Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 128

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388

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In the session of 1865, under the influence of

some enthusiastic and sanguine citizens of Galesburg, an act was passed providing for the removal of the seat of government of Knox County, if such change were favored at an elec- tion to be held April 4, 1865. An active effort to carry the election was promptly put on foot. A gift to the county of $75,000, to be used in con- structing a court house, was pledged, and secured by a bond, executed by many of the wealthiest men in Galesburg. A building site without cost was promised. Plans for an elegant building, with jail included, to cost not more than $75,000, were procured and exhibited. Lib- eral (and even irresistible) as the offer appeared to those proffering it, it met with a cold reception in the county. Every town except Galesburg and one other voted against it, most of them by large majorities.

At the same election, Mr. Gale, who had two years before left the Board after ten years service, was sent back, and Henry R. Sanderson accompanied him. They found only three of their associates who had favored Galesburg on the question of removal. The friends of Knox- ville felt themselves in the ascendant, and were disposed to carry out a moderately aggressive policy, and planned to extend and improve the county buildings. The Galesburg members could only make themselves useful in the con- duct of the county business, and cultivate the confidence and friendship of their brethren on the Board. At the last meeting of the year, an order was passed dividing the town of Galesburg into two towns, of about equal population, for the ostensible reason that the number of voters was too large for one polling place, and there could be found no authority for the division of a town into precincts by order of the County Board. If the far-reaching effect of the measure had been understood, it might have met with more opposition. As the law then stood, a town with eight hundred voters was entitled to two Supervisors; no town could have more. Care was taken in drawing the dividing line, so that eight hundred voters might be found on either side. Messrs. Gale and Sanderson came back in 1866. reinforced by A. C. Clay and L. E. Conger.

In 1867, an act making the city of Galesburg one town and the remainder of the township another, passed the Legislature-prepared by Mr. Gale, and introduced and energetically pushed by John Gray, of Wataga, a member from Knox County. It was very vigorously opposed hy a Knoxville lobby, with John S.

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Winter and P. H. Sanford at Its head, aided by John B. Colton, of Galesburg. The provisions of this act secured to Galesburg one Supervisor from the town and five from the city. In the Board of 1867, the former members were further reinforced by R. H. Whiting and Major Thomas McKee. Captain G. A. Charles, of Knoxville, returned after four years' absence, with a claim to additional representation for that town on ac- count of population, his pretension being good- naturedly allowed by the majority on slight evidence, and H. N. Keightly was brought in.

From that time forward, the sectional lines were closely drawn in the Board. By virtue of increased representation and growth of sym- pathy in the country towns, Galesburg was able to hold its own until, in 1873, it gained a small majority in the Board. For two years that body was tied, thirteen to thirteen, the balloting for Chairman having run one year for three days, being at times suspended for the informal intro- duction of business to be referred to committees, when appointed. By agreement a committee, consisting of W. S. Gale and G. A. Charles, was appointed to recommend a Chairman. Agreeing to vote together, each faction named its man. A dollar was tossed up for choice, and Galesburg won.

In the Republican County Convention of 1868. the county seat question came up as an issue in the nomination of candidates for the legis- lature, and W. S. Gale was nominated over R. W. Miles, of Persifer, on this issue. The democrats nominated A. M. Craig, of Knoxville. The election was hotly contested, the local issne taking precedence of every other. Mr. Gale won by a very narrow majority. He intro- duced a bill for the removal of the county seat, which was unsuccessfully fought by the Knox- ville lobby at Springfield, with the utmost vigor and skill.

THE PROPOSITION OF GALESBURG.

