USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II > Part 20
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Hon. William Brown was the first citizen of Rockford to be elected to the Circuit bench. He was chosen in 1870 to fill the vacancy occasioned by the promotion of Judge Sheldon to the Su- preme bench. Under the judicial apportion- ment of March 28, 1873, Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago counties formed the First cir- cuit. In the following June, Judge Brown was elected for the full term of six years. He was subsequently elected for two full terms, making a total period of over twenty years on the bench.
By the apportionment of 1873, the legislature divided the state, exclusive of Cook County, into twenty-six judicial circuits. In 1877 the legislature, in order to increase the number of circuit judges, and to provide for the organiza- tion of appellate courts, divided the state, out- side of Cook County, into thirteen districts, and provided for the election of one additional judge in each district. In August, 1877, one additional judge for each circuit was elected for two years, making three judges in each district. Under
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
this act, in force July 1, 1877, the First judicial circuit, of which Winnebago County formed a part, was consolidated with the Third circuit, and made the Thirteenth. By this apportion- ment, Judge Heaton, formerly of the Third cir- cuit, and Judge Bailey became judges of the Circuit court of Winnebago County, in addition to Judge Brown.
Hon. William W. Heaton was elected judge of the Twenty-second circuit in 1861, and occu- pied a seat upon the bench, through repeated re-elections, until his death, December 26, 1877, while serving as a member of the Appellate court for the First district.
Judge Joseph M. Bailey settled in Freeport, Ill., in 1856, and began the practice of law. His first election to the bench in 1877 was for two years, and he was re-elected in 1879 and 1885. He was several times assigned to duty on the Appellate bench, and in 1SSS he was elected to the bench of the Supreme court. Judge Bailey died in office October 16, 1895.
Hon. John V. Eustace settled in Dixon in 1842, where he resided until his death. He was first elected circuit judge in 1857, and served one term. In March, 1878, he was again ele- vated to the bench, to succeed Judge Heaton. lIe was re-elected in 1879 and again in 1SS5. Judge Eustace died at Dixon in 1SSS.
Judge John D. Crabtree was a native of Eng- land, and emigrated to America in the early '40s. He went from Chicago to Pecatonica, in Winnebago County, where he worked on a farm for the late Ephraim Sumner. He then made liis home in Lee County, where his entire sub- sequent life was spent. June 4, 1SSS, he was elected judge of the Thirteenth circuit, to suc- ceed Judge Bailey. June 1, 1891, he was re- elected for the full term. Judge Crabtree died suddenly at Ottawa, May 22, 1902, while attend- ing a session of the Appellate court.
Judge James H. Cartwright is a son of Rev. Barton H. Cartwright, a pioneer Methodist min- ister, and a kinsman of the famous Peter Cart- wright. In 1SSS he was elected circuit judge to succeed Judge Eustace, and in 1891 he was assigned to appellate duty. In 1895 lie was elected justice of the Supreme court to succeed Judge Bailey, and re-elected in 1897, 1906 and 1915.
Hon. James Shaw was a native of Ireland. He served eight years in the Illinois house of rep- resentatives, and was speaker of that body in
1877. In 1891 he was elected judge for the Thirteenth circuit, and in 1897 he was re-elected for the Fifteenth circuit, under the apportion- ment of that year.
Hon. John C. Garver was a native of Winne- bago County, and was born on a farm near Pecatonica, took a full collegiate course at Wit- tenburg College, Springfield, O., and studied law under the tutorship of Gen. Keifer, at one time speaker of the lower house of Congress. In 1871 Mr. Garver was admitted to the bar, and . began the practice of his profession in Rockford. In 1872 he was elected state's attorney of Win- nebago County, and re-elected in 1876. In 1896 Mr. Garver was elected to the Circuit bench, to succeed Judge James Cartwright, upon the ele- vation of the latter to the Supreme bench. Judge Garver was elected judge of the Seven- teenth circuit, under the apportionment of 1897. He died November 27, 1901.
Under the apportionment of 1897, McHenry, Boone, Lake and Winnebago counties consti- tuted the Seventeenth circuit. In June of that year Hon. Charles H. Donnelly of Waukegan and Hon. Charles E. Fuller were elected with Judge Garver, already noted.
