Hitt, Samuel M., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1858 by Samuel M. Hitt, this two-story limestone farmhouse near Mount Morris, Illinois, is an antebellum Italianate dwelling with a cubic mass, a low hipped roof, bracketed eaves and a square cupola. A wraparound one-story porch and tall main-floor windows that double as French doors reinforce its formal symmetry. The stone, with walls eighteen inches thick, was quarried about a mile south of the site, giving the house a vernacular character. Inside are seventeen rooms. Later changes include a wooden bay window that replaced the original east entrance, a rear frame addition that once held a smokeroom, and a relocated main staircase. Hitt came from Maryland in 1836, became one of Ogle County's first settlers and a founder of Mount Morris, and served in the state legislature. The nomination cites documentation of his friendship with Abraham Lincoln and family accounts of Lincoln's stays. One family has owned the house since 1874.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a well-preserved, rare example of an antebellum symmetrical cube-style Italianate farmhouse, built vernacularly of limestone quarried on the property. It is also tied to Samuel M. Hitt, an early Ogle County settler, founder of Mount Morris and state legislator, who was a friend of Abraham Lincoln. The house has been owned by one family since 1874.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85002841, listed November 14, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7782 IL 64 W, Mount Morris |
|---|---|
| County | Ogle County |
| Listed | November 14, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002841 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel M. Hitt |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied private residence in excellent condition; altered by a bay window replacing the original entrance, a rear frame addition and a relocated staircase. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.05583, -89.48675 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85002841.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7412068
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.