USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 15
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South Fork.
56
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ELECTION, AUGUST 3D, 1840.
For State Senator
E. D. Taylor.
Dem 208
E. D. Baker.
Whig. 111
Total 319
For Representative.
Martin White. Dem
219
66
.Thomas S. Leachman .. Whig. 95
Total
314
For County Commissioners
Aquilla Council .. .. Dem 186
Gavin Ralston ...... . Whig. 82
Total
268
For Sheriff.
Wm. S. Rieks .. Dem
1844
66
Thos. E. V. Farris ..... Whig.
.103
Total
287
For Coroner
Jacob Lovely .Dem 112
66
George Jacobs
Whig. 73
=
Daniel Robb.
Dem 17
Total.
202
For County Commisr's Clerk.
.John C Goode. Dem.
152
David Miller.
Whig 116
Total
268
For County Treasurer
Gabriel R. Jernigan ... Dem. 172
.Wm. M. Thomas ... Whig. 102
Total
274
The total vote of the county was 319.
John C. Goode was elected county clerk to fill the vacancy occa- sioned by the resignation of E. S. Young ; Aquilla Council elected county commissioner in place of Gavin Ralston, Sr., whose term of office had expired ; Gabriel R. Jernigan elected county treasurer (previous to this he had held the office by appointment of the county court) ; E. S. Young, county clerk, assisted by Eli Matthews, J. P., and Presley Peek, J. P., opened the election returns, August 4, 1840, at Taylorville, the new county seat. Mailed the returns at Blue Point, at that time there being no post-office at Taylor- ville.
OFFICIAL VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, 1840.
(Election in November.)
For Martin Van Buren. 147
For Wm. H. Harrison 89
Total
236
ELECTION AUGUST 2, 1841.
For County Commissioners Overton Williams 125
Richard Simpson 106
Peter Porter. 56
Scattering 6
Total
293
For Coroner to fill vacancy Leonard Kilburu. 80
For School Commissioners John W. Wheat. 179
66
Armstead N. Hesser 109
Total
288
For Collector ... Jesse Murphy-reapppointed by the Court for 1842.
ELECTION AUGUST 1, 1812.
For Representative ..
HI. M. Vandeveer. Dem 176
Martin White. Dem .. 113
Henry Luckett. Whig 93
Total
382
For Sheriff. ..... Amos Richardson elected.
SPECIAL ELECTION, OCT. 8, 1842.
For County Surveyor. Allen B. Peabody 148
16
.6
S. W. Baker.
18
Wm. Sharp.
25
Scattering ..
G
Total ... 197
For County Recorder, to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of
H. M. Vandeveer,
Thos. Dougherty 109
Benj. L. Yates, 71
Total 180
At the election, August 7, 1843, Wm. S. Frink was elected Pro- bate Justice; Phil. C. Ferguson, County Clerk ; Thos. B. Dougli- erty, County Recorder ; Jesse Elgan, County Commissioner ; Wm. A. Goodrich, County Surveyor; Thomas S. Leachman, School Commissioner ; Jesse Murphy, Assessor and Treasurer ; Thomas E. V. Farris was appointed by the Court, Collector, for 1843-4.
On the 5th of August, 1854, an election was held for Repre- sentatives. The candidates werc :
Wm. S. Ricks Dem 245
Benj. L. Yates.
Whig. 186
Total 431
Henry Hardin was elected sheriff; George Dickerson, Jesse El- gan, and John H. Bilyeau, county commissioners; Green B. Ketch- am, coroner. The following was the vote for Congressmen-for Orlando B. Ficklin, democrat, 251; U. F. Linder, whig, 181 votes ; democrat majority, 70. Democrat majority on representative, 59. From the above excerpts from the records, the student of the politi- cal history of the earlier years of the county can gather much valuable information, showing the political complexion of the county at that period.
Believing that it will be of interest to our numerous readers to know who administered justice to the citizens prior to the organiza- tion of the county, we give the names of the justices of the peace elected at the election in 1835. The territory now embraced in Christian county was formed into three election precincts, two in Sangamon and one in Montgomery county. At the regular election in August, 1835, the following were elected justices of the peace for Buckhart precinct, Peter R. Ketcham and John L. Thompson ; in Cotton Hill precinct, a part of which was in this county, John Rape and Samuel Stites; in Bear creek precinct, a part of Montgomery county, Joseph P. Durbin and Richard Simpson.
