USA > Illinois > Edwards County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 20
USA > Illinois > Wabash County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 20
USA > Illinois > Lawrence County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 20
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limits, as the following action of the court would verify : "Ordered, that no person in the prison bounds go further than the southwest corner of Lot No. 3, in block M, and thence with an alley to the southeast corner of lot No. 5 in block B, and thence north to the northeast corner of lot No. 6 in block D, thence west with an alley to the corner of lot No. 2 in block O, thence south to the place of beginning."
Subsequent Proceedings .- At a special meeting of the court, held Feb 6, 1815, the reviewers of the road from Palmyra to the line dividing Edwards and Gallatin counties made their report, when the court decided that said road would be of public utility, and Joseph Wood was appointed supervisor of so much of the road as lay between Crawfish and Coffee Creeks, including the prai- ries Pulliam and Banker. August Laviolette (Lavu- lette) was appointed supervisor of that part of the road lying between Coffee creek and Boupas; and Thomas Leavins, supervisor of that part between Bonpas and the county line. The reviewers of the road between Palmyra and Vallie's Ford also reported, which being accepted, Joshua Jordan was appointed supervisor of the same.
The first license for the sale of spirituous liquors was granted to Robert Erwin, on payment to the county of the sum of two dollars ; the rate fixed for the sale was twelve and a-half cents per half pint. This was done at a special term, April 4th, 1815. At the same session, Francis Vallie was licensed to establish a ferry across the Wabash river, from his house to the opposite shore, the rates fixed as follows : For every man and horse, 25 cents ; footman, 12} cents; for each wheel of cart, car- riage or wagou, 1of cents ; for each head of cattle, 6} cents ; for each head of sheep or hogs, 3 cents
William B Adams was appointed constable for Pal- myra township; Thos. C. Browne was appointed prose- cuting attorney for Edwards county ; Robert Beard was recommended by the court to the territorial governor for county surveyor, and Gervase Hazleton was recom- mended for justice of the peace.
The following are the rates of the first tax levy, as fixed by this court : " Each ferry, $8 ; each borse, mare, mule or ass, 50 cents; each stud horse at the rate he stands the season ; every bond servant, $1.00, and 10 cents for every hundred dollars worth of land."
The first case before the court came up at the August term, 1815, and is thus placed of record : " Richard Easton, assignee of Andrew J. Walker, v8. John Wal- drup." The case was ordered to be continued until the next session of court.
At the beginning of court session in February, 1816, it would seem that this honorable body had grown in importance and dignity, as the record reads : " Present -The Worshipfuls John McIntosh, Seth Gard and Wil- liam Barney." As there is nothing in the records to show wherein this court received any emoluments for their services, we are led to infer that the title of " Wor- shipful " was the only compensation to which this august
body was entitled The first business transacted was ordering an allowance of fifty dollars salary to the sheriff, Abner Armstrong, for one year's salary.
On the petition of James Martin, he was licensed to keep a public house iu the town of Palmyra, by paying the sum of one dollar for the use of the county. The " taveru " rates were fixed as follows : "For half pint of whisky, 12}c. ; night's lodging, 12}c. ; for each diet, 25c .; horse to hay all night, 25c. ; each horse feed, 12}c .; each quart of cider, 12¿c. ; pint of rum, wine or brandy, 50 cents."
The same session Thomas C. Browne, prosecuting at- torney, was allowed ten dollars attorney fees for the county in the year 1815. Following the above is an order that Levi Compton, Johu Tome and Gervase Hazleton be appointed to contract for the building of a court-house in Palmyra, and that said commissioners take no action in the matter until further instruction. The first business on the following morning the commis- sioners, by au order from the court, are instructed to contract for the building of the house upon the best possible terms, and have the work done immediately. Later in the day the following appears : "Ordered that the order this day made directing the commissioners appointed to contract for the building of the court- house be set aside."
Johu Shadle was allowed twenty dollars for putting a shingle roof on the jail, which was to be completed by the next term of court.
"Ordered that the sum of eight dollars be allowed to Gervase Hazleton for the use of his house for the court's last year's session.
"Ordered that the sum of $235 be allowed to David Wright, as full compensation for the building of a jail in Palmyra, aud that the treasurer pay the same as soon and as fast as money comes into his hands, this being the senior claim against the county."
