USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 4
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IHISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
principal meridian ; thenee north to the northwest corner of township 22 north ; thence east to the state line; thenee south with the state line to the place of beginning.
Vermilion county was formed out of territory attached to Edgar county for county purposes.
Edgar county was organized January 3, 1823, and at that date the territory now embraced in Vermilion county was attached to the county of Edgar.
Clark county was organized March 22, 1819, and at that date the territory now comprising the county of Vermilion formed part of Clark.
Crawford county was organized December 31, 1816, and at that date the territory now embraced in Vermilion county formed part of Crawford.
Edwards county was organized November 28, 1814, and at that date the territory now embraced in Vermilion county formed part of Edwards.
St. Clair county was organized April 28, 1809, and at that date the territory now embraced in Vermilion county formed part of St. Clair.
The territory attached to Vermilion county embraced all the country now ocenpied by Champaign, Iroquois and Ford counties; two tiers of townships on the east side of Livingston ; two-thirds of the width of Grundy county south of the Kankakee, and nearly one and one-half congressional townships in the south- west corner of Will.
Iroquois county was formed February 26, 1833.
Champaign county was formed February 20, 1833.
Livingston county was formed February 27, 1837. Grundy county was formed February 17, 1841. Will county was formed January 12, 1836. Ford county was formed February 17, 1859.
Very respectfully yours,
Henry D. Dement, Secretary of State.
Although Ford was the last county of the state organized, she is not the least as many suppose.
In population Ford county numbered as follows: 1860, 1,979; 1870. 9,103; 1880, 1.505; 1900, 18,259. At the date of the last census there were twenty-six counties in this state containing a less number of inhabitants than Ford.
Forty-five counties have a smaller aereage than this county, as shown by the reports of the State Board of Equalization.
This county received its name in honor of Thomas Ford, the eighth governor
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
of Illinois (if the administration of W. L. D. Ewing, covering sixteen days, is to be counted as a term, otherwise Governor Ford's would be the seventh).
Thomas Ford was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in the year 1800. Ilis father was killed by the Indians when Thomas was but two years oldl. In 1804, his mother, with her large family of children, removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and two years later settled in Monroe county, Illinois.
This mother was a good manager, energetic, and determined that her sons should become good citizens. Governor Ford's boyhood was mostly spent in earning something for the family support, attending an occasional session of the county school, and one term at the Transylvania University. IIe then studied law with Daniel P. Cook, a congressman, and soon thereafter com- manded a remunerative class of clients.
In 1829, he was appointed prosecuting attorney, and was reappointed in 1831.
Afterward he served two terms as circuit judge, one term as judge of the circuit court at Chicago, and one term as judge of the supreme court. In 1837 the financial panic then sweeping over the country visited Illinois with the most destructive effect. The state had become embarrassed as a consequence of loaning her credit to various projects of internal improvements, notably that of building railroads. and for the purpose of establishing a state bank and branches. The panic came, the internal improvement plans collapsed, the banks failed, the state bonds experienced a heavy decline, public confidence was lost, credit disappeared, and business of every kind was completely prostrated. This unfortunate condition of affairs continued for a period of several years. In 1842, Thomas Ford was chosen governor; the state debt then amounted to fourteen million dollars. It was during his able administration, and chiefly upon his recommendation, that a series of wise financial measures were brought forward in legislature. The fallen credit of the commonwealth was restored, confidence reestablished, and a fresh impetus given to trade and agricultural enterprise.
In his first message, he says: "We must convince our creditors and the world that the disgrace of repudiation is not countenanced among us, that we are honest and mean to pay as soon as we are able."
When Governor Ford delivered the reins of government to his successor, in- stead of a domestic debt for the ordinary expenses of the state amounting to almost one-third of a million dollars, we find it reduced to thirty-one thousand two hundred twelve dollars, with nine thousand two hundred sixty dollars in the treasury.
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
Governor Ford in his personality is described as "short in stature, slender, dark complexioned, heavy dark hair, deep set eyes, sharp nose and small mouth."
He says in his valedictory message: "Without having indulged in wasteful or extravagant habits of living, I retire from office poorer than I came in, and go to private life with the full determination not to seek again any place in the government."
