One of the most favorably and widely known citizens of Carroll county is
William Henry Griffith, the present Mayor of Savanna, and candidate for sheriff. Mr. Griffith was born in Wales in 1846 and when 7 years of age came to America. He received his education in the city schools of Buffalo, N. Y., moved from there to Chicago, where he studied ship building and engineering. Later moved to Morrison, thence to Savanna. He was married to Miss Mary Clare in Chicago in 1868. Seven children were born to them, five of whom are living, Wm. H., Caroline, Jeannette, George J., and David Allen. Mr. Griffith was elected Mayor of Savanna in 1885, and under his reign water works and electric lights were put into the city. He is now serving his fourth term, having been elected last spring, 700 votes were cast and only 14 were against him. He was the first fire chief of the city. Served four years as sheriff of Carroll county with much credit and is now a candidate for that office again, with the best of chances of being elected. He is a big-hearted, genial gentleman and numbers nearly every man as a friend. In Savanna people say that under Griff’s administration the city always takes a step in advance. The same way when he is in any office, success seems to crown his efforts. He is an ardent republican and goes before the republican convention with friends on every hand who will work for his nomination.

“Point Rock,” is one of the historic spots in Mt. Carroll. It is at the head of the gorge where it is said the last buffalo hunt was held in Illinois by the Indians.

Tradition has it they drove the animals into the gorge, and slaughtered them by the hundreds and some reports say thousands. A. B. Hostetter has promised to write a story on this hunt which will shortly appear in the DEMOCRAT.

The “Point Rock” is the termination of a ridge which runs north west for eight miles and is only broken by Plum River on the north and Straddle Creek on the south. The creek runs close under the rock and has always been a fishing and swimming hole for Mt. Carroll “boys.” Many of our old, gray headed men fished and swam there in the ‘40s and ‘50s as the boy of the present does today. But the boy of today will be the daddy of the future.

Not being satisfied with a common school education, he entered the Northern Illinois College in autumn of 1893 to prepare himself for the legal profession, and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1897. He was soon afterward admitted to the bar but did not begin the practice of the profession and returned to the college to pursue special work and accepted a position as teacher the following autumn which he has filled ever since.

Dr. Metcalf belongs to the tenth generation of Metcalfs in America, his Puritan ancestor coming to Massachusetts in 1632. He has lived in Mt. Carroll since early childhood. His elementary education was obtained at the Mt. Carroll Seminary and High School, and at Beloit Academy. He graduated from Beloit College with the degree of Ph. B. in 1879, and received from the same institution, in 1882, the degree of A. M. From 1880 to 1883 he taught in the Mt. Carroll High School, and then began the study of medicine, graduating from the Northwestern University Medical School in 1886, since which time he has practiced his profession at Mt. Carroll. He is now a “Fellow of the American Academy of Medicine,” and has for several years been a surgeon for the C. M. and St. P. railway. Dr. Metcalf is greatly interested in educational matters; has twice been elected President of the Board of Education, and is Vice-President of the Trustees of The Frances Shimer Academy.

John H. Grossman was born near Chambersburg, Pa., December 6, 1844. He received his education in the rural schools and in the Chambersburg Academy until 1861; was a student for several terms in the Normal University at Normal, Ill. Graduated from the Eastman Business College in 1867, and from the Spencer Art College in 1869. Was married to Miss Nancy J. Long, at Waterloo, Iowa Aug. 9, 1871, with whom he has lived and raised an interesting family of children until her demise at Lanark, April 2, 1895 Mr. Grossman taught in the rural schools of Carroll County for seven years; was principal of the Milledgeville schools for nine years, of the Coleta schools one year and of the Shannon schools for five years. He was elected to the office of County Superintendent of Schools, in 1886 and re-elected in 1890 and 1894, and has at all times given the best of satisfaction. His entire time and attention is given to the duties of the office, and he seems to throw his whole soul into the work. Mr. Grossman has the office of superintendence at Mt. Carroll, while residing at Lanark with his four children who are employed as follows: Nathan and Edith are doing successful teaching, while Vera and Roy are studious pupils in the Lanark schools. Mr. Grossman is highly respected throughout the county for his sterling worth and is acknowledged as the best and most faithful Superintendent the county ever had. He is a republican worker, as well as a school worker, believing the principles of his party are right and just, but he is not fanatical in his beliefs. He will be a candidate for re-election to his office, with every prospect of success; in fact there is a likelihood of his not having any opposition. Mr. Grossman has been a success in whatever he has undertaken. As a teacher, as a superintendent, as a citizen, he is honored, respected and looked up to. It was through his untiring and persistent work that Carroll County schools have been brought to their present high standard, that the exhibit at the annual Carroll County Fair is such a success. All hail to Prof. Grossman. May his years be many and as useful and productive as in the past.

