USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 13
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 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157
sum of $1,500, is in full of the entire balance due said Mahannah & Day for the fireproof building and all extra work done on the old courthouse and all work performed on said courthouse, except the cupola now in process of construction."
On the same day, the building committee was discharged from further duty, and the chairman of the finance committee of the board was ordered to pay Mahannah & Day $1,500 and take their receipt in full of all claims under the report which had been adopted.
It appears from the supervisor's record of December, 1868, that the stone floor in the courthouse cost $1,042.61, and that the cupola on the courthouse cost $950.
The fireproof wing or addition consisted of a hall running north and south, adjacent to the old building, with stairways leading from that hall to a hall of the same size on the second floor from which access was given to the court- room through double doors. East of the hall were two large rooms in each story with en- trance thereto from the hall. The southeast room in the first story was for the office of the clerk of the circuit court, and the north- east room for the office of the county clerk who was also clerk of the county court. The two rooms above were jury rooms. When court was not in session they were used for general purposes.
The four rooms in the first story of the old building remained unchanged except as to the closing of windows on the east. The court- room was enlarged so as to include the old jury rooms. The whole of the second story of the old building was thus converted into a courtroom about fifty feet square, which was sufficient for the accommodation of a large audience of more than 400 persons by the use of chairs in addition to the benches with which the courtroom was provided.
Many public meetings were afterwards held in this courtroom. Frederick Douglas de- livered a lecture in this room, and there Josh Billings delivered his address on "Milk." Theo- dore Tilton and other distinguished lecturers and orators were heard in this room. Poli- ticians, and possibly a statesman occasionally, here made eloquent addresses. College enter- tainments were given in this room prior to the time of the building of the Lutheran Church. The room served all the purposes for which it was intended for many years, but, in the
698
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
and there was a demand for a new and better course of time, the old shell was outgrown, courthouse.
1
COURTHOUSE OF 1908
After the contest for the county-seat had been decided in favor of Carthage, the question of building a new courthouse was agitated, and action looking to that end was undertaken at the June term of the board of supervisors, 1904, at which time a resolution was offered, reciting the need of a new building for the safe-keeping of the county records and fuller accommodations for the county officials and better accommoda- tions for the various courts held in the court- house and providing for the erection of a suit- able and commodious courthouse, at an expense not exceeding $100,000, as soon as that could conveniently be done. The resolution provided for the submission of the question of issuing bonds to the amount of $100,000 for the erection of such courthouse to the legal voters of the county at the general election to be held on November 8, 1904. The resolution was amended so that the bonds should not draw more than four per cent interest and amended again so that the courthouse should be completed for a sum not exceeding $100,000, which, however, was the effect of the resolution itself.
The question was voted upon accordingly on November 8, 1904, those who had been in favor of Carthage as the county seat voting generally in favor of issuing the bonds, and those who had been in favor of Warsaw as the county seat voting generally against the issuance of the bonds. There were 3,349 votes for and 3,981 against issuing the bonds, and so the proposition was defeated by a majority of 632.
From December, 1904, until September, 1906, the question of the erection of a courthouse was under consideration, but no definite action as to that matter was taken until September 13, 1906, when Supervisor Newton presented to the board of supervisors a resolution on the sub- ject, which resolution is as follows :
"WHEREAS, the present courthouse of the County of Hancock in the State of Illinois, is wholly inadequate and insufficient, and a new courthouse for the said county should be erected without delay ;
"THEREFORE, be it resolved, that a new court- house be erected at the county seat of the said
county as soon as that can be done, at a total expense of not more than ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in order to meet the necessary expenses of erecting said court- house, complete, there shall be issued bonds of the said county to the amount of ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, and no more.
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that there be, and there is hereby submitted to the legal voters of the said county, at their next general election to be held in the said county on the first Tues- day after the first Monday of November, 1906, to-wit, on the sixth day of November, 1906, the question of issuing such bonds for said purpose ;
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that said bonds so to be issued shall not exceed the sum of ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, and that the interest thereon shall not exceed five per cent per annum, payable annually, and that the principal of said bonds shall be payable in ten equal installments, one-tenth payable in one year after the date of their issuance and one-tenth annual thereafter, until the whole is paid, with the privilege and option on the part of said county to pay the whole or any part thereof at the end of five years or at the end of any year thereafter.
