USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 9
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The representation in the Twenty-seventh General Assembly-which convened January 4, 1871, and being the first under the Constitu- tion of 1870-consisted of fifty Senators and 177 Representatives, and the State was divided into twenty-five Senatorial and ninety-seven Representative Districts, St. Clair and Madi- son Counties constituting the Fifth Senatorial District, St. Clair the Sixteenth Representa- tive District. March 1, 1872, the State was di- vided into fifty-one Senatorial Districts, each district being entitled, then and ever since, to one Senator and three Representatives. St. Clair County was made the Forty-ninth Dis- trict. May 6, 1882, it was made the Forty- seventh District. · June 15, 1893, it again be- came the Forty-ninth District and has retained that designation to the present time.
State Senators representing St. Clair Coun- ty since the adoption of the Constitution of 1870, and not already mentioned: William H. Underwood, 1870-72; John Hinchcliffe, 1872- 74; Jefferson Rainey, 1874-78; John Thomas, 1878-82; Henry Seiter, 1882-90; Peter Seibert, 1890-94; James A. Willoughby, 1894-98; Henry C. Begole, 1898-1902; Robert S. Hamilton, 1902- 06 (re-elected for second term, 1906).
REPRESENTATIVES .- The following have been members of the House of Representatives:
1818-20-Risdon Moore, J. D. Thomas, John Messinger.
1820-22-Risdon Moore, Charles R. Matheny, David Blackwell.
1822-24-Risdon Moore, Jacob Ogle, Joseph Trotier.
1824-26-Risdon Moore, Abraham Eyman, Da- vid Blackwell.
1826-28-John Reynolds, David Blackwell.
1828-30-John Reynolds, William G. Brown. 1830-32-William G. Brown, Jacob Ogle.
1832-34-John Middlecoff, John Stuntz.
1834-36-John D. Hughes, William Moore.
1836-38- Joseph Green, John Stuntz, William Moore.
1838-40-John Thomas, William W. Roman, Vital Jarrot.
1840-42-Lyman Trumbull, Daniel Baldwin, Daniel T. Moore. 1842-44-Gustavus Koerner, Philip Penn, Amos Thompson.
1844-46-Amos Thompson, Samuel Anderson, J. L. D. Morrison.
1846-48-John Reynolds, William H. Under- wood, Samuel Stookey.
1848-50-Edward Abend, Simon Stookey (died; succeeded by S. B. Chandler).
1850-52-Harbert Patterson (resigned; suc- ceeded by Philip B. Fouke), William H. Sny- der.
1852-54-William H. Snyder, John Reynolds. 1854-56-Albert H. Trapp, William C. Kin- ney.
1856-58-Vital Jarrot, William W. Roman.
1858-60-John Scheel, Vital Jarrot.
1860-62-Vital Jarrot, Samuel Stookey.
1862-64-Joseph B. Underwood, John Thomas. 1864-66-Nathaniel Niles, John Thomas.
1866-68-Abraham B. Pope, Amos Thompson.
1868-70-James R. Miller, Alexander Ross.
1870-72-James R. Miller, Gustavus Koerner, John Hinchcliffe.
1872-74-Bernard Wick (resigned; succeeded by Spencer M. Kase), Luke H. Hite. John Thomas.
1874-76-William G. Kase, John Thomas, James Rankin.
1876-78-John W. Wells, Alonzo St. Clair Wilderman, James M. Whittaker.
1878-80-Thomas C. Jennings, Joseph Veile, Henry Seiter.
1880-82-Philip H. Postel, John N. Perrin, Joseph Veile.
1882-84-Louis C. Starkel, Michael A. Sulli- van, Joseph B. Messick.
1884-86-Joseph B. Messick, James M. Dill, Ferdinand Heim.
1886-88-Joseph B. Messick, George S. Bailey, Joseph Veile.
1888-90-Samuel C. Smiley, F. B. Phillips, William H. Bowler.
1890-92-Nicholas Boul, Daniel G. Ramsay, Louis Perrottet.
