USA > Illinois > Douglas County > History of Douglas county, Illinois > Part 2
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The Deed Records have now accumulated to the number of 33 five hundred page volumes, and the vault of the office contains 130 books of record, including the records transferred from Coles county at the time of the partition which are called Transcripts. The Abstract Books, which are a complete synopsis of all the transfers of real estate, whether in trust or actual, were made for his own use by R. B. Macpherson, and were purchased of him in 1869, under the law permitting the purchase of such books, and a resolution of the Board of Supervisors, for $1,075 in installments. These books were perfect to date, and the special care given them in the last few years, make them absolutely reliable, and for convenience of reference, second to none in the State.
The first conveyance was recorded May, 1859; Gideon Henson to John Davidson, tract in 27, 16, 9.
The Chancery cases in this office number 700, Criminal Soo, and Common Law, 2,700.
The present Circuit Clerk and Recorder is Patrick C. Sloan, who was elected as the successor of A. G. Wallace in November, 1872.
He is the son of John Sloan, an old and much respected citizen, who arrived in Tuscola in March, 1857, and died October 21, 1869.
15
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
RAILROADS.
THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD
Was completed through Douglas county in 1855, the charter having been granted by act of Congress in 1850.
This was the first public work that received subsidies of land from the United States Government.
The matter was engineered by Stephen A. Douglas, at that time United States Senator, in which enterprise he had the task of recon- ciling and combining in favor of the measure the influence of both Benton and Clay, who were strongly opposed to each other in every- thing else. Mr. Clay said in a speech that he "had traveled these prairies for days at a time and never saw a tree as large as a walking stick."
Douglas turned to Benton and said: "He never was on a prairie in his life, and on our prairies you are never out of sight of timber a' minute.
This road was granted every alternate section of land, designated by even numbers, for six miles on either side of the track, afterward increased by a further grant of the alternate sections within 15 miles of the track on each side of the road and its branches, all even num- bered sections, except section 16, which was reserved for schools and also excepting lands occupied by actual settlers.
The United States Lands had been selling for $1.25 per acre and the price of the remaining lands was immediately doubled, and some are said to have been sold as high as five and six dollars per acre.
The Government reserved the privilege of transportation, free of toll or other charge, of any property or troops of the United States,
16
HISTORY OF
and a condition was, that the road should be completed in ten years, and the company, by act of Assembly, to pay into the State Treasury five per cent. of the gross earnings of the road for all future time, and also, three-fourths of one per cent. of stock and assets, or enough to make at least seven per cent. of the gross earnings, a perpetual reve- nue to the State; and the lands were to be free from taxation until they had been sold and conveyed. By the charter the road is free from local and municipal taxation.
The number of acres granted to this road in the State, was 2,595,000.
The length of this road and its branches is 705 miles.
The relative elevations of points along the line of this road in the county are as follows :
The south line of the county. 303.0
Arcola station 303.7
Bourbon Switch. 279.3
Tuscola station . 285.3
North line of county. 332.7
This makes Arcola IS.4 feet higher than Tuscola, on the line of the road. The north line of the county is the highest point, but one, between Centralia and Champaign, the highest point being two miles north of Tolono.
It is notable, however, in connection with these facts that Tuscola is conspicuous, from the surrounding country, which is not the fact in the case of Arcola, and may be owing to some extent to the elevation of seme buildings, as the Court House, Baptist Church tower and Seminary. These figures apply to this railroad only, It will not do to compare them as they stand with comparative elevations upon other roads in the county.
THE INDIANAPOLIS, DECATUR & SPRINGFIELD RAILWAY
Traverses the county from east to west, north of the middle, in Township 16 and near the middle of Newman, Camargo, Tuscola and Garrett Townships, intersecting the Illinois Central at Tuscola, the county scat. It was finished through the county in 1872.