FINANCES OF TIIE COUNTY IN THE EARLY TIMES.
The records for the December term, 1839, of the county court, show some interesting exhibits. The court at all times exercised the most rigid economy ; the bill for all the necessary record books for opening up the several departments of the county was exceed- ingly moderate. H. M. Vandeveer, clerk of the circuit court, was authorized to make the purchases. The bill rendered was as fol- lows :
For Recorder's Office. . $24 37
Circuit Clerk's Office. 82 00
County 93 25
School Commissioner's Office . 8 87
Jury Book . 1 25
County Scal. 12 00
$221 74
The clerks used a wooden bench with a screw fixed in a frame, for more than twenty years, to take impressions of the official scal.
66
66
66
57
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
It cost $2 50. This economieal outfit lasted for several years. In contrast, the annual expenses of the county, at present, for books, blanks and stationery, approximate $1,000. The court appropriated at the rate of four dollars per month, to pay office rent for use of the circuit and county elerks. The "Ralston build- ing," was the first one in Taylorville, used for that purpose, after its location as the county seat. It was moved from Edinburg. The house now stands on the corner south of the jail. A part of the same building was occupied by Ralston and Gilbert's store. The court meant promptitude as well as economy in business ; they di- rected the treasurer to pay $21.37 to Messrs Berehall & Co., of Springfield, immediately. They seemed not only in earnest in paying the obligations of the county with dispatch, but made a further commendable move in the direction of economy, by ordain- ing that " the officers and members of this eourt charge nothing for services rendered this term," This act of disinterested patriotism on the part of the early officers and founders of the county is worthy of commendation.
FIRST DEED EXECUTED AFTER ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
Below we give the first deed filed for reeord; it was made by David C Hall to John Skeedy, for a tract of land in township 13, 2, containing four hundred acres, the consideration being five hundred dollars.
DAVID C. HALL,
TO | Decd. JOIIN SKEEDY.
" This Indenture made and entered into this first day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine, by and between David C. Hall of the County of Dane and State of Illinois, of the first part and John Skeedy of the
County of Sangamon and State of Illinois of the second part WITNESSETHI that the said party of the first for and in consideration of the sum of Five hundred dollars of lawful money of the United States to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, assigned, enfeoffed and conveyed, and by these presents do give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, assign, enfeoff and convey unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns certain lots, or piece of ground lying and being situated in the County of Dane and State of Illinois, known and described as fol- lows, (viz) Ist the west half of the south-west quarter of section number eight, township number thirteen, No. 2. The east half of the south-east quarter of section number seven, No. 3. The south-west quarter of the south-east quarter of section number seven, No 4. The north-west quarter of the north-west quarter section number seventeen, No. 5. The west half of the south-west quarter of section number nine, all of which being in township No. 13 north of the base line in range No. 1 west of the third principal meridian. Containing in all four hundred acres. Entered at Vandalia.
To have and to hold the above described lot or parcel of ground, together with all and singular the privileges or appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, to the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, to and for their own proper use, behoof and benefit forever. And the said party of the first part for themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators, do hereby covenant and agree to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever to warrant and defend the title to the above described premises, against the claim or elaims of any and all persons whatsoever, and that they, the said party of the first part, are the only true and lawful owners of the said premises, and that they are free from all and all manner of incumbrances. 8
In testimony whereof the said party of the first part have here- unto set their hands and seals, the day and year first above written." In presence of
B. S. CLEMENT. D. E. HALL. SEAL
" STATE OF ILLINOIS, Sangamon County, S Ss. Be it remembered that on the day of the date hereof came before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county, D. E. Hall, who is personally known by said Justice to be the identieal person whose name is subseribed to the forgoing deed of eonveyanee, and who then ac- knowledged his voluntary execution of the same for the purposes therein exereised.
Given under my hand and seal this 1st day of May 1839."
BENJ. S. CLEMENT, J. P. SEAL
FIRST WILL ON RECORD.