The act, as passed. gave power to the Board of Supervisors to appoint commissioners, who should be authorized to contract with the city of Galesburg and with other persons for gifts of property, or money, or service, conditioned upon the removal. The bill passed March 10. 1869. On March 25, the commissioners reported to the County Board an ordinance of the city of Galesburg, and submitted a bond, signed by the Mayor, and anthorized by such ordinance, for the performance of the stipulations :- the city to provide for the county, free of expense,

Dunn's Hall (or other suitable rooms) for court and jury rooms for the period of ten years; to convey to the county a site for a clerk's office, and erect thereon a fireproof building, to be larger than the one at Knoxville, the plans for the same to be approved hy the county; to pay all expenses of removal; to convey a suitable lot for the erection of a jail and to pay $20,000 towards the cost of building it; to convey, as a site for a court house, Block 39, conditioned on its being occupied for that purpose; and to grant the right to build a court house on the public square. The Commissioners also reported deeds delivered to them for Block 39 and a lot for a jail, also two certificates of deposit in the First National Bank of Galesburg, each for $10,000. The report was printed and scattered broadcast throughout the county, and the voters were thoroughly canvassed, within the limited time allowed, by able advocates on both sides.

It was urged that the Galesburg contracts gave the county a full equivalent (and more) for every loss incurred through removal. The clerks' offices were to be far better than the county then had, and would be valuable as property to sell, when the erection of a new court house rendered their use no longer neces- sary. The sites for the court house and jail, too, were better, it was urged, than those at Knoxville; twenty thousand dollars would go far toward building a new jail, and the old one was no longer fit for use. The accommodations offered for the courts, free for ten years, would be better than those then in use, and in ten years, or soon thereafter, the county would call for a new court house wherever located.

Against these seductive arguments of the men from Galesburg, it was insisted that the pledges were not made in good faith, and, in one way or another, would be evaded. The vested rights of Knoxville; the wrong of inflicting unneces- sary disappointment on those who had made per- manent settlement there for the purpose of being at the county seat; the danger of making Galesburg too powerful; all these were dwelt upon. Knoxville had one strong, geographical argument in its favor, and one which forcibly appealed to a multiplicity of private interests. To more than half the residents of the county, it was more accessible than Galesburg, owing to the lay of the land and the location of roads in its early settlement. Most of the inhabitants, either necessarily or for convenience, passed through Knoxville on the way to Galesburg. A large proportion never had much intercourse

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with the latter city, either Peoria, Canton or some other trading point being as near, or nearer. Throughout the county, habit, as well as old associations, personal acquaintance and political influence all told in Knoxville's favor. In addition, there was that potent force of con- servatism which is inherently opposed to every change, and to this was joined the dread of increased taxation as a consequence of removal. On the other hand, the advantage of greater nearness to the county seat was not realized by the many, who had seldom or never called there on business.

On the face of the returns, the majority was against removal, and for the time, Knoxville appeared to have won the fight. But the result did not receive the acquiescence of the seem- ingly defeated faction, and the question was soon brought before the courts. Sundry facts were made to appear upon the hearing. The vote in Galesburg was about one-third larger than ever before, and about one-fourth of it was made the object of attack, on evidence brought forward. Of purely fictitious voting, little could be shown. There was some proof of persona- tion of absent voters, some votes were received of persons under age, some of persons whose residence in the voting precinct was too short, and a great many votes were cast by persons of foreign birth, not naturalized. In Knoxville, nearly three times as many votes were cast as ever before. There were extraordinary irregular- ities in the conduct of the election, the same persons casting vote after vote without disguise and giving each time fictitious names. The re- turns were held back until after the last were known to have been received from the country towns, creating the suspicion that preparations were made to extend the poll books and stuff the ballot boxes as far as might seem necessary to give that town a prima facie majority.

The Knoxville managers evidently assumed that a large fraudulent vote would be cast in Galesburg, and that they could only secure a majority on the face of the returns by a vote at Knoxville equal to several times their voting population. With an apparent majority they would retain possession; and if, in contest, their vote should be thrown out, by the same ruling Galesburg's would share the same fate, and they would win on the vote of the other towns.

THE QUESTION LITIGATED.