688
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
1892-94-William H. Snyder, Jr., Joseph E. territory which later became the State of Illi- Miller, Fred S. Weckler.
1894-96-Louis Perrottet, Michael Kelley, William H. Snyder.
1896-98-John E. Thomas, Louis Perrottet, Jule C. Jarvis.
1898-1900-William E. Trautmann, Herman R. Heimberger, John Green.
1900-02-George F. Wombacher, William E. Trautmann, John M. Chamberlain, Jr.
1902-04-William E. Trautmann, Martin Schnipper, James O. Miller.
1904-06-William E. Trautmann, Fred G. Keck, Charles Karch.
1906-08-Fred Keck, John L. Flannigan, George F. Smith.
SPEAKERS .- The following citizens of St. Clair County served as Speaker of the House of Representatives at different periods: John Messinger, 1818-20; David Blackwell, 1824-26; John Reynolds, 1852-54.
Benjamin Ogle served as Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate 1824-26; and Nathaniel Niles Clerk of the House 1848-50.
ELECTION, 1906 .- Unofficial returns of the election of November, 1906, show an average plurality, in St. Clair County, for the Repub- . lican candidates for State Treasurer and Super- intendent of Public Instruction of 3,000, and 4,319 plurality for Rodenberg (Rep.) for Con- gress, with total plurality in his District of 7,750. The approximate vote for leading can- didates for the Legislature was as follows: Senator-Hamilton (Rep.), 9,679; Hendricks (Dem.), 6,914. Representatives-Keck (Rep.), 13,730; Flannigan (Rep.), 13,833; Smith (Dem.), 10,268; Wright (Dem.), 9,913, the three first named being elected. The county officers elected were also Republican-for names, see list of present incumbents in next chapter under head of County and Probate Judges, County and Probate Clerks, Sheriff, County Treasurer and Superintendent Schools. Besides Republican and Democratic, the parties represented on the ticket were Pro- hibition, Socialist, Socialist-Labor, and Inde- pendent Republican.
GENERAL HISTORY .- In general there is little to be added to the political history of St. Clair County which is not a part of the history of the State, or already incorporated in detail in this and other chapters of this work. Be- ginning as the first county organized within the
nois, and covering a period of over one hundred years, its citizens have borne a prominent part in the political, official and military history of the State. This is evidenced by the promi- nence given in general State history to the names of Governor and United States Senator Ninian Edwards, Senator Jesse B. Thomas, Con- gressman Daniel P. Cook, Territorial and State Treasurer John Thomas, Gov. John Reynolds, Lieut .- Gov. William Kinney, the Whitesides, Ogles, Moores, Lemens and others of an early period; and, later, by the Snyders, Gustavus Koerner, Lyman Trumbull, William Henry Bis- sell, Jehu Baker, J. L. D. Morrison, the Un- derwoods, Nathaniel Niles, Cols. Frederick Hecker, Kueffner, Moore, Wangelin and many others on the civil and military records of the State. All these names will be found duly mentioned-many of them repeatedly-in con- nection with the various events in which they bore a conspicuous part in executive, legislative or military positions-some of them in these several relations-in the service of the State and the Nation, furnishing a record of which the citizens of St. Clair County of the present day have a right to be proud.
CHAPTER X.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
CIVIL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZED IN ST. CLAIR COUNTY -JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS- FIRST COUNTY COURT ORGANIZED IN 1813- COUNTY COMMISSIONERS-COUNTY JUDGES AND ASSOCIATES - CIRCUIT JUDGES, CLERKS AND PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS-SHERIFFS AND OTHER COUNTY OFFICERS-TOWN OFFICERS AND COUNTY SUBDIVISIONS-ADVANCE IN SALARIES OF COUNTY OFFICERS-COUNTY EXPENSES.