Hon. Charles E. Fuller is a native of Boone County, where his entire life has been . spent. He was born in Flora Township in 1849. After his admission to the bar in 1870 his rise to political prominence was rapid. In 1878 he was elected state senator after a bitter contest that has become historic. Judge Fuller's legislative experience covers eight years in the state sen- ate, and six in the house. Judge Fuller retired from the bench in 1903 to take his seat in Con- gress.
Upon the death of Judge Garver, Hon. A. H. Frost was elected in 1902 to fill the unexpired term. Judge Frost was born in Vermont. May 12, 1856. In 1861 he came to Rockford, where he has since resided. Judge Frost read law in the office of the late Major N. C. Warner, and was admitted to the bar January 19, 1879. For some years thereafter he served Rockford as police magistrate. He was elected state's attor- ney of Winnebago County in 1892, and re-elected in 1896 and 1900. This office he resigned Feb- ruary 24, 1902.
Judge Charles H. Donnelly is a native of Woodstock, Ill., where he was born August 22, 1855. In 1890 he was elected county judge, and served until June, 1897, when he resigned.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
Hon. R. W. Wright, of Belvidere, was a can- didate to succeed Judge Fuller at the election in 1903. A spirited contest was made by Charles H. Whitney, of Waukegan. The primaries in Winnebago County were held February 12, and resulted in the nomination of Mr. Wright, and he was elected. Judges Frost and Donnelly were re-elected. Judge Wright was the young- est judge who ever sat upon the Circuit bench in Rockford. He was the elder son of the late Hon. O. H. Wright of Belvidere, who once repre- sented the Rockford district in the legislature. Judge Wright was born July 1, 1862. He read law in his father's office and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one. In 1884 he was elected state's attorney of Boone County, and was re-elected in 1888, 1892 and 1896, serving sixteen years.
At the election in 1909 the three judges were re-elected. Judge Wright died November 29, 1910. Mr. Whitney again aspired to the honor and was chosen without opposition at a special election. He was commissioned April 11, 1911. Judge Whitney dropped dead while conversing with a client in the courthouse chambers at Waukegan, July 18, 1914. Governor Dunne ap- pointed Claire C. Edwards, of Waukegan, to complete the term; and in June, 1915, he was elected for a full term. Judges Frost and Dou- nelly were re-elected.
DISTRICT AND STATE'S ATTORNEYS.
Previous to 1870 a prosecuting attorney was chosen for each Circuit court district in the state. There is a break of six years in the early record. Shelton L. Hall was the first attorney, and served from 1836 to 1842. His successors under the district system were: James L. Loop, 1843 to 1845; Orrin Miller, Jr., 1851-1852; Wil- liam Brown, 1852 to 1856; U. D. Meacham, 1856 to 1860; Smith D. Atkins, 1860 to 1864; F. C. Ingalls, 1868 to 1872, Mr. Atkins resigned soon after his election to enlist for service in the Civil war. The constitution of 1870 provided for the election of a state's attorney in each county. John C. Garver served from 1872 to 1880. He was succeeded by Charles A. Works, who held the office twelve years. Arthur H. Frost was elected in 1892, and re-elected in 1896 and 1900. He resigned iu 1902, preceding his election to the circuit bench. Harry B. North was chosen to complete the term, and was re-
elected in 1904 and 1908. Gust E. Johnson, the present incumbent, was elected in 1912.
CIRCUIT CLERKS AND RECORDERS.
The clerks of the Circuit court have been : James Mitchell, 1836 to 1846; Jason Marsh, 1846 to 1847; Charles H. Spafford, 1847 to 1856; Morris B. Derrick, 1856 to 1860; O. A. Pennoyer, 1860 to 1864; William N. Capwell, 1864 to 1868 ; Evans Blake, 1868 to 1876; T. M. Butler, 1876 to 1888; Lewis F. Lake, 1888 to 1915, a period of 27 years. From 1836 to 1849 the of- fices of circuit clerk and recorder were separate. Daniel H. Whitney served 1836-1837; Harvey W. Bundy, 1837 to 1839; William E. Duubar, 1839 to 1843; William Hulin, 1843 to 1849. In 1849 the recorder's office ceased as a separate department, and was united with that of the circuit clerk. In 1912 the offices were again separated, and John A. Bowman was elected recorder.
PROBATE AND COUNTY JUDGES.