"Said vote at such election shall be by ballot on which ballot shall be written or printed, 'For County Bonds' or 'Against County Bonds.'
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in case the said vote shall authorize the issuing of said bonds, the board of supervisors of the said county shall issue said bonds in the manner provided by law, or so many of them as may be necessary for the purpose of erecting and paying for the said courthouse and shall in the proper manner, and as authorized by law, provide from time to time by a proper levy upon the property of the county for the payment of the said bonds."
At the general election on November 6, 1906, the question of issuing bonds for the erection of a courthouse to the amount of $125,000 was submitted to the people. The total vote in favor of issuing the bonds was 3,504, and the total vote against was 3,325. The issuance of the bonds was thus authorized by the small margin of 179. The county seat contest had not yet faded from the minds of the voters, as is evidenced by the vote on the bond question, which, given by towns and precincts, was as follows :
+5
COURT HOUSE, CARTHAGE. BUILT IN 1906-8
699
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
PRECINCT
YES
NO
house be erected at the county seat of the said
71 county with all convenient speed and that, to
Augusta 2nd
75
52 this end, the clerk of this board be instructed,
St. Marys 1st.
162
St. Marys 2nd
94
83
Hancock
153
34
Fountain Green 156
87
La Harpe 1st
58
118
La Harpe 2nd.
106
167
Chili
225
Harmony
153
Carthage 1st
401
Carthage 2nd
430
Pilot Grove
129
94
Durham
86
68
St. Albans
134
98
Bear Creek
46
161
Prairie
114
66
Rock Creek
154
91
Dallas City
177
98
Pontoosuc
102
37
Walker
11
221
Wythe
19
147
Montebello 1st
43
117
Montebello 2nd
55
210
Sonora
55
162
Appanoose
94
85
Rocky Run
1
118
Wilcox
3
93
Warsaw 1st
7
205
Warsaw 2nd
2
216
Nauvoo
72
219
Total
.3,504
3,325
3,325
179
At the December meeting of the board of supervisors, in 1906, Supervisor Scofield offered the following resolution :
"WHEREAS, the question of issuing bonds by the County of Hancock not exceeding a total amount of $125,000 for the purpose of building a new courthouse for the said county at the county seat thereof, was duly submitted to the legal voters of the said county at the last gen- eral election and a majority of the votes at such election on that question was for such county bonds, and the county board of the said county has been thereby duly authorized and em- powered to issue bonds for the purpose afore- said ;
"THEREFORE, be it resolved that a new court-
65 and he is hereby instructed, to advertise at once in proper periodicals for the publication of such notices, for plans and specifications for such courthouse, not to cost, complete, exceeding $125,000, such plans and specifications to be submitted and filed without cost, charge or ex-
.73 pense to the said county, and to be filed with 53 the clerk aforesaid not later than the morning 9 of January 15, 1907, and that this board, when it
7 adjourns, adjourn to that date, that is, January 15, 1907, for the consideration of the plans and specifications, if any such there be, as the board may consider proper and suitable for the court- house aforesaid.
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the appoint- ment of committees for the various parts of the work of the erection of such courthouse be deferred until after plans and specifications therefor shall be accepted and adopted by this board."
This resolution was amended, on motion of Supervisor Crawford, so that the question of plans and specifications should be referred to a committee of five to be appointed by the chair- man, instead of being referred to the whole board.
The resolution of Supervisor Scofield, as thus amended, was adopted.
That a new courthouse should be erected was now a settled question, but there had been, and still continued to be, much controversy over the plans and specifications and cost of such build- ing. Some of our people were advocating the erection of a building at an expense of fifty or sixty or seventy thousand dollars, while others asserted that a sufficient courthouse for the county would require the expenditure of double that amount, some even contending that three times that amount would not be too much under the circumstances. The vote to issue $125,000 in bonds for the erection of the courthouse prac- tically settled that controversy.
