USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 38
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 38
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 38
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" Ordered, That William Brownfield, James Jordan and Will- iam Price, be, and they are hereby appointed judges to hold the elec- tion for Price Precinet, and that the place of holding the election shall be at the house of George Mattingly.
" Ordered, That Thomas M. Loy, be, and he is hereby appointed Surveyor, to survey twenty acres of land for the town of Newton (for the sum of $25, and the Commissioners furnish chain-carriers and stake-drivers), according to the plan laid down by the court, filed in the Clerk's office for Jasper County.
" Ordered, That Timothy Garwood, be, and he is hereby ap- pointed Treasurer for Jasper County, he having filed his bond and approved security. The Commissioners then laid off the county into three road districts and appointed Supervisors for the same.
" Ordered, That the following named persons be summoned by the Sheriff, as grand jurors at the first term of Circuit Court, to-wit: Absalom Eaton, James Miller, Henry Walls, Benjamin Eaton, Will- iam Owens, William Chastain, John Robbins, Joseph Snider, Ben- jamin Lamm, John Garwood, Luke Courtright, Andrew Douglas, Samuel Henry, David Henry, James Jordan, Wm. Price, Job Catt, Win. Brownfield, James Jenkins, Province Rowlings, Wm. Davis. Jr., Benjamin Yates and L. D. Wade-total, 23.
24
396
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
" And the following named persons be summoned to serve as petit jurors at the same time, to-wit: Wm. Davis, Jr., Isaac Allison, Andrew Everman, Samuel Miller, Abbott Lee, Jas. Wheeler, Harri- son Wheeler, Thomas Manning, John Harman, Abraham Snider, Wm. Peterson, Thos, Garwood, Samuel Garwood, Jesse M. Heard, Simon Cate. Moses Preston, Howard Yates, Robert Yates, Asa Hamilton, Lewis Mattingly, John Yates, Nathan Powell, William Lee, and Nathan Garwood. Court then adjourned until 10 o'clock to-morrow.
" Third day-Full Board present.
"Ordered,-That the following named property be subject to tax- ation, to-wit: Horses of all ages, cattle of all ages, hogs, sheep, goats, watches, clocks, wagons, pleasure carriages, bureaus, desks, cup- boards, town lots, stock in trade and mechanics'tools. Ordered,-That there shall be one-half per centum to the dollar on the aforesaid property.
" Ordered,-That there be an election held at the different voting places in Jasper County, Ill .. on the fourth Monday of March next, for the purpose of electing two JJustices of the Peace and two Con- stables for each precinct. Court adjourned."
Special term Commissioners' Court, March 25, 1835. The fol- lowing claims were presented and allowed:
Thomas M. Loy, for surveying and platting of Newton $25 00
Jesse Barnes, for carrying chain for above. 1 873
Benj. Vannetta, for carrying chain, etc. 1 873
Sam'l Garwood, 12} N. Garwood, 66 1 12}
T. Garwood, for stake driving 3 00
Total $34 00
This day, Thomas M. Loy presented a plat of Newton, which was received by the Commissioners. The Commissioners appointed Lewis W. Jordan, James Jordan and Province Rowlings, viewers, to locate a road from the Lawrence county line, where the Shelbyville State road strikes said line, to Newton, by way of James Jordan's, on Fox, thence to Coles county line, at or near the old crossing of Muddy Creek, on a direction to Charleston. (This was the first road laid out by our county authorities). Board adjourned.
Special meeting of Commissioners' Court, May 2, 1835. John Barnes was appointed agent for the county, to sell and convey all the town lots in the town of Newton, and to transact all other busi- ness for the county. Adjourned.
397
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
June term Commissioners' Court, 1835. First day .- Lewis Jor- dan appointed Commissioner to take census of Jasper County.
Ordered,-That a jury be summoned to examine a mill scat on the Embarrass River, at Garwood's shoals, and to make report at next term of Commissioners' Court. of the amount of damages sustained. Court adjourned.
Second day .- Viewers that had been appointed to view the road spoken of above, reported, telling how it should run, etc. Board made new road district (No. 4). and appointed James Jenkins Super- visor for the same.
Special term, June 12, 1835. John Barnes allowed $15, to be paid out for record books. Lewis W. JJordan and James Jordan allowed $470, for building jail for JJasper County. Also, Lewis W. Jordan, James Jordan and Province Rowlings, $3 each for services as road viewers.
