USA > Illinois > Perry County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 44
USA > Illinois > Randolph County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 44
USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 44
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Assessed Value.
Credits of others than Bankers, etc ......
3,050
Bondy and Stocks ..
1.571
Property of Corporations not before enumerated.
395
Class C. Personal Property
Class D. Lauds No. Acres 20.
$20 00
400
Class D. Lots No. of Luts 6.
31 66
190
Grain of all kinds
3,565
Total Value of Railroad Property Assessed in County
$680
680
Total Assessed Value of Unenumerated Property
$190,497
8190,497
Total Assessed Value of Personal Property.
Agricultural Statistics of Perry County for the year 1992.
Corn.
Winter Wheat.
Spring Wheat.
Oats.
Pear Peach Orchard. Orchard Orchard Apple
Vine- yards.
Timothy Meadow.
Clover Meadow.
Hungarian
And Millet.
1882.
1880.
44
5.
6.
1
493
13685
2077
33508
119
5018
6725
30
141
431
104
26
41
6,
44
4.
3
399
9440
1264
13874
328
3775
20
2190
5.
3
5x
30620
1591
33:00
87
7690
34
7520
630
7,1600
16+
330
09
290
=
6.
..
4
742
11990
4391
54200
106
900
16625
7625
3
5.
4
806
21215
3883
69456
747
17221
60
11900
107
175
20
325
5
6,
4
475
13690
1545
27330
277
13030
42
5425
Totals
8371
201765
26100
428144: 171 725
6047
133514
654
73425
5 1530
15 130
7 1600
3397
4875
2:20
1598
16
25
175 90
1
1
180
4 175
25;
389.3
314
853
233 2124 38 1635 28
305
3715 2119
5200 1000
370
16813
915
725 2626 101420
261
1071
100 250
8000
2670
31181
130
5,
2
40
2218
676
8978
56
..
4.
3.
44
4
3.
121
1451
109
172
70
257
... 50
60
696
548
4110)
6.3
62
538
131
2025
21062
74
44
6,
1727
2150
5215
775
200
46537 17E
1977
2950
525
Bonds or Stocks.
Eating Houses.
Furniture.
wise listed.
sonal Property.
Articles.
ments and Machinery.
ker or Stock Jobber.
Banker, etc.
Banker, etc.
G. W.
1880.
Acres
1882.
Tons
Acres
18H2.
.(א18
Acres 1882.
Tony
1881.
Acres
Bush.
Town 4, Range 1
1110 1441
12650
3238
35180
1170
7950
96
3:50
12 100
884
232
10
90
717
5130
2036
8420:
480
1860
50
970
2 900
1
488
20470
1661
31115
209
12060
49
3300
354
20745
1081
32325
270
14495
50
3000
99
58
28
3
5
17
ור
3
764
24180
2765
46965
65
275
387
1×705
36
6250
214
694
39
115
3
330
8
55
44
4,
294
383
248
3zł
244
12
Acres
1882.
Bush.
1880.
Acres
1882.
Bush.
Acres
Buch.
1881.
Acres
Bush.
Acres
Bush.
1880.
Acres
Bush.
Acres
Bush.
1x81.
Acres
1882.
1×82.
1×82.
1880.
1X82.
150
8870
233
44
10
7
4,
159
455
15
142
45 5
5]
1
17950|
3068
39510
1073
14485
$ 90
Household and Office Furniture
49,263
Investments in R. E. and Improvements thereou
790
All other personal property
Total Value of all Taxable Property Assessed in County
$2,022,051
429,025
429,025
Num- her of
Aver-
Real Estate-Town and City Lots.
Lots.
age Val- ue Per Lot.
$203,497
Improved Town and City Lots
1,041
$187 12 16 00
17,443
Unimproved Towu and City Lots.
1,096
$220,940
220,940
Material and Manufactured Articles
Total Assessed Value of Town and City Lots
117,769
89 50
$1,112,954
Improved Lands.
Fre or Burglar-Proof Safes
$1,371,400
1,371,406
9
Total Assessed Value of Lands.
Assessed Value.
10
6
13205
06
32 122
2292
25732 2299 31213 5056 3050' 395
49263 1850
790 3565 427454 1586
Aver-
Aver-
Value.
