USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 6
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COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OR COMMISSIONER OF SCHOOLS.
This is an office which exists under one name or another in nearly every state in the Union. The title of the office in a great majority of the states is "county superintendent," but in Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, New York, and possibly one or two other states, the office is termed "school commissioner," and in several of the states the laws provide for a board of county examiners or school commissioners, who are given considerable of the work that in most of the other states is handled by the county superintendent.
The name of this office implies the duties which devolve upon it, and they are very much alike in all of the states. The incumbent of this office is charged with a general supervision over the schools of the county, and must be a fitting person as to education and moral character. As a rule it is his duty to examine the license teachers, but in a few of the states provision is made for a board of examiners. County superintendents are required to visit and inspect the schools at regular intervals, and give such advice and instrue- tion to teachers as may be deemed necessary and proper. They are required to organize and conduct institutions for the instruction of teachers if deemed necessary, and encourage teachers' associations. They introduce to the notice of teachers and the people the best modes of instruction, the most approved plans of building and ventilating schoolhouses, etc., stimulate school officers to the prompt and proper discharge of their duties. They receive reports
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
from the various school officers, and transmit an abstract of these reports to the state superintendent, adding a report of the condition of the schools under their charge. In nearly all the states they are forbidden having any interest in the sale of any school furniture, apparatus or books used in the schools. In many states they have authority to annul a teacher's certificate for proper canse, and in general to take such steps and enforce such methods as will ele- vate and make more efficient the schools under their control.
COUNTY, PROSECUTING OR STATES ATTORNEY.
There is a great difference between the various states in the method of handling or attending to the legal business relating to county matters or grow- ing from county affairs. In many of the states the official who attends to this line of work is known as the "county attorney," in other states he is called the states attorney or prosecuting or district attorney. In a few of the states they divide the state into districts embracing a number of counties, and a dis- triet attorney is elected in each district, who in some cases attends to all the legal work of the various counties, and in others he assists the county attorneys in their most important duties and prosecutions. But whatever plan may be followed in the various states, and whatever title may be given to this office, the general duties of the office are very much the same throughout all the states. It is the duty of the county attorney to commence and prosecute all actions, suits, indictments, and prosecutions, civil and criminal, in any court of record in his county in which the "people of the state or county" may be concerned; to prosecute all forfeited bonds and recognizances, and all actions for the recovery of debts, revenues, moneys, fines, etc., accruing to his county ; to commence and prosecute all actions and proceedings brought by any county officer in his official capacity; to defend all actions and proceedings brought against his county, or against any county officer in his official capacity; to give legal opinions and advice to the county board or other county officers in rela- tion to their official duties; to attend, if possible, all preliminary examinations of criminals. When requested he is required to attend sessions of the grand jury, examine witnesses in their presence, give legal advice and see that proper subpoenas and processes are issued; draw up indictments and prosecute the same. The county attorney is required, when requested by the attorney gen- eral, to appear for the state in cases in his county in which the state is inter- ested. The county attorney makes an annual report to his superior state officer of all the criminal cases prosecuted by him:
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IIISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
PROBATE OR COUNTY JUDGE.
The method of handling probate matters is not uniform throughout the various states. In many states the higher courts are given jurisdiction over probate matters, and in others they have created districts in which are held probate courts, whose jurisdiction extends over several counties and takes in other matters besides purely probate affairs. In a majority of the states, how- ever, particularly the western and northern states, they elect a county or a probate judge, who holds court and handles the probate matters which arise within his county. The jurisdiction of these county or probate courts is not always confined exclusively to probate matters, and they generally include such matters as apprenticeship affairs, adoptions, minors, etc. In some of the states they have both a county judge and a probate judge, and in these cases the jurisdiction of the latter is confined to such matters as are in line with
probate matters. In Missouri they have a probate judge, and also a county court, composed of county judges, in whom the corporate powers of the county are vested-as the official county board. In Michigan they have a probate judge and a probate register. The probate judge is generally given original jurisdiction in all matters of probate, settlement of estates of deceased per- sons, appointment of guardians and conservators and settlement of their accounts. They take proof of wills, direct the administration of estates, grant and revoke letters testamentary and of administration, appoint and remove guardians, etc.
