subscribed for the capital stock of the C, St. C. & M. A. L. R. K. Company and paid some assessments thereon. No work was ever done on this road in Ogle County, and the people lost all tliey ever paid for the stock. The only work ever done on this route was to grade the road from Chicago to St. Charles, and the managers sold out to the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Company.

By an act of the General Assembly of Illinois, entitled " An Act to incorporate the Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company." Approved February 18, 1857," all such persons as may become stockholders agreeable to the provisions of this act " in the corporation created by the act were made ''a body corporate and politic by the name and style of 'The Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company,' " under the usual provisions and restrictions.

Section 2 authorizes the company to "locate, construct and complete, maintain and operate a railroad from the Town of Lane (now Rochelle), in the County of Ogle, to the Town of Oregon in same county; from thence to the Town of Mt. Morris; from thence on the most eligible and direct route to or near the town of Mt. Carroll, in the County of Carroll; from thence to the Mississippi River. The company was also empowered to construct said railroad east from Oregon to the City of Chicago.

Section 3 fixed the capital stock of tlie company at one million dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each. The directors were authorized to increase the capital stock to any sum not exceeding five millions, if necessary to complete the work.

Section 4 appointed John R. Hotaling, Thomas Stinson, Elias S. Potter, Henry A. Mix, Elias Etnyre, Elias Baker, A. M. Ilitt, Daniel Z. Herb and H. Hofhim, Commissioners to procure subscriptions to the capital stock who, when one hundred and fifty dollars should be subscribed, were directed to give twenty days notice of an election by the stockholders of nine

The corporation was authorized to connect with, intersect or construct road in connection with any other railroad within the State of Illinois or elsewhere.

All said road lying east of the town of Oregon shall constitute the first division ; and the portion thereof lying between the town of Oregon and the Illinois Central Railroad shall constitute the second division ; and that portion of said road lying between the Illinois Central Railroad and the town of Savanna shall constitute the third division.

Section 13 provided that any township organization or any town incorporated or hereafter to be incorporated, through which said railroad may pass, "are hereby authorized and empowered to take stock in said road in their incorporated capacities, by a vote of the legal voters of said township or town ; and the amount so taken shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars; which shall be levied and collected as other taxes are, and such township or town shall be subject to all the liabilities and have all the rights of a stockholder as provided in this act."

The company made but little effort to organize under the original act, and two years later the charter was amended by *' An Act to amend an Act entitled ' An act to incorporate the Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company,' " approved February 24, 1859. By this act the company was authorized to organize and elect a directory " whenever stock to the amount of twenty thousand dollars should be subscribed, the number of directors was changed from nine to five, three of whom should constitute a quorum. James Y. Gale, Henry A. Mix, Joseph Sears, Edward F. Dutcher, Isaac Trask, Elias S. Potter, Langford Green, Miles B. Light, Francis Chase, Thomas Stinson, Robert C. Burchell and Charles C. Royce were made Commissioners in place of those named in the original act, and the road was to commence "on the east bank of Rock River, opposite the Town of Oregon; from thence on the most eligible route to the Galena and Chicago Union Air Line Railroad."

Tlie several villages and towns along or near the route of the road were authorized to subscribe to the stock of said company or make donations or lend their credit to it.

Under this amendment the company was organized, and soon after its passage Frederick G. Petrie, James Y. Gale, D. S. Pride, Henry A. Mix and E. S. Potter were elected Directors; F. G. Petrie was elected President, and these officers continued without much change until 1869, when Mr. Petrie was still President, M. L. Ettenger, Secretary, and the Board of Directors consisted of F. G. Petrie, Elias S. Potter, James Y. Gale, Michael Nohe and Elbert K. Light.

At this meeting the town voted to donate thirty thousand dollars to the Railroad Company by a vote of 137 to 24, to aid in the construction of the first division of the road from the east bank of Rock River opposite the village of Oregon to some point on the Galena and Chicago Union Air Line Railroad.

But no work was done on the road, and of course the donation was not actually made. In February, 1865, a special town meeting was held in Oregon, when the town vote to subscribe for $50,000 of the stock of the Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company to be paid for in bonds after tlie completion of the first division of the road, which was required to be done in two years. At this meeting, all former donations and subscriptions in aid of any railroad were rescinded, and it was ordered that the town should elect annually at the annual town meetings a board of ten men who should each represent $5,000 of stock at the meetings of the company, and at the next annual meeting, April 4, 1865, the following " Railroad Representatives" were elected, viz.: F. G. Petrie, 0. S. Marshall, E. K. Light, M. Kobe, M. L. Ettinger, D. Etnyre, John Sharp, O. Wilson, Joseph Sears and J. E. Snowden.

But at another special meeting held on Saturday, February 9, 1867, the town voted almost unanimously to rescind the vote of 1865 subscribing to the capital stock and to donate $50,000 to the company under certain specified conditions and restrictions.

During all these years, however, notwithstanding Oregon and other towns had repeatedly voted aid, the company had accomplished nothing toward the construction of the road. The nearest railroad point to Oregon, the county seat, was at Franklin Grrove, Lee County, on the (Chicago & ]N'orthwestern Railroad, twelve miles away. The Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company had a contract with the old Galena and Chicago Union Railroad Company by which a junction of the two roads was contemplated at Lane (now Rochelle), and this contract provided certain drawbacks on business furnished, etc., when the first division of the O, & C. C. R. R. should be in operation.

In the Spring of 1867, shortly after the last vote by the Town of Oregon above noticed, the contract to build a new wagon bridge across Rock River at Oregon was awarded to Messrs. Cauda & Hinckley, of Chicago. Mr. Francis E. Hinckley had the supervision of the work. While here Mr. Hinckley became aware of the existence of the charter of the Ogle & Carroll County Railroad Company and the condition of its affairs. He became interested, investigated the matter and determined that the road should be built. He waited upon the otiicers of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, who expressed a willingness to carry out the terms of the contract with the old G. & C. U. Company, and agreed to furnish the iron and ties as soon as the work of grading was completed, and the preliminaries relating to use of cars, drawbacks, etc., should be arranged. The firm of Cauda & Hinckley dissolved and Mr. Hinckley assumed sole control of the enterprise, "having," it is authoritatively stated, "possessed himself of a contract for the rights and franchises of the Ogle & Carroll County Railroad Company." But further legislation seemed to be necessary.

The act incorporating the Ogle & Carroll County Railroad Company was again amended by "An Act to amend an act entitled "An Act to incorporate the Ogle & Carroll County Railroad Company," approved March 3, 1869. By this act the first division of the road was made to commence on the east bank of Rock River, opposite the Town of Oregv)n, thence on the most eligible route to a connection with the Chicago & Northwestern Railway or any other railroad leading to the City of Chicago. The second division extended from Oregon to the Mississippi River. The company was also authorized to build a branch of their road to the City of Rockford.

Section five of this act provided that " the several towns, villages and cities along or near the route of the railroad, in their corporate capacity might subscribe to the stock of said company, or make donations thereto, or lend its or their credit to said company to aid in constructing or equipping said road or any division or branch thereof; provided, that no such subscription, donation or loan shall be made until the same shall be voted for" by the people of the respective towns, cities and villages.

Section six of the act provided that the clerks of such " towns, villages or city" should call elections to determine whether such 1 own, village or city shall subscribe to capital stock, make donation or loan of credit, on written application of twenty voters, stating the amount and whether subscribed, donated or loaned, rate of interest and time of payment, and minutely prescribed the mode of proceeding, by whom bonds voted should be signed, and to the extent taxes might be levied.

On the same day on which the above amendatory act was approved, " An Act to incorporate the Chicago and Iowa Eailroad Company " was also approved. This act provided that "all such persons as may become stockholders in the corporation " should be a body politic and corporate, etc. This company was authorized to locate, construct, complete, maintain and operate a railroad from Chicago to a crossing of Rock River at or near the Town of Oregon, thence through Ogle and Carroll Counties to the Mississippi River at Savanna; thence up said river to Galena and the northern boundary of the state. The capital stock was fixed at one million dollars, in shares of one hundred dollars each, and might be increased by the directors to any sum not exceeding five millions.

H. S. Townsend, J. W. White, N. Halderman, John M. Adair, Frederick Gr. Petrie, L. H. Bowen, James Y. Gale, David B. Stiles, Jonas S. Meckling, P. B. Shumway and Francis E. Hinckley were made commissioners to procure subscriptions to the capital stock of the company. When $100,000 were subscribed, these commissioners were directed to call a meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors. The company was authorized to unite, connect or consolidate with any other railroad "constructed or which may hereafter be constructed" in Illinois or Iowa. Towns, villages and citizes were authorized to subscribe for stock, make donations or loan their credit to this railroad.

This act authorized the construction of a railroad over substantially the route of the Ogle & Carroll County Railroad Company, and is in its provisions practically the same as provided in the amendment to the act incorporating that company.

The Chicago & Iowa Railroad Company was organized soon after its incorporation, by the election of Francis E. Hinckley, James V. Gale, Frederick G. Petrie, Elias S. Potter, and David B. Stiles, Directors; and the board organized by the election of Francis E. Hinckley, President, and James Y. Gale, Yice President. Thenceforward the work was prosecuted by this company, superseding the Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company, although the organization of the latter was ostensibly maintained until a somewhat later period.

