Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 15

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810

USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 15

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STATES ATTORNEY.

The duties of the state's attorney are to begin and prosecute all actions, civil and criminal, in any court of record in the county in which the people of the state or couuty may be interested ; to prosecute forfeited bouds and actious for the recovery of debts due the state or county aud act as adviser to county officers. The men to hold this very important office for Moutgomery County since 1880, have been as follows: 1880 to ·1884, Benjamin E. Johnson; 1884 to 1888, Amos Miller; 1888 to 1892, William Pearman, who died, and T. M. Jett was elected to fill out the term; 1892 to 1896, T. M. Jett; 1896 to 1900, M. M. Creighton; 1900 to 1908, L. V. Hill; 1908 to 1912, Harry Stuttle; 1912 to 1916, J. Earl Major, and re-elected in 1916,

COUNTY OFFICIALS.

It is not to parade before the present genera- tion the names of those holding official position during the past and present that this roster is preseuted, An appropriate constitueucy usually selects the best equipped men for its public serv- ants, relying on their ability and zeal for the work beiug well done. This county has ever maintained the reputation of honest aud efficient management, and it is with commendable pride that we place along side our county record of

JUDGE THOMAS M. JETT

EX-CIRCUIT CLERK ISAAC S. BLACKWELDER

EX-JUDGE HIRAM ROUNTREE

MAYOR HOMER S. BUTLER

EX-JUDGE JESSE J. PHILLIPS

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

advance the names of the men who have made such progress possible and desirable.

The men who can manage the affairs of a county in a credible manner are the men who do things in the private walks of life. A large percent of the present generation of Montgomery County citizens are descendants of those who filled positions in the connty's formative period. It is not therefore surprising that we have a population of loyal and patriotic citizens who revere the past and are striving to make a better future for the county and its people. The various positions in the county filled by Mont- gomery County citizens are given with their occupants and the years of their election or appointment or terms of office as fully as we were able to secure the data.

COUNTY JUDGES.

During the early years of the county's history, the financial and probate matters of the county were controlled by a board of three commis- sioners. From 1823 to 1850, the records do not mention a judge nor were there legally trained men on the board, but Judge Rountree, the clerk, was their safe guide in matters of legal forms. From 1850 to 1873, when the commissioner sys- tem was superceded by the board of supervisors and the judgeship divorced from the board, it seems that one member of the commissioners' court was elected as a judge and the other two were known as associate judges. In 1821, Eleasur M. Townsend, was elected probate judge on the laying out of the county. Judge Ronntree we think succeeded Mr. Townsend, continuing in the office till the election of William Brewer in 1843. In 1843 William Brewer was elected as probate jndge, being returned in 1845 and 1847, as the first Whig in the county to be elected to office. We give the county judges from 1850 to the present time: 1850-1852, Joseph H. Rolston, two years resigned; 1852- 1854, E. T. Rice, serving out Rolston's term ; 1854-1866, Hiram Rountree, sixteen years; 1866- 1870, Edward Lane, four years; 1870-1874, Ben E. Johnson, four years; 1874-1882, Wm. D. Shir- ley, eight years : 1882-1886, Arius N. Kingsbury, four years; 1886-1890, Amos Miller, four years ; 1890-1894, Louis Allen, died and George R. Cooper elected to fill out his term; 1894-1898, George R. Cooper, four years; 1898-1906, M. J. McMurray, eight years ; 1906-1914, John L. Dryer,

eight years; 1914-1916, T. J. McDavid, present incumbent.

COUNTY CLERKS.

The keeping of the records of a county is a most important function, and Montgomery County was fortunate in the days of its begin- ning in having a thoroughly competent man, considered from the standards of that day, to guide and direct in her first legal steps as well as prepare her forms and keep her records. Hiram Rountree, a young man with reasonable college training and legal study, came to the county just in time to assume the leading place in the county's formation, and so far as the records show he was the only man at the time with sufficient qualifications, in the young com- monwealth, to have attempted the vast amount of work he did for the county, in its time of need. Not only was Mr. Rountree the clerk of the connty court, but he was also the clerk of the circuit court during the entire time of his occupancy of the county's official office. Even when in 1840, after having been the clerk of the county conrt for abont sixteen years, another man was found to step in his place, he continued to wield the quill in the circuit clerk's office for another decade. Nor were his official activities confined to his clerkships, but in 1823 we find him acting as a justice of the peace, continuing to perform marriage and hear petty cases np to as late as 1842. Under the law of those days the county commissioners were the forerunners, officially, of the county judge, but owing to the fact that the commissioners were usually men of no legal training, the justice of the peace was a more important factor in the legal pro- cednres of the day than the commissioners. About 1854, however, Mr. Rountree was made one of the commissioners, continning in that position for some twelve years, during which time he is frequently spoken of as county jndge, and the other commissioners as associate judges.