1882.
1880.
1882.
1880.
......
Rye.
Property of Saloons and Eating Houses
1,850
5.
4
No.
2 Val.
1880.
Tons
721
7.
450
5,056
152
177
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Acres
1884.
Bust.
Arres
1882.
Bush.
1x81.
Acres
Bush.
1×80.
Arres
Bush.
Acres
Syrup
Acres
18M2.
Acres
INS2.
Aeres
Acres
Acres
Nn. 1882
No. INN1
Valno
IXH1.
Ages
Jax2.
No.
Giross
Weight
No.
Value
Dollars.
44
6,
..
1
2
370
1
20
5 300
269
414
1613
9193 11216
75
9-2
15
9:25
101
34000)
40
4.
3
37
273
1
153
1225
370
7260
63×0 320
112
12
24
16240
6,
3
4
53
407
491
50
418
1414 3707
11300 *200
178
2 13
108
5-4.350
6,
4
28
218
1224
Totals
20
3
5 407
4×45
9 320
2
906
77
6032 39460
119185 900
1681
N2 27
1749
2340
1509
739310
37 573
&No. 1x82 |Cows kept.
Ep nads.
& pounds.
2 Gallons
'SGall ns
No. 1884
No. INNI
Total
Value.
1881.
Totai
Pounds
No. 1xx1
Weight
No, 1882
No. sold
Total
Gross
Pounds
No. 1881
Total
Weight
No. 1881
Total
Wright
IMX2.
Ponuda
1881.
Bush,
Bu.h.
1881.
1mal.
Town 4. Range 1.
27
80
4160
195
10
900
165
1×4
110
1440
5.
7.
146
17
50
22
57~
9.5
950
237
21:
1 3
157.4
26
3.
1
1.5.
90
125
11]
1.1
40
450
260
20 )
23744
4.
4
4
50
316
24
136
8%
14455
Totals.
193 906 760
x 4366 600
79 153
30 80
2035 154 15900
3060
160G
301931 192
7630 14
1100
89 1175
5. 500 2000
County Subscription to Railroads .- In pursuance of peti- tions numerously signed, the county court on the 24th day of May, 1869, ordered an election to be held at the several voting places in the county on the 3d day of July, 1869, on the proposition to subscribe stock to railroads, viz; Belle- ville & Southern Illinois, $150,000; Chester & Tamaroa Coal and Railroad Company, 8100,000 ; Cairo & St. Louis Railroad, $50 000.
The election was held and resulted in the casting of a sufficient number of votes (twelve hundred and thirty being required) to authorize the first proposition.
Upon the election of a new court and a renewal of peti- tion, a vote was on the 15th of January, 1870, ordered to be held on the 19th of February, to ascertain if a majority of the voters (niue hundred and eighty-four being now required as the minimum) would vote to authorize the sub- scription of $100,000 to the Chester & Tamaroa Coal and Railroad Company.
The election was held and nine hundred and eighty-six votes were cast in favor of the proposition.
By the terms of said votes the B. & S. I. road was to be completed from Belleville to Du Quoin by January 1st, 1871. The terms were complied with (the first train passing through December 4th, 1870) and on the 5th day of Decem- ber, 1870, the bonds of the county were issued to the amount of $100,000, and that amount of stock taken, it having been ascertained that the statutory limit of county subscription to railroads was $100,000.
These bonds bear date January 1st, 1871, with annual interest at seven per cent., redeemable at any time after five and within twenty years from their date.
The C. & T. R. R. was by the terms of the vote to be entitled to $50 000 of bonds upon the completion of the road from Tamaroa to Pinckneyville, and the remainder, 850,000, upon the completion of the road to Chester. This being done the first instalment of $50,000 was issued Novem- ber 10th, 1871, dated July 1st, 1871, with seven per cent. interest, payable semi-annually and the remaining $50,000 were issued December 6th, 1871, and dated January Ist. 1872, bearing same interest, and all payable after five and within twenty years of their date.
