Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 25

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. L. McDonough & co.
Number of Pages: 490

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 25
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 25
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 25

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These six precincts comprised the area of the county in the limits made by the act of the Legislature creating the county. The townships or precincts of Mason and Salt Spring were on February 24, 1841, separated from Lawrence county to become a part of the county of Richland. In June, 1828, a seventh precinct was formed to be called

Wabash .- Beginning at Bellgrave, thence west to Houston's marsh, thence down said marsh to the Em- barras, thence down the Embarras to its mouth, thence up the Wabash to the place of beginning; the poll at the house of James Gibson, with John Long, James White and James Gibson as judges of election.

This precinct was remodeled in March, 1840, and reduced in size. It began at the Wabash at the centre of fractional section 22, T. 4 N. R. 10 W., thence west to the range line between ranges 10 and 11, thence south to the centre of section 1, in town 3 N. R. 11 W. on the east line of said section, thence west to the Law- renceville district line, thence south with said line to the Embarras river, thence down the said river to its mouth, thence up the Wabash to the place of beginning ; the poll remained at the house of James Gibson. An eighth precinct was formed in March term, 1840, to be called

Shidler .- All that part of the Lawrenceville district that lies west of section line running due north and south, east of section 33 in township 4 N. R. 12 west, including that part of the Lawrenceville district that lies between

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

the aforesaid section line and the range line of 13 and 14; poll at the house of Peter Shidler, with W. Y. Christy, Benjamin Conchman and Elijah Barns as judges of election. A ninth precinct was organized October 2d, 1843, and named

St. Francisville. - It was composed of all that portion of Lawrence county south of Indian creek and east of the Mt. Carmel and Lawrenceville state road ; poll at the house of Thomas Selby, with Amos Lyon, Alfred H. Grass and J. B. Maxwell as judges of election.

Various changes of minor importance were made in subsequent years. Shidler was divided by a liue run- ning east and west through the centre of the precinct, the southern half to be called Petty. A tenth precinct, Russellville, was organized in 1852. At the time of the adoption of township organization, the county was divided into eleven precincts respectively, called Rus- sellville, Allison, Wabash, Bond, Petty, Shidler, Prairie, Bonpas, Johnson, St. Francisville and Lawrenceville.

We introduce next the official report of the commis- sioners appointed to form the political townships, into which the county was subdivided in December, 1856, to wit :

To the Honorable County Court of Lawrence County at the March Term, 1857 :

The undersigned commissioners appointed by your honorable body at the December term, 1856, to divide the county of Lawrence into townships in accordance with an act entitled an act to provide for township or- ganization, beg leave to submit the following report, to wit :

Perry Township, now Petty .- Beginning at the N. W. corner of the county, thence east eight miles to the northeast corner of section 29 in township 5 N. R. 12 W., thence south seven miles to the southeast corner of section 29, township 4 N., R. 12 W., thence west eight miles to the county line at the S. W. corner of section 30, T. 4 N., R. 13 W., thence north to the place of beginning.

Bond Township -Beginning at the N. W. corner of section 28 in township 5 N. R. 12 W., thence east seven miles to the northeast corner of section 28, T. 5 N. R. 11 W., thence south five miles to the southeast corner of section 16, T. 4 N. R. 11 W., thence west seven miles to the S. W. corner of section 16, T. 4 N., R. 12 W., thence north five miles to the place of beginning.

Russell Township .- Beginning at the N. W. corner of sec. 27, tp. 5 N., range 11 W .; thence south five miles to the S. W. cor. of sec. 15, tp. 4 N., range 11 W .; thence east three miles to the S. E. corner of sec. 13, tp. 4, range 11 W .; thence south one mile to the S. W. corner sec. 19, tp. 4 N., range 10 W .; thence east four miles to the Wabash river ; thence up the Wabash river to the county line between Lawrence and Crawford counties, thence west to the place of beginning.

Hardin Township, now Christy .- Beginning at the northwest corner of sec. 31, tp. 4 N., range 13 W .; 14

thence south six miles to the S. W. corner of sec. 30, tp. 3 north, range 13 W .; thence east eight miles to the southeast corner of sec. 29, tp. 3 N., range 12 W .; thence north six miles to the N. E. cor. of sec. 32 in tp. 4 N., range 12 W., thence west eight miles to the place of beginning.

Lawrence Township .- Beginning at the northwest corner of sec. 21, tp. 4 N., range 12 W .; thence east seven miles to the northeast corner of sec. 21, tp. 4 N., range 11 W .; thence south six miles to the southeast corner of sec. 16, tp. 3 N., range 11 W .; thence west seven miles to the southwest corner of sec. 16, tp. 3 N., range 12 W .; thence north six miles to the place of beginning.