The civil government of St. Clair County was, upon its organization, April 14, 1790, en- trusted to Justices of the Court of Common Pleas. John du Moulin, James Piggott, Shad- rach Bond, Philip Engel, Jean Baptiste Saucier, George Atchison, Jean Baptiste Barbeau, James Lemen, William Biggs, Jean Francois Perry, Nicholas Jarrot, William
Whiteside, Ue Whiteside, David Badgeley, James Bankson,
689
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Samuel S. Kennedy, John Finley, Jacob A. Boyes, George Caldwell (or Cadwell), John G. Loften, William Scott, Enoch Moore and Wil- liam Gilham were all prominent in connection with it before 1813. September 28, 1795, Gov- ernor St. Clair appointed William St. Clair1 in place of Jean Baptiste Barbeau. St. Clair officiated also as Probate Judge. Du Moulin usually presided at the sittings of the Justices, especially in county matters, until about 1802, when his name ceases to appear on records. He died in 1805.
COUNTY COURTS .- In October, 1813, the first County Court was held. Its officers were: Judges, John Thomas, Jr., William Biggs, Cald- well Cairns; Sheriff, John Hays; Clerk, John Hay. This court continued its offices from time to time until the second Monday in February, 1816, when a new County Court was organized, with William Biggs, Benjamin Watts and Ris- don Moore as Judges, and Messrs. Hays and Hay as Sheriff and Clerk, respectively.
By an act of the Territorial Legislature, January 12, 1818, this court was superseded by a Court of Justices, which was in power until the State was organized. The officers of this court were John Hay, Peter Mitchell, Henry Walker, Joseph Ogle, Jr., Thomas Co- hen, Abel Fike and Thomas Gillham.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS .- June 17, 1819, under State legislation, a Board of Commissioners was invested with administrative authority in county affairs. The first Board appointed by the Governor consisted of Cornelius Gooding, E. P. Wilkinson and Clayton Tippon. Succeed- ing boards were constituted as follows: In 1820-Jacob Ogle, Jr., E. P .. Wilkinson,“ Joseph Trotier; 1822- William Rutherford, James Tannehill, Abel Fike; 1824-William Ruther- ford, Abel Fike and John Stuntz; 1826-John Middlecoff, John Stuntz, Peter Mitchell; 1828- Peter Mitchell, John Middlecoff, John Stuntz; 1830-William Moore, Abel Fike and Abraham Badgley; 1832-James Anderson, John Murray and Abraham Badgley; 1834-James Anderson Benjamin F. Smith and John Murray; 1836- Dr. William G. Goforth, George Temple and Benjamin F. Smith.
From 1838 to 1848, three Commissioners
were elected each year, to serve one, two and three years respectively. In 1838 the board consisted of E. G. Porter, Samuel Ogle and Jacob Eyman; 1839-E. G. Porter, Samuel Ogle and Jacob Eyman; 1840-G. S. Porter, James Glass and Jacob Eyman; 1841-Richard Brads- by, J. T. Darrell and Jacob Eyman; 1842-Rich- ard Bradsby, J. T. Darrell and D. T. Moore; 1843-Richard Bradsby, Simon Stookey and D. T. Moore; 1844-Richard Bradsby, Simon Stookey and D. T. Moore; 1845-Richard Brads- by, Simon Stookey and Ansby Fike; 1846- Richard Bradsby, John Irwin and Ansby Fike; 1847-Abraham Badgley, John Irwin and Ansby Fike; 1848-John Irwin, Abraham Badgley aud Ansby Fike.
CHANGES IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT .- The Con- stitution of 1848 abolished the Board of Coun- ty Commissioners and placed the governing power of the county in the hands of a County Court, composed of a County Judge and two Associate Judges. The names of these are given under the heading, "Probate Judges." That court conducted county affairs until Jan- uary 24, 1874, when the County Commissioner system was re-established under the Constitu- tion of 1870. Commissioners were elected in November, 1873, but, because of some error or defect in the law, they could not immedi- ately take county affairs in hand. The ob- stacle was removed and boards of commis- sioners were elected under this law.
There are now about forty Supervisors, rep- resenting the several townships in the county legislative department, wlio are elected for two years, one-half of them each year.
PROBATE JUDGES .- May 7, 1821, Judges of Pro- bate took charge of the legal branch of the pub- lic business. Until 1823, Edmund P. Wilkinson served in that office; John Hay served from 1823 to 1842, when he died; John D. Hughes served from December, 1842, to 1849.