Settlement was made with the county treasurer Feb- ruary 16, 1816, with the following showing :
Amt. received by treasurer for 1815, including claims by sheriff $179 6216 Amt. rec'd from sheriff as a tax on vendors of merchandise . . 18 50 Amt. rec'd from Seth Gard for purchse money of lot in Palmyra 31 00
Amt rec'd from tavern license 1 00
$225 127%
At the May meeting of this year Lamot township was divided with boundaries as follows : " Beginning at the Wabash river at the corner between townships Nos. 5 and 6, and running with said line due west to the meridian line, thence with said line to the township line between Nos. 2 and 3, thence with the fifth township lines to the Wabash; and that the same be known by the name of Embarras township."
At the same session Abner Armstrong filed his bond as collector of the revenue of the county of Edwards.
John McIntire was appointed counsel for the court in the place of Thomas C. Browne, at the August tern, 1816.
The following appears on the record of the November term following : On the petition of Adam Gollahart and
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
William Douglas, trustees to the Shakers, it is ordered that a writ of ad quod damnum be issued in their name to view a mill-seat on Embarras river, on the southwest quarter of sec. 28, tp. 5, range 12, and that a writ be directed to the sheriff commanding him to summon twelve good and lawful men-householders -- to meet on the premises Friday, the 8th day of November, 1816. The subsequent action of the court granted the prayer of the petitioners, and the mill was located on the river, in the southwest qr. of sec. 28, tp. 5, range 12, being the first water flouring mill authorized to be built in the county.
A reward was offered at the rate of twenty- five cents for male wolf scalps and two dollars for female scalps. George Barney received the first reward under this law. At the above session the record reads : "Ordered that the sum of one dollar and fifty cents be allowed George Barney for killing two wolves."
SECOND COURT. *
John McIntosh, William Barney, Robert Frazer, commissioners. At the February term, 1817, important charges were made in the subdivision of the county into townships. It was ordered that the county be di- vided and laid off as follows: " 1, township called Coffee township, to begin at the mouth of Bonpas creek, and running up the Wabash river to the line between towns one and two, and with that line to the meridian line, and all that part of the county south of the line between towns one and two compose township No. 1; and that part of the county between the upper boundary of Coffee township and the base line running west to the meridian line, compose township No. 2, called Palmyra township; and that part of the county lying between the upper boundary of Palmyra township, and the line between . towns one and two north of the base line running due west, compose township No. 3, called Prairie town- ship; and that that .part of the county lying north of Prairie township to the northern boundary of the county, compose township No. 4, called Embarras township."
Robert Frazer was appointed assessor in Coffee town- ship, Samuel Marshall in Palmyra township, Seth Gard in Prairie township and Thomas Pulliam in Embarras township.
At the same session the rates of taxation were fixed as follows :
Each mare, horse, mule or asa . $ 50
Each stud-horse, the rates he standa the season
Each bond-serrant or slave . 1 00
Each young man not having taxable property to the amount of two hundred dollara 1 00
Reuben Jordan's ferry . 1 00 Samuel Marshall's ferry 1 00
August Lavulette's ferry 2 00
Gervase Hazleton's ferry 4 00 Francia Vallies' ferry 3 00
Joseph Lavulette's ferry . 2 00
" All town lots, houses in town, out-lots and mansion-
* NOTE .- Thia division into boards is not made with reference to the years, or terms, for which the several judges were elected. So long as the judges remain the same in person, they are considered for the purpose of thia chapter one court, though in the mean time one or more of their number may have been re-elected.
houses in the country above the value of two hundred dollars and upward», all water and wind-mills, at thirty cents on the one hundred dollars' worth."
A peculiar feature appears in the record of this ses- sion, from the fact that the clerk states : " At a county court begun and held at the court-house in Palmyra," etc., while there is nothing in the prior proceedings of the court to show that any court-house had ever been constructed, or any moneys appropriated for the same. At a subsequent day's meeting of the same session, the following appears : "Ordered that this court adjourn to the house of Gervase Hazleton, and that the house be considered the court-house for one year, and he ac- knowledges the receipt of six and one-fourth cents a full consideration for the use of said house for the courts and elections, and the clerk and sheriff are to have the use of one room for their office in his house."
THIRD COURT.
William Barney and Samuel Marshall, 1817 to Spring of 1818.