COUNTY SURVEYOR.
This is an office which is common to nearly all of the states. It is the duty of the county surveyor to execute any survey which may be ordered by any court, or upon application of any individual or corporation, and preserve a record of the surveys made by him. Nearly all of the states provide that certain records shall be kept by the county surveyor and provide penalties for his failure to place on record the surveys made by him. While he is the offi- cial surveyor, yet the surveys made by him are not conclusive, but may be reviewed by any competent tribunal, and the correctness thereof may be disputed.
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IHISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
COUNTY CORONER.
This is another county office which exists in nearly all of the states. In the average county there is not much work for the coroner, but in the counties in which large cities are located the office is a very important one. In general terms it may be stated that the coroner is required to hold inquests of per- sons supposed to have met with violent or unnatural deaths. In most states he has power to empanel a jury to enquire into the cause of death; but in some of them this is not the case, and he is given power to act alone. IIe can subpoena witnesses; administer oaths; in certain cases provide for a decent burial, and can bind over to the proper court any person implicated in the killing of the deceased.
OTHIER COUNTY OFFICES.
The county offices that have already been mentioned are the principal ones found in all of the states. There are, however, a few other county officials besides those mentioned which exist in many of the states, and which should be briefly mentioned in this connection. These are such offices as county phy- sician, county assessor, county collector, county poor commissioner or superin- tendent of the county poorhouse. master in chancery or court commissioner. county examiners, board of equalization, board of review, etc. The names of these offices imply the duties. These offices do not exist in all of the states. but in nearly every state the law provides for one or more of these county officials.
COUNTY BOARD.
The powers of every county as a body politie and corporate are vested in a county board. This official county board is generally termed the county "board of supervisors" or "board of commissioners," but there are some exceptions to this, like Missouri, where the conuty board is known as the "county court." There is considerable difference in the makeup of the county board in the various states. In some it is made up of one member from each township in the county. In others the counties are divided into districts, and one member of the county board is chosen from each district. No general description of this could be given that would be accurate, as some of the states follow both of these plans. For instance, in Illinois some of the counties are
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governed by a board of supervisors, which is made up of one member from each township, while other counties in the same state are governed by a board of county commissioners, consisting of three or more members. each represent- ing districts into which the counties in question are divided.
The general powers of the county board throughout all the states, is about the same, except in minor details. It represents the legislative and corporate powers of the county. One of their number is always chosen as chairman or president, and acts as the presiding officer. The county board has general charge over the affairs of the county. It is their duty to provide county offices, provide desks, stationery, books, fuel, etc .; examine, investigate and adjust claims against the county and have general care and custody of all the real and personal estate owned by the county. At regular intervals they set- tle with the county treasurer; examine accounts and vouchers. They locate county roads; determine the amount of county tax, and regularly publish a statement of their proceedings; make statements of receipts, expenditures, etc .; and make all contracts, and do all other acts in relation to the property and concerns of the county necessary to exercise its corporate powers that are not especially delegated to any other county officials.
TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT.
The method of township government throughout the different states varies so much that it is impossible to treat of it more than in a general way. In many of the states the townships are not organized as bodies corporate, and in other states in some counties they may have township organization, while in other counties in the same state it does not exist. In cases where there is no township organization the law provides that certain county officers shall attend to the local work, or that work which in other localities is assumed by the town- ship officials. But even where they have township organization the plan of township government in the different states where it exists differs so widely that scarcely any two states may be said to be alike. About the only statements concerning the organized townships that could be made which would apply to all the states are the following: Every organized township in its corporate capacity has power to sue and be sued; to acquire by purchase, gift or devise, and hold property, both real and personal, for the use of its inhabitants, and again to sell and convey.the same; and to make all such contracts as may be necessary in the exercise of its powers as a township.