August 5, 1835. Timothy Garwood, Treasurer, returned to Clerk (John Barnes) the amount of tax assessed by him (Garwood) in the county. Amount of property tax, $52.252, and $11.83} land tax-total, $64.091. which amount was charged to the Sheriff (Lewis W. JJordan).
September term of Commissioners' Court. The following accounts were allowed:
Timothy Garwood, allowed for taking list of taxable property in the county $9 00
Same man, services as clerk of election, for three days 1 50 Thos. B. Loy, for clerk one day at sale of town lots 1 00
Others allowed fifty cents per day for acting as judges and clerks of election. Adjourned.
Second day. Report of jury to see what damage the mill-dam at Garwood's shoals would be, reported that there would be no damage thereby, and the Board gave Mr. Thomas Garwood the privilege of building said dam to the height of five feet. and he is compelled to make a lock to said dam when the Commissioners re- quire it. Another Grand and Petit Jury were ordered summoned. Adjourned.
December term (First Monday). 1835. Benjamin Leamon granted license to vend and sell merchandise, at his house in Jasper County, for one year from October 31, 1835; license fee, $5, Clerk's fce, $1. Fiscal concerns of the county of Jasper stand as follows:
Orders issued to different parties to the amount of
DR. $493 25
398
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
CR.
Notes on different parties to the amount of, $162 00
Luke Courtright, paid a fine of
3 00
Job Catt, ..
3 00
Amount paid to John Barnes
7 00
taxes charged to Sheriff 52 25
66 sale of estray horse 75 75
sale of estray ox 8 00
- received of B. Harman for license 5 00-316 00
Total receipts. $316 00
Balance indebtedness of county $177 25
Adjourned.
Second day .- George Mattingly allowed $15, for ten days' ser- vices as County Commissioner.
Ordered,-That court adjourn until court in course.
W.M. M. RICHARDS, GEORGE MATTINGLY,
Commissioners.
L. D. WADE,
March term Commissioners' Court of Jasper County, held in the court-house on the first Monday of March, 1836. (This is the first time a court-house has been mentioned. The court-house was a small house that stood in the brush, on the lot known as the Dr. Walker Corner, and is now owned by Judge Gibson. The house was used for court-house, schoolhouse and church house, but the county authorities controlled it, and allowed it to be used for the above purposes). Full Board present. New Supervisors were appointed for the Fourth Road District, and the Supervisors requested to call on every able-bodied man subject to road labor, to work five days on the highways of their district. Viewers were appointed to view and locate a road from the public square in Newton, Ill., by Gar- wood's Ferry on the Embarrass River, on the nearest and best route to the Coles County line, in the direction of Greenup, in Coles County. Viewers were appointed to view and locate a road from our public square to the Effingham County line, in the direction of Ewington, in said county.
Ordered,-That two sets of jurymen be summoned, etc.
John Barnes was granted license to keep a tavern at his house in Newton. License, $2.50; and to pay Clerk's fee, license to date February 3, 1836.
Ordered,-That the following shall be the rates to be charged by tavern-keepers in Jasper County:
399
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
For keeping horse all night
$0 25
" single feed for horse
124
" meals of vietuals. 25
" bed for man
board by the week
1 50
French brandy by the pint
66
66
half-pint
25
66
66
66
gill
61
60
dram or drink 61
66 Rum, same as above.
Holland gin, same as rum.
Cordial, same price.
Wine, same price.
American brandy by the pint . 25
.. ..
half-pint 124
gill 61
66
dram or drink. 61
Whisky, same price as American brandy.
John Barnes was granted license to sell and vend merchandise at his house, to commence February 3, 1836; fee, $5 and Clerk's fee. Adjourned.
Second day .- John Barnes allowed for one year as Clerk, $15; Lewis W. Jordan, for one year ex-officio Sheriff, $15; Timothy Gar- wood re-appointed County Treasurer. Bond filed, with approved security ; bond approved.
The Treasurer reported having received during the year $115 92} The Sheriff pays over this day the amount of taxes dne. 47 80
Also, the amount received on sale of estray horses 58 37₺
Total in the Treasury $222 10
June term, 1836-June 25, 1836. Timothy Garwood, Treas- urer, returned amount of assessment, which was $91.84} ; amount charged to Sheriff.