On the 23d day of April, 1869, Lewis Hormell and seventy others, legal voters of the Town of Oregon, filed an application with the town clerk, for an election, to determine whether said Town of Oregon should make a donation to the Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company, of fifty thousand dollars in the bonds of town, payable at the option of the town within twenty years, and bearing seven per cent interest, per annum, payable annually. " Said bonds not to be issued, dated or delivered, until said company shall have completed the laying of the track in condition to run trains over the same, with a T rail, weighing not less than forty-five pouads to the yard, from a connection or intersection with the Chicago & Northwestern Kailway, to a point opposite the Tillage of Oregon, within one half mile of Rock River, and shall have equipped the same with rolling stock sufficient to operate a daily train to and from said Yillage of Oregon, for the accommodation of freight and passengers; nor until said company shall have released said town for any and all liabilities on account of donations heretofore voted. Said vote to be void unless the first division of said railroad shall be completed and equipped as aforesaid, on or before the first day of January, A. D. 1870.

The clerk called the election on the 2ith day of May, when 153 votes were cast: 152 votes were for the donation, and there was one vote against proposition.

During the Summer and Autumn of 1869, the engineers of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad Company, surveyed and located the road from Rochelle to Oregon, the work of grading was commenced and nearly completed. Just before completing the grade of this road, Henry Keep, of New York, had been elected president of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, and when Mr. Hinckley called upon Mr. Dunlap for the iron, the latter gentleman told him he could not furnish it. He only knew those were his orders, and could not tell why they were made. Mr. Hinckley, accompanied by Mr. Petrie, immediately went to New York, but Mr. Keep could be induced to give no reason for violating the agreement, further than that it was not to be the policy of his company to foster or encourage any more branches.

On the application of Elbert K. Light, James Y. Gale, and thirty-five others, legal voters of the Town of Oregon, the town clerk, W"m. Schultz, called another town meeting on Thursday, December 9, 1869, to determine whether said town, in its corporate capacity, would donate to the Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company, ten thousand dollars in the bonds of the town, payable ten years from date, at ten per cent interest, upon the following conditions, viz. :

Said bonds not to be issued or delivered unless the said company shall accept and receipt for the same as a payment of ten thousand dollars upon the amount of fifty thousand dollars, voted by said town to said company, on the 24th day of May, 1869, and in case said company shall so accept and receipt for the same, said bonds to be deliverable upon the demand of said company at any time after the same shall be voted, and to bear date of the day of delivery ; and when delivered to said company, to be payable absolutely, and to be free from all conditions of forfeiture contained in said vote of the 24th day of May, A. D. 1869, but with the express understandins" that the condition as to forfeiture contained in said vote of the 24th day of May, A. D. 1869, shall not be construed to be waived by said part payment, as to the remaining forty thousand dollars, of said amount of fifty thousand dollars, heretofore voted as aforesaid.

On the day appointed, E. J. Reiman was elected Moderator; 120 votes were cast as follows: for donation, 109 votes; against donation, 11 votes. This donation was made to aid in paying for the grading of the road from Rochelle to Oregon, which was then partly done.

On the I6th day of December, 1869, the Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company, by F. G-. Petrie, President, and M. L. Ettinger, Secretary, executed its deed of acceptance of the donation and receipt therefor.

The returns of the town clerk, certifying the results of this electioti, was tiled in the office of the county clerk, July 1, 1871. The bonds under this vote were issued December 16, 1869, by George P. Jacobs, Esq., supervisor of said town, and countersigned by Win. Shultz, Town Clerk.

The failure, or refusal, of the Chicago & ^Northwestern Railroad Company to furnish the iron and ties for the road delayed its completion, but Mr. Hinckley and his associates at length succeeded in making satisfactory arrangements with Mr. Joy, President of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company for a connection with that road, and for drawbacks, etc., and it was determined to make the connection at Aurora, as the C. & I., by the terms of its charter might make connection with any road between Chicago and the Mississippi River. An appeal was made to the cities and towns along the proposed line of the road for aid. Aurora voted one hundred thousand dollars, Flagg fifty thousand, Mt. Morris and Forreston each seventy-five thousand, Alto, Lee County, thirty-three thousand, and several of the towns between Alto and Aurora twenty-five thousand dollars each, Pine Rock ten thousand dollars, Nashua five thousand dollars. Capitalists in Kew York were then interested to the extent of advancing a million dollars on a first mortgage, and late in the Fall of 1870 grading commenced in Aurora, and on the thirty-first day of December, 1870, the construction train of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad was run through Llochelle.

The election at Flagg was hotly contested, and the vote for the donation was carried by only nine majority. By the terms upon which the donations was voted, to be entitled to it, the company was required to complete its road " into and through the Town of Flagg " by the first day of January, 1871. As before stated, the train was run to Rochelle at ten o'clock on the night of December 31, but the township line being some four miles beyond Rochelle, and about two miles of track being yet unlaid, the opponents of the donation claimed that the town was released from obligation, and secured an injunction to prevent the issue of the bonds. This is still pending.

Mt. Morris compromised and issued $50,0(^0 of bonds, which are now in process of payment. Forreston refused to issue the bonds voted, and in the course of the litigation which followed was, in the person of its Supervisor, Mr. Tice, imprisoned, but the case was finally compromised, and about $.')0,000 of bonds were issued, which are now in process of payment. Pine Rock and Nashua issued the amount voted. In some cases the donations were made to the Ogle & Carroll County Railroad; in others to the Chicago & Iowa.

When the road was completed to Rochelle a train consisting of an old locomotive, baggage car and one passenger car, was put on between that city and Aurora, " daily if the snow permitted," and the train *'run" one way and " backed " the other. The way '' Billy " Ayers used to " play horse," as Charlie Dean expressed it, with the old, leaky, wheezy, demoralized " Advance," and his zealous efforts to keep water enough in her old boiler to prevent an explosion are not yet forgotten.

A few days before the amendment to the constitution of the state, prohibiting cities, towns, etc., from making donations to railroads, went into force, and while'efforts to raise money were being made all along the line, on the 23d day of June, 1870, yet another town meeting in Oregon was held to settle this much vexed question. This was called by F. H. Marsh, Town Clerk, on the application of H. A. Mix (2d), Ed. T. Ritchie E. B. Frost and sixty- four others, leeal voters in the town, to determine whether the town would make a donation to the Ogle & Carroll County Railroad Company of forty thousand dollars in the bonds of said town, payable at the option of the town within twenty years from date thereof, bearing interest at T per cent per annum, payable annually, to aid in the construction of the first division of said Ogle & Carroll County Railroad, under the following conditions.

Said bonds not to be issued, dated or delivered until said company shall have completed said first division of said railroad with a T rail weighing not less than forty-five pounds to tlie yard, in condition to run trains thereon from a connection or intersection with the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, to a point at and within said town of Oregon, within one half-mile of the east banlc of Rock River, and shall have equipped the same with rolling stock sufficient to operate a daily train to and from said town for the accommodation of passengers and freight, nor until said company shall have released said town from all liability on account of donations heretofore voted, except a donation of ten thousand dollars votetl by said town on the 9th day of December, 1869 : said vote of forty thousand dollars to be niill and void unless said first division of said railroad shall be completed and equipped as aforesaid, on or before the first day of January, A. D., 1871, but in case the same shall be so completed and equipped within the time aforesaid, and said company shall execute and deliver said release, then said bonds to be deliverable upon demand of said company, and to bear date of the day of delivery.

The meeting was held on the day above mentioned. E. J. Reiman was elected moderator, and 175 ballots were cast, 163 for the donation and 12 against the proposition. Return was made to the county clerk, Julv 7, 1870.

The following is a copy of a document on file in the office of the Town Clerk of Oregon, certified to be correct by the Town Clerk, T. A.. Jewett, Esq. It is written with a pencil on coarse straw paper, such as grocers use, as follows:

Board of Auditors met for the purpose of filling the vacancy of Supervisor, caused by the resignation of M. W. Smith. E. S. Potter was appointed to fill the vacancy, and the clerk ordered to give the certificate of appointment to the said E. S. Potter.

On page 20, book "B" of the Oregon town records, the proceedings of the annual meeting of the Board of Auditors of the Town of Oregon, held on the 28th day of March, 1871, are signed by E. S! Potter, Supervisor; J. H. Cartwright, J. P. and F. H. Marsh, Town Clerk.

By reference to the terms of the vote by which the Town of Oregon donated $40,000 of bonds of the town to the Ogle & Carroll County Railroad Ooitipany it will be seen that to be entitled to receive them that company was required to have the first division of its road completed and equipped on or before the 1st day of January, 1871. The road w^as not completed until the 1st day of April following. The bonds of the town, amounting to $40,000 as voted, were signed by E. S. Potter, Supervisor; countersigned by Frederick H. Marsh, Town Clerk, and bore date December 31, 1870. They reached the hands of Mr. Hinckley, President of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad Company, by whom the road was built, who disposed of tliem.