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
In a great many of the states the township government is carried on after a plan very similar to the county and state governments. having various execu- tive officers and a township board in which the corporate and legislative pow- ers 'of the township are vested. In other states they follow a plan which reserves to the people all corporate and legislative powers, and therefore have no need for a township board, but have various township officers to carry out the wishes and orders of the voters. Where this plan prevails they ho'ld what it generally termed "town meetings," at which every legal voter of the town- ship has a voice. At these meetings reports are had from the various town- ship officials, and the necessary measures are adopted and directions given for carrying on the township business.
Still other states combine good features from both of the plans above mentioned. and besides the other usual township officials they maintain a town- ship board, which is given certain restricted powers, such as those of a review or an auditing board, but they are not vested with the complete corporate and legislative powers of the township, this being reserved in a large measure to the voters, and a'll questions calling for the exercise of such authority are acted upon at the town meetings. In many of the states the township board just described is made up of three or more of the other township officers, who are ex officio members of the township board, and they meet at certain times, per- form the work required of them, and report to the town meetings.
. The principal officials in township organizations in nearly all the states are the following: "Supervisors, or trustees," "clerk." "treasurer." "asses- sor." "collector," "justices of the peace." "constables." "overseers," "super- visors or commissioners of highways." and "pound-masters." although as has been stated, many of the states do not have all of these officials.
The following is a list of the several townships composing the county of Ford, with the date of their organization, as a part of Ford county.
When the county was organized in June, 1859. it was divided into three townships: Patton, Stockton and Drummer Grove, and out of these three have been created the following :
Rogers organized September 14. 1863
Brenton organized March 17, 1864
Button .organized December 13. 1864
.organized September 12, 1864 Dix
.organized April 2. 1867 Wall
Sullivant .organized September 10. 1867
Lyman organized September 10, 1867
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
Peach Orchard .organized September 15, 1868
Pella
.organized March 2. 1870
Mona
organized March 2, 1870
Patton
organized February 16, 1856
Drummer organized September 14. 1858
PAXTON.
The city of Paxton is laid out in sections 7, 8. 17 and 18, in range 10 east. in the township of Patton. Most of it lies in sections 7 and 8. Nearly all of the blocks, lots and streets are laid ont parallel with the Illinois Central Rail- road. or on an angle of about fifteen degrees. The original town consisting of thirty-five blocks, lying on both sides of the railroad, was laid off in the spring of 1857, by A. D. Southworth, deputy county surveyor of Vermilion county. The land was owned by W. H. Pells. R. R. Murdock, Leander Britt, Benjamin Stites and D. Donally. The next addition to the town was the railroad addition, laid out north of the original town, in the spring of 1858, for Joseph E. Austin, A. H. Reynolds, Hiram C. Todd, L. Britt, R. R. Murdock and W. H. P'ells. This addition consisted of fourteen whole blocks and twenty-one fractional blocks.
In 1867, W. HI. Pells laid out Pells' addition west of the Illinois Central Railroad, consisting of twelve fractional blocks, adjoining the original town on the west, and the same year James Mix laid out forty-three blocks lying north and west of the railroad addition.
The next addition to Paxton was Pells' addition east of the Illinois Central Railroad, laid out in 1870, for William H. Pells, by H. JJ. Howe, county surveyor. This addition joins the original town on the east, and contains nineteen blocks. A small addition was laid off by Surveyor Howe, in the fall of 1870 for J. E. Hall and George Schlosser, consisting of one block, of fourteen lots, known as Hall's addition.
In 1875, R. R. Murdock laid off twenty-nine lots. in the northeast part of the town known as Murdock's addition. In March, 1877. S. JJ. Toy and A. C. Thompson, owners of lots 5 and 6 in Goodrich's subdivision caused a resurvey to be made, paying them off into four blocks of thirty-five lots, known as Toy & Thompson's addition.
Paxton City Hall » Water Tower
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
THE NAME.
Paxton has not always been the name of this town. When originally laid ont, it was called Prospect City, and before that time it was known as Prairie City, which was also the name of the township before being changed to Patton. It continued to be called Prospect City until September, 1859, when a petition was presented to the county court, asking it to change the name of Prospect City to Paxton. The petition was granted, "and the place heretofore known as Prospect City shall hereafter be known by the name of Paxton."