17
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
The charter of the Indiana and Illinois Central Railroad Com- pany, of Indiana, bears date of December 30, 1852; that of the Deca- tur and Indianapolis was dated March 21, 1853, and these were con- solidated in 1854, forming the I. & I. C. Railway, the road receiving its present name under reorganization in 1876, thus it had been a pro- posed road for 20 years.
In 1868, Douglas county purchased 2,459 shares of the capital stock of the company and there was issued to the county a certificate for the shares. These were at a par value of $122,950 and were pur- chased of private parties in Indianapolis for $20,000. The transaction was conducted by T. H. Macoughtry, Malden Jones, and Thomas S. Sluss, and reported to April Term of County Court, 1868.
In IS72 the county issued to the company $80,000 in bonds, with interest at ten per cent., payable annually, principal payable in twenty years, reserving the right to pay the principal after eight years; this in accordance with the will of the electors, as expressed at the polls July 15, 1869.
There was also subscribed in aid of this road, by a vote of the people, in
Newman Township. $12,000
Camargo Township. 15,000
Tuscola Township. 20,000
Garrett Township
13,000
Making an aggregate of $60,000
Payable in fourteen years, with interest at ten per cent. In Newman Township last year the taxes paid by the railroad balanced the inter- est, and the interest due from the other Townships was materially reduced by the same means.
The present termini of this road are Decatur and the Wabash River, but connection with Indianapolis is being rapidly pushed.
The present length is 85 41-100 miles. For the year ending June 30, IS74, the number of passengers carried was 41,890.
Pending the building of the road large quantities of lands had been acquired by the company, along its iine, in this and other coun- ties, in subscriptions of private parties for stock.
The ground occupied by the track and right of way, and for other purposes, is taxed as other lands, and is 280 acres.
IS
HISTORY OF
The relative elevations of points along the line of this road, in the county, are as follows:
East line of county. 247
Newman 238
One mile east of Camargo 268
Two miles west of Camargo 268
Tuscola .. 251
Atwood, west line of county.
257
THE ILLINOIS MIDLAND RAILWAY
Traverses the county from east to west, in the south part, crossing the Illinois Central at Arcola. It was originally an enterprise of citizens of Arcola and the vicinity, and was first called the Paris and Decatur. Upon the extension of the line to Terre Haute, the name of that city was prefixed, and, finally, upon a further addition being made to Peo- ria, it received its present name. The first train passed over this road October 25, 1872.
Township bonds, in aid of the company, were issued, by a vote of the people, in Bowdre, Arcola and Bourbon Townships, amount- ing in the aggregate to $165,000. The payments growing out of this grant have been strenuously resisted by a large number of citizens who were opposed to the measure, it being held that the voting of the bonds, was illegal, as well as the calling of an election for that pur- pose. The matter is yet in litigation and whether the bonds will eventually have to be paid or not is unknown. The ground occupied by the road is taxed as other lands, being 182 acres.
THE DANVILLE, TUSCOLA AND WESTERN RAILROAD
Is a proposed road, and was instituted by Tuscola people, materially aided by influential parties in Douglas and Vermillion counties. It runs in a northeast direction from Tuscola, leaving Douglas county in the northeast part of Camargo Township, thenee through parts of Champaign and Vermillion counties to the ancient town of Dallas, and to Danville.
19
· DOUGLAS COUNTY.
The preliminary surveying was done upon this line in January, IS72, and the ground broken the following April.
It has been graded for the most part, and in this county consider- able work has been done in the way of bridging. At the present time the prospect of an early completion of this road is not brilliant. The location is a desirable one and its friends are not altogether with- out hope of its becoming, at some time, one of the institutions of the State.