On the 4:th day of April, 1871, at the annual meeting of the Town of Oregon, it was not known to the people of the town that the bonds had already been issued, nor was it generally known that Mr. Potter had been appointed Supervisor in place of Smith, resigned. The road had been completed four days before, and the question " shall the bonds issue," was the real issue in the election of Supervisor and other town officers. The lines were sharply drawn, the friends and opponents of the measure were nearly evenly divided, and the election was an exciting one. The election of Mr. George Dwight as Supervisor, however, was claimed as a victory by those who favored the issue of the bonds on the completion and equipment of the road. Even if it had not been within the time specified by the town on the 23d day of June, 1870, provided it could be done legally under the amendment of the constitution.

At the October (1871) term of the Circuit Court of Ogle County, Justice W. W. Heaton (now deceased) presiding, a bill in chancery was filed by William J. Mix, Hugh Rea, Edwin A. Hinkle, Michael Seyster, John Y. G-ale, John M. Schneider, James Rea, Isaac S. Woolley, Robert C. Burchell, Robert Rea, James C. T. Phelps and Almira M. Bacon, praying that Elias S. Potter, Frederick Gr. Petrie, James Y. Gale, Michael Kobe, Elbert K. Light, The Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Com pany. The Chicago and Iowa Railroad Company, Francis E. Hinckley, George Dwight, as Supervisor of the Town of Oregon; Frederick H. Marsh, Town Clerk of said Town of Oregon ; James H. Cartwright and John Rutledge, Justices of the Peace of said Town of Oregon; the last four named as the Board of Auditors of the Town of Oregon; Albert Woodcock, Clerk of the County of Ogle, and the Town of Oregon, be made parties to their bill of complaint, and summoned to answer all matters and things therein contained, and prayed for a writ of injunction to restrain the Town of Oregon Irom causing any tax to be levied for the payment of the ten thousand dollars, or the forty thousand dollars, or any part thereof, or the interest thereon or any part thereof; also to restrain the Board of Town Auditors and their successors in office, from levying any town tax for the year 1871, at their annual meeting, or at any other time, for the purpose of paying the interest on any of said bonds for the year 1871 or 1872. The bill further prayed that the Board of Town Auditors and their successors in office be enjoined and restrained from auditing and allowing any amount as due from said Town of Oregon on any or either of said bonds, either for principal or interest; that the Town Clerk and his successors be enjoined from filino- any such certificate and from including any amount of principal or interest of such bonds in any aggregate amount of claims against the town; that the Supervisor and his successors in ofiice be restrained from laying before the Board of Supervisors of Ogle County any statement of claims against the town which should include any portion of such bonds or interest; that the County Clerk be restrained from extending any tax upon the collector's book of Oregon to pay any part of the principal or interest of such bonds. The complainants further prayed that Francis E. Hinckley, The Chicago & Iowa Railroad Company, Frederick Gr. Petrie, The Ogle & Carroll County Railroad Company, "or whoever may appear to be the holders or to have possession of said bonds or any or either of them or any of the coupons attached, may be decreed to deliver up such bonds and coupons to be cancelled, and that the same may be cancelled accordingly." Attached to this bill is the following endorsement:

The holders of the $40,000 of bonds issued by . Mr. Potter were unknown, but on the 10th day of January, 1873, Eliza Jennings filed an affidavit and petition in the Ogle Circuit Court averring that she was a citizen of the State of Alabama and had been since September 1, 1869, that she was the holder and owner of "twenty of these certain bonds issued by the said Town of Oregon to the Ogle & Carroll County Railroad Company, each being for the sum of one thousand dollars, and that she purchased said bonds in good faith and paid a valuable consideration for the same." Mrs. Jennings prayed that the cause, suit and proceedings, so far as said suit interested or concerned her, and was against her and said bonds issued by said Town of Oregon as aforesaid, might be removed into the Circuit Court of the United States. She also tendered a bond in the penal sum of $500, with Frederick Gr. Petrie surety, conditioned that she would enter the case in said United States Court on the 22d day of January, 1873. The bond was approved, and the Court, Judge Heaton, presiding, decreed that " this suit and all proceedings therein, so far as it relates to or concerns the defendant, Eliza Jennings, or her interest in said bonds, be removed to the Circuit Court of the United States in and for the Korthern District of Illinois," where her case is still pending.

The case was continued in the Circuit Court of Ogle County, except that part removed to the United States Court as above stated, until the special September term, A. D. 1873, when the following entry was made on the judge's docket by Judge Heaton:

October 3, 1873. The Supervisor of the Town of Oregon, by G. M. Dwight, moves for leave to withdraw his answer and the answer of the Town of Oregon. Answers withdrawn. Town of Oregon and George IVI. Dwight called and defaulted. Leave given defendants to amend answer. Cause heard and decree for complainants for $40,(i00 and for defendantb as to 1 10,000 of bonds, etc.

At this date (April, 1878) no decree appears of record, and it is impossible to state the legal premises upon which the. court based its decision. The sworn testimony in the case on file in the courts, presents the following:

1st. That on the first day of June, 1870, the franchise and property of the Ogle and Carroll County Railroad Company, were fornially transferred, under the hand and seal of the President thereof, Mr. Frederick G. Petrie, to the Chicago & Iowa Railroad Company.

2d. That Mr. Potter was appointed supervisor in place of Smith, resigned, on the evening of the 3d day of April, 1871 ; that his official bond was filed on the same night with the town clerk, and that both the appointment and the bond were ante-dated to Dec. 31, 1870.

3d. That the bonds of the town for $40,000, also ante-dated Dec. 31, 1870, were signed by E. S. Potter, Supervisor, after his appointment, in the night between the 3d and 4th days of April, 1871, and passed out of the possession of the town officers during the same night.

The road was completed, as before stated, from Rochelle to a point on the east bank of Rock River, opposite Oregon City, April 1, 1871, and regular trains for passengers and freight were put on. The station was located on tlie south side of the road, leading from Oregon to Pine Rock Township, about half a mile a little south ot east of the east end of the bridge at the foot of Wa^^hington Street. The location of the road, however, was changed soon afterwards, from Willow Creek Bridge, about three miles from this station to the present Jine, and January 15, the first work of grading, on the west side of the Rock River, was commenced on Mr. Little's farm, about a mile west of the river. Work on the bridge, located about a mile below the foot of Washington Street, was commenced in Jul}^ and the structure was completed, and the cars crossed it for the first time, October 20, 18T1. The first passenger train was run to Mt. Morris November 12. On the 28th of the same month, 1871, the road was completed to Forreston, and the people celebrated the event in grand style. When the railroad bridge was completed, trains were discontinued on the old track, from Willow Creek to the station on the east bank of the river, but the removal of the track was enjoined by legal proceedings. The next year, however, a compromise was eflec.ed, and the old track on the east side was taken up. The change of location above mentioned was unexpected, and to it perhaps, may be attributed many of the complications and difficulties that have since arisen.

Upon the completion of the road to Forreston, a connection was made with the Illinois Central Railroad, which opened a route from Chicago to Sioux City, Iowa. A contract was made between the two roads, by which the cars of the I. C. R. R. reach Chicago over the C. & I. R. R. New depots were erected along the line in 1872, through passenger trains between Chicago and Dubuque were put on, and the road entered upon a period of good management and general prosperity. The first station agent at Rochelle was David A. Elmore, who soon resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. W. II. Holcomb, who is now the Receiver of the road. The first station agent at Oregon was Frederick H. Marsh; at Mt. Morris, Chas. Newcomer.

This company was organized in 1856, with C. H. Spafford, President. In March, 1857, the contract for the construction of the road from Rockford to Harvard was awarded, and work was commenced early in that year, and was completed in November, 1859. It was designed that this road should extend from Rockford to Oregon, thence to Dixon, and the route was surveyed about 1860, and in 1861 various towns, villages and cities voted aid and subscriptions to the capital stock of the company. Oregon held a town meeting January 21, 1861, subscribed for $35,000 of the stock by vote of IStt to 18, and appointed WilHam J. Mix to represent the stock subscribed at all meetings of the directors of the road until the next anniial meeting. Several other towns voted aid to this enterprise, but there is nothing further of record relating to the road, which, it is needless to add, was not built.

Rockford, Rock Isla.Nd And St. Louis Railroad

On Thursday, February 10, 1870, the people of Oregon voted a subsqfiption to the capital stock of the Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis Railroad Company, conditioned that no bonds should be delivered in payment therefor until the road should be constructed at and within the Town of Oregon, and was to be void if the road was not so constructed and in operation before January 1, 1871. It was in aid of an effort to build the road from Sterling to Rockford, and other towns in the county responded to the call. But the road was not built, and afterwards the old Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis was purchased by a new company called the at the nominal sum of $10,000 per mile, bonds for the payment pf which were given to the German capitalists who owned the old road. In the Spring of 1876 that company made the following proposition to the citizens of the Rock River Valley:

Resolved, That if the people living between Sterling and Rockford will donate the right of way and sufficient grounds for depot purposes, for building a railroad from Sterling to Rockford, and will then subscribe enough money in stock and bonds, said bonds not to be in excess of $300,000, to build said railroad, under the supervision ot an engineer to be appointed by this company, that this company will operate said road as a part of its own line, and will pro-rate with it on all freight and passenger business passing over it. or originating, or terminating on the same, and allow to holders of its stock and bonds 25 per cent of its gross earnings. This company furthermore guaranteeing that said 25 per cent shall amount to no less than 7 per cent interest per annum on the bonds outstanding, and requiring that if the said 25 per cent shall be in excess of the interest named, then said excess shall be used, first, for the payment of dividends on the stock to the amount of not exceedmg 10 per cent, and any surplus after paying the mterest on the bonds, and 10 per cent dividend on the stock, shall be used for the redemption of the bonded debt until the same be wholly liquidated.

