Leaf River History |
As the population of the town increased and more businesses became established, it became evident to everyone that rules and guidelines were needed. The legal steps required to make this possible are recorded in detail in the Village record books. The following selections from these records will reveal the first steps taken for Village Incorporation. "An Election under pursuance of an order by Hon. George P. Jacobs, County Judge of Ogle County, Illinois was held on August 17, 1882 at the Drug Store of John Crombie in the town of Leaf River to determine whether the territory would be incoporated as a Village. The election results were in favor of becoming incorporated as a Village and an election was called to elect officials. Election notices were posted in ten of the most public places in the village of Leaf River, Ogle County, Illinois: S.F. Lowman's Barber Shop; The Leaf River House; J.A. Kaufman's Clothing Store; Preston Bros. Store; The Post Office; The Drug Store of John Crombie; Heilman's Harness Shop; Railway Water Tank; American House; and C.C. Bower's Blacksmith Shop." Those who cast their votes at the electon held at the office of Elias C. Fleming, M.D. in Leaf River Township on September 16th, 1882 for the purpose of electing six village trustees and one village clerk for the village of Leaf River, Ill., were: |
1. Jos. Piper 38. Milen West 2. David Wills 39. Lewis Mengler 3. Geo. E. Johnson 40. H.P. Morrisn 4. J.C. Robinson 41. Charles Sharer 5. Thos. O. Milin 42. D.P. Gray 6. J. Crombie, M.D. 43. M.J. West 7. J.B. Bertolet 44. W.S. Boyd 8. Frank Cave 45. John Harrison 9. James Patterson 46. John H. Pensinger 10. W.F. Barnhart 47. Simon Emert 11. Ed. E. Fleming 48. J.W. Sarber 12. S.D. Swab 49. Simon P. Shaffstall 13. A.W. Saxton 50. Harvey Guyer 14. Henry Molchoir 51. John Lyons 15. Daniel Icely 52. J.S. Newcomer 16. J.C. Kaufman 53. G.C. Bailey 17. Joseph Jehl 54. Jos. Mumma 18. J.B. Mariatt 55. Joseph Ridenour 19. John F. Rap 56. Benj. Bakner 20. Samuel Walker 57. Phil Sprecher 21. Daniel Sprecher 58. Chas. C. Bower 22. E.C. Fleming, M.D. 59. Wm. Wertz 23. Fred Windhorst 60. Joseph Figeley 24. Robert Marks 61. Peter Coblentz 25. Fred Ayers 62. C.B. Sherwood 26. Chas. L. Gray 63. Levi Reber 27. Sumner Preston 64. Joel Kuntzelman 28. J.F. Miller 65. Benjamin F. Stevenson 29. Will. Prescott 66. Jacob Long 30. John Myers 67. Morris Gaffin 31. J.D. Klein 68. Henry Eyrick 32. Fred Speck 69. Chas. Kusshner 33. Chas. Fogle 70. John Shaffstall 34. John Motter 71. William Eakle 35. John C. Silence 72. Henry Logue 36. William Preston 73. Chas. Rupert 37. W.M. Brown 74. Emanuel Hank |
First Public School at Leaf River, IL. |
Quoting from the Village Record Book with the result of the above election: "It is therefore declared as the result of said election that Joseph H. Newcomer, Charles B. Sherwood, Samuel F. Lowman, Charles C. Bower, Josiah S. Mumma, James L. Patterson having received the highest number of votes for Village Trustees of said Village are elected to said office of Village Trustees. H. Frank Barnhart having received the highest number of votes for Village Clerk is duly elected to said office. Said Trustees and Village Clerk elect, having taken the oath of office as prescribed by law which was administered by George E. Johnson, Notary Public in and for the County of Ogle and the State of Illinois on the 19th day of September A.D. 1882, in the building owned by Robert Patterson in said Village, when and where Joseph H. Newcomer, one of the Trustees was chosen as President of the said board of Trustees, and the first ordinances were drawn." The secret and benevolent orders were also represented in the town, E.H. Homer Post, No. 383, Grand Army of the Republic, was instituted January 12, 1884 with 18 charter members. The officers in the fall of 1885 were, George O. Proctor, William Beek, H. Zimmerman, P.T. Frost, and William Albright. The Post met once a month in Sprecher's Hall. Leaf River Camp, No. 90, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized April 10, 1885 with 17 members. The officers were: H.L. Eyrick, Clerk, George S. Thomas, Banker, and Samuel Sprecher, Vice-Consul. The early settlers quickly recognized the need for their children to have the benefit of educational, and Religious Facilities. In which one is pictured above. |
Wagon Bridge across the Leaf River, Roller is visible at dam. |
Guess I blinked ! Missed Leaf River ! |
To continue the history of Leaf River, Harold Marks, former Leaf River resident, recently recorded his recollections of Leaf River's businesses in early 1900's as follows: "The Grain elevator, lumber yard, and farm implement shop were located on the North side of the Milwaukee Railroad tracks. The creamery was also located north of the tracks next to the river and east of the lumber yard. The railroad ran a local train every day. Milk was picked up at the stations along the way and hauled to Chicago, thus the term "Milk Train". The Milwaukee had a turn around on the Green south of the tracks . Here the engines were run in, placed on a turntable, and headed back out. The railroad furnished emplyment for quite a few people in the summertime. The fence gang built and repaired fences along the rght-of-way; the paint gang painted depots, etc.; and the bridge gang worked on bridges. The men slept and ate in bunk cars furnished by the railroad. There were three operators on duty (at the depot) 24 hours a day. Isaac Fosler's General Store was next. This building had living quarters upstairs. The building was later sold and became the Opera House where road shows, movies, dances, roller skating, and graduation excercises were held. The Leaf River Roller Mill was located beside the river. On the east side of the street was the hotel ran by Pete Johnson, who always met the trains to ask traveling salesmen to stay at his establishment. Mr. Johnson had a talking parrot, and it is noted that Pete