In 1848 a new constitution created a County Court, with one Judge having probate jurisdic- tion, and two associates, each to hold office four years. In this capacity the following named persons served, the first mentioned after any date being the Judges, and the two others Associate Judges: From 1849 to 1853-Nathan- iel Niles, Abraliam Badgley, S. M. Thrift; 1853 -Nathaniel Niles, C. W. Schoeck, Ansby Fike; 1857-Nathaniel Niles, James Whittaker, John Thomas; 1861-John D. Hughes, William F.
(1) "Younger son of Captain James St. Clair, of Glaria, in the shire of Teudal, in the Kingdom of North Briton"-so-called in his will, in 1799.
(2) In 1821 Wilkinson resigned and James Mitch- ell was appointed to fill the vacancy.
690
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Krafft, C. L. Emmerich; 1869-F. H. Pieper, C. M. Emmerich, Joseph Viele. Mr. Hughes died in office in 1868 and Mr. Pieper filled the va- cancy on the Board thus occasioned.
The Constitution of 1870 created a County Board of three members, to be elected for three years, leaving the probate business in the hands of the County Judge. F. H. Pieper became County Judge in 1873, William H. Un- derwood in 1881, John B. Hay in 1885, Benja- min J. Boneau in 1889, Edward C. Rhodes in 1894, Frank Perrin in 1897, John B. Hay in 1902. In the latter year (1902) a separate Probate Court was created, with Frank Per- rin as Judge. Mr. Hay was elected County Judge, and Mr. Perrin Probate Judge in 1906.
RECORDERS .- Until 1880, the Clerk of the Cir- cuit Court was ex-officio County Recorder. In that year the population of St. Clair County having then increased to more than sixty thousand souls, the office of Re- corder was separated from the office of Cir- cuit Clerk. The first Recorder elected was James A. Willoughby. Dennis Canty became Recorder in 1884, Peter Lill in 1888, Charles Becker in 1892, George O. Stuntz in 1896, Charles Hoefle in 1900, Herman Roewe in 1904.
COUNTY CLERK .- John Hay became County Clerk in 1809 and resigned the office in 1836. His successors have been Richard Randle, 1836; James Charles, 1837 (resigned) ; J. M. Rey- nolds, 1838; W. McClintock, 1843; John Scheel, 1849; W. W. Roman, 1857 (died in office in 1861); Bernhard Wick, 1861; Sebastian Fiet- sam, 1869; L. C. Starkel, 1873; Philip Rhein, 1882; George K. Thomas, 1894; Alonzo A. Mil- ler, 1906. Adolph Andel, late Probate Clerk, has been succeeded (1906) by Logan P. Mellon.
COUNTY TREASURERS .- The following named persons have filled the office of County Treas- urer, from date to date, in the order in which they are here mentioned: John. Johnston, 1819; William A. Beaird, 1825; Sylvester Mer- rill, 1827; John Winstanley, 1829; Thornton Peeples, 1831; Sylvester Merrill, 1833; Thomas Hinckley, 1835; W. B. Davis, 1837 (by tempo- rary appointment) ; Abraham Badgley, 1837; John Ward, 1839; Solomon Miller, 1843; Wil- liam Moore, 1845; John Scheel, 1847; Jacob Eyman, 1849; J. W. Pulliam, 1853; Charles W. Schoeck, 1855; Charles Seitz, 1857; John Rit- tenhouse, 1859; Herman G. Weber, 1863; Ed- ward Rutz, 1867; F. Ropiequet, 1873; G. W. Sie- ber, 1875, to March, 1878, when he was found
to be a defaulter and fled; M. T. Stookey, 1879; James Baker, 1886; Arthur Herr, 1890; Henry Begole, 1894; Adolph Andel, 1898; Philip Wolf, 1902; John J. Wies, 1906.