After the redemption of all the outstanding funded debt, the said railroad shall belong to and become the property of the St Louis, Rock Island & Chicago Railroad Company, and each stockholder shall be entitled to an amount of new stock to be issued by the St. Louis, Rock Island & Chicago Railroad Company, equal to the amount of stock which each one held in the said above mentioned road.

We hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the St. Louis, Rock Island & Chicago Railroad Company, at its meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 1876.

Subsequently five of the seven directors of the company agreed to guarantee that tlie 25 per cent of the gross earnings would pay seven per cent on the $300,000 bonds, and an annual dividend of $10,000; or they would issue two kinds of stock - upon one kind they would guarantee six per cent interest, and no more, and upon the other the holder might receive as high as ten per cent, but must take his own chances upon the earnings of the road.

On Monday, May 29, 1876, the officers of the St. Louis, Rockford and Chicago Railroad Company, held an inquiry meeting at Dixon, and submitted to the people the question, " Will you build a railroad? " At first, said Mayor Hawley, of Dixon, '' It fell like a wet blanket upon our hopes." "The bare idea," says the Oregon Courier of June 12, " that the citizens of this valley were called upon to build a railroad; to own, operate, and have a railroad; to grade, tie, bridge, iron, and rent a railroad, seemed so absurd, that no body wanted to get within forty feet of the Baron (Osterberg) who proposed it, lest perciiance, their little all should be swallowed up by the immense and terrible affair." But, after listening to the arguments of Baron Osterberg, Judge Gould, Charles Deere, and others of the St. L., R. & C. R. R., a more favorable impression prevailed.

The people organized a stock company under the laws of the state, known as the Rock River Yalley Railroad Company, for the purpose of constructing a road from Sterling to Rockford. The estimated cost of grading and bridging this road - 52 miles - was set down in round figures, at $200,000. This money the new company wanted to raise. If they could raise it and grade the road, then there were responsible parties who stood ready to tie and iron the road for $300,000 worth of seven per cent bonds. Mr. Brewster said the St. L., R. & C. company would guarantee the ties and iron, and put them down for that sum.

There were then, and are now, differences of opinion in relation to the motives of Mr. Osterberg and his associates. Some were convinced that he honestly intended to build the road if the required aid were furnished, while others as stoutly rr^aintain that such was never his design, that the object was to create an enthusiasm along the proposed line, on the strength of which a sale could be effected, of the entire road. However this may be, it is certain that while the route was surveyed, and sites for depots selected, the people called upon Mr. Osterberg for a reduction of his terms, and finally the whole scheme was abandoned.

Kockfokd Central Railroad

The importance of a railroad in the Rock River Yalley early engaged the attention of the people, and on the 7th of March, 1855, the Rockford Central Railroad Company was organized with the following officers: President, R. P. Lane; Secretary, E. H. Baker; Treasurer, C. H. Spafford; Attorney, Jason Marsh; Chief Engineer, R. Ogilby; Consulting Engineer, R. B. Mason; Executive Committee, M. Starr, Jason Marsh, D. S. Penfield.

This road was designed to run from Rockford to Mendota, on the Illinois Central Railroad, and to extend northward up Rock River toBcloit, Wisconsin, and other points in that direction. And its object was to afford the people of the Rock River Yalley direct communication with the coal fields in the southern part of the state, and the lumber districts of Wisconsin. Other enterprises coming on about that time, operations were never commenced on this line, other than mere temporary surveys, until the Spring of 1871, when the project was revived, and a large amount was expended in 1871-'2 in grading in Rockford, and between that city and RocUelle, and in building substantial stone piers for a bridge at Rockford. Eighteen or twenty miles of the road were'^graded on the line of the road from the Kishwaukee River along and near the third principal meridian to White Rock. This road was called the "Tinker route" from Robert H.

The Chicago, Rockfokd & Northern Railroad

In 1874, the project of building a road over the route of the Rockford Central was revived and a new company was organized for this purpose, in which Mr. F. E. Hinckley, of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad, was largely interested. The line of the road was located about three miles east of the old '' Tinker route " in Ogle County, on which so much work had been done. Work was commenced in 1874, and in 1875 the road was completed for a junction with the Chicago & Iowa, at Flagg Center, three miles from Rochelle northward through the Townships of Flagg, White Rock and Scott, crossing the Chicago & Pacific Railroad at Davis Junction, thence to Rockford, and regular rains commenced running in the same year.

The Chicago And Pacific Railroad

This road was originally designed for a narrow guage road from Chicago to the Mississippi River, to cross Ogle County, but subsequently the ordinary guage of other railroads was adopted, whether wisely or not is still a disputed question. It was completed to Rock River at Byron March 19, 1875. By the liberality of the enterprising and public spirited citizens of Byron, a substantial bridge, nearly 800 feet in length, was built across Rock River during the Summer and Autumn of that year, and on the 30th day of December, 1875, the first train crossed it and entered the Tillage of Byron, which is at present, and is likely to be for some time to come, the western terminus of the road.

The Northern Boundary Questioist

When the Illinois Territorial Legislature petitioned Congress for the admission of the territory as a sovereign state, the document was sent to Kathaniel Pope, the territorial delegate, by whom it was promptly presented, and it was referred to the proper committee, which instructed Mr. Pope to prepare and report a bill in accordance with its prayer. The bill, as drawn in accordance with these instructions, did not embrace the present area of Illinois, and when it was reported to Congress, certain amendments proposed by Mr. Pope were reported with it. It was generally supposed that the line established by the ordinance of 1787, namely: the line drawn through the southern point of Lake Michigan, west to the Mississippi, was to be the northern boundary of the new state. But this, if adopted, would have left the port of Chicago in the Territory of Michigan, as well as all the territory now embraced within the limits of fourteen rich and populous counties in northern Illinois. A critical examination of the ordinance, however, convinced Mr. Pope that Congress had the power and could rightfully extend the northern boundary of the state as far beyond the line provided in 1787 as it pleased. The principal amendments proposed by Mr. Pope, therefore, were, first, that the northern boundary of the new state should be extended to the parallel of 42 deg. 30 min. north latitude - this would give a good harbor on Lake Michigan; and secondly, more important than the boundary line, to apply the three per cent fund arising from the sale of public lands to educational purposes, instead of making roads, as had been the case in Ohio and Indiana. These amendments were adopted without serious opposition, and Illinois was declared an independent state. These important changes in the original bill, says Mr. Ford in his History of Illinois, " were proposed and carried through both Houses of Congres8,by Mr. Pope on his own responsibility. The Territorial Legislature had not petitioned for them - no one had suggested them, but they met the general approval of the people." The change of the boundary line, however, suggested to Mr. Pope - from the fact that the boundary as defined by the ordinance of 1787, would have left Illinois without a harbor on Lake Michigan - did not meet the unqualified approval of the people in the northwestern part of the new state. For many years the northern boundary of the state was not definitely known, and the settlers in the northern tier of counties did not know whether they were in Illinois or Michigan Territory. Under the provisions of the ordinance of 1787, Wisconsin at one time laid claim to a portion of northern Illinois, "including," says Mr. Ford, writing in 1847, "fourteen counties, embracing the richest and most populous part of the state." October 27, 1827, nine years after the admission of the state. Dr. Horatio l^ewhall, who had then recently arrived at the Fever River Settlement, wrote to his brother as follows: "It is uncertain whether I am in the boundary of Illinois or Michigan." In October, 1828, a petition was sent to Congress from the people of that part of Illinois lying north of the line established by the ordinance of 1787, and that part of the Territory of Michigan west of Lake Michigan, praying for the formation of a new territory. A bill had been introduced at the previous session of Congress for the establishment of a new territory north of the State of Illinois, to be called " Huron Territory," upon which report had been made, inpart^ favorable to the wishes of the petitioners, but they asked for the re-establishment of the line as ordained by Congress in 1787. They declared "that the people inhabiting the territory northwest of the Ohio had a right to expect that the territory lying north of an *east and west line passing through the southernmost end of Lake Michigan,' to the Mississippi River, and between said lake, the Mississippi and the Canada line, would remain together" as a territory and state. They declared that this was a part of the compact, -unchangeably granted by the people of the original states to the people who should inhabit the "territory northwest of the Ohio." They declared that the change of the chartered limits, when Illinois was made a state, was open invasion of their rights in a body when they were unrepresented in either territory; that "an unrepresented people, without their knowledge or consent, have been transferred from one sovereignty to another." They urged that the present "division of the miners by an ideal line, separating into difierent governments individuals intimately connected in similar pursuits, is embarrassing." They asked for " even-handed justice," and the restoration of their "chartered limits." The Galena Miners^ Journals of October 25, 1828, which contains the full text of the petition, says: "We do not fully agree with the memorialists in petitioning Congress again to dispose of that tract of country which has once been granted to Illinois; but we think that it would be for the interest of the miners to be erected, together with the adjoining county above, into a separate territory. And we firmly believe, too, that Congress departed from the clear and express terms of their own ordinance passed in the year 1787, when they granted to the State of Illinois nearly a degree and a half of latitude of the chartered LIMITS of this country. Whether Congress will annex this tract to the new territory we much doubt, but we believe the ultimate decision of the United States Court will be, that the northern boundary line of the State of Illinois shall commence at the southernmost end of Lake Michigan." The petition was unavailing, and the northern line of Illinois remains unchanged, but the agitation of the subject by the people of this region continued.