" In the name of God. Amen :-
I, Joel Wadkins, being weak in body, but of porfeet mind and memory, make this my last will and testament. In the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine and the sixth day of De- eember -first that all my just debts be paid-and my funeral ex- penses be paid out of my personal estate; the balance of my personal estate I give and bequeath to my beloved wife as her own, for her benefit and use, to do with as she may think fit or see proper for her own benefit and use ; my real estate I also give to my wife, the interest benefit of it during her natural life for her benefit and use to do with as she may think best during her life term ; except an improvement made on my land by my son-in-law, John Morgan, I grant him the privilege of living on that part he has improved on my lands as long as he may think proper or see fit to do; when he leaves, then my wife to have the use and benefit of the same. The balance of my lands during her natural life-time ; after the death of my wife I give and bequeath to my son Nathan forty acres of my land. I also give to my youngest son Joel sixty acres of my land. I also give and bequeath to my youngest daughter Jane tweuty acres of my land, this land to be laid off so as to give each a portion of timber and prairie according to the quantity here allotted to those having done this .- Agreeable to my mind I now close this will by saying Amen to the things of time. Signed by his own hand and seal this day and date above written."
his JOEL X WADKINS. SEAL mark
" Acknowledged to be for the special purposes set forth in the above will this 6th day of December, 1839.
JAMES BAKER, J. P. SEAL
FIRST LICENSE.
At the September term, 1840, the County Commissioners' court issued the first license to keep a grocery in Taylorville; the record reads as follows:
"Ordered that John Sampson be licensed to keep a grocery in the town of Taylorville for the term of three months from this date, the said John Sampson, first paying into the county treasury the sum of six dollars and twenty-five cents for the privilege here- by granted,"
FIRST CIRCUIT COURT.
The county of Dane, now Christian, was attached to the eighth judicial circuit ; it embraced the counties of Sangamon, Tazewell, McLean, Livingston, Macon, Dane, Logan and Menard. The first term was held at Taylorville, November 4th, 1839. Iu the ab-
53
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
sence of a court-house, its sessions were held in a small frame house, 12x14 feet, owned by H. M. Vandeveer, and situated on the north side of the public square. The town having been so recently located, there were but few tenc- ments in the place. This small house had to serve the purpose of a hotel, stage office, and court room. In jury cases that body had to retire, for its deliberation, out of doors, under a black-jack trec, where now stands the calaboose, where deputy W. L. Hammer said he attended its deliberations. This improvised court-room will be remembered, by many of the older citizens, as Dr. Chapman's office. The old landmark has given place to a large brick building.
The officers of the court were Hon. Samuel H. Treat, judge; H. M. Vandeveer, clerk ; William S. Ricks, Sheriff; * David P. Campbell, states attorney ; Benjamin Williams, coroner. II. M. Vandeveer was appointed clerk of the circuit court on the first of June, 1839, two months after the organization of the county ; Wm. S. Ricks, qualified as sheriff, June 24th, 1839. Benjamin Wil- liams qualified as coroner, August 6th, 1839. The only attorney from abroad attending at this term was Hon. Jas. C. Conkling, of Spring- field. The panel of grand and petit jurors, made at the first term of the county court, seemed to be based upon an assumed census of one hundred persons, that is, single men and heads of families. These, with the county officials added, comprised nearly all the names in the county, excepting only some half dozen whom it was the intention to indict.
THE FIRST VENIRE OF GRAND JURORS.
Jolın Young, foreman; Berry Rose, Thomas P. Bond, George D. Pierson, John Martin, David Cagle, James Weeden, Thomas Young, Robert Richardson, John Finley, Jacob Wydick, Ema- nuel J. Leigh, Allen B. Peabody, Christopher Ketcham, Joshua Brents, Alfred Currie, and Louis HI. Jernigan, who were sworn in pursuance of law, and charged by States Attorney Campbell.
THE FIRST PETIT JURORS.
'. Ordered that the following persons be selected to serve as petit jurors at the next term of the circuit court for the county of Dane: Henry C. Dickerson, George Oller, Oberton Williams, Simeon Brents, William Sheldon, Ezekiel S. Young, Robert P. Langley, Wesley Westbrook, Henry Judy, Wm. Wallis, Isaac Richardson, and Wiley Blount.
Thus was completed the organization of the circuit court. At the first term business was limited ; a few cases were compromised. The first on the docket being a suit instituted by Smith vs. Dur- bin for slander. The said Durbin charged Smith with having drowned a horse-thief in the waters of Bear creek. This, with a few other cases, was continued, and finally dismissed at defendant's cost. The second case was the People rs. Thomas E. V. Farris, indicted by the grand jury for sending a challenge to Thomas W. Davis, the newly elected probate judge, to fight a duel with deadly weapons, on the first day of October, 1839. The following is a copy of the original challenge, as sent, verbatim et literatim :
" DEAR SIR: I take this method of finishing our career. I will give you the chance of a dewel. I would rather fight manley than to do any other way. I will give you a shott at 12 o'clock, P. M.