He died at Peoria November 2, 1850, in very indigent circumstances.
FORD COUNTY ORGANIZED.
An act to Create the County of Ford and for Other Purposes :
Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the state of Illinois represented in the general assembly, That all that portion of Vermilion county lying and be- ing within the following boundaries and described as follows, to-wit:
Beginning at the northeast corner of Champaign county, running thence north of the south line of Iroquois county, thence west to the southwest corner of Iroquois county, thence north to the northwest corner of Iroquois county, thence west to Livingston county, thence south to the southeast corner of Livingston county, thence west to MeLean county, thence south to the northwest corner of Champaign county, thence east to the place of beginning, be and the same is hereby created into a new county, to be called the county of Ford: Provided that a majority of all the- legal voters of said county of Vermilion voting on the question shall vote for said new county, at an election to be held in manner hereinafter provided.
See 2. The qualified voters of said county of Vermilion may at a special election to be held in the several towns in said county on the first Tuesday in April next, vote for or against the creation of said new county of Ford by ballot upon which shall be written or printed or partly written and partly printed the words, "For the new county," or "Against the new county."
Sec. 3. The clerk of the county court of said county of Vermilion shall give notice of said election in the several election districts of said county in the same manner as notice of general or especial elections are given in counties which have not adopted township organization as nearly as may be, and the judges and clerks of election in the several election districts of said county shall keep a list of the voters polled at said election, and conduct the same in all respects and make return thereof to the clerk of the county court in the same manner as is provided by law for general elections. All vacancies in the board of election shall
COUNTY COURT HOUSE. PAXTON.
1900
U.S. Willie 1900
THE OLD COURT HOUSE, PAXTON
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
be filled in the same manner as is provided by law in other cases. The clerk of said county court shall within seven days after said election, or as soon there- after as said returns shall be received, proceed to canvass the returns of said election in the same manner as in general elections, and shall within five days thereafter make return of said vote to the secretary of state.
Sec. 4. If it shall appear that a majority of all the voters in said county of Vermilion voting upon the question, have voted in favor of the creation of said new county of Ford, then there shall be held a special election in the several towns and precinets within the limits of this aet described for said new county of Ford, on the first Monday in June next for county officers. In case of frac- tional towns or precinets which have become detached by the boundaries of the said new county the voters thereof may at the first election for county officers vote within such town or precinct within said new county as they deem most convenient. The said election to be conducted by the judges of election then in office under appointment or election in said county of Vermilion, and to be held at the place of holding the last general election. In case of vacancy in the board of election, or non-attendance, said vacancy or place of any absentee shall be filled in the same manner as is provided by law in other cases of election. At which election the qualified voters of said county of Ford shall elect all county officers for said county except such as hereinafter are excepted who shall be com- missioned and qualified in the same manner as such officers are in other counties in this state, and who shall continue in office until the next general election for such officers and until their successors are elected and qualified, and who shall have all the jurisdiction and perform all the duties which are or may be con- ferred upon such officers in other connties of this state.
Sec. 5. All the justices of the peace, constables or other town or precinct officers who have been heretofore elected and qualified in said county of Ver- milion whose term of office shall not have expired at the time of said election and whose residence shall be embraced within the limits of said county of Ford shall continue in office until their term of office shall expire, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified.
Sec. 6. For the purpose of fixing the permanent location of the county seat of said county of Ford, the voters of said county shall at said election for county officers vote for some place to be designated upon their ballots for a county seat, upon which ballots shall be written or printed, or partly written and partly printed, "For county seat -" after which words shall be written or printed the name of the place intended for the county seat. The place receiving a majority of all the votes cast upon the question shall be the
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF IL
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
county seat of said county of Ford, but if no one place shall receive a majority of all the votes cast upon the question, then it shall be the duty of the county court of said county to call another election within thirty days thereafter at the several places of holding elections in said county, at which election the vot- ers of said county shall proceed to vote as before, but shall choose from the two places having the greater number of votes at the former election, and the place having the majority of all the votes cast at the second election shall be the permanent county seat of said county of Ford.