During the Winter of 1839-'40 a strong movement was inaugurated in the northern counties of the state for the annexation of all that part of the state lying north of the line above described to "Wisconsin. This movement, it is said, originated at Galena, and that one of the objects sought appears to have been to locate the capital of the new State of Wisconsin at that place. A public meeting was held at the court house in Galena, February 1, 1840, "to express an opinion in relation to the boundary question between the State of Illinois and the Territory of Wisconsin." C. S. Hempstead was called to the chair, and O. S. Johnson appointed secretary; Dr. A. T. Crow, H. H. Gear, John Atchison, T. B. Farnsworth, John DowHng, C. S. Hempstead and O. S. Johnson were appointed a committee to collect facts in relation to the question at issue, which was the annexation of Northern Illinois to Wisconsin. Thomas Melville, Frederick Stahl and M. M. Maughs were appointed to correspond with the people in the various districts of the " Disputed Territory," and ascertain their views and feelings. A resolution was adopted, on motion of H. H. Gear, recommending the people in the several districts to hold meetings for the expression of their views.

Similar meetings were held in Ogle, Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, Carroll, Whiteside, and other counties. At a meeting held in Galena on the 7th of March, 1840, at which it was resolved to call a convention of delegates to be elected by the people of Rockford, on the 6th of July following, and a committee appointed to issue the call. The convention was held on the day appointed, of which Josiah G. Goodhue, of Winnebago County, was President; John Howe and Orris Crosby, of Boone, and E. G. Nichols, of Whiteside, Yice Presidents; Hamilton Norton, of Ogle, and Wm. E. Dunbar, Secretaries.

January 22, 1842, a general meeting of the citizens of Ogle County, was held at Oregon, for the purpose " of considering the expediency of advising and effecting a separation of this section of the state from the State of Illinois, and annexing the same to Wisconsin." Col. Brown was elected President, and Joseph B. Henshaw, Secretary. S. N. Sample, E. A. Hurd, D. T. Moss, W. W. Fuller and J. Swan, were appointed a committee on resolutions.

A Central Committee, consisting of James Y. Gale, Joseph B. Henshaw and E. S. Leland, to correspond with other committees and persons, "on all subjects of the meeting, with power to appoint precinct committees." By this committee the following were appointed:

Whereas, By an ordinance entitled an ordinance for the Government of the Northwestern Territory, " it was ordained hnd declared by the Congress of the United States, that there should be formed in the Northwestern Territory, not less than three nor more than tive states; and that in pursuance of said ordinance, the States of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois were formed; and when as, it was also ordained and declared by the ordinance aforesaid, that the boundaries of other states should be subject to be so altered, that if Congress should find it expedient, they shall have authority to form one or two states on that part of said territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extremity of Lake Michigan ; and whereas, by virtue of the last mentioned power, the State of Michigan and the Territory of Wisconsin have been formed north of said line; and whereas, it is ordained and declared by the ordinance aforesaid, that the fifth article thereof (that which defines the boundaries) shall be considered one of the aiticlen of compact between the original states and the people and states in said territory, and forever to remain unalterable, unless by common consent. Therefore,

Resolved., That in the opinion of this meeting, that that part of the Northwestern Territory which lies north of an " east and west line through the southerly bend or extremity of Lake Michigan," belongs to, and of right, ought to be, a part of the state or states which have been, or may be formed, north of said line.

Uesolved. That Congress has established by said ordinance, the southern boundary of the state, which may be formed north of the State of Illinois, and that line can not be altered without the consent, as well of the original states, as the people in said Northwest Territory.

Mesolved, That as part of the people of the said Northwest Territory, we will not consent to an alteration of said line, so as to place us under the jurisdiction of a state to which we do not lawfully belong.

Resolved, That the lines as originally established by Congress, in the " ordinance for the Government of the Northwestern Territory," are better suited to the geographical situation, and to the local interests of said territory, than any others that can now be made.

Resolved, That we aie decidedly opposed to alter the lines as originally established, so as to place any of the territory north of the "line drawn .through the southern extremity of Lake Michigan,'' within the jurisdiction of the state south of said line, without the consent of the people of said Northwest Territory.

Resolved, That it is expedient for the people now included in the state, and residing north of a " line drawn through the southerly extreme of Lake Michigan," to claim to be included in a state to be formed from territory north of said line.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Legislature of Wisconsin, to apply during the present session of Congress, to be admitted to the Union, claiming as a southern boundary of the state, *' a line drawn throuah the southerly bend or extreme end of Lake Michigan," and running due west to the Mississippi.

Resolved, That the liberal appropriation of the Legislature of the State of Illinois for internal improvements, within one district, embracing that part of the Northwest Territory claimed by Illinois, was made in good faith, and that we disclaim any intention to absolve ourselves from any pecuniary responsibility created by the Legislature of Illinois for such purposes, and hold sacred the legal obligations of the state.

Resolved, That a committee of nine persons be appointed as delegates from this county, to proceed to Madison, in the Territory of Wisconsin, with full power to consult with the governor and Legislature, or either of them, and to take such measures as, in in their opinion, will most speedily and eflfectually obtain the object of this meeting.

The resolutions were unanimously adopted, and W. W. Fuller, Dauphin Brown, Joseph B. Henshaw, Jehiel Day, James Swan, Spooner Rnggles, Samuel M. Ilitt, Henry Hiestand and Augustus Austin, were appointed the committee provided for by the last resolve.

On the 26th of February, 1842, another meeting was held at Oregon, and the committee reported that thej^ had received assurances of the earnest co-operation of Governor Doty and the legislature, who recommended that a census of the several counties in the disputed territory be taken, with a view to the presentation of a petition to the Congress, for the formation of a new state. Meetings were subsequently held in various parts of Northern Illinois, showing a deep and widespread feeling in favor of the movement. This agitation continued until the matter was definitely settled by the admission of Wisconsin to the Union, with boundaries as they now exist.

The Pkess

One of the most potent agencies in moulding the destinies of the pioneer settlements of the great Empire of the West, and perhaps among those least appreciated by the people called upon to sustain them, was and is the printing press. ]N or was Ogle County an exception. The advance guard of civilization who first settled this county had no daily papers, and even weeklies were like " angel's visits, few and far between," for mails were irregular and infrequent, being carried on horseback, and sometimes not carried at all. Althongh the first settlers came in 1829, there was no attempt to establish a local paper in the county until 1842. Until that time there were no papers taken by the people, save perhaps a few copies of some religious papers and an occasional copy of some eastern journal. The Chicago Democrat^ by John AVentworth, and the Galena Gazette were the only political newspapers circulating here.

The Rock River Register was the first paper printed in Ogle County. It was started in Mount Morris, then the great literary centre of I^orthern Illinois, by Mr. Jonathan Knodle. The first number, under the editorial management of Mr. Emanuel Knodle, was issued January 1, 1842. The Register was printed on an old Ramage press, large enough to print only one half of the form, or one page, at a time. The paper was not so large as some of its successors have been, being a small five-column folio sheet, printed on a very inferior quality of paper. The motto of the Register^ suggested by Rev. T. S. Ilitt, was, " We hope to be recognized as fellow laborers in the noble work of enlightening the human mind." The terms were " $2.50 in advance, or $3 if not paid in advance." Number four contained the notice of the marriage, by Rev. S. S. Walker, of Michael Cheshire to Margaret McAllister. "This," the writer naively remarked, "is the first case of Matrimony which has ever occurred in Mount Morris." In the same number appear the business cards of H. A. Mix and Henry Roberts, attorneys at law at Oregon ; James J. Beatty, physician and surgeon, Mount Morris ; an administrator's notice in the matter of the estate of William Driskell, etc. When the Register started, the entire population of the Tillage of Mount Morris, including the students at Rock River Seminary, was 282, the whole number of citizens being 137. Its nearest neighbor was the Rockford Pilot. Number twelve, issued in April, announced the death of the editor, Mr. Emanuel Knodle, aged thirtv-two years, and the same paper bore the names of Knodle & Stephens, publishers. Mr. D. C. Duncan succeeded Mr. Knodle as editor. Until July 10, 1842, the Register was politically neutral, but on that date it hoisted the Whig flag, and supported Joseph Duncan for governor, in opposition to Judge Thomas Ford, the democratic candidate, whom it vigorously denounced as " a Northern man with Southern principles," because he was opposed to the scheme, which originated in Galena two years before, for annexing all of the territory of Illinois north of a line drawn from the southernmost point of Lake Michigan due west to the Mississippi River, to Wisconsin. September 12, 1842, the Register was' removed to Grand de Tour, or Grand Detour, and its issue of September 16 was dated at that place. The removal was made in consequence of the mail at Mount Morris " being reduced to a ^^ee^Z^/ horsehackP October 7, 1842, it was dressed in mourning for the death of the second editor, Mr. D. 0. Dunbar, aged 28 years. May 10, 1843, the names of Charles H. Lamb and A. G. Henderson appear as proprietors, but in July following, Mr. Henderson withdrew, leaving Mr. Lamb sole proprietor. When the Register gave up the ghost is not now known. Number 26, volume 2, dated August 25, 1843, is the last issue of which there is now any knowledge. This contains no notice of suspension, and it is very probable that it was continued some time longer, perhaps until the next year.