Saline and Swamp Lands-By an act of the Legislature of 1831, one hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated from the avails of the saline land . for a road from Equality to Carmi ; and the county commissioners, at their meeting of September 3, 1833, appointed Samuel l'yatt agent to collect and pay the same into the county treasury. The agent performed his work, and on the second day of the following December he made his report and was paid six dollars for his services.
The State Auditor reported on the 10th of June, 1854, that the value of the swamp lands of the county was $4138.19. The county court appointed Charles E. R. Win- throp Drainage Commissioner on September 6th, 1853. The following day the county court appraised the lands. 'erry county also received $2,322 76 from the national govern- ment as a portion of the sale of swamp lands. The lands were sold December 4th, 1834, and on the seventh of the' following March the Drainage Commissioner reported that he hadin money and notes $4377.74, and the expenses were $126.30, leaving a balance of $4 251.44, which was ordered paid into the school fund and received by the School Com-
| Bailey,
Buckwheat
Beans.
Trich Potatoes Potatoes
Sweet
Sorgho.
Other crops
not named
above.
Pas- tu. e.
Uncul'd Land.
Area v1
Real Es'te.
Horses and
Foul d.
Horses Died.
Cattle
Fat Cattle Sold 1851.
Died 1881.
Town 4, Range 1 ...
200
51
2
77
1220
120
1000
129 5 300
158
12
212
7u
1750
31420
5.
2
5
15
4(K)
21
650
Sheep and
Lambs.
Sheep killed
Sheep died of
Wool
Shoin
Fat Sheep and Sold.
Fa* Hogs S >10.
Hogs and Pigs Died of Cholera,
Hogs died
of Diseases
other than
Cholera.
Timothy
Beed.
Hungarian
Millet sved.
Drain
'lile
by dogs. Disease.
Pigs.
Laid
321 213
:3G
84510
23715 160
4 +.3.+
4
51
21
311
2.
1.
9
33
40
1100
114
121.20
5.
3.
44
3
12
32.
43420
4
0
218
8
421
12
77
39000
5 125
634
4317
40)
1.52
64350
5.
4 .
4
79
44
21350
Butter sold.
Cheese
Sold.
Creum sold.
I
G
1.
4
2
6
130
10
540
15
150
Feet .:
772
38
4400
190
14201
200G
5.
..
13
30
8
180
381
2414 2241
100 10 200
1
I
949
368
526
265150
"21
1.
5.7
435
59
5 475
16]
50
224910
5.
3
..
397
11000
11061
40
1882.
1882.
1882.
5.
1
59 182.
1882.
INNO.
15 1882.
Gal.
IN81.
175
13×4
11400
33:
Colts,
Cults
-
2:28
131000
9 130
2
Milk Sold.
Bees and Honey.
Poutindy
No. Ilvs
Honey,
5 500
4.
6.
6380
2
1
Cattle
Woodland.
Hogs
1881.
Total
Weight
13
Anyage
23
Jabl.
178
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
missioner. The lands were not all sold at that time, but frequent sales have since been made.
An attempt was made to adopt a township organization at the November election, 1878, but met with defeat. The vote showed only three hundred and sixty-seven votes for, and eightcen hundred and forty-four votes against it.
A list of the members of the General Assembly from Perry county since its organization, or the district in which the same is situated :
SENATORS.
Samuel Crawford, 1828-32; Conrad Will, 1828-32; Thomas Mather, 1832-36; John D. Wood, 1836-42 ; John Crain, 1842-46 ; Elias S. Dennis, 1846-48 ; Hawkin S. Osburn, 1848-52; John E. Detrich, 1852-56; E. C. Coffey, 1856-60; James M. Rodgers,* 1860-62; William A J Sparks, 1862-64; David K. Green, 1864-68; John P Van Dorston, 1868-72; Jediah F. Alexander, 1870-72 ; William K. Murphy, 1872-76 ; Ambrose Hoener, 1876-80; Louis Ihoru, 1880-84.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1828-30-Singleton H. Kimmel, Thomas Mather, Hy polite Menard.
1830-32-John Atkins, Thomas J. V. Owens.
1832-34-David Baldridge, Richard G. Murphy.
1834-36-Richard G. Murphy, John Thompson.
1836-42-Richard G. Murphy.
1842-44-John D. Burklow.