It is authoritatively reported that Sir Richard Paxton, of England, was JOSE organizing a colony in that country to settle in Illinois, and it was thought that by naming this town Paxton, in honor of him, it might have some influence in inducing him to settle here.
This gentleman has a name in history as being the architect of the first crystal palace in London.
The change of name did not have the desired effect, but as the authorities saw no good reason for changing the name in consequence of this failure the name is still Paxton, and down in history.
EARLY COMERS TO THE CITY PRIOR TO 1859.
William Goodrich, John P. and Samuel L. Day, Charles and Fred Cloyes, John Buell, Thomas Buell, James Buek, J. F. Hall, Charles Oakley, S. M. Brown, Benjamin Stites, B. F. Stites, R. R. Murdock, L. Britt, W. H. Pells, James Cloyes, A. Martin, J. T. Bullard, I. W. Shilling, J. Covalt. N. Simons, O. B. Taft, John and Martin Ross, Dr. P. Myers, Henry Barnhouse, Alexander H. Hanley, John Hanley, Wheeler Bentley, Samuel L. Blain, Dr. John Mills, Dr. S. H. Birney, Dr. Way, Dr. Spencer, Dr. Camp, L. II. Tabor, William and Stacey Daniels, Thomas Lyon, A. MeElroy, J. T. Nicholson, John J. Heckler, W. B. Swisher, Thomas Swisher, Paul Cooley, Dryden Donally, John S. Murdock, Ed Seymour, William Seville, A. B. Morey, Daniel Elms, George Forbes, Squire L. Edgar, Arthur Campbell, William and Henry Schenk, Benjamin Smith, Howard Case, Thomas Daniel, Henry R. Daggett, John Ryan, Elihn Swisher, Thomas F. Townsley, Edward L. Gill and W. H. Bruyn.
PAXTON IN THE PAST.
The first house in Paxton was the house owned by William Goodrich, which was originally built on the west side of the railroad, about one hundred yards
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
south of Ottawa street, and occupied as a boarding-house for men who were constructing the railroad.
In the spring of 1854, this house was moved up to Ottawa street and occu- pied by Mr. Goodrich as a dwelling. He afterward kept a store in the same building. This house was burned about 1877. Previous to this, however, a building had been erected by B. F. and J. N. Stites, on the present site of the Glen cemetery, this, properly speaking, was not in the limits of Prospect City as afterward laid out. In the fall of 1854, John Murphy built the later Stites' residence, and about the same time Stites Brothers put up a store building right opposite. Prospect City could not really be said to have any boom until 1857, the buildings erected previons to this date being those already mentioned, and I. W. Shilling's boarding-house adjacent to the Stites' residence on the east, afterward removed; the residence of Thomas Daniels within the same inclosure as the boarding-house, was used by Stites Brothers for a wagon-house. Directly opposite the Daniels' house stood the small octagon building which stood just across the road from the old cemetery. This building was occupied as a meet-
ing place for the Spiritual Cirele, their moving spirit being a certain Dr. Spencer. In 1856, the Stites Brothers sold out their store to Dryden Donally, who erected a residence between the store building and the one already men- tioned as occupied by the Spiritualists. About this time Stacey Daniels built a house on the site that was occupied by Captain Shepardson's handsome residence.
In 1857 a small hotel was built on the southwest corner of bloek 13, original town, east of the railroad, and called the City Hotel. This building was after- ward moved up near the depot, on the northeast corner of block 4, enlarged and christened the Bennett House. This hotel was destroyed by fire. Closely following those already mentioned came the store of Henry Barnhouse, Patton's block, and Abe Martin's store building on the east side of the railroad; and on the west side was Cloyes Brothers' store, on lot 1, block 12, now Lundberg's drug store; R. Clark's house on block 4, and the nucleus of the old Occidental IIotel. Our space will not warrant us to enter into a more general detail. Suffice to say, that stores, residences and offices rapidly multiplied from that time forward.