The Illinois Tribune. - In the Autumn of 1844, probably early in October, a paper called The Illinois Tribune was started at Grand de Tour, published by John W. Sweetland. It was, judging from its typographical appearance, printed in the old Register type. How long it existed can not now be determined. It certainly lived two months.

The Mt. Morris Gazette. - It was several years after the failure of the Urst newspaper enterprise of Ogle County before any other parties were found with sufficient courage to try it again. But in February, 1850, Mr. J. Frederick Grosh and Mr. Tomlinson Ankeney purchased the material in which the Rockford Free Press had been printed, removed it to Mt. Morris, and in March the first number of the Mt. Morris Gazette was issued, published by J. F. Grosh and edited by Prof D. S. Pinckney. It was a seven-column folio sheet, tolerably well printed and ably edited. It was professedly neutral in politics, but the editor was very independent in the expression of his opinions, and sometimes the paper inclined somewhat strongly to the party with which he affiliated. The printing of the first number of the Gazette was a notable event in the history of both the town and county, and occasioned as much excitement as did the completion of the railroad to the same place, twenty years later. From this time is to be dated the successful and continuous publication of newspapers in Ogle County. There has been at least one paper in the county ever since. The Gazette^ however, was not a success financially, and the publishers, after a year's experience discovered that its publication was a losing business, and in the Spring of 1851 disposed of the material to K. C. Burchell, Esq., of Oregon, who removed it to that place and established the Ogle County Gazette^ in June of that year. The sale of the material, however, does not appear to have stopped the Mt. Morris Gazette. Number 3, of the second volume, dated May 29, 1851, bears the names of Bray ton, Baker-& Co., publishers, and Prof Pinckney, editor. It says that there were no press, type or printers in Mt. Morris at that time, and although the paper was ji?'^^^Z^Vi6<^ there it was jprzW.?^ elsewhere, probably by Mr. Burchell, at Oregon. It also noticed the fact that the Ogle County Gazette was soon to be started at Oregon. But this manner of publishing a paper did not suit the enterprising citizens of Mt. Morris, who organized a joint stock company, purchased a new outfit, and No. 4, dated June 26, was beautifully printed in new type, and was one of the handsomest papers ever printed in the county. It was under the editorial charge of Prof. Pinckney and Prof. S. M. Fellows, and it is needless to add was conducted with signal ability. Prof Fellows contributed to its columns a series of articles comprising early reminiscences of the county, in which he gave by far the most complete and authentic history of the early days of the county that has ever until now been attempted. The paper was not self-sustaining, however, and after a year's experience in the business the company rented the office to Messrs. C. C. Allen and S. D. Atkins, then attending school at the Rock River Seminary. These gentlemen, by devoting a part of their time to the office, and the remainder to their studies, were enabled to prolong its existence until the Spring of 1853, when the office was sold to them and removed to Savanna, 111.

The Northwestern Republican^ Mt. Morris. When the Gazette ceased to exist in 1853, Mt. Morris was without a paper until September, 1856, when Messrs. Atwood and Williams started the Northwestern Republican^ and continued it until September, 1857, when they sold it to Col. Myron S. Barnes, who changed the name of the paper to Independent Watchman and continued it until July, 1859, when it passed into the hands of a joint stock company, and under the editorial management of Prof. W. S. Pope, Dr. F. A. McNeil and Mr. J. D. Dopf, with Mr. Dopf publisher. The Watchman was Kepublican in politics, but closed its existence in the Winter of 1860-'l, and Mr. Dopf removed the material to Polo.

About this time, for several years, a paper was published under the auspices of literary societies of Rock Kiver Seminary, devoted exclusively to matters pertainin^j^ to that institution.

Mt. Morris Independent was established by a joint stock company in 1876, with Prof. D. J. Pinckney editor. In the Spring of 1877 it was changed to the Ogle County Democrat* John Sharer publisher; Dr. B. G. Stephens, associate editor.

Ogle County Gazette^ Oregon. Robert Burchell, Esq., having purchased the office of tlie Mt. Morris Gazette^ removed it to Oregon, and June 11, 1851, issued the first number of the Ogle County Gazette^ the first newspaper printed in the town. It was published in an old frame building then standing on the West Third Street, near Franklin, just north of the brick house now occupied by Wm. Artz, Esq.

At this time the population of the county was only 10,020, and the enterprise was by many considered of doubtful expediency. The enterprising publisher was unacquainted with the details of the business, but he was determined to succeed, and by hard work and strict economy had the proud satisfaction of passing the paper to his successor firmly established. The task, however, was one of no ordinary magnitude. The difficulties under which publishers labored in those early days can hardly be appreciated in these days of railroads. Mr. Burchell obtained his paper and ink by team from Chicago. Often publication must be delayed for days awaiting the arrival of the slow freight wagon over the primitive roads, often so muddy as to be almost impassable. Depending upon '' traveling jours " for compositors, Mr. Burchell often had much difficulty in getting his paper out. Mr. Sharp, in his "History of the Press of Ogle County," written in 1872, relates the following incident that illustrates the trials to which Mr. Burchell was frequently subjected by his "hands."

He had a printer naraed " Larrey " Cook, who was perhaps the most rapid compositor that ever traveled in this state. One* day Cook, after setting up about twelve thousand ems of type, became very drunk, and getting mad about something, he went into the office, took the galley upon which the types was placed and emptied them upon the floor, piling his " case " upon this mass of '* pied " type. He then left for some otlier office. But these difficulties were gradually overcome, and soon the publisher could, with a reasonable certainty, count that his eflbrt to have his paper appear on time would not be frustrated by the drunkenness or carelessness of his employes.

After the paper had been published several months, to avoid the difficulties arising from a similarity of names, the Ogle County Gazette was changed to the Ogle County Re-porter^ which has been continuously published ever since. In 1852, a tc^legraph line was built from Dixon to Rockford via Grand de Tour, Oregon, Mt. Morris and Byron, and the office at Oregon was in X\\q Reporter office. This is the only instance where an Ogle County paper enjoyed the privilege of telegraph dispatches free of expense. Only two telegrams were received for publication over the line, one of which announced the nominees of the Democratic National Convention for President and Vice President, and raised the question of Who is Franklin Pierce? '' The only benefit," says Mr. Smitli, "the line conferred upon the people was to fill the pockets of the parties who sold the stock to the citizens along the route. The entire line was Jim-fisk-icated shortly after, and the wire and poles sold by an agent of the creditors, who pocketed the proceeds."

In January, 1853, Mr. Burchell sold the Reporter office to Mortimer W. Smith, then recently arrived from Montrose, Pa., who was a practical printer. Mr. Smith devoted his entire energies to the paper, and by working hard himself, inspiring his employes with the same spirit, and by economical management of the business affairs of the office, he soon brought the paper to a high degree of prosperity. The county was now rapidly filling up with an enterprising and liberal people, railroads were being built, and ail fears for permanent success were set at rest. Mr. Smith edited the paper himself, and conducted it with much ability.

In 1854, the Reporter was an earnest advocate of the Maine Liquor Law. In 1856 it raised the Republican standard and supported Fremont and Dayton. Until that date it had been politically neutral.

Mr. Leggett was not a practical printer, but he possessed energy, humor, tact, and superior business ability, which enabled him to maintain the position of the paper. He comprehended the value of a local newspaper, and devoted a large portion of his time and space, to local affairs. He was the first editor in the country who established a special local department in his paper. Towards the close of his proprietorship, the transfer of business to the growing railroad towns of Rochelle and Polo, and the establishment of papers at these points, began to tell somewhat upon the profits of the business, and deprived the office of much job-work and advertising patronage, which condition of affairs continued until the completion of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad set the current Oregonward again.