1844-46-John Steele.
1846-48-Hawkins S. Osburn.
1848-50-Zenas H. Veruor.
1850-52-Richard G. Murphy.
1852-54-William M. Phillips.
1854-56-P. E Hosmer.
1856-58-Ilawkins S. Osburn.
1858-60-John D. Wood.
1860-62-Orson Kellogg.
1862-64-Stephen W. Miles, Edward Menard.
1864-66-William K. Murphy, Austin James.
1866-68-William K. Murphy, John Campbell.
1868-70-John M. Mccutcheon, Thomas H. Burgess. 1870-72-William R. Gass
1872-74-John W. Pyatt, William Neville, Austin James.
1874-76-Joseph W. Rickert, Samuel McKce, Jonathan Chesnutwood.
1876-78-Theophilns T. Fountain, John Boyd, Septimus P. Mace.
1878-80-John T. McBride, John R. McFie, Philip C. C Provart.
1880-82-Austin James, Isaac M. Kelly, William K .. Murphy.
MASTERS IN CHANCERY.
Andrew J. Dickinson received the first appointment to this office in 1845 aud served until 1847 ; Charles L. Star- buck, 1847 to 1851; Lewis Hammack, 1851 to 1855; An-
* James M. Rodgers died while in office, and William A. J. Sparks was lected to fill the va ancy.
drew J. Dickinson, 1855 to 1857 ; William H. McKee, 1857 to 1860; William K. Murphy, 1860 to 1869; Evan B. Rushing 1869 to 1873 ; Theophilus T. Fountain, 1873 to 1875, and Evan B. Rushing from 1875 to the present time.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
First and Subsequent Boards of County Commissioners .- John R. Hutchings, Elijah Wells, David H. Mead, 1827 ; William H. Threlkel, William Johnson, John Pyle, Jr., 1828-29; William Johnson, Joseph Wells, Abner Keith, 1830; Elijah Wells, Joseph Wells, Abner Keith, 1831 ; Daniel Dry, Samuel Pyatt, Benjamin Hammack, 1832-3; Daniel Dry, Samuel Pyatt, William Edwards, 1834-5; William Edwards, Andrew Bourland, Samuel Pyatt, 1836 ; John Reid, Nathan G. Curlee, Jacob Short, 1837; George W. Hotchkiss, Enoch Eaton, Richard G. Davis, 1838; Enoch Eaton, Jonathan G. Clark, Richard G. Davis, 1840; Enoch Eaton, Jonathan G. Clark, Abner K. Pyle, 1841 ; Enoch Eaton, Abner K. Pyle, Isaac H. Bradley, 1842-3 ; Henry F. Hampleman, Enoch Eaton, Isaac Bradley, 1844- 5; Joel Rushing, Isaac A. Bradley, Henry F. Hampleman, 1846; Reuben Dye, Joel Rushing, Isaac H. Bradley, 1847-8.
In 1849, and after the adoption of the constitution, the county judges performed the duties heretofore performed by the county commissioners.
Probate Justices of the Peace .- Humphrey B. Jones, 1828 to 1847 ; Levi Green, 1847 ; IIumphrey B. Jones, 1849.
County Judges. - Hosea H. Straight, Richard H. Wil- liams, Edward A. Whipple, Associates, 1849. Edward A. Whipple resigned, and Peter W. Wilks succeeded him in 1851. Laban G. Jones, Jonathan G. Clark, John Pyle, Associates, 1853; John Baird, William Craig, Samuel Y. McCluer, Associates, 1856; Henry S. Hampleman, William Craig, Ephraim T. Rees, Associates, 1861 ; William Elston, Ephraim T. Rees, James L. Primm, Associates, 1865 ; Charles E. R. Winthrop, James L. Primm, James Ervin, 1869; William Elstun, 1873 to January 31st, 1881, when he resigned, and Sample G. Parks, the present incumbent, was appointed by Governor Cullon.