September term, 1836. Timothy Garwood allowed $9 for list- ing the tax of the county. Thomas Addison granted license to keep a tavern at his house in Newton; fee, $2.50 and Clerk's fee.
Ordered,-That two sets jurors be summoned for next term of court.
Second day-Rates set again for tavern charges, same as before, except board by the week left out, and cherry bounce added, at same price as rum.
December term, 1836-First day. Benj. Lamm granted license to keep a tavern at his house, in Jasper County, Ill., by his paying $1 and Clerk's fee; also, license to sell and vend merchandise for one year, for $5 and Clerk's fee.
50
400
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
Second day-A lot of claims for acting as judges and clerks of elections, allowed at fifty cents per day, and other accounts.
TOWNSHIPS AND VOTING PRECINCTS.
At the June session of 1839, the county was again districted. Heretofore the three election precincts had served for all the official purposes, but in this year the Commissioners divided the county into Justices' districts, with a " whereas" as follows: " That whereas, the county of Jasper not having been divided into Magistrates' dis- triets, and it becoming necessary for it to be done, it is therefore
" Ordered,-By the court that the following boundary compose a Justice's district, to be called Newton District: Commencing on the Embarrass River, at the mouth of James Jordan's branch, running up said branch to the section two miles south of the township line dividing Townships 6 and 7; thence a due west course to the county line; thence north along said line to the northeast corner of the county; thence east along the county line to the Embarrass River; thence down said river to the place of beginning ;- and the place of holding elections in said district shall be the town of Newton.
" Ordered,-That the following boundary compose a Magistrates' district, to be called Saint Marie District: Commencing at the mouth of James Jordan's branch, on the south side of the Embarrass River, thence up said branch to section line two miles south of the town- ship line dividing Townships 6 and 7; thence running a due west course to the county line; thence south along said line to the south- west corner of the county; thence east along the county line to the Embarrass River; thence up said river to the place of beginning ;- and the place of holding election in said district shall be at the house of Joseph Picquet, Esq.
" Ordered,-That the following boundary compose a Justice's dis- trict, to be called Crooked Creek District: Commencing on the Embarrass River, one mile north of the township line dividing Town- ships 6 and 7; thence up said river to the county line; thence along said line to the northeast corner of the county; thence south along said line to a section line within one mile of the township line, divid- ing Townships 6 and 7; thence west along said line to the place of beginning ;- and that the place of holding elections in said district shall be at the house of Aaron Vannatta."
The whole county was thus divided into three districts for the election of Justices of the Peace, somewhat differing in their bound- aries from the precincts. But at this time the name of Price Pre-
401
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
cinet was changed to Saint Marie, and the place of holding elections transferred from Mattingly's house to that of Picquet. Crooked Creek District was also made at this time a general election precinct. By this division of the county, however, there was a portion of the county cast of the Embarrass River left unprovided for, and in the following September it was ordered by the Commissioners that a district be erected to be called Eaton's District, with the following boundaries: "Commencing at the Embarrass River, one mile north of the township line dividing Townships 6 and 7; running thence east to the center of the prairie lying between Crooked Creek and the North Fork; thence north to the county line; thence cast to the northeast corner of the county; thence south along the county line to the southeast corner of the county; thence west along the line of the county to the Embarrass River; thence up said river to the place of beginning ;- and that the place of holding elections in said district shall be at the house of W. G. Ryan." At the same time the name of the Claycomb Precinct was changed to Eaton. This legislation suf- ficed until the June session of 1841, when George Dowthet presented a petition in behalf of himself and others, asking for the erection of a new precinct. This petition represented "that the people of the southwest corner of the county, which includes the neighborhood called Muddy, live at a great distance from the polling place, and are frequently prevented from attending elections," etc. It was therefore ordered by the Commissioners that an election precinct be erected and called Dowthet Precinct. What its exact limits were, are not recorded. In the following June an additional Justice's dis- triet was formed, commencing at the county line which divides the counties of Crawford and Jasper at a point due cast of William Everman's, in said county, running from thence west to the west line of Range 11 cast; thence north with said line to the county line, which line shall be the eastern line of Crooked Creek Precinct; thence east to the northeast corner of the county; thence south along the county line to the place of beginning; which shall be called Clements Precinct, and the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at O. Clements'.