It is proper here to give briefly a heretofore unpublished incident in these transactions, con- sisting of a conference between Chairman Fra- zer and Supervisor Scofield. In the organiza- tion of the board, Mr. Frazer, supervisor from Rocky Run, had been elected chairman of the board. Mr. Frazer had advocated the claims of Warsaw in the county seat contest. Friends of Carthage regarded the election of Mr. Frazer
Augusta 1st
187
700
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
as chairman with some degree of trepidation, fearing that he would appoint such committees and take such action as would result in the erection of a cheap and insufficient courthouse, and some went so far as to insist in outside dis- cussions and conferences that the members of the committee on plans and specifications should be mentioned by name in the resolution, and the ordinary power of the chairman to name the members of the committee be taken out of Chairman Frazer's hands. Doubtless, Mr. Frazer had heard of such a proposition, or, with his ready perception, had divined that it was under consideration, and so he went to the office of Supervisor Scofield and had a conference with him on the subject. Mr. Frazer said to Mr. Scofield substantially this :
"It is my intention to appoint a fair and representative committee. I want you as chair- man of that committee, and I will appoint as the other members two Carthage nien and two Warsaw men, which will give the majority of the committee to Carthage. While I have been opposed to Carthage, and have voted against Carthage, and while I may feel that a cheaper courthouse would be sufficient, the majority of the members of the board of supervisors favor the opposite view of the matter, and the com- mittee should be appointed in such manner as to represent proportionately these opposing views."
Mr. Scofield answered in substance :
"Some of our people sincerely believe that the whole committee should be composed of Carthage friends and that a sufficient court- house should be built even though it should cost two or three times as much as that con- templated by others. While I am in favor of a courthouse that shall cost from $125,000 to $150,000, I think you are right on the propo- sition of a division of the committee between the friends of Carthage and Warsaw in the man- ner you have indicated, and, although my action in that regard may not be wholly approved by my constituency, I feel that your proposition is fair and honorable, and I intend to stand back of you on that proposition. Under no circum- stances, however, will I, as supervisor of Car- thage, accept the chairmanship of that com- mittee, or membership therein. That would be like a red rag to a large number of upright and honorable citizens who have advocated the claims of Warsaw throughout these controver- sies."
Thereupon Mr. Frazer said :
"I am ready to give you the names of the members of. the committee, if you wish to have them."
Thereupon Mr. Scofield said :
"I do not ask it. I have entire confidence in your integrity. We have been in opposition in these matters but I recognize you as one of our best men and I believe you will do the right thing under the circumstances."
Thereupon Mr. Frazer said :
"I am going to give you the names I have in mind, and I want your opinion with reference to this matter. It has been my intention and is now, if the matter is left in my hands, to appoint Supervisors Hart (of Nauvoo), Schafer (of Warsaw), McKelvie (of St. Marys), Craw- ford (of Wilcox), and Newton (of Pontoosuc). Is this satisfactory to you?"
. Thereupon Mr. Scofield answered :
"It is for you, Mr. Frazer, to name the men. You could make a number of combinations of five out of the twenty-five members of this board, any one of which would make a satisfac- tory committee. You could not make any better combination than that indicated. Supervisors Hart, McKelvie and Newton have been Carthage men in this fight, and Supervisors Schafer and Crawford have been Warsaw men, but they are all alike honorable, and the affairs of the county may safely be committed to their judg- ment."
Afterwards, Mr. Scofield stated to Carthage men on the board of supervisors that Mr. Frazer would appoint a committee of five, three of whom would be Carthage men, and two War- saw men, and that a Carthage man would be chairman, and suggested that this was a satis- factory solution of the controversy. This was acquiesced in by Carthage men, and from that time until the completion of the courthouse there was hardly a difference of opinion among the members of the committee or of the board of supervisors as to any important or principal question.