Reuben R. Watson was born in Woodland Tp., June 11, 1853, one mile from the court house. He finished his studies in the high school in Mt. Carroll, and took a course in Carthage College, after which he taught school for several years.

From that time on he worked for railroads, nearly all the time as clerk in some office. For 10 years he lived in Savanna and was a trusted employee of the C. B. & N. He married May 22, 1881 to Miss Alice A. Atwood of Millington, Mich. He was always a staunch republican, and in 1896 his party recognized his ability and service by electing him to the position of Circuit Clerk and Recorder of his county, which position he now fills with ability and credit. He and Mrs. Watson live in a pleasant home on Clay Street.

Wm. H. Wildey, “Capt. Harry,” as he is familiarly called, was born in Springville, Erie Co. N. Y. , April 18, 1839. Came to Chicago in 1855 and was engaged in business until the breaking out of the war. He enlisted in Co. A., 19th Ill. Vol. Inf., April 19, 1861 and was mustered out Jan. 19, 1866; was severely wounded at the Battle of Stone River, Tenn.; was commissioned 1st Lieut. And Captain. Was in the battle of Nashville, Tenn., and in ACTIVE service four years and nine months. Came to Mt. Carroll and engaged in the grocery business Feb. 17, 1866, and is the oldest grocer in the county, not in years, but in service. He was the first grocer in the county to start a delivery wagon, and the first to buy a car load of salt and oil. Such quantities were unheard of before. He married to Miss Emily Vale of Chicago, April 24, 1867; she was born in England. They have four children: May, Alice, Edith, and Harry. Mr. Wildey has never been an office seeker, but has been elected supervisor and city alderman without seeking the positions and filled them well. He always has the interests of the city at heart and is ready to invest in anything which he thinks will benefit the city in any way. He is a large stockholder in the J. M. Shirk Mill. Co., the Electric Light Co., Telephone Co., 1st National Bank, &c. He is one of Mt. Carroll’s most substantial, enterprising and energetic citizens.

Capt. John W. Miller was born in Mifflin Co. Pa., and worked on the home farm until 18 years of age, when he went to Bradford Co., Pa., to learn carriage building, and worked there until 1861, when under the first call for 75,000 men for three months, he enlisted in defense of his country, in the first company that reported for duty at Harrisburg, Pa. After his three months expired he re-enlisted in the 12th Pa., Vol. Cav., where he remained until Aug. 1865. He was taken prisoner twice; the first time he was paroled on the battle field of the 2nd Bull Run battle; the second him he made his escape from his captor in the night. He enlisted as a private and returned as commander of a company; served on the staff of Brig. Gen. M. A. Reno in the spring of 1865, as brigade quarter-master. He came to Mt. Carroll in 1871, worked on a farm for a few months, then went to work in a blacksmith shop; which he purchased in ’72; carried on carriage making and general repair until fall of ’94, employing from 6 to 18 men nearly all the time paying out out in salaries over $100,000. He served three terms on the city council, twice as Mayor. It was under his administration that our system of water works was started, and a fire company organized. He has never asked for an office, military or civil, but at present many of his friends are urging him to announce himself as a candidate for the office of sheriff, but at present he has not yet decided to do so.

Dr. Hughes located in our beautiful city in the summer of ‘95, and from the start had a most flattering practice. His success, too, has been phenomenal. His preparatory work for college was taken in Chaddock College, Quincy, Ill. After teaching school a time he further pursued his collegiate studies at the Northwestern University at Evanston and from there taking up his medical and hospital courses in Chicago. He is a member of the Illinois State Medical Society, and the Northwestern Homeopathic Medical Society, ex-president of the National Medical Institute of Chicago. Served one year as House Physician of the National Dispensary and Hospital of Chicago. Was elected Professor of Osteology, and Demonstrator of Anatomy to the National Medical College in Chicago, soon after graduating from the same. Dr. Hughes has also taken special courses in pelvic and plastic surgery in private sanitariums. He is at present Medical Examiner for several Insurance Societies, County Physician and Surgeon and a member of the Pension Examining Board.

W. F. Snook was born in Adrian, Seneca county, Ohio, July 20, 1864. Moved to Central Iowa when 3 ½ years old with his parents, learned the carpenter trade with his father.

In 1881 came to Mt. Carroll; commenced the barber trade in 1885, which profession he is now following.

Was married to Miss Adella M. Sisler in 1890. Built what is known as the Snook building in 1897, in which he now has his barber shop. Mr. Snook is an enterprising young man with a bright future before him.

Wm. R. Streat is a native born Mt. Carroll boy, who first saw light of day on Oct. 1, 1875.

His education was gleaned in our public schools. He is a studious young man of exemplary habits, and has for four years been in the employ of A. G. Jackson.

