USA > Illinois > Fulton County > History of Fulton county, Illinois > Part 25
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Erasmus D. Rice was chosen the first County Judge, being elected Nov. 6, 1849,-the first November election held. The first Associate Justices were Parley C. Stearns and Jesse Benton. Dur- ing the existence of this Court the people were agitating the ques- tion of township organization. Many counties of the State, since the new constitution, had adopted that mode of conducting county affairs. The constitution gave counties the privilege of adopting either the County Court or the Board of Supervisors. At the fall election in 1849 a vote was taken "for" or "against " township organization, which resulted in favor of the new measure.
The following is an abstract of the vote upon this question at that time :
283
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
PRECINCTS.
FOR.
AGAINST.
PRECINCTS.
FOR AGA
Astoria.
89
..
Point Isabel.
61
1
Vermont
170
18
Waterford.
+1
Farmer's
110
...
Lewistown
156
10
Marietta.
41
...
Centerville.
78
..
St. Augustine
49
...
Mill Creek.
80
. .
Otter Creek
48
*)
Fairview
75
..
Howard's
62
6
Liverpool
78
Bernadotte
99
1
Buckheart.
69
8
Spoon River
33
13
Canton.
353
12
Wiley
57
4
Farmington.
177
..
Ellisville.
55
4
Utica
95
..
Boyd ...
48
..
Copperas Creek
44
5
West Point
Independence.
59
...
Total
2,258
93
For some reason not given the vote of Boyd precinct was thrown out.
The measure being carried, Hugh Lamaster, Henry Walker and John Bloomfield were appointed by the Court to divide the county into townships. This duty was performed in the early part of 1850. They divided the county into twenty-six townships, the number that still exist, but the names given to some were different from those they now bear. For instance, the present township of Putman was christened Center. Banner was named Utica, and Young Hickory, Hickory.
Many citizens of the county were strongly opposed to the town- ship system, and a petition was cirenlated in 1852, to call an elec- tion upon the question of repealing the township organization and taking up their old way of running the county. The question was voted upon in April of that year and defeated by 1,630 majority.
The building of a fire-proof structure for County and Circuit Clerks' offices was agitated about the time the County Court came into power. Feb. 12, 1850, the Court appointed Henry Walker and Edwin Littlefield to make a draft for this building. It was then ordered that contraets be let for its construction. This was done March 8, 1850, and was awarded to John Tompkins.
The County Court had but a short existence, as the county early in 1850 was organized under the township-organization law.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
This system of county government is so entirely different in origin and management from the old mode by County Commission- ers, which had such a long and favorable run, that we deem a brief synopsis of the differences quite pertinent in this connection.
Elijah M. Haines, in his " Laws of Illinois Relative to Town- ship Organization," says the county system " originated with Vir- ginia, whose early settlers soon became large landed proprietors, aristocratic in feeling, living alone in almost baronial magnificence on their own estates, and owning the laboring part of the popula- tion. Thus the materials for a town were not at hand, the voters
.
284
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
being thinly distributed over a great area. The county organization, where a few influential men managed the whole business of the community, retaining their places almost at their pleasure, scarcely responsible at all except in name, and permitted to conduct the county concerns as their ideas of wishes might direct, was, more- over, consonant with their recollections or traditions of the judicial and social dignities of the landed aristocracy of England, in de-cent from which the Virginia gentlemen felt so much pride. In 1734 eight counties were organized in Virginia, and the system extending throughout the State, spread in all the Southern States and some of the Northern States, unless we except the nearly similar division into 'districts' in South Carolina, and that into 'parishes' in Louisi- ana from the French laws.
" Illinois, which with its vast additional territory became a county of Virginia on its conquest by Gen. George Rogers Clark, retained the county organization, which was formerly extended over the State by the constitution of 1818, and continued in exclusive use until the constitution of 1848. Under this system. as in other States adopting it, most local business was transaeted by three com- missioners in each county, who constituted a County Court, with quarterly sessions. During the period ending with the Constitu- tional Convention of 1847, a large portion of the State had become filled up with a population of New England birth or character. daily growing more and more compact and dissatisfied with the compara- tively arbitrary and inefficient county system." It was maintained by the people that the heavily populated districts would always con- trol the election of the Commissioners to the disadvantage of the more thinly populated sections .- in short, that under the system "equal and exact justice " to all parts of the county could not be secured. The township system had its origin in Massachusetts, and dates back to 1635.