At the same time, Island Grove Precinct, with the voting place at the house of Courtland Vandibee, and the North Fork Precinct, with the voting place at the house of O. Clements, were erected. The seven precincts thus erected sufficed for five years, when the county was entirely re-districted, June 1847, as follows: Saint Marie :- " Commencing at the southeast corner of the county, running thence
402
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
. north with the county line to the Township line between Townships 6 and 7; thence west with the township line to the northwest corner of Section 4, in Township 6 north, Range 10 east; thence south with the section line to the county line; thence east to the place of beginning."
Newton :- " Commencing on the county line at the southeast corner of Section 20, in Township 5 north, Range 10 cast; thence north with the section line to the southeast corner of Section 17, in Township 7 north, Range 10 east; thenee west to the range line between Ranges 9 and 10; thence north with said line to the town- ship line between Townships 7 and 8; thence west with the town- ship line to the range line between Ranges 8 and 9; thence south with the range line to the county line; thenee cast to the place of beginning.'
Muddy :- " Commeneing on the county line at the southeast cor- ner of Section 24, in Township 5 north, Range 8 east, running thence west with the county line to the southwest corner of the county, thence north with the county line to the northwest corner of Section 19, in Township 7 north, Range 8 east; thence east to the range line between Ranges 8 and 9; thenee south to the place of beginning."
Island Grove :- " Commencing at the northwest corner of the county, thence east to the Embarrass River; thence down said river to the township line between Townships 7 and 8; thenee west with the township line to the range line between Ranges 8 and 9; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 13, in Township 7 north, Range 8 east; thence west to the county line; thence north to the place of beginning."
Crooked Creek :- "Commencing on the township line between Townships 6 and 7, at the southeast corner of Section 36, in Town- ship 7 north, Range 10 cast, running thence west to the southeast corner of Section 32, in Township 7 north, Range 10 east; thence north with the section line to the northeast corner of Seetion 20, in Township 7 north, Range 10 east; thence west with the section line to the range line between Ranges 9 and 10; thence north to the township line between Townships 7 and 8: thence west to the Em- barrass River; thence up said river to the county line; thence to the range line between Ranges 10 and 11; thence south to the place of beginning."
North Fork :- "Commencing on the county line at the range line between Ranges 10 and 11, running thence with the county line to the northeast corner of the county; thence south with the county
403
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
line to the township line between Townships 6 and 7; thence west with the township line to the range line between Ranges 10 and 11; thence north to the place of beginning."
Five years later the population of Newton Precinct became so numerous and widely scattered, that Woodford, Gambriel and sun- dry citizens, petitioned for a new election precinct. This petition was granted and the following boundaries fixed for the new precinct: "Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 22, Township 5 north, Range 8 cast, on the county line, running thence east along the county line to the range line between Ranges 9 and 10; thence north with said range line to the township line between Townships 5 and 6; thence west with the township line to the northwest cor- ner of Section 3, in Township 5 north, Range 8 east; thence south with the section line to the place of beginning." This was called Smallwood Precinct, and the place of holding elections established at the house of Samuel Smallwood. In September of the same year (1852), on petition of John Roberts and others, Jackson Precinct was formed as follows: " Beginning at the county line at the north- cast corner of the southeast quarter of Section 15, Township 7 north, Range 14 west; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 10 and 11; thence south along said range line to the south- west corner of Section 7, Township 6 north, Range 11 cast; thence east along the section line to the southeast corner of Section 10, Township 6 north, Range 14 west, at the county line; thence north along the county line to the place of beginning." The place of holding elections was established at the house of Wm. Ping. At the same time Hill Creek Precinct was erected, its boundary " begin- ning on the county line on range line between Ranges 8 and 9, at the northeast corner of Section 1, Township 8 north, Range 8 cast, thence east on the county line to the Embarrass River, thence down the meanderings of the river to the township line between Townships 7 and 8; thence west with the township line to the southwest corner of Section 34, Township & north, Range 8 east; thence in a northeastwardly direction to the southeast corner of Section 1, Township 8 north, Range 8 cast; thence north to the place of beginning." This divided Island Grove into two queerly- shaped precinets, which were suggested by the course of streams. These, though insignificant now, often prevented voters in an early day from reaching the polls, when the whole territory formed one precinet. Muddy Precinct was also reconstructed so as to form a long parallelogram on the west side of the county, extending from
404
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
Island Grove to the southern boundary of the county, and three sec- tions wide. Grandville Precinct was formed at this time and com- prised the same territory as at present, save that its east and west dimension was one mile shorter.