Previous to 1837 a judge of probate was ap- pointed for each county by the legislature. In 1837 the office was made elective, with the title of probate justice of the peace, to be filled by a vote of the people. The constitution of 1848 brought this court to an end, and transferred its powers to the judge of the County court.
Milton Kilburn was the first judge of probate, and served 1836-1837. He was succeeded by Charles I. Horsman, who held the office 1837- 1838. Anson Barnum was the third judge of probate, and his term was from 1838 to 1841. John W. Taylor held the office from 1841 to 1843. Bela Shaw was probate justice of the peace from 1843 to 1849. Selden M. Church was the first county judge under the constitu- tion, and served from 1849 to 1857. Anson S. Miller succeeded Judge Church, and retained the office until 1865. Abram S. Van Dyke, of Peca- tonica, was elected in 1865, and served until 1873, when he resigned just before the expira- tion of his term.
Judge R. C. Bailey was first chosen in 1873 to fill the unexpired term of Judge Van Dyke. At the county election in that year he was elected, and held the office 33 years. This long service on the bench is without parallel in the history of Winnebago County, and, so far as known to
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
the writer, is without precedent in Illinois. Judge Bailey was born in Auburn, Me., July 28, 1833, and was graduated from the scientific de- partment of Amherst College, Mass., in 1855. He came to Rockford and entered the profession of civil engineer which he followed until 1858, when he took up the study of law, and was ad- mitted to the bar August 18, 1860. He practiced in this city until he was elected to the probate bench. His pleasant bearing and judicial fair- ness made him an ideal official, He died October 27, 1910. Judge Bailey retired from office in 1906, and was succeeded by Lewis M. Reckhow, who was re-elected in 1910 and 1914.
CLERKS OF THE COUNTY COURT.
Under the first constitution this officer was clerk of the county commissioners' court. From 1849 to 1855 he was clerk of the County court and of the board of supervisors. In the latter year a separate clerk was appointed by the board, under a special act of the legislature. These offices were subsequently united. The following named citizens have served as county clerk : Don Alonzo Spaulding, 1836 to 1837; Nathaniel Loomis, 1837-1838; Anson Barnum, 1838 to 1840; Selden M. Church, 1840 to 1847; Benjamin A. Rose, 1847 to 1849; William Hulin, 1849 to April 2, 1855; Duncan Ferguson, 1855- 1856; E. S. Gaylord, 1856 to 1867; I. S. Hyatt, 1867 to 1869; T. J. Lamont, 1869 to 1873; B. F. Lee, 1873 to 1877; Thomas Bell, 1877 to 1886; Marcus A. Norton, 1886 to 1915, a period of twenty-nine years. He has three years to serve.
BAR OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
Brief biographical sketches of a score of early day members of the Rockford bar have already been given in preceding chapters. They were representative citizens as were many others in a long and honorable list.
John C. Kemble, as previously stated, was the first lawyer who practiced in Winnebago County. Another early lawyer was Grant B. Udell.
James G. Manlove began the practice of law in Rockford in 1851. He held the office of police magistrate, justice of the peace, town clerk and alderman. Mr. Manlove was first clected town clerk in 1864, and served two years. In 1867 he was again elected and served until 1890, a
total period of twenty-five years. Mr. Manlove died in November, 1890.
Elijah W. Blaisdell began his residence in Rockford in 1853, and in January following pur- chased the Rockford Forum and changed the name to the Republican. Mr. Blaisdell attended the meeting at Bloomington in 1856, which re- sulted in the organization of the Republican party in Illinois. He was elected member of the legislature in 1858, and voted for Abraham Lin- coln for United States senator, against Stephen A. Douglas. Atter his term had expired he was admitted to the bar and practiced for many years. Mr. Blaisdell died Jan. 14, 1901.
Christopher M. Brazee was one of the most aggressive advocates who ever practiced at the bar of Winnebago County. He first came to Rockford in 1855 from New York, his native state. He read law in the office of Cyrus F. Mil- ler and H. W. Taylor, and was admitted to the bar about 1859. In 1862 he enlisted as first lieutenant in the Seventy-fourth regiment. In 1877 Mr. Brazee was elected colonel of the Third l'egiment Illinois National Guard, and served until his death. He led seventy-seven men of the Rifles to Braidwood to quell the riots at the mines. In 1880 Mr. Brazee was presidential elector, and cast his vote for Garfield and Arthur. Mr. Brazee died Sept. 6, 1886. His only civil office was that of city attorney, which he held from 1860 to 1872, with the exception of '63, and again in 1874.