After Mr. Rountree's exit from the county clerkship in 1840, Oliver Coudy was in the office as its official head for six years, being followed in 1846, by Benjamin Sammons, a big jovial fel- low with good qualifications, and later we find him transferred to the other court as its clerk. Mr. Sammons stepped out in 1856 and John T. Maddox came in, and continned therein till the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he went into

696

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

the Union service and I. S. Blackwelder took his place for a four-year term, being succeeded iu 1866 by William D. Shirley. A complete list is here given which we think is accurate, as fol- lows: 1821 to 1840, Hiram Rountree; 1840 to 1846, Oliver Coudy : 1846 to 1858, Benjamin Sam- mons; 1858 to 1862, John T. Maddox; 1862 to 1866, I. S. Blackwelder; 1866 to 1874, W. D. Shirley ; 1874 to 1882, George M. Raymond ; 1882 to 1886, H. HI. Keithley; 1886 to 1894, B. A. Hendricks; 1894 to 1898, W. L. Seymour; 1898 to 1906, John M. Shoemacher; 1906 to 1914, A. N. Banes ; 1914 to 1918, A. H. Bartlett.

SHERIFFS AND COLLECTORS.

Under the law controlling the old form of county organization, the sheriff was ex-officer, collector of taxes, aud the county treasurer was also county assessor, so that from 1821 to 1873, we had no separate official for the collection of taxes, although the work was often under the charge of a special deputy. From 1821 to 1826, Joseph Wright was the sheriff and collector. Major John Rountree succeeded Wright in 1826, serving two years. In 1828 Major James Wilson filled the sheriff's office and he in turn was suc- ceeded in 1832, by Austin Whitten. John Kirk- patrick was elected in 1834 and served till 1844, this being the longest term of anyone in the office. In 1844 Thomas Standriug succeeded Mr. Kirkpatrick, serving till 1848, when M. J. Block- burger succeeded him serving two years. Joliu Corlew is recorded as acting sheriff and col- lector during 1851, 1852, 1853 and 1854. Wooten Harris filled the dual offices of sheriff and col- lector in 1855 and 1856. In 1856, McKinzie Turner was elected, serving two years, being succeeded by Wooten Harris, in 1858, aud he, by John Fogelman in 1860. From 1862 to 1864, Harrison Brown filled the office. William A. Young was sheriff in 1865 and 1866 and Frank H. Gilmore in 1867 and 1868. In 1869, John T. McDavid was elected, serving two years, and he was succeeded by William Bowles in 1871, who filled the office for four years. This carried the county up to the organization under the town- ship form, and from this time the duties of col- lector of the county devolved on the county treasurer. Those who have served as sheriff since the divorcement of the two offices have been as follows: 1874 to 1878, Joseph A. Davis, two years; 1878 to 1880, Aarou G. Butler, four years ; 1880 to 1882, Leonard G. Fath, two years;

1882 to 1884, W. A. Pyle, two years; 1884 to 1886, John Griswold, two years; 1886 to 1890, John W. Griswold, four years; 1890 to 1894, IIenry Michael, four years; 1894 to 1898, H. N. Randle, four years; 1898 to 1900, B. B. Cassedy, two years ; 1900 to 1904, Johu Miller, four years ; 1904 to 1908, M. E. Bray, four years; 1908 to 1912, M. T. Kiggins, four years; 1912 to 1914, M. T. Kiggins, two years; 1914 to 1918, Charles W. Johnson, four years.

COUNTY TREASURERS AND ASSESSORS.

