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Morton Township
T.25 N. R.3W.
(The following is a small excerpt
of the history of Tazewell County townships from the book
“Souvenir of Early and Notable Events in the History of the North West
Territory, Illinois and Tazewell County.”)
Submitted by: Linda T - 2008
Morton township was named in honor of Gov. Morton of Massachusetts. The
first election was held at W.W. Campbell’s. A Mr. Soward settled on
Section 31 about 1826 or 1827, and built the first pioneer log cabin. He
was soon followed by a Mr. Field, Richard Ratliff, Mr. Crosby, John M.
Roberts and four sons. Rev. William Brown was the first regular
minister.
In 1832, section 4 contained the first log school-house. Like nearly all
pioneer school-houses, it was used for church and town meeting purposes.
The first Justice of the Peace were Joseph Evans and Wm. Sample.
The village of Morton was laid off by James M. Campbell on Nov. 12,
1850. Organized in 1887.
Peter Sweitzer has
been a continuous member of the Board of Supervisors for over 25 years;
Chairman about half of that time, and Chairman of the Permanent Building
Committee during the entire time of the construction of the new court
house at Pekin.
He is the Dean of the Board.
Morton township was named in honor of Gov. Morton, of Massachusetts.
The first election was held at W.W. Campbell's.
A Mr. Soward settled on Section 31 about 1826 or 1827 and built the
first pioneer log cabin.
Then came a Mr. Field, Richard Ratliff, Mr. Cosby, John M.
Roberts and his four sons.
Rev. William Brown was the first regular minister.
In 1832, Section 4 contained the first log school-house which was used
for church and town meeting purposes.
The first Justices of the Peace were Joseph Evans and William
Sample.
The Village of Morton was laid out by James M. Campbell on Nov. 12,
1850. Organized in 1887.
Sources: Historical Souvenir, Dedication of the New
Tazewell
County Court House, Pekin, IL June 21, 1916, Board of Supervisors,
Bates.
1916 White's
County Directory
Township Officers
Supervisor - Peter SWIETZER
Town Clerk - P.J. YENTES
Assessor - D.C. HEISER
Collector - G.H. BINKELE
Justices - W.J. HAMPTON and C.L. SLONNEGER
Constable - J.L. KEPCHA
Highway Commissioner - WM STRUCK
School Trustees - Joesph RICH, J.S. GOODYEAR, Michael BEYER,
J.J. KENNEL- TREAS
Morton Township
Supervisors
1850 - 1917
| Horace
Clark |
1850 |
| Joel W.
Clark |
1851-59 |
| Anson
Gillum |
1860-62 |
| Charles
R. Crandall |
1863-66 |
| Wm.
Munroe |
1867-71 |
| Thomas
Cooper |
1872-73 |
| Wm. A.
Moore |
1847-75 |
| Samuel
C. Smith |
1876 |
| John H.
Crandall |
1877 |
| Samuel
C. Smith |
1878 |
| William
Smith |
1879-80 |
| Samuel
C. Smith |
1881 |
| Alex
Mooberry |
1882 |
| A.W.
Stewart |
1883 |
| Erastus
Roberts |
1884 |
| W.F.
Denne |
1885-87 |
| Wm.
Moschel |
1888(resigned) |
| W.A.
Moore |
1889-91
(elected to Legislature) |
| Peter
Sweitzer |
1891-1917 |
Peter Sweitzer has been a
continouous member of the Board of Supervisors for over 25 years.
He is the Chairman of the Permanent Building
Committee
during the entire time of construction of the new court house at Pekin.
He is the Dean of the Board.
Source: Historical Souvenir,
Dedication of the New
Tazewell County Court House, Pekin, IL June 21, 1916, Board of
Supervisors, Bates.
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