On February 5, 1907, the committee on plans and specifications reported to the board of super- visors as follows :
"We went to Detroit, Michigan, and examined their courthouse and town hall and several other large buildings, then we went to Pontiac and gave the courthouse there a thorough examination and we also talked with the various officers in the courthouse and some citizens both of the Town
..
701
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
of Pontiac and from the farms of the county, and they all said they were satisfied with their courthouse and were well pleased, and if they had it to build again they would make no change in it.
"We inquired about Mr. Mills and his stand- ing as a man and as an architect and we got favorable reports of him in every instance.
"As to the house we found it built in a sub- stantial, strong manner with no sign of settling, all doors and windows working smooth and easy, all rooms well lighted, heated and ven- tilated and all space utilized to the needs of the county officials and the public at large. We also found the building finished in good work- manship manner such as would be a credit to any contractor on similar work.
"We make some changes in the plans so as to suit our needs and price as our officers are not the same as in Michigan.
"We would therefore recommend that a courthouse be erected according to revised plans and specifications as submitted by Joseph E. Mills to the board of supervisors February 5, 1907, and the board take the necessary steps to get a competent contractor and proceed to business as fast as prudent to build said court- house."
On the next day the report of the com- mittee was received and the board of super- visors authorized the chairman and .clerk of the board to execute the contract with Joseph E. Mills, as architect, and adopted his plans and specifications. The clerk was instructed to ad- vertise for bids for building the new courthouse according to the plans and specifications of Mr. Mills. A committee consisting of Supervisors Ayers, Zeh, Barber, Evans and Landis, was appointed to confer with the city of Carthage concerning the amount to be donated by the city to assist in the building or furnishing of the courthouse. It was finally reported that Carthage had donated $10,000, that the amount had been fully paid to the county treasurer, and thereupon the board accepted that sum as the end of all propositions and negotations on that subject. The city of Carthage had there- fore paved the streets around the courthouse square at its own expense.
On April 10, 1907, the board accepted the bid of the Interstate Construction Company of Toledo, Ohio, and decided that the courthouse should be built of Bedford No. 1 Stone, there
being sixteen votes for the Bedford Stone and nine votes for the Gray Canyon Stone.
By vote of nineteen to five tlie resolution theretofore passed appropriating $114,000 for the building of a courthouse, including the archi- tect's fees, was modified so as to read $115,478.00 including architect's fees. At the same time Supervisors Scofield, Scott and Brown were appointed a committee to take up the matter of the contract with the contractor and sce that the same was put into proper form, and it was ordered that when the contract should be approved by this committee, the chair- man of the board should execute the same. The same committee was instructed to examine the bond of the contractor and ascertain as to its sufficiency, and it was ordered that this bond, when approved by the committee, should be filed with the county clerk. A committee con- sisting of Supervisors Booz, Barber and Denny was appointed to dispose of the old courthouse, by selling or otherwise, after the contract for the new courthouse should be made and the con- tractor's bond should be filed. It was also or- dered by the board that a powerhouse be built for .heating and power-plant to heat the jail and courthouse, with a tunnel from the plant to the courthouse. On motion of Supervisor Hart, it was ordered that Buff Bedford Stone be used in the construction of the courthouse.
An important inatter to the whole county was the temporary disposition to be made of the records belonging to the county or in its cus- tody at the courthouse while the new court- house should be in process of construction. The new courthouse was to occupy the site where the old courthouse was standing, and the wrecking of the old courthouse necessitated the moving of the records. Supervisors Zeh, Hanson, Shields, Daugherty and Schafer were appointed a com- mittee to oversee the moving of the records, and this committee was authorized to employ a watchman to keep watch over the records at night in their temporary depository.
On motion of Mr. Daugherty, on May 7, 1907, it was ordered by vote of fourteen to nine that the committee on plans and specifications be continued as the building committee, and Super- visor Zeh was appointed as local superintendent of construction of the new courthouse.
It should be stated that while the committee on plans and specifications was the same in personnel as the building committee subse- quently appointed and Supervisor Hart was
702
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
chairman and Supervisor Newton secretary of the committee on plans and specifications, Supervisor Newton was chairman of the build- ing committee.