De Tocqueville, in his work entitled " American Institutions," in speaking of our political system, very properly remarks that two branches may be distinguished in the Anglo-American family which have grown up without entirely commingling .- the one in the South, the other in the North. He discovers the cause- which led to this condition of things, which are apparent to the most casual observer. " They arise." he says, " not from design, but from the force of cir- eumstances at the beginning. The planting of the original colony of Virginia at Jamestown had for its design the single and naked object of pecuniary profit to the proprietors. Its mission involved no principle for the benefit of mankind. It recognized the crown of Great Britain, from whence it derived the charter of its existence, as the source of political power. There was no recognition of the principle of self-government.
" But the circumstances attending the first settlement of the Col- onies of New England. so called, were of an entirely different char- actor. The carly colonists in this instance were non-conformists, or
285
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
dissenters from the Church of England. They came as exiles, flee- ing from the wrath of ecclesiastical tyranny, whose displeasure they had inenrred,-cast out as publie offenders, 'as profane out of the mountain of God.' Whilst the colonists of Virginia came with the law, those of New England came against the law, or perhaps, more properly speaking, without law. Thereupon arose on the part of the latter a positive necessity for the establishment of law for their mutual protection. The result was a written compact,-this being the first written constitution extant, based upon the general good. It was the first time since the 'morning stars sang together' that the people themselves met in council and framed a government based upon equal rights."
The supervisor is the chief officer and representative of the town- ship, and it is his duty to prosecute and defend all suits in which the township is interested. The township clerk keeps the records of the township, and the treasurer takes charge of the funds. The establishment, vacation and repair of the public roads is committed to the three commissioners of highways. The supervisor, the two justices of the peace whose terms of office soonest expire, and the township clerk constitute a township board for examining and audit- ing the accounts of the town.
Since 1850 the business affairs of the county have been under the guidance of a Board of Supervisors, at present composed of 27 members. It would be unprofitable, as unnecessary, to present in detail the numerous orders, reports, resolutions, etc., of this body. Their proceedings partake a great deal of the nature of a legislature. Among so many men there are always some cool business heads, as well as a good many glib tongues. Some of them are practical, in- dustrious workers, others are of the buncombe order, always ready to make a speech or a voluminous report. This has always been the case with such assemblies, and we suppose always will be.
June 10, 1850, the Board of Supervisors of Fulton county first assembled. There were present with their proper credentials the following gentlemen: George Bamford, Jesse Smith, George An- derson, N. Walker, JJacob Maus, Jacob Hand, Levi H. Bradbury, Joel Piersol, Nathaniel Veatch, J. H. Martin, John L. Jenkins, H. L. Hyatt, A. G. Downing. Jonas Rawalt, J. P. Montgomery, John Wallick, I. Farris, C. Jones, David Markley, Ira Johnson and Geo. L. Curtis. David Markley was chosen on the following day to preside over the assembly.
Nov. 13, 1850, Supervisor Rawalt offered the following resolution, which was prompted by several petitions for saloon licenses being presented : "Rosolred, That selling spiritnous liquor by the small in any community is productive of evil ; and as a Board of Supervis- ors, acting in the capacity of agents for the people of Fulton county, should not grant license for evil to the community for the sake of county revenue, or for any other purpose." This very important question was most earnestly discussed, and finally the resolution was defeated.