Sec. 7. The notice of said election for county officers shall be given by the clerk of the county court of Vermilion county in the same manner as in cases of general elections; said notice shall specify that a vote will be taken upon the location of the county seat. The returns of said election for county offi- vers shall be made to the clerk of said court, who shall cause the same to be opened and canvassed and returns thereof made in the same manner as is pro- vided by law in other cases.
Sec. 8. All suits and proseentions that have been or may be commenced in said county of Vermilion, including all the proceedings in the county court, in matters of probate before the organization of said county of Ford, shall not be affected by this act or the operation thereof, but all such suits, prosecutions and proceedings shall be prosecuted, and conducted to their final termination in said county of Vermilion, and the officers of said county are hereby author- ized to execute all writs that may be necessary for the completion of said suits. prosecutions or proceedings within the limits of said county of Ford, and all judgments that may have heretofore been obtained, or that may hereafter be obtained in said county of Vermilion before the organization of said county of Ford, shall have the same lien upon all property within the limits of said county of Ford as if the said territory had not been created into a separate county.
See. 9. As soon as the county officers shall have been elected and qualified as aforesaid, the said county of Ford shall be considered organized. The oath of office may be administered to the several county officers by any person within the limits of the new county authorized by law to administer oaths, and as soon as said county is organized, the clerk of the circuit court shall give notice thereof to the judge of the circuit in which said county may be embraced, who shall thereupon hold court at such place in said county of Ford as the county court thereof shall designate until the county seat of said county shall become permanently located as heretofore provided, which court shall be holden at such times as the judge of said cirenit shall appoint until otherwise provided
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
by law, the said county of Ford shall be taken and considered as a part of the eighth judicial eirenit.
See. 10. The school funds, if any, in the hands of the school commission- ers of Vermilion county belonging to the several towns or parts of towns embraced within the limits of said county of Ford, shall be by said commis- sioners paid over to the school commissioner of said county of Ford, so soon as he shall have given bond and been qualified on demand- made.
Sec. 11. The county court of said county of Ford shall at some term of said court, by an order to be entered upon their records, appoint some compe- tent person a commissioner for the purpose hereinafter expressed, who shall take an oath of office before some officer of said county authorized by law to administer oaths, said court shall at the same time provide a sufficient number of well bound blank books, and deliver the same to said commissioner, who shall receipt the same to the clerk of said court, and as soon as the same shall be delivered to said commissioners he shall record in each book a copy of the - order of appointment and oath of office, and shall thereupon proceed to trans- cribe into sueh books all deeds, mortgages and title papers of every descrip- tion, with the acknowledgments and certificates in relation thereto, of lands lying in the said county of Ford, which have been recorded, or may hereafter be recorded, before the organization of said county, in the recorder's office of said county of Vermilion. Such commissioner shall be allowed by said county court such sums as his services shall be worth, to be paid out of the county
treasury. Said commissioner shall note at the end of each paper he shall transeribe, the book and page from which the same was transcribed, and shall make a correct double index of said records, and on the completion of his duties, said commissioner shall return said books to the clerk of the cireuit court of the said county of Ford, whereupon they shall be taken and considered to all intents and purposes as books. of records of deeds, mortgages and title papers for said county of Ford, and copies of said records certified by the offi- eer having custody of the same shall be evidenced in all courts and places in the same manner that deeds and title papers regularly recorded in the record- er's office, an evidence and with the same effect.
Sec. 12. Of the swamp lands lying within the present limits of Vermilion county and of the proceeds of sales of said lands heretofore made, and which may hereafter be made before the organization of said county of Ford, after deducting all expenses paid by, and for which the said county of Vermilion may be liable. The said county of Ford shall receive and be entitled to a share in proportion to the number of congressional townships and parts of
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
townships lying within the boundaries of said county of Ford. and the share of said county of Vermilion to said lands and proceeds of sales thereof as aforesaid, shall be in proportion to the number of congressional townships and parts of townships remaining within the limits of said county of Vermilion after said county of Ford shall have been organized.
Sec. 13. The secretary of state shall forthwith furnish to the clerk of the county court of Vermilion county a certified copy of this act.