Other roads have been proposed which were designed to cross the county in some part, as a road front Pana to Tolono, through Garrett Township; a Mattoon and Danville, through Bowdre and Newman, and a Charleston and Danville, touching Sargent Town- ship, all of which have had preliminary surveys. Another proposed road is
THE TOLEDO AND ST. LOUIS
Which runs in a southwesterly direction from Arcola, has been graded for several miles. In October, 1871, delegations from Arcola and Tuscola met in Shelbyville, in the interests of this road and in that of their respective towns; this, of course, was whilst the Illinois Central was the only railroad in the county. The managers of this enterprise have a well grounded belief that the road will be pushed towards completion this season. And, finally,
THE TUSCOLA AND ROODHOUSE RAILROAD
Has a paper existence and a dignified president in Tuscola.
PROPORTION OF INDEBTEDNESS ASSUMED.
In the act creating the county of Douglas, the new county became responsible for one-fourth part of the indebtedness of Coles county to the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad, and accordingly, at a special meeting of the County Board, January S, IS68, the county purchased of John Monroe, of Coles county, bonds numbers i to 15 inclusive amounting to $19,070.98, and also paid interest on a remaining $10,000, amounting to $7,Soo, and since, about $12,500 of interest and principal, making a total cost to the county, in the transaction, of $39.370.98. Coles county had taken $100,000 in the stock of the road, now called the I. & St. L.
20
HISTORY OF
·
ALMS HOUSE.
-
The county owns the southeast quarter of section 36, township 16 north, range 9 east, 160 acres of prairie about 21/2 miles east of the county seat and has erected a large two-story frame building for an Alms House.
The final deed for the land was made by the I. C. R. R. in April 1871, to Messrs. Sluss, Brown and Jones, the County Court, in pursuance of a contract formerly made with them. The farm cost about $6,400, to which the value of the buildings may be added.
The present lessee of the property agrees to board paupers at the rate of $3.00 each per week, and to pay $3.So per acre, per annum, for the land.
But few paupers are regularly at the Alms House, the greater num- ber being boarded by private parties at the expense of the county, and in some instances the poor have been allowed a weekly stipend at their own homes, which in many cases has been found to be more economical.
The pauper levy is from $3.000 to $4,000 per annum.
21
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
THE WAR RECORD.
In the war between the States, 1861, the county contributed lib- erally, being of the first to respond to the call for soldiers.
The first full company-"D," 21st Ill .- went out under the com- mand of Capt. James E. Callaway, of Tuscola, who became Lieu- tenant Colonel. President Grant was the first Colonel of this Regi- ment. B. Frank Reed, of Bowdre Township, was also a Captain of this company. He died September, 1865, of wounds received at Chicamauga. Wm. Brian was the first Captain of company "H," 25th Regiment. Four companies were made up for the 79th, Allen Buckner, of Arcola, being the Colonel. A. Van Deren, of Tuscola, was Captain of company "B," Wm. A. Low, of Newman, was Cap- tain of company "E," Oliver O. Bagley, of Camargo, was Captain of company "G," and Dr. H. D. Martin, of Arcola, was Captain of com- pany "K." Dr. Martin died of wounds received at Liberty Gap, June 25, 1863. Gilbert Summe, of Tuscola, was Captain of company "A," 70th Ill., a three months regiment. Derrick Lamb, of Tuscola, was Captain of company "F," 149th, and afterward of company "G," 135th. J. M. Maris, of Tuscola, was Quarter-Master in the 63d Reg- iment. J. B. McCown, of Camargo, was Colonel of the 63d, in which Regiment J. W. Mckinney, was Surgeon. W. H. Lamb, of Tuscola, was Adjutant of the 79th. Wesford Taggart of Tuscola, was Lieutenant Colonel of the 25th. Dr. J. L. Reat was Surgeon of the 21st.
A large number enlisted in the 1st, 2d, 5th, 7th and 13th Cavalry, the Chicago Light Artillery, the Sth and 55th Infantry of Illinois, and the ist Missouri State Militia.
22
HISTORY OF
Henry Von Trebra, of Arcola, was Colonel of the 32d Indiana. He died at Arcola in August, 1863. Simeon Paddleford, of Tuscola, was a Quarter-Master in the 21st Illinois.