The hearing was at Macomb, before Judge Higbee. The Court held the Galesburg returns

regular, concluding that, while some illegal votes were cast, the votes could be found and their right determined; that the votes should be received and counted, throwing out those proved to be illegal; but that the election at Knoxville was fraudulent throughout, and the returns of no value as evidence. On appeal, the decision was affirmed in the Supreme Court. In the Circuit Court the Galesburg attorneys were T. G. Frost, E. P. Williams, A. Kitchell and B. F. Arnold. For Knoxville there appeared A. M. Craig, P. H. Sanford, H. M. Weed and Messi's. Beckwith, Ayer, and Kales. When the case was called, the Galesburg cause appeared to be lost, owing to the splendid presentation of evidence prepared by P. H. Sanford and G. L. Hanna- man. But an adjournment for a few days was secured, and in that time the Galesburg attor- neys, through the valuable suggestions and management of Henry R. Sanderson, had over- come the weight of Knoxville's evidence hy an equally clever arrangement and presentation of their own. In the Supreme Court, J. A. McKen- zie took the place of Kitchell and Arnold, while Curtis K. Harvey succeeded Sanford and Weed.

The decision was published in January, 1873 (63 Ill. Rep. 405), nearly four years after the election. The records were removed to Gales- hurg, to rooms in readiness for them. That city, immediately after the election in 1869, purchased and deeded to the Commissioners appointed by the County Board a lot on Cherry street, and erected a building for clerks' offices in com- pliance with their contract, the building remain- ing ready for occupancy while the suit was pending. The city also secured to the county the right to hold court for ten years in the then recently erected Opera House, on the south side of the public square, and jury rooms in the same block.

In 1870, while the county seat case was pend- ing in the courts, the Constitutional Convention was held, Hon. A. M. Craig, of Knoxville, heing a member. The interests which Knoxville might have, if another election should be thought of after the decision of the then pending case, were well and jealously guarded. It was provided that elections might be held for removal of a county seat not oftener than once in ten years. Removals might be made to a place nearer the geographical center hy a majority vote, but to a point further from such center a three-fifths vote was required.

The decision in Galeshurg's favor was soon followed by a call for an election for removal

KNOX COUNTY COURT HOUSE.

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to Knoxville, which was held in November, 1873. The county was more thoroughly can- vassed than before, and many considerations in favor of Knoxville had somewhat lost force. It could not be said that the Galesburg proposi- tions were not made in good faith, its promises having all been handsomely met. Moreover, the force of the arguments in favor of that point had been tested. The aversion to a change in existing relations was no longer a potent factor against her. A wholesome provision of the new law permitted, in every precinct within the towns from which and to which removal was proposed, a challenging board from the rival town. The election was fairly conducted, and resulted in a majority against removal.

As the time limiting the obligation of the city to provide for the county approached, a feeling of jealous distrust appeared. There were apprehensions that the city influence would attempt to secure expensive buildings, involving the county in debt, with a burden of taxation to be borne for years. The Galesburg Supervisors felt that the county was aot suffer- ing for accommodations, and were willing to wait the development of a better sentiment. At the expiration of the term of the city's liability, the same rooms were reoccupied, but at the expense of the county. On September 22, 1881, partly with a disposition to make the necessity for a court house appear less, the Board ordered that a contract be let for adding a second story to the huilding occupied by the clerks' offices, one half of it to be used as a court room.

NEW COURT HOUSE.

In 1883, a majority of the Supervisors favored building a new court house, some of the country members being desirous of proceeding at once. Mr. Sansbury, of Victoria, prepared a resolution for the appointment of a committee to report plans to the Board at its next meeting. Yet many doubted whether they would be sustained by their constituents in favoring such action, and it was the prevailing sentiment that it was not safe to raise the issue, since it might endan- ger the return of some members. In 1884, the members came back, reporting a more favorable sentiment than they had expected. A committee to investigate was appointed April 15, 1884, authorized to procure plans for a suitable court house, the cost not to exceed $100,000, if the outlay could he possibly kept witbin that limit. The committee was selected with care; one member from Galesburg, one from Knoxville,

and one from each of the four quarters of the county. It was constituted as follows: W. S. Gale, of Galesburg; A. G. Charles, of Knoxville; William Robson, of Sparta; John Sloan, of Salem; M. B. Hardin, of Indian Point; and William H. Leighton, of Copley. The next year, Mr. Charles having ceased to be a member of the Board, his place on the committee was filled by R. W. Miles; and a year later L. A. Town- sead succeeded M. B. Harden, who was no longer a Supervisor. It was intended to have every interest in the couaty represented on the com- mittee. Old members, accustomed to take prominent parts in the Board's proceedings, in whom their townsmen had shown their con- fidence by frequeat re-elections, were named; it being supposed that, when they agreed, their conclusions would be sustained by the entire Board and approved by the people.