286
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
The subject of building a jail was again brought up Nov. 15, 1850, by Supervisor N. Walker. It was done in a very modest way, however, for the rebuke the old County Commissioners' Court received at the polls upon the same subject was fresh in the minds of everybody. Supervisor Walker's resolution is as follows: "As it has been made by law the duty of the Board of Supervisors of every county in the State to provide a place for keeping in confine- ment persons charged with violation of the laws of the State, be it therefore resolved by the Board that in their judgment some action is necessary and right to be given to the subject of building a good, substantial jail, in respect to the wants and wishes of the people of Fulton county." A committee of three-Supervisors Walker, Rawalt and Bradbury-were appointed to investigate the matter. A remonstrance was here presented, containing 527 names, against the county making any appropriations till a vote could be taken at the spring election. Nevertheless, the committee reported favor- ably upon the subject and recommended the building of a jail, say- ing that "while they acknowledged the right in the fullest sense of the word for the people to direct their agents in the performance of their official duties where those duties rest by a positive rule of law on mere matters of expediency, yet your committee believe that they are bound by positive enactment in sec. 12, act 14, of the or- ganization law, to build a jail when necessary ; and your committee cannot entertain a single doubt of the necessity of a suitable jail, nor of the ability of the county to build one without an increase in the ordinary amount of tax." The contest was long and hot, but the jail was ordered built. The site of the present prison was selected and a jail erected 24 feet square, at a cost of $4,214.22.
The task of keeping the poor at the county's farm seemed to be burdensome and extravagant. Accordingly, in 1851, the poor farm was ordered sold. L. F. Ross was the purchaser, at $1,425. It was soon found, however, that the expense of keeping paupers was much greater under their new mode than when they were kept at the county farm. So, in September, 1852, it was resolved to buy a farm and build a suitable house thereon for the accommodation of the county's unfortunate. In 1854 a farm was purchased within two miles of Canton, upon which the necessary buildings were erected, and since then the poor have been provided for there.
The subject of building railroads was agitated as early as 1836; but upon the explosion of the great internal-improvement system inaugurated by the State, nothing more was done in this direction for some years. During the decade between 1850 and 1860, how- ever, railroads were projected in almost every direction. In 1853 the Board ordered a subscription of $75,000 to be made to the Mis- sissippi & Wabash Railroad, and to the Petersburg & Springfield road. As neither of these roads, or others of the projected ones, were built no bonds were issued to them. In 1857, Oct. 15, $100,- 000 in bonds were issued to the J. & S. Railroad, bearing 8 per
287
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
cent. interest. Aug. 10, 1858, a like amount was issued to the Peoria & Hannibal R. R., and again Oct. 15, 1859, another $100,000 in bonds were given to the same company, bearing 7 per cent. interest. These lines now constitute the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Thus we see the county has given $300,000 to railroad companies, which is the sum total of all subscriptions made by the county. There are many townships in the county, however, which have given largely to aid the construction of roads. The first of these bonds were redeemed in 1860. Five of them were bought for $600 each. They fell lower the following year, and the county called in four, for which they gave $590 each. In 1862 they went still lower and five were purchased for $2,900, or $580 apiece. From that time forward our bonds advanced rapidly in value, and in 1874 were worth all their face called for. That year the county paid $3,000 for three of them, and the following year paid $20,000 for twenty. To date of Sept. 10, 1878, 210 of these bonds had been redeemed, for which the county paid $196,570. Ninety of them still remain outstanding. The present year, how- ever, provision is made for redeeming fifteen of these, and the re- maining seventy-five were refunded for a long period with privilege of redeeming after three years.
The Board let the contract for building the present safe and com- modious jail structure in February, 1867, to E. Kirkbride and Jackson Wiley for $28,300. An additional lot was purchased adjoining the one already owned by the county and upon which the old jail stood, for $350. The entire building is in height two sto- ries, with basement. The architectural design is modern, very neat and well proportioned, presenting as light and cheerful appearance as a prison well can. The jailor's residence is constructed of red brick, and the jail part of limestone. In the Sheriff's residence are eight cheerful rooms, with closets, wardrobes and halls. In the jail part there is an eight-foot corridor extending from east to west through the entire south end of the jail. This was onee used as a dining hall. Facing a small corridor on the west side of the build- ing are eight cells, four below and four above. Three of these on each tier are about 5x8 feet in size and one 7x8 feet. Fronting east are four cells. Up-stairs on this side is the women's department, consisting of two large rooms. The jail is one of the most substan- tial in this part of the State.
We append here a table of the expenses of carrying on this large county for a period of six years. The Circuit Clerk, it will be observ- ed, is of but little or no expense to the county directly. He makes his own salary from fees charged for services, and not only that, but turns over to the county no little revenue.
288
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
COUNTY EXPENDITURES.
1×72.
1873.
1874.
1875. $5,782
$5,000
$5,229
County poor
3,370 .
