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

Author: McDonough, J.L., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.L. McDonough & Co
Number of Pages: 578


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


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121


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;


180


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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