By requirement of law the offices of county treasurer and county assessor were filled by the same individual prior to township organization. We give the names of different occupants of these offices as they appear on the record: 1821 to 1824, John Tillson; 1824 to 1826, Luke Lee Steel ; 1826 to 1828, Israel Seward; 1828 to 1830, Benjamin Roberts; 1830 to 1832, James G. IIuman; 1832 to 1834, Thomas A. Gray ; 1834 to 1836, Austin Whitten; 1836 to 1838, William Shaffer; 1838 to 1840, James Street; 1840 to 1842, C. B. Hartwell; 1842 to 1843, Easten Whit- ten; 1843 to 1844, Jacob File; 1844 to 1846, Joseph H. Rolston ; 1846 to 1848, Andrew Burke ; 1848 to 1858, Andrew Burke, who filled both posi- tious till 1860, when James B. McDavid occu- pied both till the election of John H. Beatty, in 1872, at which time William Simpson was elected. This carried the offices up to the time of township organization, when the office of county assessor became obsolete, tlie office of county treasurer being continued with the fol- lowing occupants : 1858 to 1870, James B. Mc- David; 1870 to 1872, John H. Beatty; 1872 to 1874, William Simpson; 1874 to 1876, John L. McLain; 1876 to 1878, M. C. McWilliams; 1876 to 1882, James Haynes; 1882 to 1886, Charles T. Tobin ; 1886 to 1894, Columbus A. Freeland ; 1894 to 1898, Carl F. Bartling; 1898 to 1902, Henry M. Randle; 1902 to 1906, Dau F. Brown ; 1906 to 1908, John Greene; 1908 to 1910, Joliu W. Rae; 1910 to 1914, C. E. Landers; 1914 to 1918, M. T. Kiggins.

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY SUPER- INTENDENTS.

Under the county organization law the leading county school official was known as the school commissioner and his functions were similar to those now devolving on the superinteudent of

697

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

schools though not so mandatory as under re- cent statutes. No mention was found in the county records of a school commissioner prior to 1835. In that year we find Israel Seward named as commissioner, and he appears to have filled the office till 1841, when William H. High was elected, serving till 1845. Then David B. . Jackson assumed the function of the office, serv- ing four or more years. We give a list of those following him as fully as we have the informa- tion : John W. King, 1858 to 1862; Spartin Grisham, 1862 to 1866; John C. Tulley, 1866 to 1870; Hiram L. Gregory, 1870 to 1874; Francis Springer, 1874 to 1878; Thomas E. Harris, 1878 to 1882; Jesse C. Barrett, 1882 to 1890; Jacob Traylor, 1890 to 1894; W. H. Groner, 1894 to 1898; Wm. J. McDavid, 1898 to 1906; John M. Harp, 1906 to 1914; Evert A. Lewey, 1914 to 1918.

COUNTY SURVEYORS.

The information given below was furnished us by D. M. Starr, which is as nearly correct and full as we are able to obtain. If we include the work of Mr. Starr as deputy surveyor, he has filled the office for forty years and bids fair to do more work. His eighty-three years seem to weigh lightly on him and he can do what many at fifty cannot do, read the newspapers without the aid of spectacles. Forty years of running lines to straighten out the cow paths of our forefathers, of determining division lines be- tween neighbors to prevent trespassing, and of continuous service in parallel lines, rectangles, and plats, as well as a life of Christian honor and rectitude, will entitle him to a well surveyed title to an inheritance in the land where dis- tinctions are unknown, and disputes are never heard. Truly another Star(r) will be added to the Heavenly diadem .- Editor.

"Surveying is one of the most necessary, and one of the oldest employments of civilized life. Early surveying consisted almost entirely in the running and establishing of boundary lines for land deals. In this brief article I am referring exclusively to land surveying. Prior to the war of the Revolution, surveying was usually made by what was called 'Metes and Bounds,' that is, a beginning would be made at some local object, and then any convenient line or lines would be followed, such as a creek or highway, around the lands intended to be enclosed, to the place of beginning. In 1785 Congress passed an act adopt-

ing what was called the 'rectangular system,' by which certain straight lines crossing at right angles were adopted called meridians and base lines, as a base for all land surveys. The nearest base line to Montgomery County was some thirty-six miles south of the south line of the county, and the nearest meridian line was the east line of Audubon Township. The small- est division of the government survey was the township. Smaller divisions were made either by the state government, or by local surveyors. Hence surveyors knew that all surveys in this county had to be west of the third P. M. and north of the base line referred to above.

"So far as the records, that I have, show, Thomas Gray was the first official surveyor that the county ever had, though there were earlier surveys. We find that David Killpatrick did some surveying as early as 1824; and that John McPhail did surveying in 1825 and 1827; and that David B. Jackson did surveying in 1831 and Beniah Robinson in 1835, but I have no knowledge that they were county officers. Thomas A. Gray began his official surveying on January 4, 1836, and continued for at least four years, till September 30, 1840, and probably con- tinuing in office till 1849. In 1850 we find that James M. Starr did some surveying, but I have no record of his election to the position at that time. Andrew Morton Brailey did some survey- ing in an early day, and laid out the old town of Audubon in 1834. A Mr. Galloway also did some surveying and, among other work, laid out the town of Van Burensburg in 1837, the postoffice being named Hurricane, though the old Odd Fellow's Lodge at that place was named in his honor, Galloway Lodge. Van Burensburg was later increased by the additions of Roberts and Short, the surveying being made by Thomas A. Gray. Early in 1836, David B. Jackson was employed by Francis Black of Chicago, to survey and plat the town of Leesburg, afterwards called Zanesville. He laid off the town into 192 lots, and later Mr. Gray made a re-survey for Mr. Brua, the latter survey being made May 2, 1836. John P. Bayless of Litchfield also did con- siderable surveying in an early day. There may have been others, but so far as I recall they were never elected to the official position of county surveyor. James R. Welch was elected surveyor in 1853, and served two years, which then was the legal length of the term. He was succeeded by James M. Starr in 1855, who served two years, and gave way to Mr. Duncan C. McIver in 1857,