Sec. 14. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
William R. Morrison, Speaker of the House of Representatives. John Wood,
Speaker of the Senate.
Approved February 17, 1859,
William H. Bissell.
United States of America, SS.
State of Illinois. -
Office of Secretary.
I, Henry D. Dement, secretary of state of the state of Illinois, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of an act to create the county of Ford and for other purposes now on file in this office.
In witness whereof, I hereto set my hand and affix the great seal of state (L. S.) at the city of Springfield, this 11th day of June, A. D. 1883.
Henry D. Dement, Secretary of State.
Agreeably to the fourth section of the foregoing act, an election was held on the first Monday in June, 1859, in the new county of Ford, for county offi- ( ers. At the same time, in accordance with the sixth section, the location of the county seat was determined by the selection of Paxton, the name of the town at that time being Prospect City.
The following is a list of the county officers, from the first election, until the present time :
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
An act for establishing county courts, approved February 12, 1849, and in force at the time of the organization of Ford county, provided for the elec-
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
tion of a county judge. Also, that at the same time, "there shall be elected two justices of the peace, whose jurisdiction shall be coextensive with the county, and who shall hold their officers for four years." They were to give hond, and have the same powers as township justices and "moreover, sit with the county judge, as members of the court for the transaction of the county business, and none other, and while sitting as members of the court shall have an equal vote with the county judge on all questions and matters legally and properly before said court. The said judge with said two justices shall in all cases whatever, have, exercise and possess all the power, jurisdiction and authority heretofore conferred on the county commissioners court." To dis- tinguish these county justices from those of the several townships they were termed associate justices. In probate and certain other matters, the county judge acted alone.
It is our purpose to give a list of the members of this court followed by a list of the township supervisors, dating from the adoption of township organ- ization by this county. These supervisors, when met for county business, compose what is termed the board of supervisors, which takes the place of the county ecurt, consisting of the county judge and associate justices.
The records of Vermilion county show that that portion which now com- prises Ford county was organized as a township February 16, 1856, from Mid- dlefork township and named Prairie City township. Its name was changed to "Patton" September 15, 1857, on account of there being another Praire City township in the state.
Drummer Grove township was organized from Patton, September 14, 1858. and included the present townships of Drummer, Dix, Peach Orchard and Sul- livant. Stockton township was organized from Patton, March 15, 1859, and included the present townships of Lyman, Brenton, Pella, Mona and Rogers. Therefore, at the time of the organization of Ford county, it consisted of three townships, viz .: Patton, Drummer Grove and Stockton, the former at that time including the present townships of Patton, Button and Wall. The first court after the election in June. 1859, for the transaction of county business. was held by David Patton, county judge; William Swinford and Andrew J. Bartlett, associate justices.
April 3, 1860, Edmund F. Havens was elected associate justice in place of Andrew J. Bartlett, removed from the county.
November 6, 1860, township organization was adopted by the following vote : For, two hundred and sixty-five; against, seventy-six.
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
1861-James P. Button, Patton township; Andrew Jordan, Drummer's Grove; and George B. Winter, Stockton.
1862-James P. Button, Patton; Andrew Jordan, Drummer's Grove; Mark Parsons, Stockton.
1863-William Noel, Patton; William Snider, Drummer's Grove; Mark Parsons, Stockton.
September 14, 1863-The township of Grant was organized which com- prised the present townships of Mona and Rogers.
March 7, 1864-The name of Grant was changed to Rogers, and Stockton at this time, comprising the present townships of Lyman. Brenton and Pella. was changed to Brenton.
1864-William Noel, Patton; William Snider, Drummer's Grove; Mark Parsons, Brenton ; J. W. Rogers, Rogers.
September 12. 1864-Name of Drummer's Grove township changed to Dix.
December 13, 1864-E. M. Blackford took his seat as supervisor in place of William Snider, elected sheriff.
At this meeting the present township of Button was organized.
1865-James P. Button, Button; William Noel, Patton; J. W. Rogers, Rogers; George B. Winter, Brenton; J. E. Davis, Dix.
August 31. 1865-John J. Simons appointed county clerk, pro tempore, vice Nathan Simons, deceased.