These are probably enough to indicate, measurably, the part of Douglas county in the war of 1861. The report of the Adjutant General of the State, on file in the County Clerk's office contains all possible information under this head except the actual number of men from the county in tabular form.
In July, 1862, the sum of $2,000 was appropriated by the County Board to aid enlistments and the Magistrates were made distributors, in conjunction with the Board. A. G. Wallace and John Chandler were appointed to procure and present to the 79th Illinois a hundred dollar flag.
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
Masonry is represented in the county by four Lodges, which, in order of priority, are in Tuscola, Arcola, Newman and Camargo, with an aggregate membership of 360, and Odd Fellowship by four Lodges, Arcola, Tuscola, Newman and Hindsporo, with a member- ship of 185, which gives a total membership, in the societies, of 545, or about one-sixth of the voters of the county .*
*For a more particular account see Township Histories.
23
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
NEWSPAPERS, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
There are published in the county five weekly newspapers, of which Tuscola and Arcola have two cach and Newman one.
The county contains thirty-two churches of the various denomi- nations of which seven are in Arcola, five in Tuscola, two in Newman and one in Bourbon, or one church to every five hundred inhabitants.
There are eighty school houses, giving educational facilities to 5,600 pupils, or an average of 70 to the school, the expense being about $3.00 per annum per scholar.
The act admitting Illinois to the Union in IS18, provides for the reservation of one-36th part of all the public lands, for school purposes, and Section 16 of each Township had been accordingly set apart for the benefit of its inhabitants. In all cases, in this county, Section 16 has been sold too early to realize a large amount of money, the land having been sold, in instances, as low as $2,00 per acre.
A common fund for the promotion of education, generally, was also established by the United States Government, through the annual payment to the State, of three per cent of the net avails of the public lands within its limits. Of this fund one-sixth part is appropriated to the erection and support of a collegiate institute. Other funds, to a very generous extent, have been provided, from all of which sources arises a large annual income.
24
HISTORY OF
MISCELLANEOUS.
-
DEFALCATION.
In January, 1874, James T. Walker, who had been re-elected to the office of County Treasurer in 1871, upon settling his accounts preparatory to surrendering the office to Mr. J. M. Cox, of Arcola Township, his successor, was found to be in default to the county in the sum of $14,295.29.
His sureties being, for the most part, of the most substantial citi- izens, he was given every opportunity to make up his accounts out of property of various descriptions, which was in his name, but failing to meet the full requirements of the case and becoming alarmed for his personal liberty, as criminal prosecution was threatened, he escaped from custody, at his home, and under cover of darkness made good his escape. A reward of $1,000 was at once offered for his appre- hension.
A petition, signed by a large number of tax-payers, representing a considerable portion of the wealth of the county, was presented to the Board of Supervisors, at the March meeting, 1874, praying for the release of his bondsmen, but the Board did not see fit to grant the prayer, and a suit was instituted to recover the amount of the sureties, in which the claim of the county was successfully pressed by R. B. Macpherson, assisted by E. L. Sweet, of Champaign. The interests of the bondsmen were in the hands of Thomas E. Bundy and T. H. Macoughtry, of Tuscola.
An adjustment was finally effected by a compromise between the county and Walker's bondsmen, upon their paying $13,000 and accrued interest from date of judgment. Walker's assets of whatever kind realized some $8,000 or $9,000, a relief to his sureties to that extent,
25
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
In this unpleasant transaction the county had to sustain a loss of about $3,000.
Walker was pitied more than blamed in this matter, and perhaps, generally, deemed more unfortunate than sinning.
COMPARATIVE VALUE OF PROPERTY, 1859, 1875-
1859.
1875.
Number.
Value.
Av. Val.
Number.
Value.
Av. Val.
Horses
3,180
$173,190
$ .54
8,316
$360,821
$ .43
Cattle ..
6,814
91,292
.13
16,349
278,027
I7
Mnles and Asses
13,385
.74
1,318
68,396
52
Sheep ..