JUDGES OF CIRCUIT COURT .- The following named Judges have sat in the St. Clair County Circuit Court:1 Jesse B. Thomas, Daniel Pope Cook, John Warnock, John Reynolds, Samuel McRoberts, Joseph Phillips, Richard M. Young, Theophilus W. Smith, Thomas C. Brown, Thom- as Ford, Sidney Breese, Walter B. Seates, James Semple, James Shields, Gustavus Koer- ner, William H. Underwood, William H. Sny- der, Joseph Gillespie, Alonzo St. Clair Wilder- man, M. W. Schaeffer, R. D. W. Holder.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS1 .- William Mears, Charles R. Matheny, Nicholas Hansen, W. H. Brown, Samuel D. Lockwood, Adam W. Sny- der, James Turney, Alfred Cowles, James Sem- ple, Ninian W. Edwards, Jesse B. Thomas, Ush- er F. Linder, Josiah Fisk, G. W. Olney, Joseph Gillespie, Wickliff Kitchell, William C. Kinney, William H. Underwood, William H. Bissell, Philip B. Fouke, William H. Snyder, A. W. Metcalf, John B. Hay, Robert A. Halbert, Charles P. Knispel, George W. Brockhaus, R. D. W. Holder, W. M. Schaeffer, Martin W. Ba- ker, James A. Farmer, F. J. Tecklenburg.
MASTERS IN CHANCERY .- These have filled the office of Master in Chancery: William C. Kin- ney, Philip B. Fouke, W. W. Roman, G. W. Brackett, Nathaniel Niles, Charles W. Thomas, Gustavus A. Koerner, Charles P. Knispel, Fred Scheel; Alonzo S. Wilderman, 1885; William H. Underwood, 1887; Lucius Don Turner, 1891; William H. Snyder, Jr., 1895; Robert D. W. Holder, 1897; Frank B. Bowman, 1898; M. W. Borders, 1902; Fred B. Merrils, 1903; Frank C. Smith, 1904.
CIRCUIT CLERKS .- John Hay was Circuit Clerk from July, 1815, to April, 1841; William C. Kinney, from 1841 to 1845; Theodore Engel- man, from 1845 to 1852; W. S. Thomas, from 1852 to 1864; Henry A. Kircher, from 1864 to 1868; G. M. Roeder, from 1868 to 1872; Charles Becker, from 1872 to 1880; G. H. Stolberg, from 1880 to 1884; Fred E. Scheel, from 1884 to 1888; Thomas May, from 1888 to 1904; C. E. Chamberlain, from 1904 to date.
SHERIFFS .- The following named citizens have been Sheriffs of St. Clair County, from date to date in the order in which they are named: William Biggs, 1795; George Blair,.
(1) For dates and further information see chap- ter entitled "Courts."
691
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
1799; John Hays, 1802; William A. Beaird, 1819; John D. Hughes, 1830; John Claypole, 1834; Charles Sargent, 1836; Samuel B. Chand- ler, 1838; David W. Hopkins, 1846; John Irwin, 1850; Thomas Challenor, 1852; John Galbraith, 1854; George C. Hart, 1856; F. Mayer, 1858; Edward H. Fleming, 1860; John Galbraith, 1862; Frederick Ropiequet, 1864; Charles Becker, 1866; James Stookey, 1868; James W. Hughes, 1870; Herman G. Weber, 1874; Freder- ick Ropiequet, 1880; John Ragland, 1886; Jef- ferson Langley, 1888; Alfred Dawson, 1890; Fred Weckler, 1894; Philip Rhein, 1895; Her- man Barnickol, 1898; George W. Thompson, 1902; Charles Cashel, 1906.