"T. V. E. FARRIS."
This case was fried at the fall term of the court, 1840. The people were greatly enlightened on the laws governing the code of honor, and by the display of legal lore and eloquence of counsel. The verdict of the jury was " Not Guilty."
. Amou Richardson and James M Fl leger, constalles, were in attendance at this term of court.
Another case was Peter R. Ketcham vs. Gabriel MeKenzie- action for slander; damages laid at $2,000. J. C. Conkling, At- torney for Plaintiff. In the declaration, it was alleged that the defendant had used words to this import : "Old Pete Ketcham is a d-d old hog thief." This trial seemed to involve the whole county, and elicited a great deal of interest. It was known by many as the Methodist preacher against the Roman Catholic. Attorney B S. Edwards conducted the defence. The jury found for the plaintiff, $47.08. In making up their verdiet, the jury seemed to have entertained a very nice estimate of a man's eharac- ter, so as to take into consideration the fractional part of a dime. Juries occasionally returned to the court-room for further instruc- tions from the judge. In one case, the jury failing to agree as to the facts in the premises, returned for instructions. The judge inquired as to the difficulty. The foreman responded with appa- rent honesty and simplicity : " Why, judge, this 'ere is the difficulty : some of the jury want to know whether that ar what you told us, when we first went out, was raley the law, or whether it was only just your notion." The judge having informed the jury that such was the law in the premises, a verdict was reached accordingly. In the early history of the county some persons entertained crude notions of the workings of justice. In a case being tried before the court, when the jury, on retiring, was going up the partially open stairway, in the old court-house, to the jury-room for delibe- ration, one of their number was overheard to say: 'Now is my chance to give the old cuss h-1!" Iu the case of Shumway, adm'r of Daniel Miller, deceased, vs. John Cheney, Lincoln and Vande- veer appeared for the plaintiff, and Judge Robbins of Springfield for the defendant. In reply to a point made, the latter said: " If that is so, I ll agree to eat this desk." Lincoln jocosely replied : " Well, judge, if you do eat that desk, I hope it will come out a bran newly manufactured wagon!"
As the county-seat had been so recently located in the wild prai- rie, hotel and boarding-house accommodations were limited. At- torney C-, at the first term of the court, had to go into the country for lodgings. In connection with this, he related the fol- lowing amusing incident. Not wishing to be left out to the merey of the wolves, he gladly accepted an invitation from one of the jurors to go home with him, and partake of his hospitality. On reaching the cabin of his friend, he found a tidy, nice woman, with everything clean and neatly arranged. But they were new begin- ners, and had only one bed. How that part of the difficulty would be arranged was a problem running through his brain all the evening. But it was easily solved. The woman slept on one side of the bed, he on the other, and the husband in the middle.
Hardly had the last "peg" been driven in the location of the county seat, when James Harris commenced preparations for the erection of a two-story frame hotel-now a part of the Globe House, on the north side of the Public Square. The want of ac- connmodations compelled the use of it at first in an unfinished con- dition. A ladder was used to reach the upper story, with its loose boards for a floor. Its accommodations were necessarily limited. The landlord was under the necessity of dividing his guests into squads or divisions ; some retiring early, only to be aroused to give place to another division, as time crowded on to midnight. About the latter hour the stentoriau voice of the landlord could be heard, calling the first lot to " get up," and give place to others; "that Judge Treat and other noted lawyers wished to turn in." Judge Edwards, of Springfield, relates that he preferred the luxury of wrapping himself in the folds of his cloak and taking the court- house floor for it, where he could have the whole night to himself.
In the days of the carly courts, Abraham Lincoln was a regular
59
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
attendant on the courts of this county, and occasionally Stephen A. Douglas. A good anecdote is related of them, as having occurred in this circuit :- In the pioneer-times, saloons or groceries, as they were familiarly called, were great places of resort. A large per- centage of those coming to town would visit and loaf at them, and drink in the gossip retailed at such places. Then the grocery- keeper was looked upon as one of the especially honored members of society. It is said that Abraham Lincoln once sold liquor at retail, when he first came to Illinois. Some years afterward, when Lincoln and Douglas took the stump, the latter alluded to the for- mer's calling in early times. But Lineoln retorted by saying " that while he officiated on one side of the bar, Judge Douglas officiated in the other capacity on the other side."