· There is nothing in the records of this term of court to show that there were more than the above-named members constituting it. It must be borne in mind that the act of congress creating the state of Illinois was passed in April, 1818, therefore this court only had ju- risdiction of public matters to that time under the laws of the territorial government. While the affairs of the state stood in statu quo from the time of the passage of the act until the adoption of the constitution and or- ganization of the state, the several justices of the peace within Edwards county constituted the county court, and transacted the affairs peculiar to that body.
At the October meeting, 1817, the following order was made: " Ordered that the sum of fifty dollars be allowed to Levi Compton, late treasurer of the county, for taking lists of land tax for the years 1815-16, and that the same be certified to the auditor of public accounts.
Three writs of ad quod damnum for the purpose of reviewing mill-seats were applied for at this session. John Grayson desired to erect a mill on Bonpas creek, in the northwest quarter of section 34, township No. 2, range 14, west ; Joseph Wright asked the privilege to build a mill on the Bonpas, in section 26, township 2 south, range 14 west; Leonard White desired to con- struct a mill on the Little Wabash, in section 7, town- ship 1, range 9.
The Court ordered that all the hands living north- west of the "Old Trace" and Indiana creek, who had heen fined for not working on the road leading from Small's mill to the Beaver IIoles, be exonerated from the payment of said fines.
It was further ordered that it be certified that Wil- liam Bodger is a man of good demeanor and moral char- acter.
JUSTICES' COURTS
begun and held for the county of Edwards, March 23, 1818. Present, Gervase Hazleton, Joseph Baird, Ran-
SCHOOL.
JAIL.
COURT HOUSE.
PIIRI RIIS RITI DINAS FnWARDS PO
JUV4. 17 Of THE UNIVERSITY 1
85
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
som Higgins, William Smith, John Grayson, Samuel Newell, and James Martin.
At this session five parties were granted license to vend domestic spirits, and the amount of twenty-eight dollars was allowed for wolf scalps.
It was also ordered that the clerk of this court pro- cure such weights and measures as the law directs.
John Huut, Robert Anderson, Daniel Keen, Robert Bell, and John Higgins, were recommended to his Ex- cellency, Ninian Edwards, for Justices of the Peace of Edwards county.
Abner Armstrong, sheriff of the county, was allowed fifty dollars for official services for the year 1817.
At the July session the following order was made: " Ordered, that Guy W. Smith, John D. Wolverton and John Shadle, be agents, for this county, to contract for building a court-house, and selling the county lots in the town of Palmyra ; and that the county agents give pub- lic notice in one of the Vincennes papers, and the paper published at Shawneetown, at least twenty days previous to the day of sale." At the following day's session, an order was passed that the county agents should not sell any lots for less than twenty dollars. Guy W. Smith was empowered to execute deeds to the said lots.
The commissioners appointed to contract for the build- ing of a court-house were instructed as follows, relating to plans and specifications of the said building: "To be a frame, of good aud sufficient timbers, 36 feet wide by 44 feet long, and 20 feet high from the foundation to the wall plates, and to be well weather-boarded, with good seasoned poplar plank of a proper thickness, a good and sufficient roof of good sound shingles, with a balcony eight feet square and twelve feet high, and a steeple 23 feet in height. The building to be let to the lowest bidder, who shall be bound in a bond with such security as the said commissioners may deem sufficient for the just and true performance of the contract, with- in six months from the first Monday in September next, when the building of said court-house is to be let."
At the November session, on the application of Wm. Beauchamp, agent for Thos. Hinde and William Mc- Dowell, it was ordered that they be permitted to estab- lish a ferry across the Wabash at the mouth of White river from their land to the opposite shore.
Augustus Tougas was permitted to keep tavern and vend spirits for one year, from the first of July, 1818, by paying a tax of two dollars.
"Ordered, that Edward Burns be allowed the sum of seventeen dollars extra for building a bridge across Crawfish creek.
At a special meeting of the court in April, 1819, the county was again sub-divided into townships having the following names : Embarras, Palmyra, Coffee, Bon- pa-, and Prairie township.
The judges of election for the several townships, were respectively as follows : John McClelland, Samuel New- ell, William Denison, Seth Gard, William Barney, Hezekiah Clark, Levi Compton, Elias Jordan, Philip
Plough, Robert Anderson, Hugh Stewart, Alan Em- merson, James McMillan, Shadrach Ruark, Richard B. McCorkle.
FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
John Armstrong, Robert Frazer, John Higgins. 1819 -1820.