The first voting place was at Goodrich's residence, and afterward at the City Hotel.
First term of circuit court was held at the City Hotel, afterward at Hanley's Hall, in a building adjoining the Patton block on the west.
At an early date the postoffice was kept by Henry Barnhouse, at his store, nearly opposite the residence of B. Q. Cherry, just west of Paxton on the
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
Ottawa road, and our best information is that upon his removal to Paxton, Mr. Barnhouse brought the postoffice with him. The name of the postoffice was Ten Mile Grove, and when he opened the office here it was changed to Prospect City. £ It is thought by some that before the latter name was adopted it was called Prairie City. The office was next kept in the store of Cloyes Brothers.
The first child born in this city was Milton B. Swisher, in 1857, in the house that was occupied by the Stites family.
The first death was the wife of Stacey Daniels. She was buried in the old cemetery south of town.
The first marriage license issued in Ford county was by Nathan Simons, the clerk, to Charles W. Searing and Miss Sarah Bowles. They were married July 3, 1859, by Rev. A. C. Edwards.
J. D. Wilson started a harness shop in 1865, in a building that was just north of the Occidental Hotel. A Mr. Seeley opened the first shop here.
Messrs. Case & Williams started the first livery stable which stood on block 12, opposite where Putt's livery stable afterward stood.
Edward L. Gill opened the first butcher shop.
The first druggist here was J. McCormick, who had his store where Dahl- gren's grocery store stood.
Henry Daggett had a tinshop which stood on the corner of block 4, where Clark's block now stands.
John J. Heckler was a shoemaker and had his shop in a back room of Seymour's house.
Edward Seymour opened the first blacksmith shop just west of the store of Henry Barnhouse.
William Daniels was the first carpenter, and Stacey Daniels the first mason in the town.
In 1858, forty-two houses were standing in Prospect City, and during a heavy wind storm, twenty-two of them were blown off their foundation and had to be repaired.
James Buck built the first elevator, which stood where White Brothers lumberyard stood.
Papineau & Martin had the first wagon shop; it stood on block 30, near where Mr. Hefner's house stood.
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
The census of Ford county for 1860 reveals the fact that Paxton at that time had only two hundred and seventy-five inhabitants. As yet the little vil-
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
lage had no corporate existence, but in the spring of 1861, as the records show. "the citizens of Paxton convened, pursuant to notice, in Patton's Hall, for the purpose of electing five trustees for said town." At this election, which was held April 15, 1861, John P. Day, James G. Cloyes, L. HI. Tabor. L. B. Farrar and Henry Barnhouse were elected trustees of the village.
At the first meeting of this board, John P. Day was elected president ; R. S. Buckland, clerk ; and Frederick Cloyes, treasurer. At a meeting held May 1. Samuel L. Blain was appointed street supervisor; Howard Case, assessor ; John B. Bnell, collector.
May 8 was enacted the first ordinance ever adopted by the board, and it was in relation to "Nuisances." This was followed at the same meeting by one on "Misdemeanors."
November 21 a resolution was passed authorizing the tax collector "to take all money that is at par." This was before the days of greenbacks and nat- ional bank bills, and the various kinds of paper money then in circulation were not all worth their face.
April 24, 1863, the first license for a liquor saloon was granted, under reg- ulations and restrictions already prescribed by ordinance, the license fee being fixed at one hundred dollars per year, payable in advance.
October 9, 1865, the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars was voted to Francis Price, a civil engineer of Vermilion county, "to aid him in publish- ing a map of the town of Paxton," he to furnish the board twenty-five sheet maps and two mounted maps.
August 4, 1866, the first prohibitory liquor ordinance was passed. At this time there were saloons in the town operating under license previously obtained. and the board ordered that these be permitted to run until the expir- ation of the time for which their licenses were granted. From the time when this action was taken until the succeeding election, the saloon question attracted much attention and discussion, and became so prominent as an issue that the voters at the next election were given an opportunity to decide by ballot for or against granting saloon licenses.
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