H. D. Adams was city attorney in 1858, during the administration of Mayor Seely Perry.
Hosmer P. Holland came to Rockford with his father, John A. Holland, in 1845. He served his country as a soldier in the Seventy-fourth Illinois Infantry in the Civil war. He was for several years secretary of the Rockford Watch Company, and one of the founders of the abstract firm of Holland, Ferguson & Com- pany.
John A. Phelps, a Rockford attorney, died July 28, 1854. The bar of the city adopted reso- lutions and attended his funeral in a body,
Melancthon Smith came to Rockford in 1854, studied law and was admitted to the bar. He resigned the position of postmaster to enter military service, and was killed at the storming of Vicksburg.
In the law library at the courthouse is a group picture of the Rockford bar of 1858. The practitioners of that time, not elsewhere men-
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
tioned in this article bore the names of Chap- man, Danforth, Dunlap, Babcock, McKenney, and Hathaway.
James T. Leroy was a practitioner upon the out- break of the Civil war. He raised a company of eighty-one cavalry men, of which he was chosen captain, but the state government then wanted only infantry, and their services were not ac- cepted. There is a tradition that Leroy after- ward joined the Confederate army, and was made a prisoner of war by Rockford boys.
William Marshall practiced in Rockford many years. At one time he was a member of the firm of Lathrop, Marshall & Taggart. Mr. Marshall removed to the South, where he died April 25, 1902.
Porter Sheldon, a brother of C. W. Sheldon, came to Rockford about 1857. He was city clerk in 1859, during the first administration of Mayor Charles Williams. In 1862 Mr. Sheldon was a member of the constitutional convention, and in 1864 he was assistant paymaster of the army under David T. Dixon. About 1868 Mr. Sheldon removed to Jamestown, N. Y., to look after the estate of a deceased brother, who was also a lawyer.
R. F. Crawford came to Rockford about 1866, soon after receiving his discharge as a soldier in the Civil war. From 1875 to 1877 he was a representative in the state legislature. He was also a member of the library board for several years. In 1888 Mr. Crawford removed to Santa Rosa, Cal., where he has served a term of six years as judge of the Superior court.
Norman C. Warner came from New York to Illinois and settled in Will County in 1849. He enlisted as a private in 1861 in the Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was advanced to the rank of major for meritorious conduct, and was dangerously wounded in 1864 at Straw- berry Plains. Major Warner was admitted to the bar in Washington, D. C., in 1868, and in the following year he began the practice of law in Rockford. He served as corporation attorney from 1881 to 1884, inclusive, during the adminis- trations of Mayors Crawford and Taggart.
A roster of attorneys, published in 1869, gives, in addition to those previously mentioned the following names: M. C. Brown, Jr., John M. Buell, J. G. Lyford, H. G. Clark, James Denison, Robert B. Archibald, B. F. McKenney.
Miss Alta M. Hulett was the first woman to apply for admission to the legal fraternity in
Winnebago County, and the second to seek such honor in the state of Illinois. Her only prede- cessor was Mrs. Myra Bradwell, of Chicago, Miss Hulett was the daughter of a farmer living a few miles north of the city, and a distant rela- tive of Mrs. H. H. Waldo. She graduated from the East Side high school in 1870 and began the study of law. J. M. Wight, A. S. Miler and C. M. Brazee recommended to the Supreme court that she be admitted to the bar. That tribunal, however, refused to give her a license. The local attorneys actively espoused the cause of Miss Hulett, who delivered a lecture in old Brown's Hall Nov. 25, 1871, in which she scored the jus- tices for their discrimination against her. Miss Hulett's friends promptly prepared an act en- abling women to practice at the bar. It was submitted to the legislature and became a law. Thus a Rockford girl of eighteen years prepared the way for the women of Illinois to practice law in the courts of the state. Miss Hulett went to Chicago, where she practiced law. Her health failed, and she went to California, where she died.