After taking due time joiatly to examine the newest and best court houses in this and other States, and to investigate the questions of new building methods and materials, they pro- cured plans from several prominent architects and submitted their report. On their recom- mendation the plans of E. E. Myers, of Chicago, were preferred. Bids were called for, and opened October 3, 1884. None of the proposals proving satisfactory as to price, the Supervisors advertised for others, which were opened Octo- her 24, 1884. The contract for the construction of the building was finally awarded to Dawson and Anderson, of Toledo, Ohio, for $114,311.52, the entire work to be completed by September 1, 1886. The corner stone was laid June 24, 1885, under the auspices of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Illinois. The edifice was partially occu- pied in November, 1886, but not fully completed until January 26, 1887, when the Board held a public reception in it.

It is a handsome building, of solid masonry, with iron beams, and practically fire proof, no timber entering into its construction. The ex- terior is of Cleveland sandstone. Its interior arrangement and furnishing are well adapted for the uses for which it is designed. The original plan as to dimensions and arrange- ment of rooms was devised by the committee, and few departures from their scheme were made. In matters of construction, however, the architect was givea virtually full control. The style was a new departure in court house arch- itecture. It was proposed by the committee, with a view to allowing greater irregularity in outline, in order to permit the desired interior

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arrangement. The cost, including all furnish- ings and outlay on grounds, was $156,261, and It was met from the ordinary tax levies made during the time of construction, The amount thereby added to the taxes of these years was so small a per cent. of the total levies, and so little felt, that there was some incredulity expressed when the people of the county were told that there was nothing more to pay. The building was immensely popular, and nowhere more so than among those who had opposed its erection through fear of debt and taxation. It stands a monument to the judgment and good taste of the people of Knox County.

THE JAIL.

The first jail in Knox County was built at Knoxville by John G. Sanburn. The County Commissioners, at their June meeting in 1832, determined that a jail must be constructed. On September 14, 1832, Mr. Sanburn contracted to build one for $240. It was soon finished; but, as may be judged from the price, it was not a very pretentious prison. It was a square build- ing, two stories in height, with a door leading Into the upper story only. There was a trap door in the floor and through this the prisoners were let down to the lower room, then the trap door was closed, and the prisoner was supposed to be safely Incarcerated. This temporary structure sufficed for a time; but in 1840, the Commissioners ordered the Clerk to advertise for bids for a new jail. The successful bid was made by Zelotes Cooley and the contract was closed January 26, 1841, the cost to be $8,724. But the Commissioners, after due reflection, considered this amount too excessive, so they gave Mr. Cooley $300 for his plans, and made a new contract with Alvah Wheeler, the price being $7,724, which, however, proved too small to insure first class work, and the building soon became dilapidated, causing the county large expense for repairs and the hire of men to guard the prisoners.

After the removal of the county seat to Gales- burg, the Board of Supervisors appointed a com- mittee to prepare plans for the construction of a jall on a lot on Cherry street, which had been purchased by the city. The committee visited other counties for the purpose of inspecting their jails and procured the plans upon which, with some modifications, the county building tas since been constructed. These plans were a tupred, and on March 18, 1873, hids were re- . vived On that same day, an injunction, grant-

ed by Hon. Thomas F. Tipton, Circuit Judge of McLean County, at the instance of Knoxville citizens in anticipation of an election to be held to decide on the removal of the county seat back to Knoxville, was served on the Board of Supervisors, prohibiting them from proceed- ing with the building. The election, however, having been determined adversely to Knoxville, bids were received on January 15, 1874, and the contract awarded to Ira K. Stevens for $34,900. To extend the grounds the Board, on January 16, 1874, bought of A. Burlingham an adjacent lot fronting on Cherry street and another lot of A. N. Bancroft, adjoining but facing South street, a part of which was afterward sold. The building was well planned and very substanially constructed, and presents a good appearance. It is of red brick, with foundations and trim- mings of gray limestone, two stories in height, with a high basement. The sheriff's residence is in front, and the main prison is in the rear. The floors and ceilings of the latter are con- structed of large slabs of limestone, and similar slabs line the walls. Corridors the height of the two stories surround the room on three sides, and on each side of the center is a row of cells, back to back, in three tiers, comprising thirty in all. The back, the sides, the floor and ceiling of each cell is a single slab. Besides these cells, there is a dungeon, rarely used, and five cells in the front part of the building used for the insane women and for boys. The structure has proved secure and is well arranged for the supervision and control of prisoners, and is well heated, ventilated, and drained. It was first occupied by Sheriff A. W. Berggren, October 3, 1874.