Thompson Township, now Allison .- Beginning at the northwest corner of sec. 22, tp. 4 N., range 11 W. thence south nine miles to the southwest corner of sec. 34, tp. 3 N., range 11 W .; thence east to the Wabash river, thence up said river to the line between sections 23 and 26, tp. 4 N., range 10 W .; thence west four miles to the southwest corner of sec 19, tp. 4 N., range 10 W .; thence north one mile to the northwest corner of sec. 19, tp. 4, N., range 10 W., thence west three miles to the place of beginning.

Marion Township, now Lukin .- Beginning at the northwest corner of sec. 31, tp. 5 N., range 13 W .; thence south six miles to the southwest corner of sec. 13, tp. 2 N., range 13 W. to the county line; thence east with the county line eight miles to the southeast corner of sec. 29, tp. 2 N., range 12 W .; thence north six miles to the northeast corner of sec. 32, tp. 3 N., range 12 W .; thence west eight miles to the place of beginning.

Denison Township .- Beginning at the northwest corner of sec. 21, tp. 3 N., range 12 W .; thence south eight miles to the south west corner of sec. 28, tp. 2 N., range 12 W .; thence east to the Wabash river, thence up the Wabash river to the township line between townships 2 and 3 N., range 11 W .; thence west to the south- west corner of sec. 34, tp. 3 N., range 11 W .; thence north three miles to the northeast corner of sec. 21, tp. 3 N. range 11 W .; thence west seven miles to the place of beginning.

Respectfully submitted.

PETER SMITH, W. D. ADAMS, WALTER BUCHANAN.

Commissioners.

This report was approved on the 5th of March, 1857, and an election ordered to be held in the various town- ships on the first Tuesday of April, 1857, for the election of township officers.

The territory of Christy township was divided into two townships in September, 1872, to form a new town- ship called

Bridgeport Township .- Commencing on the north- east corner of Christy, running west on its north base line two and a half miles; thence due south-

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

through said town to the south line; thence east along said line to the southeast corner, thence north along the east line to place of beginning.

COUNTY FINANCES SINCE 1827.

The financial statement of Dec. 1827, exhibited a debt of $2237 ; that of 1828 shows a reduction of about $240. In 1829 another small reduction is to be noted-$110. The taxable property, exclusive of lands, had now (1829) increased to $148,143, and a tax of 50c. per 100, promised a direct income of some $740. The ferries across the Wabash had now to pay an annual license of $30 each ; the Embarras ferries were rated from $5 to $15 each. The total revenue of 1830 amounted to $994.23; and in March, 1831, the county debt was stated to have amounted to $1761.08. Out of an income of less than $1200, the commissioners (Caius M. Eaton, Charles Emmons and Jon. Barnes), saved nearly $700 for the purpose of reducing the debt, which in 1832 still amount- ed to $1088.49. A new system of licensing merchants provided for additional revenue ; so we find that John C. Reily paid $15 a year for the privilege of selling goods at Lawrenceville. Clock peddlers had to pay $50 for a three months' license! These clock peddlers were Yan- kees. The revenue of 1833 amounted to $1275.90, and expenditure to $506.38, all told; the debt was reduced to 8417.69. The last dollar of this debt was paid in 1834, and a surplus of $244 cash in the treasury, besides pro- missory notes for donation lots amounting to $102. This auspicious state of affairs led to negotiations in reference to opening a state road from Vincennes to Chicago, with an estimated cost of only $6953.90 for Lawrence county, and to open and bridge another state road from Mt. Car- mel to Lawrenceville, a distance of 22 miles. The county expenditures were again on the increase, amounting to $1741.15 in the year ending March 1, 1835; however, the greater income justified this extravagance, which consisted principally in the painting of the old court- house. The exchequer of the county still showed up a snug cash balance of $481.93. An unexpected and, comparatively speaking, a large sum of money was added to this surplus. An act of the Legislature of January 19, 1829, provided for the distribution among the various counties of the state of funds realized from the sale of Saline Reserve lands in Vermillion county. Lawrence county drew $1600 in January, 1836, $1400 of which were loaned out to individuals, and the balance expended on roads. The county revenue of that year amounted to $1173.65, and exceeded the expenditures to the amount of $642.98; the treasurer was instructed to loan $400 of the surplus to responsible parties for a period of six months. Six hundred dollars of the saline land funds were placed in the hands of Joseph Adams and George Lemons, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of permanent improvements of the Vincennes and Danville road. In the following year another appropriation, amounting to $831.59, was made for a similar purpose. The ordinary expenditures of 1836 and 1837 did not wholly absorb the revenue, so that in June, 1838, a bal-