Apropos to the above may be related the following incident : Many years ago there was a noted land case in court which at- tracted much attention at the time, the case was that of Vandeveer vs. Whitecraft. Lincoln was attorney for the plaintiff, and able counsel represented the defendant. The parties to the suit were prominent citizens of the county. The case occupied the time of the court for most of the term. Never, seemingly did Lincoln appear to better advantage, and by good management and able argument secured a verdict for his client. The last day thie case was protracted into the evening. There were poor accom- modations for light; no chandeliers were suspended from the ceiling, or kerosene lamps graced the grin walls of the court-room ; the old-fashioned "tallow dip" was all the dependence. Sheriff H- furnished two candles without even a japanned candlestick. One was fastened to the wall back of the judge's stand, and the other handed to Attorney Lincoln. It was as amusing as ridieu- lous to see the great advocate holding the tallow dip in one hand and the law-book in the other. As he warmed up in his theme the light began to pale and the candle disappear, in a liquid form, between his fingers, greatly to the amusement of the Court and the assemblage.
The old Court-house stood on stone pillars some two feet above the ground, and as the spaces between the pillars were not boarded up, it was a great resort for hogs. On one occasion, when Lincoln was arguing a case before the Court, thie hogs opened up a chorus, in porcine language, greatly annoying the celebrated barrister, when he suggested to the Court the propriety of issuing a writ of quietus to the Sheriff. A traveling correspondent of an eastern journal, related the following in an article entitled, "Our tour through Egypt :" "Being water bound at the capital of Christian county, Illinois, we whiled away a portion of our time in the Court-room. The Judge was holding the spring terni of the Cir- cuit Court in Taylorville. He appeared to be of a nervous tem- perament, and much disturbed by the surroundings. Putting on a little judicial dignity, he called up one of the constables and informed him that the Court had created a new office and had selected him to fill the responsible station. The duties are onerous. The officer seemed delighted with the prospective honor, but with a bashful diffidence stood in silence. The Court directed him to be sworn, but recollecting that he was already a sworn officer, that part of the ceremony was dispensed with. IIe was then directed to repair to the adjacent timber, eut a half dozen batons, raise a posse, and keep the frogs besieging this town, silent during thic sessions of this Court to the end that the proceedings thereof may not be interrupted. Silence reigned after that in the Court-room."
The lawyers who rode the cireuit in early times were noted for the many jokes they practiced on each other. A laughable inci- dent oeeurred at the hotel in Taylorville, based on the custom of some in changing their linen before retiring for the night. Several
of the lawyers on this circuit had just arrived from Springfield and "put up" at Mr. L-'s tavern. Mr. C- was among the number and noted for his extreme gentility; his custom was to shave every morning and put on clean linen. He carried a night- shirt to sleep in. The State's Attorney was a great wag, and took especial delight in playing jokes on his associates. Mr. L -- looked on his tavern as second to none in the West. There might be better tables in St. Louis, but as for beds his could not be ex- celled, even by the great Planters' House, for he himself had been there, and had not sat down at the table a minute before they presented a bill, and an impudent waiter asked him if he would have tea or coffee ; and when he told him he would take tea, he asked what kind of tea ? Says he, " Store tea, to be sure." A sin- gle word against the tavern, table or beds was taken by the land- lord as a great insult, and he would resent it without regard to persons. The State's Attorney knew landlord L- well, they being old acquaintances. Taking him aside he said, "Do you know that C- is speaking disrespectfully of your beds? Well, if you will not mention my name I will tell you." "So be it, what did he say ?" " Why he said your beds were so dirty that he had to take off his clean shirt and put on a dirty one every night to sleep in." " Possible. I'll watch him this night." Bed-time came. Lawyer C- on retiring opened his portmanteau, took therefrom his night shirt, and was in the act of taking off his day-shirt when landlord L-, who had been watching his movements through a crack in the door, opened it and sprang in on lawyer C- like a tiger. Explanations followed when it appeared that it was only one of the State's Attorney's tricks.
Second Venire of Grand Jurors, June, 1840, were, James McKin- ney, foreman ; Moses Pearson, Wm. Sharp, David Stokes, James Young, Phil. C. Ferguson, Fred. Hammer, Martin Hanon, James W. Radford, Ellington Adams, James Funderburk, John Durbin, Thos. Anderson, George Vandeveer, Peter Wydick and Jaeob Wydick.
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