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Police Serve Growing City and Officers Kenneth Espey, William Pearson and Bart Yegge attended the meeting along with eighty-five "Crime Stoppers" who looked for clues and received awards. JOHN J. MCCARTHY John J. McCarthy served as chief of police for the city of McHenry during the years 1950 and 1951. He is shown at the corner of Green and Elm, standing against a background of two homes which have since been removed for business expansion. "CRIME STOPPERS" - This was an organization of young folks started by Chief of Police Joseph C. Grobel to familiarize the young people with the more simple parts of police work and follow the ideas of the "Dick Tracy Crime Stoppers" originated by Chester Gould. Mayor George F. Freund, Chief of Police Joseph Modern Photographs By Plaindealer Photographer Wayne Gaylord In the annals of McHenry Police history, the record of Jack Walsh stands out. He served as chief of police for forty-two years. Walsh was appointed in 1890 and served until his death March 8, 1933, at the age of 71. „ Matt M. Niesen assisted Walsh when needed and they ran a "one man on duty" force. Both of these men had varied and sundry duties to perform which would not now be associated with the police department. Among their chores were lamplighting and keeping the city pump running. Walsh was the father of former City Clerk Earl R. Walsh who served the city for thirty- seven years. Matt Niesen was the father of Clarence Niesen, who resides in this city. McHenry continued to grow as evidenced by a report from Kenneth Espey, present chief of police. He noted that in 1958, the Police department con­ sisted of one chief and four officers. Motorized equipment included one squad car and one motorcycle for meter tickets and fines. Today, besides Chief Espey, there are nineteen officers, five c o m m u n i c a t i o n s d e s k dispatchers, one record and file clerk, one secretary, one meter maid and six crossing guards. Automobiles in operation in- Members of the McHenry Police department in 1960 included, front row, left to right, Richard Lemker, William Pearson, Joseph Grobel, John Weichmann, John Berendt; back row, left to right, Richard Clark, Ken Espey, Ed 'Hissey and Bart Yegge. elude five squad cars and one vehicle for the meter maid. The following were chiefs of police over the years: 1890 - Jack Walsh; 1937 - John Wirtz; 1940 - Jack Smith; 1942 - Howard Cairns; 1947 - Earl Dowell; 1948 - Lester Bacon; 1950 - John McCarthy; 1952 - Harold Aim; 1956 - Joe Grobel; 1962 - Richard Lemker; 1967 - Richard Clark; 1968 - Harold Hobbs and 1969 - Kenneth Espey. A new wing was constructed on the south side of the municipal building this year which will house Police department facilities. The department plans to move into the new structure within the next several weeks, according to Chief Espey. • In lt51, members of the Police department for the city of McHenry were these men, shown left to right, Paul Struck, Elmer Murphy, John J. McCarthy, Dusty Roades and an unidentified officer. Your Complete Welding Center! EXPERT WORK DONE ON • Ornamental Railings • Trailer Hitches • Boat Propellers • Portable Welding • Sea Walls • Boat Hoists • Piers • Lower Unit Heliarc Repair • Straighten Boat Shafts SftUINC McHENRY FOR 25 YEARS 385-4929 "Ti h Authorized Propeller Members of the McHenry City Police department as pictured in January of 1975 are shown above. They are, seated left to right, Sgt. Gregory Burg, Lt. Robert Kranz, Chief Kenneth Espey, Sgt. Robert Mickelsen and Detective Sgt. Daniel Kinnerk; second row, Mrs. Jackie Drabek, Mrs. Patricia Burke, Mrs. Josephine Larke, Mrs. Grace Blake, Mrs. Judy Cook and Mrs. Shirley Jenkins; third row, Patrolman James Blue, Patrolman William Zujewski, Sgt. Robert Zujewski, Patrolman James Molenar, Patrolman William Fitzgerald, Patrolman Gary Wigman and Patrolman Robert Winters; back row, Patrolman Kenneth Kunzer, Patrolman Thomas O'Meara, Patrolman Kenneth Prazak, Patrolman Patrick Joyce, Sgt. Duane Lange, Patrolman Robert Langdon and Patrolman Daniel Bixler. New members of the department who have joined the force since the picture was taken are Patrolmen Ramon Gregoria and Edward Schultz, Meter Maid Margaret Thomas, Mrs. Ruth Glowe secretary to Chief Espey and James Keevil, radio communications