3,SIS
4,762
1.22
4,940
6,686
1.35
Hogs
12,319
25,354
2.00
24,969
72,723
3.00
1859.
1875.
Personal
$ 494,039
$1,SOS,837
Real Estate.
. 1,414,797
4,648,070
Town Lots.
36,325
664,810
Total
$1,945,161
$7,121,717
Annual settlements with the Treasurer show the steady decrease of yearly expenses of the county, there having been collected for 1868, $42,022; 1869, $39,539; 1870, $33,678; 1871, $26,798; 1872, $29,000; 1873, $26,196; 1874, $24,586. The levy in 1875 was made for $17,000, there being due the county $5,000 on the Walker com- promise, which makes $22,000 provided in 1875.
POPULATION OF DOUGLAS COUNTY.
The population of the county by the Sth Census, in 1860, was 7,140; State Census in 1865 gave 11,652; per 9th Census in 1870, 13,484. The number of inhabitants was about doubled the first ten years. The increase from 1860 to 1865 was about sixty per cent., and from 1865 to 1870 about fifteen per cent., the same latter increase to date would give the number of inhabitants at about 15,000 or more, or about thirty-three persons to the square mile, in 1870, and about
26
HISTORY OF
thirty-six in 1875. By the Census of 1870 the population was distrib- uted in the Townships as follows:
Tuscola ..
2,863
Arcola.
2,332
Camargo
I,SOS
Garrett
1,599
Bourbon
1,457
Bowdre.
1,313
Newman
1,070
Sargent ..
1,035
Total.
13.484
Of which ninety-seven were colored persons and 688 were foreign born, but as Newman has rapidly increased since 1870 that Township now ranks third or fourth in population, the number of inhabitants in Newman city alone being over 1,000 in I876.
ACREAGE, DOUGLAS COUNTY, IS76.
TOWNSHIPS.
Cultivated. Not Cult.
Total.
Tuscola
38.143
40
38, 183
Arcola .
33,296
668
33,964
Camargo.
36,670
2,019
38,689
Garrett
30,666
SoS
31,274
Bourbon
24,291
2,884
27,175
Bowdre
29,201
1,736
30,937
Newman.
29,560
796
30,356
Sargent
28,156
1,657
29,813
Totals
249,983
10,408
260,391
I., D. & S. Railway
2So
I. M. Railway
182
Town Lots ..
1,477
Total acreage of the county
262,332
Or 409.89 square miles.
27
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
THE DOUGLAS CO. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
Is recorded as having been instituted on March 5, 1866, Caleb Garrett, President, Joseph B. McCown, Vice-President, and the first Board of Directors were, Wm. Brian, of Tuscola Township; Wm. F. Murphy, of Sargent; George W. Henson, of Camargo; L. McAllister, of Arcola, and E. McCarty, of Tuscola Township. Shares were put at $5.00, and the Society was formed for the purpose of holding an Annual County Fair, and for other purposes. This Society occupies grounds belonging to the
DOUGLAS COUNTY PARK ASSOCIATION,
Which, instituted in 1868, purchased 30 acres south side west half lot 3, northwest quarter section 2, township 15, range S, half mile south of Tuscola, and issued shares at $25 each, improved the grounds with suitable buildings, trotting course and a substantial tight board fence, at a total expense of not less than $4,000.
THE COUNTY OFFICERS
Of Douglas county, from its organization in 1859:
JUDGES AND ASSOCIATE JUSTICES. Judge-James Ewing. Associates-Robert Hopkins, John D. Murdock, elected April, 1859.
Judge-Francis C. Mullen. Associates-John D. Murdock, Caleb Bales, elected November, 1861.
Judge-Thomas S. Sluss. Associates-John Brown, John J. Henry, elected Novemher, 1865. Calvin Jones, elected June, 1867.
Judge-Thomas S. Sluss, elected November, 1869.
Judge-Noah Amen, elected November, 1873.
