History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 70

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois > Part 70

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At a special meeting of the commis- sioners' court, held on the 13th of June, 1821, a contract was let to William and Thomas Finley, to build a court house for the sum of $380. And in the follow- ing September, a contract was entered into with Thomas Rattan for the erection of a chimney to the same, for $55, he to have 6,000 bricks delivered to him by Mr. Eldred, other material to be furnished by

the contractor. This building was fin- ished about the 1st of June, 1822. Asa court house without the adjunct of a jail was not quite the thing, at a session of the court held on the 21st of Dec., 1821, the contract to build a jail for the use of the county was let to John Dee and Henry Teagardner, the lowest bid- ders, for the sum of $240. The latter building was 12x22 feet in ground area, one story high, and had an upper and lower floor. It was partitioned through the center. It was built of square hewed timbers, floors and partitions in- cluded, each of which was 10 inches thick, well and closely laid up. White oak was the kind of wood used. The building was covered with a good shingle roof.

At the regular session of the county commissioners' court held on the 2d of Sept., 1822, Joseph Piggott, Thomas Arnett and Charles Gregory, the newly elected county commissioners, took their seats, and proceeded to the trans- action of the business of the county. These gentlemen entered into a settle- ment with John W. Scott, the county treasurer, at the March term, 1823, whereby it was shown that, "the sheriff had paid into the county treasury, the county tax of '22, amounting to $436.161; amount paid over for fines, etc., $76.50; amount remaining in the treas- ury at the settlement in March, 1822, $86.22 ; in all amounting to $598.89. From which deduct county orders paid, amounting to $545.39, and the treasurer's per cent., amounting to $29.74, leaves in the treasury the sum of $23.76."

At the June session of the court, John Dunn took his place as one of the august commissioners, in the place of

Henry Spencer.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Thomas Arnett. The usual routine business of the court was carried on, and roads located and laid out, and the bills against the county audited and paid.

On the 6th of Sept., 1824, a new com- missioners' court came into being, con- sisting of Jehu Brown, Abraham Bow- man and Charles Gregory. At this first meeting came up the all important sub- jects of roads, the laying out of which is so necessary for the development of a new country. All through the records of this time runs the petitions, etc., for new roads, and the appointments of viewers and locations of the same. These, with the settlement of claims against the county, make up the greater part of the business of the court.

On the 7th of June, 1825, in pursuance of an act of the general assembly, the court proceeded to lay the county off into school districts, which were to be known by their respective numbers.

These districts were 10 in number, they occupying a large extent of terri- tory, as the settlers were but few and scattered over what now constitutes two counties or more. They also laid off the county into 13 road districts, and appointed the following supervisors: Alfred W. Caverly, for district No. 1; A. P. Scott, district No. 2; Calvin Tun- nel, No. 3; Uriah Miller, No. 4; Rich- ard Robley, No. 5; Joseph Reynolds, No. 6; David Norton, No. 7; Thomas Rattan, No. 8; David Barrow, No. 9; Cyrus Griswold, No. 10; Charles Kitch- ens, No. 11; Dennis Carrico, No. 12; and John Barnett, No. 13. Previous to this the roads were as districts, with a supervisor having control of one only. September 4, 1826, the incoming

county commissioners' court was com- posed of Joseph Piggott, Jeremiah Smith and Jehu Brown. At this term of the court the sheriff of the county was allowed fees "for attending the special term of the circuit court, for the trial of Simons and for whipping said Simons."

At a meeting of this court, held upon the 7th of March, 1828, the clerk was instructed to give notice, "by putting up advertisements, that a special term of this court will be held on the first Monday in April next, for the purpose of receiving proposals for the building of a brick court house for this county." Nothing came of it at this time. They also, in levying a tax, this same term, laid a tax of one-half per centum on town lots in Carrollton, on slaves, and indentured and registered negro or mu- latto servants, and other property.

The county commissioners entering upon the duties of office Sept. 1, 1828, were John Barnett, Alexander King and Charles Gregory.

Again, on the 2d of March, 1830, did the subject of a more substantial court house, in the center of the square, come up. The commissioners decided to hold a special meeting for the better consid- eration of the subject, and for the pur- pose of receiving proposals for the building of the same. Moses Stevens at the same time was instructed to draft a plan of a building for the purpose.