CORONERS .- Before the organization of the State government, the duties of Coroner in St. Clair County were performed by Justices. The following named citizens have held the office of Coroner from date to date in the order named: Job Badgley, 1818; Samuel Redman, 1820; John Pulliam, 1824; Jacob Eyman, 1828; Samuel Phillips, 1834; Moses Stookey, 1838; Alexander Rainey, 1840; M. J. Gannon, 1844; James Scott, 1848; William Kelley, 1856; Theodore Joerg, 1862; David Miley, 1864; Gustav Wetzlau (later resigned), and Thomas Scott, 1866; Theodore Joerg, 1868; William Kelley, 1870; John N. Ryan, 1872; Philip Schildknecht, 1874; Timo- thy Canty, 1876; John Bader, 1878; Alexander Woods, 1886; James Campbell, 1888; Alexander Woods, 1896; R. H. McCracken, 1900; Edward Irwin, 1904.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS .- Wil- liam Moore, 1832 to following date; Sylvester Merrill, 1833; Smyth Moore, 1843; George C. Hart, 1847; David McFarland, 1849; Joseph Hypes, 1853; George Bunsen, 1855; John H. Dennis, 1861; E. H. Palmer, 1863; August Whit- ing, 1865; James P. Slade, 1867; John P. Gwil- lim, 1873 (died in office); James Slade, 1875 (appointed to succeed Mr. Gwillim); James McQuilkin, 1879; Emil Dapperich, 1882; Charles A. Cannady, 1886; Charles Hertel, 1894; re- elected in 1906.
COUNTY SURVEYORS .- John M. Messinger, 1835, died in office 1838; C. M. Messinger, 1839; William Moore, 1847; W. L. Deneen, 1849; Fred Graner, 1855; Sharon Tyndale, 1857; Gustavus Hilgard, 1861; Henry Holbrook, 1863; Edward Rutz, 1865; Gustavus Hilgard, 1867; Louis Graner, 1879; G. F. Hilgard, 1888; Charles L. Weber, 1896; William Crocken, 1900; Lee L. Harper, 1904.
TOWN OFFICERS .- The town officers are: (1) Legislative .- Supervisors, two or more to each township, according to population. (2) Exec- utive .- Clerk, Assessor, Collector and three Highway Commissioners to each township. (3) Judicial .- Justices of the Peace and Constables.
SUBDIVISIONS .- The early county subdivisions were not recorded. In 1796 we find six town- ships mentioned: Cahokia, Turkey Hill, Clin- ton Hill, L'Aigle, Fountain and Goshen.
May 16, 1816, by order of the County Court the following nine civil divisions were estab- lished : Cahokia, Ogle Township, Turkey Hill Township, Clinton Hill Township, Spring Township, Scott Township, Chamber Town- ship, Silver Creek Township, and Sugar Creek Township.
In and before 1880 the following precincts were included in St. Clair County : Lebanon, Summerfield, Mascoutah, St. Clair, Shiloh, O'Fallon, Fayetteville, Athens, Belleville, Rich- land, Caseyville, French Village, Centerville, East St. Louis, Cahokia, Prairie du Pont.
According to the division made in 1884, and now in force, there are the following town- ships: Lebanon, Mascoutah, Engelmann, Fay- etteville, Marissa, O'Fallon, Shiloh Valley, St. Clair, Freeburg, New Athens, Lenzburg, Casey, ville, Belleville, Smithton, Prairie du Long, Stites, East St. Louis, Centerville Station, Su- gar Loaf, Millstadt and Stookey.
ADVANCE IN SALARIES OF COUNTY OFFICIALS .- The St. Clair County Board of Supervisors, at their meeting on September 11, 1906, adopted a resolution providing for an increase in the salaries of the following named county officials: County Judge, from $1,500 to $2,000 a year; Probate Judge, from $2,000 to $2,250; Probate Clerk, from $1,800 to $2,000; Treasurer, from $2,000 to $2,500; Superintendent of Schools, from $1,650 to $2,000; Sheriff, from $2,500 to $3,500. Under the resolution, the next Sheriff must feed the prisoners at the county jail at the actual cost of the food. Heretofore the Sheriff has been allowed thirty cents a day for each prisoner; but with this plan done away with, his salary is the highest in the county. Al- lowances for Clerk hire, in addition to salaries of chief officers, were made as follows: To County Clerk, $4,000 a year; Probate Clerk, $1,800; Treasurer, $1,500; Superintendent of Schools, $1,200; Sheriff, $5,600.
The court-house was decorated for this ses- sion by Superintendent Hill of the county farm
692
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
with corn, grasses, fruits and vegetables grown upon the farm.