Catharine Waugh McCulloch was the second woman of Rockford to be admitted to the prac- tice of the law. She is a daughter of the late A. M. Waugh, and was born in Ransomville, N. Y., June 4, 1862. She graduated from Rock- ford Seminary in 1882; from the Union College of Law, Chicago, in 1886, and admitted to the bar in the same year. She was married to Frank H. McCulloch, May 30, 1890. Mrs. McCul- loch has achieved distinction in Chicago by the advocacy of various reforms.
W. T. Hyde served Rockford as city attorney in 1873, during the administration of Gilbert. Woodruff. J. Prynne Jones practiced law here. in the later '70s. D. M. Kirton was a practi- tioner in the late '70s. A. E. Holt was city at- torney of Rockford in 1887-'88. He subsequently removed to Chicago.
Charles A. Works was a native of Winnebago County, where his entire life was spent. From 1873 to 1875 he served as elerk of the Illinois Supreme court at Ottawa. He began the prac- tice of law in Rockford in 1879, and the follow- ing year he was elected state's attorney of Win- nebago County, and served three consecutive terms. In 1892 he was elected a member of the state board of equalization, and re-elected in 1896 and 1900. Mr. Works died in May, 1903.
Robert G. McEvoy completed his life work at
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
the age of 43 years. He was born in Prescott, Canada, in 1860, and came with his parents to Illinois when eleven years of age, and settled in New Milford. Mr. McEvoy studied law at Ann Arbor, and upon the completion of his course began practice in Rockford. In 1888 he formed a partnership with A. H. Frost, which was con- tinued until the elevation of the latter to the circuit bench in 1902. This partnership was ideal, each seeming to supply those qualities in which the other was perhaps more deficient. Mr. McEvoy died July 20, 1904.
The list of members of the Rockford bar in 1887 contains, beside those previously mentioned, the following names: W. R. Weld, N. S. Aage- sen, Chas. W. Allen, John Schwender, Jr., M. S. Douglas.
The present members of the Winnebago county bar are: Harry B. Andrews, W. W. Bennett, Boyd S. Beckington, Ralph E. Beckington ; Roy H. Brown, R. J. Cannell, Fred E. Car- penter, Lyman Dexter, A. D. Early, B. B. Early, Byron E. Eastwood, E. W. Engstrom, Arthur H. Frost, C. W. Ferguson, A. E. Fisher, Raymond S. Frost, J. G. Filmore, James F. Finn, B. H. Garrett, J. E. Goembel, Marion E. Garmory, George P. Gallaher, Thomas E. Gill, Robert M. Gibboney, Arthur R. Haley, Roy F. Hall, Harry L. Heer, Stanton A. Hyer, Herbert S. Hicks, Walker F. Hull, Gust E. John- son, William Johnson, B. A. Knight, B. J. Knight, William D. Knight, Frank J. C. Krahn, Edward P. Lathrop, Robert Lathrop, Richard F. Locke, A. B. Louison, Swan Lindskold, S. L. Large, O. G. Lawbaugh, Philip H. Lewis, Albin S. Lund- vall, E. H. Marsh, Isaac J. Monahan, David D. Madden, F. E. Maynard, L. C. Miller, Nels. P. Nelson, Harry B. North, Burton W. Norton, Carl O. Nyman, Carrie Libby Rapp, Robert Rew, L. M. Reckhow, Frank S. Regan, Earl D. Reynolds, Frank M. Ryan, E. B. Sumner, Fred H. Smith, A. Philip Smith, John A. Smith, Shell R. Smith, E. M. St. John, Frank A. Ticknor, James G. Tetlow, R. K. Welsh, G. O. Williams, O. M. Williams.
MASTERS IN CHANCERY.
The masters in chancery of Winnebago County have been : John W. Taylor, Cyrus F. Miller, William Brown, William Lathrop, Edward H. Baker, Horace W. Taylor, Edward H. Marsh.
The services of Mr. Taylor and Mr. Marsh cover an even half century.
CHAPTER XIII.
WINNEBAGO IN POLITICS.