ance of $554.32 remained at the disposition of the county commissioners. The county got into possession of large sums of money in consequence of the inauguration by the State of what is generally known as the grand sys- tem of internal improvements. The impetus to the system of internal improvements at the expense, or, more properly speaking, on the credit of the State, was given by George Forquer, formerly of Monroe, but then a senator of Sangamon county, in 1834; his plans, how- ever, failed. J. M. Strode, senator " of all the county, including Peoria and north of it," had a bill passed in 1835, authorizing a loan of half a million of dollars on the credit of the State for inaugurating public improve- ments. This loan was negotiated by Governor Duncan in 1836, and with this money a commencement was made on the works of the Illinois canal, June, 1836. The great town lot speculation had reached Illinois about that time. The number of towns multiplied so rapidly that it seemed as though the whole State would become one vast city. All bought lots, and all dreamed themselves rich ; and, in order to bring people to those cities in embryo, the system of internal improvements was to be carried out on a grand scheme. The agitation became genera), and the silence and indifference of the busy farmer were taken for tacit consent. The legisla- ture, in 1837, provided for the building of about 1300 miles of railroads, and voted eight millions of dollars for that purpose ; two hundred thousand dollars of these eight millions were to be paid to counties not reached by those pro- posed railroads as an indemnity. In order to complete the canal from Chicago to Peru, another loan of four millions of dollars was authorized. And, as a crowning act of folly, it was provided that the work should com- mence simultaneously on all the proposed roads at each end, and from the crossings of all the rivers.

No previous survey or estimate had been made, either of the routes, the costs of the works or the amount of business to be done by them. The arguments in favor of the system were of a character most difficult to refute, composed as they were partly of fact, but chiefly of prediction. In this way it was proved, to general satis- faction, by an ingenious orator in the lobby, that the State could well afford to borrow a hundred millions of dollars and expend it in making improvements. None of the proposed roads were ever completed ; detached parcels of them were graded on every road, the excava- tions and embankments of which have long remained a memorial or' the blighting scathe done by this Legisla- ture. The next Legislature voted another $800,000 for the system, but the general failure became so apparent, that in 1839 the system had to be repealed, as no more loans could be obtained. Under this system a State debt of fourteen and a quarter millions of dollars had been created, to be paid by a population of 476,183 souls1 Lawrence county, not being reached and benefited by the construction of canals and the building of railroads, came in for a considerable share of the $200,000 cash distribution, for the only "improve-

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

ment " made in the county consisted in the extending of the present State road from the Wabash across the prairie. The share of Lawrence county in the cash distribution amounted to $11,125. Abner Greer was appointed fund commissioner and agent of the county to receive moneys due to the county under said act, passed and approved February 27, 1837. Greer re- ceived the above amount on the 19th of November, 1838, and deposited it, as directed by the county board, (Wm. Spencer, S. B. Lowery, and Daniel Pain) in the Lawrenceville bank, a branch of the State bank, on the same day. The county fared undoubtedly much better than other counties, which were within the radius of promised railroads, but then the transaction was by no means a profitable one. The debt of the State was equal to $30 per head throughout the State, con- sequently Lawrence county with its population of 7,092 souls had to assume a permanent and interest bearing debt of $212,760, its proportional share of those four- teen and a quarter millions, for and in consideration of a few miles of a dirt road, and $11,125 current money in hand paid. The question now arose what is to be done with this money ? The court decided to loan it out, at eight per cent. annual interest, to citizens of the county, in sums not exceeding two hundred dollars, and to be secured by the signature of two sureties, etc. The re- cords show that there was a brisk demand for money in the county, some $8,000 of the money having been placed within forty-eight hours of its arrival. The matter of getting sureties was not of difficult nature. B and C signing A's note, or A and C signing B's, and B and A signing C's. The parties borrowing the funds were : James P. A. Lewis, Cephas Atkinson, Aaron Shaw, Samuel K. Miller, S. H. Clubb, Caius M. Eaton, A. F. David, John Mieure, James M. McLean, Daniel Pain, J. C. Reiley, A. S. Badollet, James Rawlings, E. G. Peyan, William Wilson, Alexander Stewart, William Spencer, A. Barker, John Baker, Elijah Mayes, J. R. Wilson, Samuel Newell, Paul Lewis, W. G. Anderson, Joshua Dually, J. B Colwell, Edmond Taylor, Jesse Conway and James Lewis, each $200; Silas Moore, $175; James Neal, D. D. Marney, D. C. Travis, James F. Moore and Isaac Leach, each $150; John P. Lamb, (the only one who gave three sureties) Nathan Raw- lings and Jacob Young, each $125; Rice Mieure, Thos. Cook, Joseph Petty, James Sawyer, James Rankin and W. V. Murphy, each $100'; H. Hanks, 875; Thomas Gardner, Lewis Sawyer and J. P. Tyffe, each $50.

