Algonquin Township (part 2 of 2)

North Crystal Lake was originally incorporated as the village of Xunda. January 24, 1>74. under a legislative act dated April 10. 1>7_ The petition fur incorporation was filed in the County Court of McHenry County by Josiah Walkup and others December 30. 1873. and January 5, 1874. County Judge B. X. Smith ordered an election to be held January 24. that year, and appointed as judges of such election 0. M. Peck. Edgar Beckley and Amos Pettibone. and as clerks. Xajah Beardsley and W. K. Hale. The records show that sixty-two votes were cast thereat, all of said voters being in favor of such incorporation. On February 17. the same year, C. E. Warner. X. Beardsley. W. S. DeWolf, R. Rowley. < ». Mansfield and A. A. Pettibone were elected trustees of the incorporation. The name of the village of Xunda was changed to Xorth Crystal Lake

The village of Crystal Lake was organized under the general provision passed April 10. 1572. James (row. T. II. Ashton and J. B. Robinson having been appointed by the court of McHenry County as judges of an election to decide by ballot the question whether or not they would incorporate as a village under said law: an election was held Jamiarv 10. 1874. The returns showed that there had been cast forty- nine votes for such incorporation and six against the measure. The court then ordered an election of officers which resulted in the election of trustees as follows: William Miller, John Brink, Thomas Leonard, B. Carpenter, II. II. Ford, and L. D. Lowell. Hence it will be seen that two incorporated villages existed side by side for a considerable number of years. It was not until 1914 that the villages of North Crystal Lake and Crystal Lake were consolidated under the name of Crystal Lake. II was on April 21, 1914, that this was legally brought about, and in September, the same year, the place adopted a city form of government. The first officers were elected December 14, 1914, to hold office until April. 1915. The first set of officers were as follows: William Pinnow, mayor; John C. Flotow, city clerk; James B. Ford, city treasurer; Herman P. Hasse, city attorney and William M. Freeman, Henry Meyer, A. M. Shelton, W. J. Buchholz, Andrew Pierson and Henry Breudigam, aldermen.

The officers elected in the spring of 1915 were: William Pinnow, mayor; John C. Floto, city clerk; Jennie H. Ford, city treasurer; Herman P. Hasse, city attorney; and Andrew Pierson, Henry Meir, A. M. Shelton, W. J. Bruedigam, Martin Xaslund, Addison M. Shelton. William M. Freeman, Henry Meier, aldermen.

February 2, 1915, the city census returns was taken showing a population of the city of Crystal Lake to be 2,364 and the city was thereupon divided into three wards, two aldermen to be elected annually for each ward. May 4, 1915, the aldermen by lot decided to hold office the following terms : First ward, Henry Bruedigam, one year ; Andrew Pierson, two years; second ward, A. M. Shelton, one year; Martin Naslund, two years: third ward, Henry Meier, one year; William M. Freeman, t wo years.

City Officials Name Changed To North Crystal Lake

The village of North Crystal Lake was annexed to Crystal Lake in the spring of 1914. The subjoined is a list of officers serving in Crystal Lake from its organization to the time it was united with North Crystal Lake, as well as present consolidated incorporation officials:

September, 1914, the city form of government was adopted through an election and officers held over until December, 1914, when the first city officers were elected and took office. The same held only until the ensuing spring election.

The following are the present officials of the city of Crystal Lake : mayor, W. A. Goodwin ; clerk, John C. Flotow ; health commissioner, H. D. Hull ; treasurer, Carl Ortman ; magistrate, C. H. Schlottman ; attorney, L. D. Lowell ; aldermen, Fred Peterson, Henry Bruedigam, Henry Meier, G. D. Crabtree, Mort Ritt and J. B. Kitchen.

Public Improvements

In 1906-07 a city building was constructed of brick. It cost $8,000. The second floor is leased out to various lodges, while the ground floor is used by the councilmen and for other municipal purposes.

A public park comprising a full city block has been improved, trees have been planted, seats furnished, and a band-stand erected, so that it is an attractive resort for the people of this region.

The water supply was furnished in both the old village of Nunda in 1903 and in the other part of the city in 1912. Deep wells are used and water is forced from the same by electric pumps, giving a direct pressure. There are now two stand-pipes.

Village Of Cary

Cary in the northeast quarter of section 13 of Algonquin Township is a station point on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad and the first southeast of Crystal Lake. It was laid out June 7, 1856, by William D. Cary and became a post office in 1856, with James Nish as first postmaster. He was succeeded, when he entered the Civil War. by his brother John Nish. who served until relieved by II. M. Burton, who was postmaster for two years and was followed by Robert Burk, and he by James Nish. who had returned from war with the rank of captain, and he served until his death, when his daughter, Miss Ann J. Nish, was appointed and served until in the Democratic administration of President Wilson. Mary H. Hrdlioka was appointed, the date of her appointment being December 8, 1913. This is a fourth class post office and from it runs one rural delivery route.

The village has a deep well water-works system ; water is forced by electricity to a large reservoir and a stand-pipe is maintained so that plenty of water is had at all times. This plant was placed in operation about 1910, and for it the village was bonded for the sum of $20,000. The electric lighting of the place is done by a private corporation. In 1915 the village built a fine, solid village hall of brick and cement. It is two-story high and has a basement. Ample room is afforded for council room, fire department, etc.

The following are the township officials of Algonquin Township : supervisor, R. E. Haeger ; assessor, Henry Breudigam ; clerk, V. N. Ford ; highway commissioner, Ed Wallace; justices of the peace, L. E. Mentch, John Buehler and Henry Keyes ; constable, John Purvey.