was a spiffy dresser. Next were Bert Embick's blacksmith shop, Charlie Schelling's hardware store, and the lumber company and coal sheds. Joe Katerabich's shoe store and shoe repair shop was located on the east side of the street south of the railroad tracks. He later sold out to Joe Vetrovec who operated it for several years. Vetrovec later moved to Mt. Morris. Eli Icely's hotel was the next building. The telephone office was located here later, and it also was the location of the office of Dr. J.D. Corson, veterinarian. Lewis Harrison's picture studio was next and the livery stable was nearby. Another building was occupied by a tailor and this building also housed the Post Office for a while. Across the alley was located a millinery shop, Fred Mishler's store, and a building which also housed the Post Office for several years. These last three buildings were purchased by George Myers, and a new brick structure, now occupied by Mr. Poggioli was built. George Myers operated a Garage and a Model T Ford agency. Next was a grocery store with Johnny Palmer and David Myers, propietors. Mr. Marks recalls that a furniture store and undertaking parlor, operated by William Johnson, was in the next structure which burned to the ground and was replaced by two buildings moved from across the street and placed on the foundation of the burned out building. These two-buildings were occupied by Henry Eyrick, grocer, and Mr. Sherwood, tinsmith. These were later bought out by Fred Ayers, who built the present building and operated a grocery store. Across the street, the Leaf River Mirror newspaper with editor, Pete Allen, was located in the Leslie Kretsinger building. Ed Kershner's picture studio occupied the second story of this building. The old skylight can still be seen although it is covered over with roofing. Mr. Kershner later had a carpenter shop and loom and wove carpets. He lived at the end of Second St. on the south side. He later moved away. Next to the Kretsinger building was the older Dr. Bowerman's office. After his death, the younger Dr. H.E. Bowerman took over the practice and built a new office. Across the street on the west side, the first blacksmith shop was located on the lot where Mrs. Anna Wagner now lives. This shop was operated by a black man. (Mr. Marks could not remember his name). The next building was a millinery shop at one time. Later, John Motter and his son, Lloyd, had a shop where they manufactured a product out of parafin called "Fretnot", which was shipped all over the country. This product was applied to an iron to keep it from sticking while ironing. John Sprecher's Dry Goods was located in the next building, and then the bank building occupied the corner. Dr. J.T. Kretsinger's office was over the bank and in the rear was the office of Dr. W.E. Pruner, dentist, who later sold out and relocated in Rockford. Then Dr. G.L. Wood was the dentist. Also on the west side and west on Second St., was James Power's blacksmith, wagon, and buggy repair shop, and the fire house where the Village Board held their meetings. The fire house had a fire bell on top of the building. The old jail was located in back of the fire house. Mr. Marks also tells that the old jail, which was built from 2 x 4's laid on top of each other, floated out into the street after a heavy rain while it was being occupied by a transient. Across the street was the John Myers' livery stable. On the west side of the street on the corner was the Joel Bertolet building. Bertolet operated a General Store. Eli Heiter, grandfather of Don Mayer, also had a grocery store and served the community as an undertaker. The next building was built by F.L. Ayres, who also operated a grocery store. (The two buildings that stood here were moved across the street and used by William Johnson as a furniture store and undertaking parlor, mentioned previously). The next building was Sam Allen's Hardware, with a roller skating rink located overhead. Allen sold out to Charles Schelling, who closed his store north of the tracks. Next came John Motter's butcher shop and grocery. In the winter, John Motter put up ice from the river to keep meat cool in his butcher shop. Over the butcher shop and grocery was a hall where Faternal Orders met; namely: The Modern Woodmen, The Mystic Workers, The I.O.O.F (Odd Fellows) and the Rebeccas. Road shows were also held here. Across the alley was S.C. Butterfield's Drug store and jewelry shop where Mr. Butterfield repaired watches. (Mr. Marks does not recall what was located in the next building, but some recall that a beautiful flower garden grew between Butterfield's and Foster's. Next was Joe Fossler's store which housed the Telephone Central Office and a confectionary store where candy, cigars, and tobacco were sold. On one side was a barber shop at one time run by Hess Heiter, a brother of Eli Heiter. The next building was a doctor's office. (He doesn't recall the doctor's name). Dr. Replogle was the second doctor. The office was later used a living quarters by William Kuntzelman, barber, who moved to Oregon, and then occupied later by Dr. Wood, dentist, until his death. The next building housed a barber shop run by William Kuntzelman and Merle Schreiber. Then next was a confectionary store and lunch counter where the train crews ate lunch when they stopped for water for the locomotives. Bert Brayton and later Joe Pelican were proprietors. Mr. Marks notes that the three churches were quite active. Each had their Christmas Programs every year and, almost every winter, revival services were held. Summertime recreation consisted of baseball and fishing. In the winter, skating on the pond northeast of town along the road, and sliding down the hill north of this (Sand Hill), attracted many of the young people and also some grown ups. |
Photo of the Old High School without trees blocking view. |
View of Leaf River from Sand hill |
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