The balance of the improvement fund, to wit, $3,015, was loaned out on the third of December, 1838. The financial condition of the county was now prosperous. The Treasurer, Abner Greer, reported, December, 1838, that all county orders and juror warrants were paid and canceled, and that $1,950.41} cash remained in treas- ury. An appropriation of $200 was made to purchase 160 acres of land to be subsequently used as a poor farm. Samuel Thorn, the sheriff, was appointed agent to select and buy the land.

The county tax rate was now reduced to twenty cents per $100 tax value. In June, 1839, the treasurer reported a surplus of $1,146,11 in available assets. At the same term the county commissioners bethought themselves that their actions in reference to the disposi- tion of the improvement funds had not been wise, and that the moneys should be made useful to all by proper and needed public improvements. They allotted $4.340 funds and accrued interest to the district east of the Embarras, to be disbursed by John Dollahan and T. C. Bailey, as agents of the county. The district west of the Embarras and east of range line between ranges 12 and 13, was to have an equal amount to be put into the hands of Victor Buchanan, Jr., and James M. McLean, agents, for proper use ; and finally, $3340 to be awarded to the west end-now part of Richland-and to be managed by James Parker and W. Y. Christy, agents. This distribution of the improvement fund was, however, not final. The money was "out' and the calling in pro- cess very slow. The notes were renewed from year to year with certain reductions. The board, seeing the difficulty of collecting the loans, resorted to the means of calling in annual instalments, thus reducing the risks to some extent. In June, 1842, the court issued an order to use $5000 of the improvement fund in defray- ing the expenses of building the new court-house. But to return to the county finances. G. W. Kinkade, the treasurer, who succeeded Ab. Greer in 1839, re- ported in June, 1840, that the ordinary expenses of the current year had amounted to $835.30, and that the cash balance in the treasury amounted to $1417.85. The next year saw this balance reduced to $903.82; in 1842 this balance was wiped out completely, and a floating debt of $5376.47 was reported June 7. The building of the new court-house may have been the cause of this sudden change in the financial condition of the county. The organization of Richland county oc- curred at that period, and as about one-fourth of the ter- ritory of Lawrence county became a part of the new county, the revenues of the latter were reduced in pro- portion. The separation was an amicable one, decided by an overwhelming majority at a special election held on the 7th of January, 1841. The division subse- quently caused some trouble, as the citizens of the new county claimed $5000 as their share in the internal im- provement fund. Suit was instituted by Richland county for this amount, but a compromise, to settle on the basis of an indemnity of $1000 was finally effected.

Turning from the subject of finances, a few words will here be said in reference to the various county offi- cials during this period.

County Officials 1821 to 1849 .- The county commis- sioners in office during that period were John Lanter- man, J. Dunlap, William Martin, James Nabb, J. P. Harris, Isaiah Lewis, Daniel Travis, Richard Gardner, Samuel Harris, Benjamin McCleave, A. S. Badellot, Caius M. Eaton, Samuel Adams, Charles Emmons, John Barnes, William Spencer, Samuel Dunlap, S. B. Low-

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

ery, Daniel Pain, G. V. Russell, Hugh Calhoun, Victor Buchanan, C. D. Emmons, Edward Moore, Randolph Heath, John Mieure and William Tanquary. The machinery of the county government worked smoothly until 1839, the period of the improvement fund, when resignations seem to have been in order. S. R. Lowery withdrew from the board in 1840, William Spencer and S. V. Russell in 1841, and then Edward Moore. The records simply state the fact of those resignations with- out mentioning the cause leading to them.

COUNTY CLERKS.

The position of County Clerk must have been a most unpleasant one, for thére are more resignations to note than in all the other county offices combined. Toussaint Dubois served only 5 months, and resigned September 6, 1821. James M. McLean, his successor, resigned in the last year of his second term, March 12, 1829. H. M. Gillham served only 9 months and resigned Decem- ber 15, 1829. Val. J. Bradley came within 3 months of serving a full term, and was succeeded September 2, 1833, by J. M. McLean, reappointed, who in his turn resigned in the third year of his term, September, 1836. Ebenezer Z. Ryan held his own for the balance of McLean's, and two full terms, to which he was elected in 1839 and 1843 ; he too, had his troubles and annoy- ances, as will appear from the following :

THE CLERK'S LETTER. Lawrenceville, Illinois, January 25, 1842.