Mr. Leggett was a genial companion, a true friend, and a perfect gentleman. In January, 1861, he sold the paper to Mr. John Sharp, of Oregon, and removed to New York, where he died in 1861. Under Mr. Sharp's management the paper continued to prosper. In 1867 it was enlarged from 22 by 32, to 25 by 38, by widening and lengthening the columns. In April, 1868, M. W. Smith, Esq., again became proprietor, but Mr. Sharp remained associated with him in the editorial department until March, 1871, when they both retired, and were succeeded by Charles L. Miller and E. L. Otis, of Rochelle. Miller was the editor, and in June, 1871, his brother, James P. Miller, purcliased Otis' interest, and it was published by Miller & Brother until October, 1871, when Mr. William H. Gardner, from New York, became the editor and proprietor, who continued it until February, 1872, and then he associated himself with Mr. Timoleon

O. Johnson, of Yinton, Iowa, and it was published by Gardner & Johnson. In June, 1872, a Newbury power press was purchased, and the paper was enlarged. November 7, 1872, Mr. Johnson purchased his partner's interest, and became sole editor and proprietor. Under his admirable management the circulation of the Jieporterhsis increased from 750 to over 1,200, without the aid of canvassers, and it now claims a larger circulation than any other paper in the county. It is a large, six-column quarto, well edited and handsomely printed. The office is in a handsome two-story and basement brick building, owned by Mr. Johnson, on the east side of Third Street, and near the corner of Franklin, north of, and adjoining " Mechanic's Block." The paper is printed on a Newbury power press. The office is supplied with two job presses, and type for executing every description of printing. The Reporter is now the quasi official paper of the county, but the county printing is done by Culver, Page, Hoyne, & Co., of Chicago, under contract made in 1877. The true economy of such a measure may well be questioned. For the last three years it has been the official paper of the City of Oregon. The Reporter has always supported the principles of the Kepublican party, and frequently has been the only paper in the county to place the entire list of Kepublican nominations at the head of its columns. It has just put on a new dress, and is as bright and clean as one of the new silver dollars of 1878.

Oregon National Guard. - Democratic. June 6, 1866, the first number of this paper was issued, by Samuel Wilson, Esq., most of the money for the purchase of the material having been furnished by a joint stock company. The office was in the Union Block, southeast corner of Washington and Third Streets. In his salutatory, Mr. Wilson declared that, "as far as the Oregon National Guard is to sustain the principles of apolitical party, it will be Democratic. * -x- -x- -x- ^^ intend to stand by the administration of Andrew Johnson, and to render it a hearty and undivided support." Mr. Wilson wielded an able pen, and soon made his newspaper one of the most influential in this Congressional District. In September, 1866, he associated with himself his brother, F. B. Wilson, who, as a ready writer, had few equals in this county, and the paper was published by S. & F. B. Wilson until August, 1867, when the junior partner retired, and Mr. S.Wilson became sole editor again. June 5, 1869, Mr. Ed. T, Ritchie, became associated with Mr. Wilson, under the firm name of Wilson & Kitchie, but Sept. 22, 1869, the partnership was terminated. Mr. Wilson retired and Mr. Ritchie became sole proprietor, and published the paper until the Spring of 1871, when he sold it to Mr. Wilson, who again assumed its management. In March, 1873, Mr. Jacob J. Buser purchased one half of the office, and in April or May following, the name of the paper was changed to

The Ogle County Grange., Wilson & Buser, editors and publishers, until August, 1873, when Mr. Buser purchased Mr. Wilson's interest, and removed the office to Etnyre's Block, on the east side of Fourth Street, opposite Court House Square, and remained sole proprietor until February 22, 1875, when he associated with himself, Mr. G. L. Bennett. In May, 1875, Buser & Bennett disposed of their entire interest in the paper, to Mr. Charles R. Hawes, of the Freeport Journal., who again changed the name to the better than the confinement of a printing office. In August, the paper was transferred to Mr. Gr. L. Bennett, who controlled it until February 23, 1876, when Mr. Henry P. Lason, who held a mortgage on the concern, foreclosed and took possession, and is the present editor and proprietor. The present editor is now, and always has been, a firm and consistent Republican, but the Courier^ under his management, is not bound to that or any other political party. It strikes hard for the right, let the splinters hit whom they may. Mr. Lason was a private in the 76th Eegiment, N. Y. Volunteers; enlisted in 1861; lost his left arm at the 2d battle of Bull Run, in 1862. He is a clear, forcible, and ready writer, and the Courier^ under his able management, takes its place in the front rank of the press of Ogle County.

Bapalee's JoJcinello, Oregon; monthly, started September, 1877, by Norman Rapalee, and is now printed in the Courier office. It is a five-column folio, keen, sharp, and brimful of fun.

Polo Sentinel. - The first paper publi shed in Polo, and the first Democratic paper in the county was started by Mr. F. O. Austin in October, 1856, and called the Sentinel. It was intensely partisan, and was discontinued for want of support in December of the same year.

Polo Transcript. - Early in the Summer of 1857, a joint stock company was organized in Polo for the purpose of establishing a newspaper on a permanent basis in Polo. The material was purchased and the Polo Transcript commenced in June of that year with Charles Meigs, Junior, of Chicago, as editor and publisher, by whom it was published until Aj^ril, 1858, when the office was purchased by Mr. Henry R. Boss, then of Freeport, but now of Chicago. Mr. Boss changed the name of the paper to the Polo Advertiser^ which was moderately prosperous under his management, until November, 1860, when he was succeeded by Col. Morton D, Swift. The Rock River Press^ then recently started by Mr. J. D. Dopf, was consolidated with the Advertiser' in February, 1861, and the paper was managed by Swift and Dopf until March, 1861, wlien Dopf retired, and it was published by Swift alone until May, 1861, when he enlisted in the army, and the paper was purchased by J. D. Campbell, and his law partner, J. W. Carpenter, Esq. Messrs. Campbell & Carpenter continued its publication until August, 1862, when they were compelled to suspend its publication, for the reason that all their printers had volunteered into the army, and they had nobody to set type. The paper was not published until March 11, 1863, when it was revived under the name of the Polo Press^ J. D. Campbell, Esq., and the estate of J. W. Carpenter, publishers - Mr. Carpenter having died in October, 1862 - Mr. Campbell and Col. M. D. Swift, editors. Thus the Press continued until February, 1865, when it was sold to Daniel Scott, and M. Y. Saltzman. Scott soon sold out to M. D. Swift, and Swift continued its publication until the 4th of August, 1865, when it was purchased by the present proprietor, John W. Clinton, who in 1866 changed its name to the Ogle County Press. Until March, 1876, the Press was printed upon one of ^. Hoe's hand presses, but at that time Mr. Clinton exchanged the Hoe press for one of C. Potter, Jr.'s, cylinder presses of the latest improved pattern, and fitted for steam power, which he hopes to be able to add to the office next Winter. Beside this press the office is equipped with eighth and quarter medium Gordon job presses. This paper continued uniformly from its commencement Republican in politics.

democratic journal, and continued its publication until 1859, when it passed into the hands of J. M. Williams, who after a short time transferred it to Geo. D. Read, Esq., who continued to be its editor until some time in the year 1860, when it was discontinued.

Banner of Freedom^ Polo. In 1858 this paper was published a few months by Marcellus Perkins, and was as it name indicates, what was then termed an abolition paper.

The True Democrat^ Polo. During the exciting political campaign of 1860, a Mr. Johnston published a paper in Polo called the True Democrat^ which was discontinued after the election.

The ChurcK. - About 1868, a paper was published in Polo called The Churchy Dr. J. C. AUaben, editor. It was published " as often as God furnished the means," but it was not published very often, and there is no information now at hand to determine when the last number was issued.

The Poultry Argus, Polo. An illustrated monthly journal devoted to poultry interests, was started in January, 1874, by Doctors C. H. Kenegy and M. L. Wolff, Dr. Wolff retiring in the following June. Dr. Kenegy selhng out in December following to D. D. L. Miller and J. W. Clinton, who continued its publication under the firm of Miller & Clinton until June, 1876, when J. W. Clinton became its publisher, D. L. Miller still acting as its editor. The Argus from a small beginning enjoyed a steady growth, until it circulated in nearly every state and territory of the Union, diffusing a proper knowledge of our domestic fowls in many a farmer and and villager's home, and cultivating among its young readers a love for, and appreciation of, birds of every kind. The Argus was at first printed in Freeport, but was subsequently printed in the ofiice of the Ogle County Press, until in the Spring of 1877 it was sold to other parties and removed from the county and state.

The Lane Leader was established by John P. Howlett, in Lane (now Rochelle) October, 1858. He published a very readable paper, in which there was, says Sharp, " considerable vira^ He used plain English, and made enemies in consequence, and lost support that otherwise might have been accorded to him. But he was a man of great energy and maintained his position until the Spring or Summer of 1861, when he was compelled to abandon the enterprise and the material was sold to Prof. James A. Butterfield, who started the Lane Patriot in the Fall of 1861, but soon discovered that his ledger balance was in the wrong column, and after a few months he suspended the publication in the Spring of 1862, and the material was stored away in an old garret until 1863. "Charle}^" Butterfield was not remarkably successful in the mechanical department, although editorially the Patriot was well managed. " Charley's " tastes ran in a different direction, and he was afterwards recognized as one of the leading musicians of the country. He was the leader of the Chicago delegation at Gilmore's " Peace Jubilee," and is the author of several popular songs, among which was, " When you and I were young, Maggie."