THE ALMHOUSE.

For twenty-five years after the organization of Knox County, the paupers were farmed out to the lowest bidder; but after township organ- ization was adopted, this system was thought inadequate, and the Board of Supervisors, find- ing a convenient tract of land for sale cheap, determined to purchase a county poor farm. On March 5, 1856, they purchased of M. G. Smith for the sum of $3,000, the west half of the south- west quarter of Section 21, Knox Township. The farmhouse already on the land was con- verted into a poorhouse; but It furnished wretched accommodations, and the complaints that ensued were loud and frequent, even the committee of supervisors exclaiming against it.

Finally, in 1866, the Board determined to erect a new almshouse and R. W. Miles, L. E. Con-

By Courtesy of O. L. Campbell, Knoxville.

KNOX COUNTY ALMSHOUSE.

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KNOX COUNTY.

ger, and Cephas Arms were appointed a commit- tee on building. The people of Knoxville, being naturally a great deal interested in the matter, prepared plans and submitted them to the Board. But the plans were for a building as large as the present one, which rather dismayed many of the supervisors and temporarily stopped the project. Then the Galesburg members proposed a committee, appointed in April, 1866, to secure a location for the building. At the Instance of W. Selden Gale, L. E. Conger bought for this committee the northwest quarter of Section 24, Galesburg Township, for $8,000. On behalf of Galesburg, W. S. Gale offered the Board $10,000 to locate the almshouse on this site. But the Knoxville people rallied their friends, asked that only a portion of the proposed building be built and secured the erection of the almshouse on its present site. The Board sold the Galesburg property for $9,000 and purchased, on June 15, 1866, thirty-six acres adjoining the old poor farm, from William Y. Miller, for $2,340; and two days later, thirty-three acres from John Eads, for $3,000.

The contract for the main building and west wing was let to William Armstrong, for $26,000. The furniture, heating, and the stocking of the farm brought the total cost to $39,037.21. The east wing was built by Parry and Stevens, of Galesburg, in accordance with the original plans, the contract being let August 21, 1876, for $17,- 400. The design was by W. W. Boyington, of Chicago, in Gothic style. The building is con- structed of brick and limestone, 166x80, with two stories and a basement.

In 1890, the number of insane in Knox County was larger than the state asylums would take from the county, so the erection of an annex for the Insane became necessary. W. S. Gale, J. S. Simpson, William Robson, H. M. Sisson, and James Rebstock were appointed a commit- tee to consider the matter, and they adopted plans of I. A. Coleman (really their own plans approved by Mr. Coleman) for a three-story building, corresponding to the almshouse, to be attached to the west wing by a corridor. March 18, 1890, P. O. Munson, of Galesburg, contracted to build it for $26,459. In 1898, the building was again found inadequate, and the Board deter- mined on an annex for insane females, to be erected at the east side of the building, accord- ing to plans prepared by Gottschalk and Beadle. The contract was awarded to Munson and Ting- leaf for the sum of $20,000, exclusive of heating and lighting, which will probable be $6,000 more.

The contract was let in the latter part of July, 1898, and the annex was finished in the sum- mer of 1899. A new laundry building also be- came a necessity, and the contract for this was awarded F. W. Hawk, of Knoxville, on Septem- ber 27, 1898, for $16,000, the work to be done as soon as possible. It was finished early in 1899, and, with these improvements, the almshouse was one of the handsomest and most convenient in the state. The poor farm comprises about one hundred and fifty acres.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 128

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1388

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388