Under the constitution of 1870, a board of three county commissioners were given control over county affairs, one member being elected annually after the organization of the first board, the term of office being three years. Under this regime the following were elected
County Commissioners .- Elihu Oustort, Charles Guemal- ley, John Baird,* 1873; John Baird,* Elihu Onstott, Charles Guemalley, 1874; John W Pyatt, John Baird,* Elihu Onstott, 1875 ; John Schneider, John W. Pyatt, John Baird,* 1876 to 1879; Lysias Heape, John W. Pyatt,* John Baird, 1879; Thomas Stevenson, Lysias Heaps * and Johu W. Pyatt, 1880 to 1882.
Clerks of the County Court .- Humphrey B. Jones was the first county clerk, being appointed by the county commis- sioners at their first meeting, June 4th, 1827. He served until August 10th, 1839, when he was succeeded by John D. Burklow, who resigned on the 31st of August, 1841. Joshua M Rice was appointed by the county commissioners
* Chairmen.
179
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
to fill the vacancy, and served until the 6th of September, 1841. He was succeeded by Humphrey B. Jones, who had been elected at the preceding August election. Mr. Jones continued to fill the office until Charles L. Starbuck was elected on the 2d of August, 1857. Nathan T. Kelly was elected under the new constitution, and took the office in December, 1849. Since that time the office has been filled by John W. Pyatt, 1853 to 1861; David M. Hoge, 1861 ; Leonard T. Ross, 1865; J Carroll Harris, 1869, and since 1873 by Walter S D. Smith, the present efficient and courte- ous incumbent.
Clerks of Circuit Court .- Humphrey B. Jones, appointed in 1827, and succeeded by Marmaduke S. Ferguson, he having been by Justice Semple appointed clerk of said court on the 19th day of April, 1843.
Andrew J. Dickinson was appointed clerk by Justice Shields, December 12, 1843; Charles L. Starbuck was ap- pointed clerk by Judge Koerner, Sept. 28, 1847; Lewis Hammack, elected Sept. 4, 1848 ; Jas. M. Montague, elected 1852 ; Evan B. Rushing, elected 1856 ; Jas. M. Brown, elected 1864; Jas. M. Brown died August 10, 1867. an dCharles H. Roe was by Judge Crawford appointed to fill the vacancy until the ensuing election, when in November, 1867, he was elected to the position of elerk, which position he still occupies.
SHERIFFS OF THE COUNTY.
Wm. C. Murphy, sheriff from 1827 up to 1837, in which year Matthew Jones succeeded him, and retained his posi- tion until succeeded by John Steele who was elected August 3, 1840; Abner K. Pyle, 1843; Laban G. Jones, 1844; David M. Hoge, commissioned, August 28, 1846; John W. Pyatt, elected in 1850; David M. Hoge, 1852; John D. Reese, 1854; David M. Hoge, 1856; Jas. J. Hoge, 1858 ; Albert A. Clymer, 1860; James F. Mason, 1862; Wm. G. Leslie, 1864; J. Carroll Harriss, 1866; Daniel W. Dry, 1868; Samuel A. Beard, 1870; Samuel A. Beard died May 4, 1872, and his term was partially completed by Geo. N. Taffe, coroner, who committed suicide before the term had expired ; Leonard T. Ross, 1872; Leonard T. Ross, 1874; Edward M. Harris, 1876 ; Ralph G. Williams, 1878 ; and Thomas Penwarden, 1880.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
Daniel Dry was appointed by the county commissioners at their first meeting, June 4, 1827, and continued in office by them until 1829. The commissioners continued to elect the treasurers until 1839; when they were elected by vote of the people. The following named served by appointment : Richard G. Murphy, 1829; Jobn R. Ilutchings, 1830 to 1832; Samuel Pyatt, 1832; David H. Mead, 1833 to 1836; Joshua M. Rice, 1836 to 1839. In 1839 George O. Hotch- kiss was elected; Lewis Staten, 1840; John D. Burklow, 1841 to 1843; Luther Beal, 1843 to 1845 ; David M. Hoge, 1845; Benjamin Hammack, 1846; James M. Montague, 1847 to 1850; John Moore, 1850; John McClure, 1852 to 1855; Samuel King, 1855 to 1861; Johnson C. Harris, 1861 ; Leonard T. Ross, 1863; James C. Kimzey, 1865 to 1871 ; John Patterson, 1873 to 1879; Josiah W. Haines, 1879 and the present incumbent.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Richard G. Davis was the first surveyor and received his appointment from the county commissioners, at their Sep- tember term, 1829, to hold his office until the next meeting of the General Assembly. He continued to hold this office until 1835, when he was succeeded by Abner Pyle, Jr., who had been elected by the people. Thomas II. Campbell was elected in 1839; Abner P'yle, Jr., 1842; Nathaniel B. Dill- horn, 1843; Nelson Holt. 1847; John R. Hutchings, 1848; Samuel Eaton, 1849; James M Montague, 1851 ; Isham E. Willis, 1855; Robert Steele, 1857; David I. Benson, 1861 ; William II. Lovelady, 1863, and held the office until May 2.1 1870, when he resigned and was succeeded by William Golightly, who served until 1871; John W. Tyler, 1871 ; J. J Flack, 1875; William Collins, 1879, and died while in office, and was succeeded, in Iss1, by J. J. Flack, who now holds the office.