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

who served the county two years. Following McIver was Adam H. Bell, who filled the office for two years only, though for many years he did a vast amount of surveying in the county. James M. Starr was again elected as the suc- cessor of Mr. Bell, in 1861 and dying in 1862, John D. Williamson was elected to fill out his unexpired term. D. D. Swaney was elected to the office in 1863 and served the two year terni. He was succeeded by George W. Paisley in 1865, who filled the office for two years, and Josiah Whitten, in 1867, was prevailed on to run for the office, though he was not a qualified surveyor. But it was understood that Col. Thomas Monroe would act as his deputy, which he did, and at the end of the term, in 1869, Mr. Monroe ran for the office and was elected, though before the end of the term he left the county and John Keith filled out the term, Alfred E. Gaylord being his deputy.

"In 1871, D. M. Starr was elected for the term of four years, the law having been changed to a four year term. He was followed by Edmund Fish in 1875, who was again re-elected in 1879, serving eight years in all. After Mr. Fish's second term expired, Mr. D. M. Starr was elected as his successor. This was in 1883 and he has been re-elected every four years since that time to the present."

COUNTY CORONERS.

The first coroner, who served from 1821 to 1824, was Jarvis Forehand; from 1826 to 1830, James Isaac, is mentioned as coroner in the records; from 1830 to 1832, Levi D. Boone served ; George White being coroner from 1832 to 1834. From 1834 to 1864, we cannot get the list of those who filled the office. We give the names and dates of the period of office of coro- ners from 1864 forward, each term being for four years. 1864-1866, Joseph O. Burnett ; six years ; 1870, Joseph Fellers, four years; 1874, William H. Cook, four years; 1878, Sharp Field, four years ; 1882, James T. Bryant, four years; 1884- 1888, W. F. Hicks, eight years; 1892, Martin L. Moyer, four years; 1896, Henry G. Gray, four years; 1900-1908-1912, W. A. Gray, twelve years ; 1904, Otto Hauser, four years ; 1912-1916, W. A. Gray, four years ; 1916, Charles L. Norvell.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS.

A position of importance in the county, and one created by appointment by the governor, is

that of public administrator, the object of which is to look after estates of those who may die in our midst, and have no relatives to attend to their business. We find that Charles W. Springer, was appointed to that position in 1881, by Gov. John M. Hamilton; that Amos Sawyer, was appointed by Governor Yates during his ad- ministration, and that J. M. Baker, filled the position under Governor Deneen. Upon change of the administration on the incoming of Gover- nor Dunne, M. J. McMurray, who now fills the position, was appointed.

STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.

Montgomery County has been honored by hav- ing a citizen of Hillsboro on the State Board of Equalization, since 1908, in the person of the Hon. A. W. Crawford, who was elected from the Twenty-first district. Mr. Crawford at pres- ent is chairman of the Committee on Equaliza- tion of Lands, and is also a member of the com- mittee on the Equalization of Railroads. In 1914 Mr. Crawford received the nomination for clerk of the supreme court against a field of fifteen other candidates carrying ninety-six coun- ties. He failed of election, however, because of superior members against him.

AUXILIARY BOARD OF CHARITIES. .

We have under the state government a state board of charities. In this county there has been for many years what is known as an auxiliary board of visitors of the state board of charities. It is the province of this board to visit all the almshouses, hospitals, poorhouses, and other eleemosynary institutions in the county, and to make an annual report of their findings and activities to the state board once a year. For the past fifteen years E. C. Richards of Hillsboro has served on this board, as also did Mrs. Anna Linton Sawyer, of Hillsboro, till her death three years ago, when her daughter Katheryn Sawyer was appointed in her place. The medical member of the board for the last six years has been Dr. L. S. Brown of Hillsboro. These members are supposed to visit either singly or as a board each of the institutions named once a month, and to make in a body an official visit once a year and before rendering their report. From information we know that these members have exercised the functions of their office to the betterment of the county and the aid of the inmates of these institutions.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

OTHER POSITIONS OF HONOR.