December 4, 1865-William Walker took his seat as supervisor in place of James P. Button, elected county treasurer.
1867-J. P. Middlecoff, Patton; J. II. Kendall. Dix; J. Il. Flagg, But- ton ; D. B. Case, Rogers; S. E. Burt. Brenton.
June 12, 1867-The present township of Wall was organized
September 9, 1867-The present township of Lyman was organized.
September 10, 1867-The present township of Sullivant was organized.
1867-W. H. H. Wood, Patton ; J. H. Flagg, Button; M. L. Sullivant, Sul- livant; Sammel Woodward, Lyman; J. E. Davis, Dix; Edward Clayton, Rog- ers; William Liggett, Wall; L. T. Bishop, Brenton.
September 15, 1868-The present township of Peach Orchard was organized.
March 1, 1869-The present township of Drummer was organized and called Drummer's Grove.
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
1869-M. L. Sullivant, Sullivant; J. H. Flagg, Button ; L. T. Bishop, Bren- ton; D. B. Case, Rogers; Caleb Mckeever, Drummer's Grove; R. S. Chamber- lin, Dix; A. M. Haling, Lyman; John Kelley, Patton; William Noel, Wall; James Dixon, Peach Orchard.
March 2, 1870-The present township of Pella was organized and called Clyde.
Also present township of Mona organized and called Delhi.
The name of Drummer's Grove township was changed to that of Drummer.
1870-David Keighin, Delhi; J. D. Kilgore, Wall; C. E. Henderson, Pat- ton; B. H. McClure, Drummer; R. S. Chamberlin, Dix; P. S. Gose, Lyman ; L. T. Bishop, Brenton; J. H. Flagg, Button; D. B. Case, Rogers; W. B. Holmes, Peach Orehard; J. S. Ruff, Clyde ; M. L. Sullivant, Sullivant.
June 16, 1870-Name of Delhi township changed to Mona, and name of Clyde township changed to Pella.
1871-W. L. Conrow, Brenton; P. S. Gose, Lyman; D. B. Case, Rogers ; David Keighin, Mona; R. S. Chamberlin, Dix; B. H. McClure, Drummer ; William Noel, Wall; C. E. Henderson, Patton; J. H. Flagg, Button; M. L. Sullivant, Sullivant ; J. S. Ruff, Pella; T. D. Thompson, Peach Orchard.
December 12, 1871-M. M. Pulver took his seat as supervisor in place of W. L. Conrow, appointed county superintendent of schools.
1872-J. P. Middlecoff, Patton ; William Walker, Button; James Sheldon, Pella; David Keighin, Mona; Thomas Winstanley, Rogers; M. L. Sullivant, Sullivant; M. M. Pulver, Brenton; O. D. Sackett, Lyman; Levi Miller, Wall; R. S. Chamberlin, Dix; J. M. Sudduth, Drummer; Thomas F. Kingsley, Peach Orchard.
March 11, 1873-Albert Keith took his seat as supervisor in place of J. P. Middlecoff, elected to the general assembly.
1873-0. D. Sackett, Chairman, Lyman; Samuel Clayton, Rogers; David Keighin, Mona; Robert Wells, Pella; Hugh P. Beach, Brenton ; Thomas F. Kingsley, Peach Orchard; John H. Collier, Drummer; Edward Babcock, Wall ; Benjamin Ferris, Patton; R. N. Gorsuch, Button; M. L. Sullivant, Sullivant ; J. I. Robinson, Dix.
December 16, 1873-W. T. Morrison took his seat in place of R. N. Gor- such, elected county superintendent of schools. N. M. Ward took his seat in place of II. P. Beach, elected county judge.
1874-J. I. Robinson, chairman, Dix; Samuel Clayton, Rogers; Monroc Bute, Mona; L. T. Bishop, Brenton; H. B. Ferguson, Lyman; Thomas F. Kingsley, Peach Orchard; M. L. Sullivant, Sullivant; William Noel, Wall;
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
John H. Collier. Drummer; John M. Hall. Patton; J. C. Kirkpatrick, Button ; James Sheldon, Pella.
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