He is commander of the K. O. T. M., one of our fraternal and beneficiary organizations. Mr. Streat goes in the best of society and is one of our prominent young men.

Our present Mayor, George F. Bucher, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1846. When 2 years of age, moved to Jo Daviess county, where he lived until 1864, when he entered school in Freeport. He entered the army, Co. G. 62nd Reg., and came to Mt. Carroll at the close of the war, to complete his education, was one of the first pupils in the present public school building under Prof. Frohock. Taught school in Salem in the winter of 1867; clerked for several years and engaged in the grocery business in 1870. Was married to Miss Flora B. Strickland Oct. 4, 1870, to whom three children were born. Fannie L. (now Tate), Florence Dora, and Carroll S. Was bookkeeper for a large lumber firm at Oconto, Wis., in 1872, after which he represented the Champion Harvester Co. as traveling salesman for 12 years. Was elected Circuit Clerk and Recorder in 1884; was appointed postmaster b President Harrison in 1890; was elected president of the Carroll Co. Agrl. Board in ‘95-6-7, which he now holds. He is our present Mayor, and it is admitted he has been most successful as such. He is a shrewd politician and an earnest worker for the republican party.

Hon. D. S. Berry was born May 13, 1858 at Sterling, Ill., graduated from Morrison public schools, studied law in the office of O. F. Woodruff, moved to Savanna May 1, 1883. Married to Mary L. Tucker, of Morrison, in 1882. Two children, Ethel and Ivy, are the result of the union. Was President of the Board of Education of the Savanna public schools for 7 years. Was City attorney of Savanna for 10 years. Was elected to the Illinois Legislature in 1890, re-elected in ‘92 and again in ‘94. In his first session he immediately became prominent as the Republican Parliamentary leader in the long and hard fought contest to repeal the compulsory education law of the state. In his second session, he was the recognized leader of the Republican side of the House, having been selected as the chairman of the Republican caucus. In his third session, he was a candidate for Speaker, but his well known record against corporations defeated him for that position, yet his legal ability made him Chairman of the Judiciary, the principal committee of the House. At this session he was again Chairman of the Republican caucus and he appointed the Steering Committee, he being the chairman of that committee. He was, also, during the session, on account of the illness of the Speaker, made Acting Speaker, and in addition to the important duties of chairman of the Judiciary and Steering Committees, performed the duties of Speaker during the most of the session.

In the interest of the farmers of the state, and at their urgent request, he took charge of and passed through the House against the opposition of the Lobby and Chicago members, the Anti-Butterine Bill. He had charge of, and passed the Bill providing for the founding of the Northern Illinois Normal School at DeKalb, Governor Altgeld, for this service, desired to appoint him one of the Trustees of that Institution, but being a member of the Gen’l Assembly, he was not eligible. Mr. Berry formulated as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, an important Bill to reform and simplify the practice and procedure in the Courts, and secured its passage in the House, but it was killed in the Senate. When the Consolidated Gas Bill, which permitted all the Gas companies of Chicago to consolidate into one enormous trust and monopoly, was before the Assembly, Mr. Berry opposed it on the ground that it was bad in principle, that it destroyed competition, that it tended to make the rich richer and the poor poorer; that it was unrepublican and contrary to the letter and spirit of a free people, and ought not be permitted, much less legalized. But the bitterest fight he had was on the Bill known as the “Race Track Bill,” which if passed would have legalized race track gambling, commonly called pool selling.

Mr. Berry absolutely refused to recognize any member to call up that bill in the House -- that required nerve. He had it, and it killed the bill; it never reached a vote. But his life was threatened 50 times on account of that act. He has said it was the best thing he ever did for the people and for his party, because, if it ever reached a vote, it would have passed and become a law, and as such would have been a disgrace not only to the Republican party but to the state. It was that contest and his action therein that brought upon the bitter hatred of that “king of liars,” that champion black-guard, H. H. Kohlsaat, of the Chicago Times-Herald. We might enumerate many other public services performed by Mr. Berry, as a legislature, but space forbids. He took a positive stand on all matters before the body of which he was a member, and his position sealed the fate of nearly every Bill. He was recognized as the ablest lawyer in the Legislature. He always voted for what he considered the best interests of his constituents and the people of the state, and he always drew the hottest fire of his opponents. He was never called a “wooden man.” At the special session he lacked only two votes of being elected Speaker. He challenges any man or any newspaper to name one vote he ever cast against the interests of his constituency, or to specify a single wrong public act of his life, or to furnish a particle of evidence thereof. The Chicago Times-Herald hounded him, abused him and deliberately and maliciously lied about him, but never furnished a scintilla of evidence against him. His many friends insist that he must again represent them in the legislature, and if “called” he will accept, they say. He is one of the most brilliant lawyers in Northern Illinois, and has been counsel in many of the greatest trials ever in our courts.