COUNTY CLERKS. John Chandler, elected April 1859; re-elected 1861. William H. Lamb, elected November, 1865. John C. Parcel, elected November, 1869. Daniel O. Root, elected November 1873.
CIRCUIT CLERK AND RECORDER.
A G. Wallace, elected April, 1859. P. C. Sloan, elected November, 1872.
28
HISTORY OF
.
ASSESSOR AND TREASURER.
William Hancock, elected April, 1859. George W. Flynn, elected November, 1861. V. C. McNeer, elected November, 1863. Henry B. Evans, elected November, 1865; re-elected Nov., 1867. After Township organization the office was called
COLLECTOR AND TREASURER.
James T. Walker, elected November, 1869; re-elected Nov., 1871. James M. Cox, elected November, 1873.
Henry R. Ingraham, elected November, 1875.
SHERIFFS.
Samuel B. Logan, elected April, 1859.
Parmenas Watson, elected November, IS60.
William T. French, elected November, 1862. Isaac L. Jordon, elected November, 1864.
Henry C. Carico, elected November, 1866.
N. Rice Gruelle, elected November, IS6S.
Newton I. Cooper, elected November, 1870.
James H. Shawhan, elected November, IS71.
Francis G. Cunningham, elected November, 1872; re-elected November, 1874.
SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOLS.
Wm. H. Sipple, elected April, 1859. S. S. Irwin, elected November, 1861.
J. Frank Lamb, elected November, 1863. W. W. Monroe, elected November, 1865.
Samuel T. Callaway, elected November, 1869; re-elected November, IS73.
C. W. Woolverton, appointed September, 1875.
J. W. King, elected November, 1875.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Henry C. Niles, elected April, 1859; re-elected November, 1861. Issachar Davis, elected November, 1863. Enos C. Siler, elected November, 1865. Issachar Davis, elected November, 1867. Edmund Fish, elected November, 1869. Henry C. Niles, elected November, 1871. Issachar Davis, elected November, 1875.
29
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
The offices of County Judge and Associates, prior to Township organization, consisted of three, chosen at large from the county, and gave place to the present Board of Supervisors in 1868, in which each of the Townships, eight in number, elect a representative to serve one year, from the first Tuesday in April. The emoluments of the offices of County Judge and Associates were nominal, being a small per diem and mileage for twelve to twenty days in the year.
THE COUNTY JUDGE,
Under the present system, is Probate Judge, and has civil jurisdiction to the amount of $500. He is elected every four years, the first hav- ing been elected in November, 1869. The salary is from $500 to $600, at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors, and can legally be put at $1,500.
THE COUNTY CLERK'S
Position, under County organization, and prior to the Constitution of IS70, was worth all the fees of the office, which were over $3,000 and probably in some instances amounted to $4,000. The present salary, under the law, can not exceed $1,500 and must be made out of the office, the county not being liable for any shortage in his pay, the bal- ance, if any over $1,500, being paid into the county treasury. He is entitled to pay for necessary assistance. The present emoluments of this office can only be increased by the county leaving the first class where it belongs and taking place in the second class, which requires a population of 20,000, when the salary may be, but can not exceed, $2,000. The present population is about 15,000. The office at pres- ent is a profit to the county of about $1,000 per year. The County Clerk is elected to serve four years. The first regular election having been held in November, 1861, therefore the election is held in the odd year.
THE CIRCUIT CLERK AND RECORDER
Is allowed $1,500 and clerk hire. This office is subject to the same rules as that of the County Clerk, and the present pay can only be increased by an increase of population to 20,000, when it may be $2,000. All over $1,500 and assistance is paid into the treasury. Prior to the Constitution of IS70 this office was worth all the fees, which were between $3,000 and $4,000. This officer also serves four years. The first regular term began in November, 1860, the election taking place in the even numbered years, being at each Presidential election. The County Clerk and the Circuit Clerk and Recorder, it
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