The court convened June 7, 1819, the only business of the day being the appointment of Jesse B. Browne, County Clerk, and William Beauchamp, County Treas- urer. On the following day the order for the appoint- ment of the latter was rescinded, and Scoby Stewart ap- pointed in his stead.
Jesse B. Browne was allowed thirty dollars for ser- vices as County Clerk for the year 1818.
Reuben T. Baker was licensed to keep a tavern, and to vend spirits in Mt. Carmel ; John Pitcher was granted a like license in Albion.
At the September term, 1819, John Small was allowed sixty dollars for making three seals for the county of Edwards, under the territorial government, he promis- ing, by his attorney, to alter the aforesaid seals to State seals when required.
It was also ordered that the rates of toll across the Bonpas bridge should be as follows :
For Footman
61/4 cents.
" lead horse
Man and horse
1216 =
Empty cart .
3716 =
Loaded cart
50
Empty wagon-two horses =
50
=
Loaded wagon
75
Team of four horses-wagon empty
75
Team of four horses-wagon loaded .
1 00
Each neat head of cattle 614 cents
Each head of sheep or hogs
31/4
December 6, 1819, the proprietors of Albion petitioned to establish a mill on Bonpas creek in section 30, town- ship 1, range 14. The greater portion of the time of the court at this session was occupied in establishing new roads in various parts of the county.
"Ordered, that John Youngman be allowed four dol- lars for the use of his house as a court-room, beginning the 25th day of March, 1819, and ending the same day and month, in 1820."
At the March term, 1820, Guy W. Smith was allowed seventy dollars for taking the census of Edwards county, in the year 1818. Abner Armstrong was allowed eight dollars for furnishing four "ticket" boxes. The Clerk of the Court was allowed thirty dollars for his services for the year 1819.
SECOND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
John Higgins, Henry Utter, William Clark. 1820- 1821.
John B. Griffith was allowed ten dollars for making fires and furnishing water for the court. At this session appears the first allowance to any member of the court for official services. The order reads: "Ordered, that John Higgins, Esq., be allowed the sum of five dollars for a part of his services as County Commissioner for the year 1819." The first petit jury appointed by the
86
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
authority of this court, were as follows: George Field, Zeba French, John Phipps, Charles Garner, Aaron Gould, Enoch Greathouse, Daniel Greathouse, Seth Gard, Thomas Garder, John Gray, James Gray, John Grayson, Ransom Higgins, John Higgins, John Han- nison, Asa Hannison, Gervase Hazleton, Lemuel Has- kins, Benjamin Halbert Isaac Hamess, Pelick Hull, Havilah Green, John Graves, and Daniel Graves.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT AT ALBION. THIRD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT. Henry Utter, George May. 1821-1822.
For this term but two commissioners' names appear in the records of the proceedings of the court. It was in this year that the county seat was located at Albion. Much bitterness of feeling sprang out of this change, and for a time a county war between the factions was im- minent. It is said that several companies of militia were raised and drilled in the eastern part of the county, and they were about to march on Albion and take pos- session of the records by force of arms. Before any overt act had been committed the matter was compro- mised.
No action of the court appears on the record book from March 7, 1821, to December third following. This discrepancy is explained by the fact that the court records were spirited away and hidden for a time while the warfare, relating to the removal of the county seat, was in progress. There were three rival towns besides Palmyra, that were clamoring for the seat of justice ; Albion, Wanborough, and Centerville. The following is the report made to the County Commissioners' Court to permanently locate the county seat : " To the Com- missioners' Court of Edwards county, State of Illinois- Pursuant to an act of the Legislature in the last session, dated February 1, 1821, entitled an act to provide for the removal of the Seat of Justice of Edwards county, having met agreeable to law, and fixed on Albion as the permanent Seat of Justice; and we also designate and appoint the Public Library room, in said town, as a temporary house to hold court until the public buildings are prepared. Given under our hands and seals this tenth day of April, 1821,
DAVID TADE,
A. G. L. WIGHT,
AARON WILLIAMS.
T L. S.
++
L. S.
+
IL. 8. +-
Ou the same day, the commissioners appointed to as- sess the damages to the town of Palmyra in consequence of the removal of the county seat, made their report. The judgment was one-hundred dollars damages, and that said amount be ( qually distributed among the pro- prietors of the town of Palmyra.