RECORDER.
The following have filled the office of recorder, an office now coupled with that of circuit clerk : Humphrey B. Jones was elected in 1835; John D. Burklow in 1839; Sylvester Adams in 1842; William J. Weir in 1843, and Charles L. Starbuck in 1847.
MINE INSPECTOR.
Prior to Sept. 20th, 1877, the county surveyors were ex- officio inspector of mines, but the law changing and requiring the board of county commissioners to appoint a practical miner to that office, Thomas Peuwarden was appointed Sept. 20, 1877, and filled that office until Sept , 1830, when he was succeeded by Thomas Bailey, who now fills the office, and looks after the safety of his fellow workmen.
CORONERS.
Amos Anderson was elected May 7, 1827, at the first election held in the county, and was re-elected iu 1823, serv- ing until 1531; David Baldridge, 1831; Matthew Jones, 1832; David Baldridge, 1834; Aaron Lipe, 1836; Thomas Armstrong, 1838; John R. Hutchings, 1840, and continued iu office until 1848; John L. Baldridge, 1848; John R. Ilutchings, 1850; John Wheatley, 1852; Fleetwood B. Garner, elected in 1854; John Wheatley, elected in 1856, and continued in office until 1862; Robert Craig, 1862 and 1864; Warren Wheatley, 1866; George U. Taffe, 1868 and 1870; William G. Anderson, 1872; William G. Gordon, 1874; Martin Smith, 1876; William G. Gordon, 1878, died November 11, 1879, when Joseph Ogborn was ap- pointed his successor, and re-elected to the office in 1880.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
The first to hold this office was David Baldridge, appointed by the commissioners' court in 1831, and continued in office until 1845, having been elected by the people in 1841 and 184,; he had been followed by Charles L. Starbuck in 1845; William H. Turner in 1846; Nelson Holt in 1847 ; Marmaduke Ferguson in 1849; Samuel Eaton from 1850 to 1854; Isham E. Willis, 1854 to 1857 ; Zebedee l' Curlee, 1857 to 1861 ; Charles E. R. Winthrop in 1861, and Richard M. Davis in 1863.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.
James W. Blair elected in 1865 for a term of four years;
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Benajah G. Roots in 1869 ; John B. Ward in 1873, who now holds the office.
COUNTY DIRECTORS FOR CHESTER & TAMAROA RAILROAD.
Under the provisions of an Act of the General Assembly, in force April 16 1869, T. M Sams and James Ritchie were commissioned as such officers, June 7, 1871.
STATE AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS.