From time to time prominent people are called by elections or appointment to fill positions of honor and usefulness, not enumerated in the above list of official positions. We give a few of those from this county. Hon. James M. Truitt,- of Hillsboro, was elected presidential elector in 187G, and again in 1888. Judge Jesse J. Phil- lips, of Hillsboro, was given a position on the Appellate bench in 1888, and in 1901. Judge Jesse J. Phillips was elected to the Supreme bench of the state in 1893, and again in 1897. A. T. Strange, of Hillsboro, was appointed by the governor for several terms as a representa- tive of the state, to the Farmer's National Con- gress, which convened in Macon, Ga., in 1902, Niagara Falls, N. Y., in 1903, Richmond, Va., in 1905, and Rock Island, Ill., in 1906. John F. Glenn, of Hillsboro, has been honored by the governor by appointment to the National Drain- age Convention for one or more terms. Dr. Francis Stringer served as chaplain of the House of Representatives during one ' term. Wm. A. Young, of Butler, represented this district on the Board of Agriculture for several years.

OLD RECORDS.

A survey of county records of old history in the county and circuit clerks' offices, shows a more or less complete, though rather unpre- sentable, list of record books which may be con- sulted by the seeker for old history, as follows : County commissioners record, marriage records, earmark records, county court records, index to county court records, drainage record, insanity record, naturalization record, judges docket, judgment docket, fee book, original land entry book, school district plat book, assessors books, collection books, railroad tax books, telegraph and telephone tax books, board of review com- plaint book, delinquent land taxes, tax judg- ment record, tax forfeiture record, tax judgment sale and redemption records, record of affidavits for tax deeds, record of marriages, record of marriage applications, record of births, record of deaths, record of physicians' certificates, estray record, military roll record, school com- missioners' reports, probate record, record of estate claims, pobate files, probate dockets, pro- bate judgment docket, probate fee book, probate fee claims, record of wills, administration bonds and letters, administrator's record, executors' bonds and letters, guardian bonds and letters,

miscellaneous bonds and letters, guardians and administrators sales, inventory of appraisement and sale record, estate inventory record, guar- dian inventory record, appraisement record, sale record, administrators' accounts, guardians' ledgers, report record guardians, administrator report record, guardian's report record, insolvent estate record, widows' relinquishment record, miscellaneous record, circuit court record, index to court record, circuit court files, judge's docket, clerk's docket, execution docket, indict- ment docket, indictment record, justice of peace transcripts record, entry book, deed books of records, mortgage records, release records, grantor-grantee index, mortgagor-mortgagee in- dex, abstract records, chattel mortgage records, surveyors' records, railroad record, records of levy sales, incorporation records, stallion rec- ords, miscellaneous records.

COUNTY VALUATIONS.

Below we are giving the grand summary of the assessed valuation of all taxable property in Montgomery County taken from the assessor's books for the year 1917. This is the one-third valuation and not the full valuation. The full valuation can be arrived at by multiplying the totals by three. This is what was in the county on April 1, 1917 :

15,190 Horses $ 354.501

26,221 Cattle 284,554

2,771 Mules 72,880

4,124 Sheep 7,247

21,322 Hogs 82,374

172 Steam Engines

23,406

15 Safes

1,607

82 Pool and Billiard Tables 1,107

5,796 Carriages and Wagons.

32,866

1,484 Automobiles 120,039

3,545 Watches and Clocks. 4,382

3,327 Sewing Machines

6,878

1,727 Pianos 46,150

350 Organs

1,234

2 Patent Rights

Steamboats

Merchandise 287,367

Manufactured Articles 21,078

Tools, Implements and Machinery. ..

39,849

Agricultural Implements 40,751

Gold and Silverware 726

Diamonds and Jewelry 2,478

Money in Banks 79,398

Credits of Banks 84.575

Moneys other than in banks

355,962

700

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Credits other than banks 401,073

Bonds and Stocks

57,375

Shares of Capital Stock (not banks) ..

1,730

Property of Companies 6,533

Property, Saloons and Eating Houses. 6,078

Household and Office Furniture.

113,891

Investments, etc.

28,392

Grain on hand

100,469

Bank Shares

76,380

Miscellaneous

16,962

Total personal property

2,751,393

444,554 acres of land

6,698,179

Improvements theron

739,935

Coal rights. 559,940

17,741 town lots

1,243,225

Improvements thereon

1,060,6S2

Railroad property 2,635,672

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 15

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 810

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810