desk. Three persons pictured have left the department recently. They are Mrs. Drabek, Mrs. Blake and Officer Bixler. Humor, Pathos Mqrk Early Years In McHenry Community The first person to settle in McHenry township was Dr. Christy G. Wheeler. Dr. Wheeler came in 1836 and opened a small store in what is now McHenry. This together with the practice of medicine and occasional preaching occupied his time while he lived, which was but a few years after his arrival. He came West in search of a climate more suitable to his impaired health and for a time seemed to improve under the bracing influences of the prairie winds, but at length was compelled to succumb to them. While filling an appointment for his brother, the Rev. Joel Wheeler, some thirty-five miles distant, he took cold and died a short time afterward. Among those who were next to settle in this township were Henry and John McLean, Louis and John Boone, John, William and David McCollum, Wesley Ladd, Samuel Walker. The year following came Allen and Freeman Harvey, B.B. Brown, Jonathan and Mike Sutton, Rev. . Joel Wheeler. The McLeans came from Vermont; John went to Iowa in 1860. The Boones came from Ohio; William died in Greenwood in 1883. John was a resident of the county about ten years, when he moved to Iowa. The McCollums also came from Ohio; John moved to Minnesota about th(? year 1852 where he remained until his death in 1880; William made McHenry his home till his death in 1884; David died in McHenry in 1880; he had been a resident of the county most of the time since he settled in it. Wesley Ladd came from Maine. Samuel Walker was also an Eastern man; he made his home in Ringwood many years previous to his death in 1881. The Harveys came from Vermont; Allen died about the year 1860, having made his home in the township from his first settlement *til the date of his death; Freeman died in this township about the year 1874. Among the early settlers are the names of Wm. H. Hankins and family, his aunt, Mrs. Valentine, and her son* also a man by the name of Teabout, whose subsequent brief history is anything but harmonious with the welfare of pioneers. In September, 1837, these parties came from the East in an emigrant wagon which they occupied after arrival till they succeeded in erecting a cabin. In the following December young Valentine fell from a tree and was instantly killed; not long after this event Mr. Teabout lost his life by the accidental discharge of his rifle while hunting. In 1879 Mr. Hankins died at the age of seventy-one. Many other names might be mentioned among those who came to this township in an early day. The usual early events transpired here as elsewhere. The first record of a wedding in this township was that of Joseph Fellows and Christiana Robinault, on the tenth day of November, 1839; ceremony performed by the Rev. Joel Wheeler. The first birth was a daughter of Christy Wheeler. The first death occurred in 1836; • William Herrick ac- cidently shot himself while crossing the ice on Fox river, his horse broke through the ice which in some way caused the discharge of his rifle and killed him instantly; He was buried on the river bank where his remains lay for many years, but a short time later while some parties were digging a cellar his remains were lifted and placed in the McHenry village cemetery. The first school was taught in 1840 by a Miss McOmber, in a small log house erected on the bank of Fox river. This was also the first schoolhouse built in the township. It served its purpose for many years and was afterward converted into a store. The first religious ser­ vices were held by Elder Wheeler in a log house built by H.W. McLean. A little incident occurred at this meeting that remained a source of con­ siderable mirth to the pioneers who witnessed it. The walls of the building were only 5 feet high and the cross ties were covered with shakes. Alden Harvey was a man whose height was six feet four inches; Mrs. Barnum was over six feet. These two people sang in the choir and when they attempted to rise and sing were prevented by the shakes overhead. Mr. Harvey cleared away the ob­ struction by reaching up and moving the shakes to one side thus permitting his and Mrs. Barnum's heads to pass up into the loft, where they sang while the rest of the congregation were singing in the room below.