STATE
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS-CRITICAL PERIOD FOR ILLINOIS-OPINION OF GOVERNOR FORD IN 1842 -- STATE DEBT REDUCED DURING HIS ADMIN- ISTRATION-WINNEBAGO COUNTY NEVER FAVORED REPUDIATION-ELECTIVE AND APPOINTIVE LAWS -EARLY CONGRESSIONAL AND SENATORIAL DIS- TRICTS-FIRST LAW PARTNER OF ABRAHAM LIN- COLN-EARLY RECOGNIZED LINCOLN'S GENIUS -- WINNEBAGO COUNTY FORGES TO THE FRONT- STABLE CITIZENS ELECTED TO OFFICE-CAMPAIGN OF 1840-WHIGS CARRY IN LOCAL ELECTIONS- INTERESTING SIDE LIGHTS-ABRAHAM LINCOLN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTOR-DEATH OF PRESIDENT HARRISON-BITTER LOCAL FIGHT IN 1841-JOHN T. STUART REELECTED TO CON- GRESS-THOMAS FORD ELECTED GOVERNOR-STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS-SEVEN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN 1843-WINNEBAGO COUNTY IN SIXTH DISTRICT - ELECTIONS THAT YEAR - FURTHER POLITICAL CHANGES-MORMONS MOVE FROM HANCOCK COUNTY-WHIG PARTY SUCCESS- FUL IN COUNTY ELECTIONS-BIRTH OF REPUB- LICAN PARTY-ROCKFORD'S CLAIM-CITIZENS REGISTER PROTEST AGAINST SLAVERY-TEXT OF CALL-HISTORIC MEETING AT ROCKFORD-ABRA- HAM LINCOLN NOMINATED FOR SENATOR IN 1858 -THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES-JUDGE DOUG- LAS ELECTED SENATOR-CAMPAIGN OF 1860- WINNEBAGO COUNTY GAVE LINCOLN A LARGE VOTE-MR. LINCOLN'S ELECTION-MEMORIALS TO STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS-COUNTY REPUDIATES NEW CONSTITUTION-CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES IN 1862 - POLITICAL ACTIVITIES - LINCOLN RE- ELECTED IN 1864-ASSASSINATED IN 1865-THE AUTHOR'S TRIBUTE TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN-WIN- NEBAGO COUNTY'S VOTE IN 1868-IN A VISIT TO ROCKFORD GENERAL GRANT MADE A PLEASING SPEECH-SECOND VISIT OF GENERAL GRANT- MEMORABLE POLITICAL GATHERINGS-PROFOUND IMPRESSION MADE BY ROBERT G. INGERSOLL-IN
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE WINNEBAGO SUPPORTED JAMES A. GARFIELD-PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 1884- ROCKFORD ENTERTAINS DISTINGUISHED VISITORS- OFFICIAL VOTE - POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS - CAMPAIGN OF 1888-OFFICIAL VOTE OF COUNTY- POLITICS IN 1890-ABLE MEN SENT TO CONGRESS -- FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT APPORTIONMENTS OF STATE INTO DISTRICTS-ONLY THREE CONGRES- SIONAL DISTRICTS IN 1831-RAPID POLITICAL CHANGES-WINNEBAGO REPRESENTED BY MEN OF NATIONAL WORTH-ROCKFORD DISTRICT FOR FIFTY YEARS REPRESENTED BY THREE MEN-WINNEBAGO IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE-A CAREFUL RECORD COVERING SEVENTY-EIGHT YEARS-COUNTY VOTE IN 1892-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND VOTE IN 1896-ELECTION AND VOTE. IN 1900-STATISTICS OF 1908-IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1912 WINNEBAGO COUNTY GOES PROGRESSIVE-IN 1914 COUNTY CARRIED BY LAWRENCE Y. SHERMAN FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR.
STATE BONDED INDEBTEDNESS.
The history of the bonded indebtedness of the states begins with the period from 1830 to 1840. At the beginning of that decade the aggre- gate debt of the several states amounted to only $13,000,000. Then began an era of extrav- agance in which certain states made enormous expenditures for internal improvements, and for funding their debts, negotiated large loans on long time. Within the twelve years succeed- ing 1830 the aggregate debt of the states had arisen to more than $200,000,000, an increase of more than 1600 per cent.
Illinois narrowly escaped the odium of repudiation. At this critical period Thomas Ford became governor. On this point he says in his "History of Illinois:" "It is my solemn belief that when I came into office, I had the power to make Illinois a repudiating state." After July, 1841, no effort was made to pay even the interest on the debt; and her bonds declined to fourteen cents on the dollar. Ford was elected governor in 1842, and his title to fame securely rests upon the fact that he stemmed the tide, so that the larger portion of the debt was actually paid during his adminis- tration.
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