To the Hon. County Commissioners of Lawrence county, Illinois.

GENTLEMEN :- Inasmuch as reports have been cir- culated, embracing charges highly prejudicial to myself both as an individual, and as an officer of your court, I ask as an act of justice to myself, and as an officer always willing that my official conduct shall be fully investi- gated, a full and complete investigation of all my actings and doings as Clerk of the Court of the said county of Lawrence, either by yourselves sitting as a court, or by a committee to be appointed by you, for that purpose, and that they be instructed to report the result of their investigations to the next term of your court. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, E. Z. RYAN.

The court appointed Samuel Dunlap, Benjamin Conchman and Joseph G. Bowman such committee ; no report mentioned.

Ryan was succeeded by W. S. Hennessy, in 1847. His official couch was not a bed of roses, and he was forced to resign January 19, 1853.

TREASURERS.

As a rule the Treasurers of the county have had pleasant duties to perform, and were never exposed to tribulations, persecutions and unfounded accusations. Samuel H. Clubb served two terms, from 1821 to 1823. (Treasurers were appointed by the county commission-

ers' court annually). Valentine J. Bradley served five successive terms, 1823 to 1828. Algernon S. Badollet, 1828 to 1829; James Nabb, 1829 to 1830; Samuel Harris, 1830 to 1831; G. W. Kinkade, 1831 to 1833 ; Samuel H. Clubb, again, 1833 to 1835; Edward J. O'Neille, 1835 to 1836; Ebenezer Z. Ryan, from March to September 1836, when he resigned and was appointed clerk in place of James M. McLean. Abuer Greer, 1836 to 1839; G. W. Kinkade, elected August 1839, and re-elected in 1841, for two years' terms; D. D. Marney, 1843 to 1847 ; did not serve the full length of his second term and was succeeded March 4, 1847, by Lafayette McLean, who remained in office only 6 months. James B. Allender, elected 1847, served until 1849.

Circuit Clerks .- Toussaint Dubois, from April to Sept. 1821; J. M. McLean, 1821 to 1829; Valentine J. Bradley, 1829 to 1836; E. Z. Ryan, from 1836 to 1849.

Sheriffs .- Henry Dubois, 1821 to 1825 ; Hiram Wade, to 1834; Robert B. Barney, to 1836; Samuel Thorn, to 1848 ; and Jacob Young, to 1850.

Coroners .- Robert Bennefield, Absalom Chenowith, R. M. Marney, Thomas Fyffee, and W. M. Murphy.

Circuit Attorneys .- J. M. Robinson, E. B. Webb, Aaron Shaw, and Alfred Kitchell.

School Commissioners. - James M. McLean, from December, 1834 to September, 1836, when he re- sigued the four offices he was then occupying, to wit : County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, Probate Justice, and School Commissioner. He was succeeded by Abner Greer, 1836 to 1842; W. R. Jackman, 1842 to 1843 ; and Algernon S. Badollet, from 1843 to 1857.

Probate Justices. - H. M. Gillman, 1821 to 1823; James M. McLean, 1823 to 1836; G. W. Kinkade, 1836 to 1837 ; and Caius M. Eaton, from 1837 to 1849.

County Assessors .- As a rule, the county treasurers were also entrusted with "Jisting " the property of the citizens of the county for taxation. Daniel Travis, Jr., commissioner of census in 1825, also made the assessment for that year. The revenue law of 1839, provided for the dividing of counties into assessors' districts. The com- missioners' court then appointed Jackson B. Shaw, J. H. Morris, and M. B. Snyder, for 1839, and again George Lemons, J. H. Morris, and J. M. Travis, 1840. The assess- ment of 1841 and 1842 was made by D. C. Travis, county assessor. All subsequent assessments until 1857 were made by the several county treasurers.

Circuit Courts, 1821 to 1849 .- The first circuit court of Lawrence county was held in the house of Toussaint Dubois, on Monday, June 4, 1822. Hon. William Wilson, was on the bench, with J. M. Robinson, as prosecuting attorney, Toussaint Dubois, clerk, and Henry Dubois, sheriff. James McLean, was appointed clerk, in place of Dubois, on the 9th June. The sheriff called upon the following gentlemen freeholders to form the

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Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 25

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. L. McDonough & co. Number of Pages: 490

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. L. McDonough & co.
Number of Pages: 490