The annual tax-levy, at this session of the Board, was fixed at $185,000-an increase of $25,000 over that of 1905. A detailed state- ment of the expenses of the various county of- ficers for the years 1905 and 1906, respectively, furnished by the Auditor, was as follows:
1905.
1906.
County Hospital and Almshouse.$19,530.86
$15,212.32
County Jail.
24,854.28
18,439.94
Work House.
$49.48
1,184.35
Court House.
2,915.15
2,524.92
Paupers
10,448.86
7,929.48
Criminal fees ..
2,576.90
1,931.22
Supervisors' salaries
2,699.40
3,266.70
Appointees' salaries.
9,352.53
10,105.55
Other salaries ...
4,100.00
3,500.00
Charitable Institutions
1,408.65
1,843.83
Bailiff hire ...
3,876.97
2,052.50
Treasurer's office ..
1,408.56
686.10
Recorder's office.
1,610.12
1,735.19
Circuit Clerk's office.
598.30
615.91
County Clerk's office.
1,723.65
1,401.10
Sheriff's office ..
867.37
164.10
Superintendent of Schools
622.41
432.99
Probate Clerk
359.46
274.30
Inquests
1,435.80
2,666.70
Elections
5,518.44
2,132.39
Contagious diseases.
1,281.68
Assessment
1,011.83
1,533.07
County officers' fees
12,163.32
11,747.20
General expenses ..
S,563.71
10,042.73
State's Attorney's office.
280.14
Totals
$119,317.73
$101,702.53
Total reduction in favor of 1906.
$17,615.20
CHAPTER XI.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
FIRST ST. CLAIR COUNTY COURT HOUSE AT CAHO- KIA-FIRST COURT OF COMMON PLEAS-TERRI- TORIAL LAW RELATING TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS- COUNTY-SEAT LOCATED AT BELLEVILLE IN 1814- FIRST COURT HOUSE BUILDING THERE-ENLARGE- MENT IN 1831 -HON. CHARLES P. JOHNSON'S DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING - NOTED MEN WHO HAVE SPOKEN THERE - PRESENT COURT HOUSE ERECTED IN 1861 - ADDITION BUILT IN 1893- OTHER COUNTY BUILDINGS-BELLEVILLE AND EAST ST. LOUIS CITY HALLS-PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
The first St. Clair County Court was held in a private dwelling house at Cahokia, bought of Francois Saucier, October 8, 1793, by An- toine Girardin, John du Moulin and Philip En- gel, Judges of the Common Pleas Court. The purchase price was $1,000. December 12, 1794,
these Judges published a declaration that their names were made use of in the transaction, "in trust only" for the public benefit of the County of St. Clair, "in pursuance of, and ac- cording to, the true intent and meaning of a Territorial law, made and passed at Cincin- nati, in the County of Hamilton, on the first day of August, in the year 1792, entitled 'An Act, directing the building and establishing of a court house, county jail, pillory, whipping post and stocks in every county.'"
The property in question is thus described in the deed of conveyance: "All that certain menuage or dwelling house (now converted into a prison and court house) and lot of land thereto belonging, situate in the village of Ca- hokia, bounded in front by the street next to the river, on the east by a vacant lot commonly known by the name of 'the parade,' on the south by a lot now belonging to John du Moul- in, Esq., and on the west by a street running between the said lot and the lot of the widow Boilieu."
Cahokia remained the capital of St. Clair County for twenty-four years. In 1813 a desire was growing to move the seat of justice to a more central point. At the December term of court, in 1813, the Court of Common Pleas, composed of John Thomas, Jr., William Biggs and Caldwell Cairns, ordered the Clerk to notify John Hay, James Lemen, Isaac Enochs, William Scott, Jr., Nathan Chambers, Jacob Short and Caldwell Cairns, Commissioners appointed by the Legislature, to agree upon a place for the seat of justice of the county, to meet at the house of Colonel Whiteside, January 25, 1814, and make return at the next February term, under their hands and seals. Their report was as follows:
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