At the special session in question, a contract for the erection of a brick court house was entered into with Thomas Rattan, who agreed to finish the same and deliver it to the county, except the painting of it, for the sum of $7,000, to be paid to him in yearly sums of $1,000

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

or more. The contract also contained a proviso, that if a special tax was levied of one-half per cent that year, that when $5,500 was collected, Mr. Rattan agreed to accept that in full sat- isfaction for his bill. Work was at once commenced on the building.

Cavil Archer, Cyrus Tolman and Thomas Cummings constituted the court which came into power on the 6th of Sept., 1830. At a special term of this court held in March, 1832, a contract to build a county jail was let to William Meldrum for $3,560, said jail to be located in the town of Carrollton.

John Lorton, Cyrus Tolman and Jesse V. Mounts were the next county com- missioners, taking their places as such in Sept. 1832. At the September term of their court, in 1833, they received and spread upon the records, the incorpora- tion of the town of Carrollton. The finances of the county not being in a satisfactory condition, the court bor- rowed, on Sept. 21, 1833, the sum of $200, of George Finney, giving the note of John Lorton, Cyrus Tolman, as county commissioners, and William Meldrum. This was done, only as a temporary expedient, as the note only ran for five months, but 12 per cent. in- terest had to be paid.

At the special term of this court, held on Monday, Jan. 27, 1834, the office of clerk was proclaimed as vacant, accord- ing to the law, for the reason that Mor- timer Kennett, had failed to renew his official bond at the regular September term, and Moses O. Bledsoe was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Ken- nett strongly objected, and gave notice of appeal to the circuit court.

On the Ist day of Sept., 1834, a new

county commissioners' court was or- ganized with Alexander King, Thomas MeDow and Cyrus Tolman as the com- ponent parts thereof. They, after due qualification for the office, took their places, and entered upon the business of the county. Permission was given hy this court, in Oet .. 1835, for the erection of a market house on the west side of the court house square at Carrollton.

Thomas MeDow, Alexander King and Cyrus Tolman, having been re-elected to the office of county commissioners, took their places on the 5th of Sept., 1836, and proceeded to reorganize the court. This court, at a special term, holden in Dec., 1837, appointed three commissioners to manage the funds re- ceived by Greene county, under the in- ternal improvement law. The county, for this purpose, was divided into three districts; all that south of the Macoupin creek was placed under the management of John W. Slaten ; between Macoupin and Apple creek, that of Moses O. Bledsoe ; and north of the latter stream, Charles Gregory. These commissioners were instructed to loan the funds placed under their care, but in no case to place more than $200 with any one person.

At the county commissioners' court, held in the court house, at Carrollton, on the 3rd of Sept., 1838, Alexander King, John Thompson and Chilton Smith appeared and severally took the oath of office, and their respective seats, having been elected to thereto Aug. 6, 1838. A change having taken place in the law governing county com- missioners' courts, by which that officer was to hold office for three years, one to be elected each year, therefore to definitely determine who was to go out

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

of office first, lots were cast, according to statute in such cases made and provided and Alexander King drew the three years term; Chilton Smith the two years, and John Thompson the term for one year. In November, following, Franklin Witt, who had been appointed agent and attorney for the county, to re- ceive of the state fund commissioners, the share of Greene county in the in ternal improvement fund, made a report that he had received the sum of $30,205. The court rescinding the appointments made at a previous session, for agents to loan the fund, the court made new ap- pointments: Charles Kitchens, for the district north of Apple creek; William Carlin, the district between that stream and Maconpin creek, and Thomas Vance, in what is now Jersey county. These were instructed to loan only $100 to each person, for one year only, on approved security, at 10 per cent interest, payable semi-annually, in advance, and to keep the principal and interest continually loaned.

It was under the administration of this court that the question of the sepa- ration of Jersey county from that of Greene was submitted to the people, and being endorsed by them, consum- mated. The vote on the question of the division was as follows: For the erection of Jersey county, 1,239; against the same, 714, a clear majority of 525 votes in favor of the measure. Martin Bow- man was the new member of the court, in place of Chilton Smith, who took his place in the fall term, of 1839, Mr.Smith living in Jersey county, his term of ser- vice ceased when that county was erected.

A the September session, 1840, of

this court, Masheck Browning took his place as commissioner, vice Martin Bowman. The usual amount of routine business, such as ordering the viewing of roads, building bridges, auditing claims, etc., was transacted, but little of any general interest occurs upon the records of that term.