(signed) A. G. S. WIGHT, WILSON LAGOW, AARON WILLIAMS, DAVID TADE.
The first session, held at Albion, was commenced the 3rd day of December, 1821, and the following is the first action of the court :
"Ordered, that although the report of the commis- sioners appointed to fix the county seat of this county was never properly made, received or recognized by this court ; the report being in no particular in compliance with the law, yet as the proceedings of this court at Pal- myra have been decided by the judge of the Circuit Court to be illegal and void, refusing to ratify the proceedings thereof; therefore, to avoid the dilemma to which the people of this county may be reduced, the future sessions of this Court shall be held at Albion until the Legisla- ture determine otherwise."
It was further ordered that that part of Edwards coun- ty lying on the east side of Bonpas creek, form one purt of election precinct to be called Palmyra, and that all elec- tions for said precinct shall be held at the town of Pal- myra.
Henry I. Mills, sheriff, was allowed four dollars, which sum he had paid to four men, for guarding James Mar- tin who had been convicted of larceny.
Henry Cusick was allowed three dollars and seventy- five cents for guarding James Allen to Crawford jail, who had been commited for horse stealing,
At the June term, 1822, the following appears :
" Ordered that Thomas Pulliam be allowed seventy- six dollars for keeping John Stratton, from the time he was sold (probably a pauper) at the court-house, until the first Monday in May, 1822.
FOURTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
Cyrus Danforth, Samuel Munday, Ephraim Phor. 1822-1824.
It seems that at the convening of this court there existed a contest for the county clerkship, as this order appears upon the record. " Whereas, Jesse B. Browne and Ger- vase Hazelton are at this time both executing the duties of clerk of the County Commissioners' Court of Edwards county, and the Commissioners of said county are not in possession of such legal evidence as that they can at this time determine which of the said persons are entitled to the said office. It is therefore ordered by the court that Jesse B. Browne do perform the duties of clerk of the court until the same be legally determined."
David Tade was allowed twenty dollars for twelve days services attending the legislature for the purpose of ob- taining an act to permanently locate the county seat of Edwards county.
" Ordered, that Dr. Ezra Baker be allowed $120.00 for medical attendance on John L. Jones, a poor trau- sient person."
At the July term in 1823, the certificate of Association of the " Albion Library Company " was ordered to be placed on record. The company was composed of twelve members, Richard Flower being the chairman.
At the March term in 1824, William White was al- lowed thirty dollars for making a coffin, and erecting a
87
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
gallows for the execution of Shadrach Perry, who had been accessory in the committing of a capital offence. Perry was subsequently pardoned by the govornor.
June 7th, 1824, Henry I. Mills, sheriff, was allowed $38.25 for grand jury rooms and candles found and pro- vided for the Circuit Court in the years 1823-4.
At the above session Hiram Bell, County Treasurer, settled with the court for the year 1823, when it was found that he had a balance of $36 86 in his hands due the county.
FIFTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
Elias Jordan, James Hunt, Moses Bedell, 1824-1825. At the first meeting of the court, the following action was taken relating to the county buildings :
" It appearing to the court that the building com- menced for the court-house and gaol will be insufficient for the purpose intended, it is ordered that the same shall be raised two stories, with a cupola and pediment, and that a contract to that effect be made."
September 7th, 1824, John B. Johnson was allowed $22.87 for services as coroner in viewing the body of Jones Hobson.
" Ordered, that the lots remaining unsold, donated to the county of Edwards by the proprietors for the erec- tion of the public buildings, be offered for sale on the third Monday in Obtober, 1824."
SIXTH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
James Hunt, Joel Churchill, Alan Emmerson, 1825- 1826.
The rate of taxation for 1825, was fixed as follows : One half per cent. on all town lots, carriages for the con- veyance of persons, distilleries, stock in trade, horses three years old and upwards, neat cattle three years old and upwards, clocks, watches, sheep six months old and upwards, hogs one year old and upwards, leather, small wagons, road wagons, carts, household furniture, to wit ; bedsteads, bed curtains and bed furniture, tables, bu- reaus, side-boards, silver-plate ; libraries containing twen- ty-five books or more, whiskey beer, and rifle gins.
Henry I. Mills was ordered to take the census for 1825.
At this session John Robinson was allowed $1.60 for repairing the market-house for the convenience of hold- ing the April term of circuit court, 1825. The county revenue for this year was $832.92}.
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