The Lane (now Pochelle) liegister. - In the Summer of 1863 Mr. E. L. Otis, of Pockford, had called to his attention the material of the old Leader office, and the advantages of Lane as a good location for a newspaper. After looking over the field carefully he decided to try the experiment. The old press and type were dragged from their obscure hiding place and put into a room over Clark & Dana's drug store, and after two or three weeks' hard labor in placing the office in working trim he issued the first number of the Lane Register July 25, 1863. Mr. Otis labored under many serious disadvantages. One paper had failed and suspended, and many ])eople fearing a second failure did all they could to produce that result by withholding their patronage when it was most needed until it had won success without their aid, the type and other material were old, much worn and in a state of almost inextricable confusion, and, last but not least, the editor had but little surplus cash to invest in the enterprise. But he was not discouraged; he commenced his work with a will^ determined to succeed, and the general prosperity that has attended the Register is but a just reward of the steady application, enterprise, indomitable energy and skill of its founder. Mr. Otis has one of the finest newspaper and job offices in the state. He has a Taylor drum-cylinder press, besides two job presses - a half-medium Gordon, and an eighth-medium Degener - all run by a magnificent 6-horse power steam engine. His jobbing material includes all the latest and most fashionable products ot the type founder. He has every appliance necessary for doing good work, and his printing can not be excelled by any city office. The Register is as large as any country paper in the state, has a large circulation, a firm and steady advertising patronage, presents a splendid typographical appearance, is edited with superior ability, and is, altogether, a fair representation of the enterprise and business of the city. In 1865, when the name of the town was changed, the name of the paper was changed to the Rochelle Register.

The Rochelle Independent was commenced September 4, 1872, by E. L. Derby, and supported Greeley and Brown, during the remainder of that exciting campaign. It survived nearly a year, and was managed by Derby, Ed. T. Ritchie and John Sharp in succession.

The Creston Times was established in 1872, Isaac B. Bickford, editor and publisher, who conducted it until 1874, when he retired and it was managed for several months by L. H. Post of the DeKalb News. Dr. H. C. Robbins became editor and publisher in 1874-'5. He published it until March, 1877, when he sold to 1). C. JSTeedham, who late in the Fall of the same year sold to Granville W. Morris, the present editor and proprietor. The times is Independent politically.

The Byron News started ITovember 21, 1874, by Isaac B. Bickford, who had purchased the Forreston Journal, moved it to Byron and changed its name. It was a six-column folio, independent in politics, and was not revived after the fire of November 13, 1877, when its office was entirely destroyed.

The Byron Times, established in February, 1876, by E. H. Love, soon succeeded by Dr. William F. Artz, who sold to C. E. Howe. May 1, 1877, G. W. Hawkes purchased an interest in the paper, and it was published by Howe & Hawkes until October 22, 1877, when Mr. Howe retired and Mr. Hawkes assumed the entire management. It is Republican in politics and is well filled and well printed.

Forreston Journal was commenced by Messrs. Saltzman & Mathews April 6, 1867. In June, 1867, Mr. M. M. Mathews retired and the paper was continued by Mr. M. Y. Saltzman until 1870, when Mr. C. F. Dore acquired an interest, Mr. Dore sold to Mr. J. W. Clinton in the same year. In the Spring of 1872 Mr. Clinton purchased Mr. Saltzman's interest, and in 1873 sold the paper to G. L. Bennett. In the Fall of 1874, Mr. I. B. Bickford purchased the office and removed it to Byron.

The Farmers' Criterion is a small five-column folio sheet, started in 1878 and published monthly at Forreston, by D. O. Lantz, editor and publisher.

The Monroe Argus. In the Summer of 1877 a paper was published for a while at Monroe called the Monroe Argus^ conducted by D. C. IS'eedham, who was also publishing the Creston Times. The Argus was printed at Creston, and was probably little else than the Times with change of head.

The Davis Junction Enterprise was the title of a diminutive paper published at Davis Junction, in the Town of Scott, some time in the Summer of 1876,^by S. S. Tucker. In typographical appearance it was unique, unlike any thing above or beneath the earth, save that, like all earthly things, it ha-d a beginning and an ending. Of its circulation, political status or its corps of editors, there is no available information. It is entirely safe, however, to presume that its discontinuance was induced by the financial stringency of that year, which forced many other enterprises of greater pretensions to the wall.

The history of Ogle County would not be complete without some mention of the earliest occupants of this region who have left evidences to testify that they once lived here, a matter that should properly, perhaps, have been mentioned first, and would have been if these " first settlers " had left any records from which their history could have been written, but they have left no traces of their existence save the mysterious and voiceless mounds they built containing their bones, some of their rude implements of war and other utensils, to mark the spot where they once lived a numerous and apparently semi-civilized people - the Mound Builders.

The high bluifs on both banks of the Mississippi from its head waters to the low alluvial lands of Louisiana and the banks of nearly all the water- courses in the great Valley of the " Father of Waters," are thickly dotted with these remarkable mounds. They were very numerous in the Rock River Yalley and many still remain, but they are gradually disappearing, being removed to give place to the cities and villages of modern civilization and leveled by the plow of the farmer. The beautiful plain where now stands the pleasant city of Oregon as well as the surrounding hills or bluffs, was once the favorite dwelling-places of this pre-historic people. Several of the mounds were removed when the streets of the town were graded, and there was one of them removed to make way for the present Court House. There is one still to be seen on the top of Liberty Hill. These strange structures have long attracted the attention of antiquarians who have proposed numerous theories to solve mystery of their origin, plausible, perhaps many of them, but all vague speculation, for there is no voice from these silent monuments of antiquity, the only remaining traces of a pre-historic age, except to testify that they were built by a race who occupied this country ^and were swept from the face of the earth many centuries - hundreds it may be - ago.

At the 21st session of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, held in Dubuque, Iowa, in August, 1872, Prof. H. T. Woodman, of Dubuque, read a very interesting paper on the " Ancient Wonders of

Ancient Mounds. - The mounds and other ancient earthworks of North America, are far more abundant than are generally supposed, from the fact that while some are quite large, the greater part of them are small and inconspicuous. Along nearly all our water courses that are large enough to be navigated with a canoe, the mounds are almost invariably found, covering the base points and headlands of the bluffs, which border the narrower valleys, so that when one finds himself in such positions as to command the grandest views for river scenery, he may almost always discover that he is standing upon, or in close proximity to, some one or more of these traces of the labors of an ancient people. Some of these mounds can be seen from the streets of our city, but a greater number have become obscured from view by the surrounding growth of forest trees. Hundreds of them are thus hidden along the valleys and bluffs of our great Mississippi River and its tributaries, but the greater may yet be traced by careful observation.

It is not only upon the points and headlands that these mounds are found, but they also exist in great numbers upon the broader upper terraces in the valleys.

The terraces are such as Prof. White refers in the terrace epoch, having doubtless been ancient flood plains of the adjacent streams, but are now far above the reach of their highest floods. Furnishing, as they do the most convenient sites for the valley towns of the white race, we often find that convenience of settlement had induced the mound builders also to choose precisely tlie same sites for their earthworks. The result is that a large number of mounds in such positions are not only obscured by the growing towns, but are ruthlessly destroyed every year.

Around Lake Peosta they are circular in shape. Almost invariably fifteen paces apart, from centre to centre, the smaller ones being from 2 to 2^ feet high about 20 feet in diameter, the material of which they are composed is the ordinary alluvial soil of the terrace.

What is remarkable about this group is their number and the great regularity of their arrangement, being arranged in straight or slightly curved lines (some of them being parallel,) and the nearly uniform distance apart, namely about fifteen paces.

While the association was in session, the members visited, and caused to be opened, one of these mounds in Jo Daviess County, 111., in which they fonnd skulls, stone hatchets, rude household utensils, etc., and the thigh bone of a skeleton found on this occasion, indicates a man at least eight feet in height. Dr. Hoyt, of Racine, took the position that the mounds were the sepulchers of Indians, and that they were buried it sitting positions. Dr. Putnam, of Salem, Mass., stated that " on the Wabash, these mounds were supposed to be the remains of towns, instead of burial places. On that river a few of the hillocks had been opened, and at the depth of five or six feet were found, instead of skeletons, a few bones and utensils that indicated that people had been eating there." He concluded that " the mounds were simply habitations."

The following extract from a chapter on " Ancient Mounds," recently published in the history of Jo Daviess County, will be found interesting in this connection.

On the top of the high bluffs that skirt the west bank of the Mississippi, about two and a half miles from Galena, are a number of these silent monuments of a pre-historic age. The spot is one of surpassing beauty. Standing there, the tourist has a view of a portion of three states - Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. A hundred feet below him, at the foot of the perpendicular cliffs, the trains of the Illinois Central Railroad thunder around the curve; the Portage is in full view, and the " Father of Waters," with its numerous bayous and islands, stretches a grand panorama for rniles above and below him. Here, probably thousands of years ago, a race of men now extinct, and unknown even in the traditions of the Indians who inhabited this region for centuries before the discovery of America by Columbus, built these strangely wonderful and enigmatical mounds. At this point these mounds are circular and conical in form. The largest one is at least forty feet in diameter at the base, and at least fifteen feet high now, after it has been beaten by the storms of many centuries. On its top stands the large stump of an oak tree that was cut down about fifty years ago, and its annular rings indicate a growth of at least 200 years. Whatever may have been the character of these mounds in other localities, these could not have been^the dwelling places of their builders.