In March of 1854. Mr. Bolinger and others, petitioned for a new precinct to be called Kickapoo. This petition was granted, and a small precinct of twenty-one' sections, in center of which was located the village of " Brockville," was erected. In 1858, Muddy Precinct was divided and reconstructed, so that Township 7 north, in Range 8 cast, and the northern half of Township 6, in the same range, formed North Muddy, and the balance of the range to the southern county line, formed the South Muddy.
There seem to have been other considerations that the neces- sity of the situation brought to bear upon many of these precinct changes. A feeling had arisen as early as 1848, that the county- seat exercised an undue amount of influence upon the affairs of the various outlying precincts, and the people of Saint Marie, especially, felt that the county-seat was thriving at the expense of its more commercial rival. Under the old regime of Commissioners and County Court, with the Clerk and Sheriff strongly identified with Newton interests, it was not difficult for the county-seat influences to secure a majority of the board favorable to their plans. In this way Saint Marie found it difficult to secure such appropriations which she felt was due to the part she bore in the finances of the county. The result of this dissatisfaction was the agitation for " township organization," and in November, 1849, the question was submitted to a vote of the people. There was, of course, a decided opposition to this departure from the old customs, on the part of the ruling faction, and the question was carried by the meagre majority of 142 to 132. Anderson Arnold, George Mitchell and Joseph Schifferstein, were appointed Commissioners to divide the county into townships, preparatory to the election of Supervisors, etc. This Board reported the boundaries of six townships, North Fork, Marion, Island Grove, Polk, Muddy and Saint Marie, but here the matter ended. The Clerk at that time was noted for his reckless assump- tion of authority, and was, of course, opposed to the change. Some irregular technicality was discovered, the opinion of the Attorney General was had, and the whole matter quietly placed upon the shelf " among the rubbish of forgotten things." Thus the matter stood until September of 1859, when a petition, signed by one hun- dred and twenty-seven citizens, praying that the question of" town-
105
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
ship organization " be again submitted to the people. In the fol- lowing November the matter was brought to vote, and affirmed by a considerable majority, and in December, A. S. Harris, J. B. Den- man and Joseph Schifferstein, were appointed to divide the county into townships. This committee reported the boundaries of nine townships: Grove, Crooked Creek, Grandville, Willow Hill, Wade, North and South Muddy, Smallwood and Saint Marie.
The boundaries of these townships were reported substantially as they are found at present, save in the case of Saint Marie. This originally comprised the territory of Fox as well as its own. It was a large and unwieldy organization, and it was not long before the citizens of the western part found the size a matter of considerable inconvenience. In December, 1867, a little more than five sections of its territory was struck off to Willow Hill to equalize the burden of grading the "bottom road." In 1871, a petition was presented to the Board of Supervisors by the citizens of the west side of Saint Marie Township, through their attorney, asking for a division of the township. This was met by a vigorous remonstrance, and the peti- tion was eventually rejected. On January 15, 1875, the effort to secure a division was renewed, and a petition praying for the erec- tion of a township to be called Union, or such other name as the Board might think appropriate, was granted. This was not done, however, without vigorous opposition. The case was finally adjudi- cated in the State Supreme Court, and as the history of the whole matter is given in the court's decision, it is given here in full:
" The Board of Supervisors of Jasper County, on the 15th of January, 1875, made an order establishing a new township from ter- ritory taken from Saint Marie Township, in that county. The Board appointed plaintiff's in error judges of election of the township thus created, for the choice of town officers. To prevent plaintiff's in error from performing their duty, and holding the election, this bill was filed, and a temporary injunction granted, restraining them from acting as such judges, until the consent of the people to such division should be obtained from the majority of the electors, at an annual election in the original township. At the spring term, 1875, of the Circuit Court, a hearing was had, and the injunction rendered per- petual. To reverse that decree, the record is brought to this court, and various errors have been assigned.
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