3,194
3,435
3,002
4,096
5,197
Criminal.
2,268
3,838
3,190
3,794
4,030
6,269
Circuit Court
2,773
2,374
487
1,135
3,280
1,086
County Court
3,464
3,493
1,732
2,041
2.342
2,181
County Clerk.
4,034
4,080
3,465
3,103
3,155
3,169
Circuit Clerk
90
105
97
Superintendent of Schools
1,480
1,404
368
384
440
400
Board of Supervisors.
1,790
1,281
1,128
1,300
1,177
1,201
Records and blanks.
2,679
2,258
2,042
2,092
1,847
1,965
Public grounds and buildings ..
673
1,093
452
1,589
732
511
Elections.
1,577
2,758
1,253
1,553
1,422
1,125
Roads and bridges.
8,790
2,625
1,024
17,263
4,227
4,379
Ferries
1,929
1,662
1,804
1,544
1,870
1,518
Jurors
2,261
1,584
1,179
2,146
2,036
2,127
Wolf scalps
940
250
820
. . ....
..
433
Miscellany
63
275
50
524
513
367
Total current expenses.
42,381
36,319
26,502
47,252
36,264
37,157
Bonds received
28,700
25,000
16,000
21,500
15,000
Interest paid.
16,994
12,260
11,852
11,032
9,605
7,957
Total paid out
88,075
48,579
63,354
74,284
67,369
59,914
1876.
1877.
Poor-house and farm
$4,200
$4,150
$3,514
...
CHAPTER VIII. BLACK HAWK WAR.
BLACK HAWK CROSSES THE MISSISSIPPI.
In 1831 Black Hawk and his band crossed to their old homes on Roek river, but negotiated a treaty and returned to the west side of the Mississippi, promising never to return. But April 6, 1832, he again crossed the Mississippi into Illinois with his entire band. It was not on a war raid that brought him over in 1832; but as there is a diversity of opinions in regard to his motives we will briefly give a few of the most credible. It is claimed that he was invited by the Prophet to a tract of land about forty miles up Rock river. Others say he crossed with no hostile intentions, but to accept an invitation of a friendly chief, Pit-ta-wak, to spend the summer with him. Still others, who agree that he did not come to fight, say that when he retired to the west side of the Mississippi the previous year he received a large quantity of corn and other provisions, but in the spring his provisions were gone, his followers were starving, and he came back expecting to negotiate another treaty and get a new supply of provisions.
There is still another explanation, that may enable the reader to harmonize the preceding statements and to understand why Black Hawk returned in 1832. It is well known that in nearly all the treaties ever made with the Indians, the Indian traders dictated the terms for their allies and customers, and of course received a large share of the annuities, etc., in payment for debts due to them. Each tribe had certain traders who supplied them. George Davenport had a trading post at Fort Armstrong. His customers were largely the Sacs and Foxes, and he was held in high esteem by them ; in fact his word was law. It is said that Black Hawk's band became indebted to him for a large amount and were unable to pay. They did not have good luck hunting during the winter, and he was like- ly to lose heavily. If Black Hawk, therefore, could be induced to come to this side of the river again and the people so greatly alarm- ed that a military force would be sent in pursuit of him, another treaty could be made; he might assist in making terms and get his pay out of the payments the Government would make, and all would be well. Mr. Amos Farrar, who was Davenport's partner for some years, and who died in Galena during the war, is said to
290
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
have declared, while on his death-bed, that the " Indians were not to be blamed ; that if they had been let alone there would have been no trouble; that the band was owing Mr. Davenport and he wanted to get his pay, and would if another treaty had been made."
Although Black Hawk's movement across the Mississippi was at once construed as a hostile demonstration, and Davenport skillfully cultivated the idea, he was accompanied by his old men, women and children. No Indian warrior ever went on the war-path incumbered in that way. More than this, it does not appear, from the 6th of April until the battle of Stillman's Run on the 12th of May, that a single settler was murdered, or suffered any material injury at the hands of Black Hawk or his band. In truth, Hon. H. S. Townsend, of Warren, Jo Daviess county, states that in one instance, at least, when they took corn from a settler they paid him for it. Capt. W. B. Green, of Chicago, writes: "I never heard of Black Hawk's band, while passing up Rock river, committing any depredations whatever, not even petty theft." Frederick Stahl, Esq., of Galena, states that he was informed by the veteran John Dixon that "when Black Hawk's band passed his post, before the arrival of the troops, they were at his house. Ne-o-pope had the young braves well in hand, and informed him that they intended to commit no depreda- tions, and should not fight unless they were attacked."