David J. Baker pro tem. for first term of Court, August 28, 1827; James Sample, pro tem., August term, 1828; Richard J. Hamilton, pro tem., April term. 1829; Henry Eddy, October term, 1829; Richard J. Hamilton, April term, 1830 ; Alexander F. Grant. pro tem., October term, 1830; Walter B. Scates, pro tem., April term, 1831 ; Alex- ander F. Grant, pro tem., October term, 1831; Walter B. Scates, pro tem., April term, 1832; Alexander F. Grant, pro tem., October term, 1832; Walter B. Scates, pro tem , April term, 1833 ; Walter B. Scates, pro tem., October term 1833, April term, 1834, and October term, 1834; John Dougherty made his first appearance May term, 1835; David J. Baker, October term, 1837; Samuel Marshall, July term, 1838; Wm. H. Stickney, May term, 1839; Wm. H. Underwood, April term, 1843; Philip B. Fouke, April term, 1847; P. P. Hamilton, October term, 1855; George Abbott was appointed states attorney, pro tem., at the May term, 1856; Monroe C. Crawford first appeared at the April term, 1857 ; George W. Wall, April term, 1865 ; Robert R. Townes, April term, 1869 ; R M. Davis, appointed by county court, July 16, 1872; D. W. Fountain, elected November, 1872; Richard M. Davis, November, 1876; and Mortimer C. Edwards, November, 1880.
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
Theophilus W. Smith, a justice of the supreme court, pre. sided over the August term, 1827, and the August term, 1828 ; and was followed by Thomas C. Browne, justice of the supreme court who presided over the Perry county cir- cuit court from April, 1829, to October, 1834; Alexander F. Grant, judge, May term, 1835 ; Jepthath Hardin, judge, May term, 1836 ; Walter B. Scates, judge, up to including October term, 1841 ; James Semple, justice of supreme court, April term, 1843; James Shields, justice of supreme court, up to including September term, 1844; Gustavus P. Koerner, up to including October term, 1848; Wm. H Underwood, up to including May term, 1855 ; Sidney Breese, up to in- cluding October term, 1856; Wm K. Parrish, up to includ- ing April term, 1859 ; Alexander M. Jenkins, np to includ- ing September term, 1863; John H. Mulkey, including September term, 1865; Wm. H. Green, April term 1867 ; Monroe C. Crawford, November term, 1872; since which date Amos Watts has been presiding over said court, alter- nating with judges George W. Wall and William H. Snyder, since June 16, 1873.
CHAPTER IX.
BENCH AND BAR.
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
O follow in consecutive order the history of the Bench and Bar of Randolph, the oldest settled part of Illinois, is a pleasing and yet arduous undertaking. Twenty-four years had elapsed after the first settlement of Kaskaskia, before any form of civil government was attempted. Without such form, legal enactments were unknown outside of the church ; and even after its introduction, the people were largely a law unto themselves, although dif- ferences were adjusted by the Commissary of Louisiana. D'Artaquette was the first appointment of the French gov- ernment to this position, in the year 1708. In 1712 a change was made, in that a wealthy merchant of Paris named Crozat was appointed as D'Artaquette's successor, and became supreme judge over the actions of the people of the great valley. In 1717 he was succeeded by the " Com- pany of the West," whose affairs were wildly administered for two years by John Law, a Scotchman, whose ideas re- specting banking and adjustment of titles, gained for him an unsavory reputation. In 1719 the " Royal Company of the Indies," whatever such appellation might mean, obtained the power and located M. Boisbriant and De Ursins at Fort Chartres as their legal agents. Under this regime a series of articles bearing the faintest semblance of legal enact- ments were adopted in 1721. The first recognition of lex scripta proved a rallying point for the early settlers,-a little pebble of civilization dropped into the centre of the wild ocean of savage life, the circling ripple enlarged and enlisted the attention of all. In 1732 the charter of this company was surrendered to the French government, and M. D'Arta- quette was appointed governor of Illinois. La Buissoniere was appointed his successor and held sway until 1751, when he was succeeded by Chevalier McCarty. His successor, M. Ange de Belle Rive, was the last of the French governors, as in 1763 the country passed into the hands of the English.
On the arrival of Captain Stirling of the Royal Highland- ers in 1765, Gov. Rive retired to St. Louis. Capt. Stirling died soon after his arrival, and was buried at Fort Chartres. He was succeeded by Major Frazier, and soon after by Col. Reed, who became notorious for his military oppressions, based largely upon what he considered breaches of law. His career was, however, short, as he was succeeded in 1768 by Col. Wilkins, who, by the authority of General Gage, then Commander of the British Army in America, established a court of justice. He appointed seven judges, who held court at Fort Chartres, commencing on the 6th of December, 1768. This was the first court of common law jurisdiction ever held in the Mississippi valley. Prior, even under
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