A committee, composed of Supervisors Sco- field, Brown and Evans, was appointed to issue and negotiate the sale of the $125,000 of bonds to be used in the erection of the new court- house.
On the same day Supervisor Bross was ap- pointed to oversee the digging of the trenches for the walls of the building.
At the June term, 1907, of the board of super- visors, an invitation was extended to the Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. to take charge of the laying of the cornerstone of the new court- house, and Judge Charles J. Scofield was se- lected to make the address on that occasion.
On June 11, 1907, the committee appointed to oversee the moving of the records and to em- ploy a night-watchman, reported that there were fifteen applicants for the place, with bids ranging from $24 to $60 per month. George B. Sample was employed, but resigned, after hav- ing served one week, and Robert Cannon was appointed in his place.
On June 12, 1907, Supervisors Scofield, Brown and Evans, committee appointed to negotiate the sale of the bonds, reported to the board of supervisors as follows :
"Your committee, appointed to negotiate the sale of bonds for the building of the court- house, respectfully report that they gave notice, in proper periodicals, and to the bankers of this county, and otherwise caused it to be known, that sealed bids for the said bonds would be received, the same to be mailed to, or deposited with, the county clerk of this county, and that, on June 7, 1907, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, such bids would be opened and acted upon by your committee, with the reservation of the right to reject any or all of bids; that nine bids were so filed, and that these bids were opened by your committee at the time indicated; that the highest bid was that of Devitt, Tremble & Co., of Chicago, which was, in substance, to pay $125,000.00 for the bonds, and to pay in addition thereto a premium of $3,000 and accrued in- terest; that a certified check of $2,500 on the First National Bank of Chicago accompanied this bid; that your committee thereupon ac- cepted this bid, and the purchaser and your com- mittee thereupon executed a written contract of acceptance, in duplicate, which contract and
which, check are herewith presented as a part of this report; that the said sale is subject to the approval of the validity of the bonds by the purchaser's attorney ; that the county clerk has been instructed to furnish the purchaser with a certified copy of all proceedings relating to the issue of the bonds; that the purchaser's attorney is to give his opinion at an early day ; and that the sale is to be perfected by July 1st, and the bonds issued as of that date, if they are approved as valid by the purchaser's attorney."
The bid of Devitt, Tremble & Co., mentioned in the above report was as follows :
"For the $125,000.00 courthouse bonds of Han- cock County, Illinois, to be dated July 1, 1907, denomination $1,000.00 and $500.00, maturing in ten equal yearly installments of $12,500.00 from July 1, 1908, to July 1, 1917, inclusive, with option of prior payment in five years from date of bonds, said bonds to bear interest at the rate of five per cent per annum, payable annually, both principal and interest, at First National Bank, Chicago, we will pay par and accrued interest to date of delivery in Chicago; also a premium of $3,000.00.
"In accordance with understanding, we will procure for the county the blank bonds, for which we are to be reimbursed. We are to be furnished, without charge, a complete certified transcript of proceedings, fully evidencing the legality of issue, to the satisfaction of our at- torney.
"We enclose herewith our certified check for $2,500.00, the same being made payable to the county treasurer, and to be held as an evidence of good faith until delivery of bonds, then to be applied as part payment, unless, however, our attorney shall fail to approve the legality of issue. In the latter case said check shall be returned to us upon demand."
On the same day the chairman and clerk of the board were authorized to execute and de- liver the bonds and to bind the county by their action, and it was ordered that the money re- ceived from the sale of the bonds should be placed in reliable banks to draw interest until used, and the county treasurer was added to the committee as another member thereof in the matter of depositing in banks the money re- ceived from the sale of the bonds.
The contract to wreck and remove the old courthouse was let to J. M. Foulds for $2,000, and such of the wreckage as could be sold was
703
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
converted into cash and deposited in the county treasury.
When the attorneys for Devitt, Tremble & Co. had under consideration the validity of the bonds, they specified certain objections which they required to be explained, obviated or re- moved before they would recommend acceptance of the bonds.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.