We do not wish to uphold Black Hawk in the depredations he committed upon the whites. We do, however, desire to record events impartially. We believe Black Hawk's motives were greatly mis- understood, and it is due to his fame as well as to posterity to record the facts of this war as impartially as it is in our power to do. What- ever his motives might have been, it is the unanimous testimony of the survivors now residing on the old battle-fields of that day, that except the violation of treaty stipulations and an arrogance of man- ner natural to the Indian who wanted to make a new trade with the "Great Father," the Sacs and Foxes at first committed no serious acts of hostility, and intended none, until the alternative of war or extermination was presented to them by the whites.
TROOPS RAISED.
No sooner had volunteers been called for than recruiting began in Fulton county. Gen. Stillman began to muster his men at Canton and ere long was off to the seat of war. Capt. D. W. Barnes raised and commanded one company ; Captain Asa F. Ball another. AAsa Langsford was First Lieutenant of the former company and Thomas Clark Second Lientenant. These men furnished their own horses and provisions. They moved to Peoria, which was to be a rendezvous for troops. Here they remained for ten days, and one old silver-haired veteran tells us he had as fine a time there as he ever has had in his life. There they found Stephen Stillman, a brother of Major Stillman, who kept a " tavern" and consequently had plenty of " licker." Stephen was a soldier of the war of 1812 and
291
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
had lost one leg, but had provided himself with a wooden one, which answered this jovial tavern-keeper very well. He was liberal with his whisky to the boys, and all they had to do for ten days was to take care of their horses and have a jolly good time drinking Still- man's whisky, and now and then, merely to break the monotony, have a fight. When the ten days had passed they were joined by com- panies from McLean, Peoria and Tazewell counties. There was a question now who should have command of these battalions, Col. Bailey or Major Stillman. Col. Bailey claimed it on the ground of seniority, but as they were old friends this contention did not last long. It was agreed that both should command,-take turn about. On reaching Dixon Gen. Gaines found them both jolly good fellows, and the men all liked them ; and so they decided to hold equal rank and both command.
Col. Bailey lived at Pekin and died several years ago in that city. Gen. Stillman was born in Massachusetts in 1792 ; came to Sangamon county, Ill., in 1824, and to Canton, Fulton county in 1830. He was a Commissary in the war of 1812, and when residing in New York was Captain of an artillery company. He was a tall, finely- appearing man, and especially did he present an imposing appear- ance when adorned in military costume. He brought the first goods at Copperas-Creek Landing and engaged in mercantile busi- ness at Canton for six years. He located Copperas-Creek Landing, and it was recognized as his although he never really owned it. It was known as the "lost land," and could not be bought. On Jan. 18, 1818, he was married to Hannah Harwood, a daughter of Oliver Harwood, a native of the old Bay State, and who came to New York early in life. He was in the Revolutionary war, was wounded and taken prisoner, and the British were preparing to execute the death penalty upon him when he was captured by the Americans. Mrs. Stillman, who resides at Canton at present, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., April 25, 1799. They had two children when they came to the State and two born to them afterwards. Of these but one is living, namely, Mrs. Mary Barber, wife of Norris Barber, of Elmwood, Peoria county.
Gen. Stillman was a brave officer and one who had the esteem of all the men he commanded. The accounts of the famous "Stillman defeat," as generally recorded in history, does this brave commander great injustice. Many attribute the cause of that disaster to his lack of judgment and eagerness to meet the foe when really he was forced to go against his will and better judgment. The soldiers became impatient to rout the Indians, and Gov. Reynolds ordered Major Stillman with his command to move on and meet them. This he objected to doing, saying with his small force of raw militia he could only meet with defeat. The Governor urged him, and then he asked to have Capt. Henry of Springfield accompany him, which he refused to do ; and it only remained for Major Stillman to obey the orders of his superior. His men were undisciplined, and many
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