In Sept., 1841, two new commissioners took their places, William Blair and Thomas S. Blair, who, with Mesheck Browning, constituted the court at its organization. The internal improve- ment fund, or the interest thereof, was sometimes used toward building bridges, or in improvements on important county roads. In the spring of 1842, Masheck Browning dying, at the March term of that year, Anthony S. Seely, who had been elected to fill the vacancy, ap- peared and took his place as a member of the court. It is under this court that the first mention of the county poor- house occurs, and it is then recorded that George Pegram was appointed as superintendent of such. The bridge across the Macoupin creek, on the road front Carrollton to Alton, was built this year by Thomas Rattan, and he was paid therefor, out of the internal im- provement fund, the sum of $5,978.91.

Isham Linder, in Sept., 1842, took his place as county commissioner, in place of William Blair, whose term had ex- pired. At this term of the commission- ers' court, the purchase of a farm for a poor farm for the county, of Benjamin M. Pegram, was consummated. The purchase money paid was $800. In De- cember it was determined to let out the poor-house and the keeping of the pau- pers of the county therein, to the lowest bidder, and bids were advertised for.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

William Goode was awarded the contract for $300, on the basis of four paupers, at that time at the poor-house, with pro- portionate increase or decrease with any changes in the number. Thos. S. Booth was appointed to oversee the matter, and see that Mr. Goode performed his duty to the paupers in a proper manner .

The county commissioners' court, which organized for the first time in Sept., 1843, was composed of the same gentlemen as the year previous, A. S. Seely, whose term had expired, being re-elected, and took his place. They transacted the usual business.

The court that met for the first time Sept. 2, 1844, consisted of Isham Lin- der, Anthony S. Seely and Thomas S. Booth, the latter having been re-elected. For the next few years but little of in- terest took place, the whole business of the court being taken up with the neces- sary but tiresome routine business of the county. The following gentlemen composed the county commissioners' court, for the years indicated, commene- ing with Sept., 1845:

Thomas S. Booth, Anthony S. Seely and James Cannady.

1846-Thomas S. Booth, James Can- nady and Charles Bradshaw.

1847-The same, Thomas S. Booth, having been re-elected.

1848-Charles Bradshaw, Thomas S. Booth and Joshua W. Armstrong. This was the last commissioners' court un- der this law, as under the state consti- tution of 1848, a new mode of adminis- tering the affairs of the county was adopted. This was known as

THE COUNTY COURT.

The first meeting of this court was

held, according to law, on the first Monday in Dec., 1849, and was com- posed of Mathias S. Link, judge and Adam I. Whiteside and Anthony S. Seely, associate justices. These gen- tlemen, with the clerk of the court, Francis P. Vedder, constituted the gov- erning power of the county. This court, at the September term, 1850, divided this county into new precincts and election districts, to which were given the names of Carrollton, North- western, White Hall, Walkerville, Min- eral Springs, Mount Airy, Greenfield, Eastern, Fayette, Kane, Bluffdale and Woodville. Under head of March term, 1852, is the following entry:

"At the request of M. S. Link, county judge, one of members of this court, the following protest is spread upon the records of said court, which is as follows-to-wit:

" In order that the people of Greene county may understand the reason why I cannot, at this term of court settle, aid or assist our county court in a set- tlement with our sheriff, and receive all the county orders and jury certificates, offered by said sheriff, to our county court, on his liability for the revenue of . said county for the year 1851, is that our sheriff fails to make his monthly payments in which he collects of the tax payers, into the county treasury, according to my understanding of the 44th section of the revenue laws of 184S. And for the purpose, and in or- der that the county treasurer may be enabled to pay over cash on county orders, as the law directs, which I charge is not done, owing to a neglect of duty on the part of our sheriff, our county treasurer, and our county court.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

I hold that it is the law, that all the gold, silver and current money, that is paid over to our sheriff as taxes, should be paid over to our county treasurer, which I charge is not done, and against which I solemnly protest, for the reason that 1 believe a grave evil hath been going on in this way, injuring Greene county and her fiscal affairs and pro- fiting the sheriff over and above his lawful per cent."

At a special term of the court, held on the 16th day of Feb., 1853, called for that purpose, the following order was made:

"Ordered, That an election be held on the 19th of March, 1853, in said Greene county, by the qualified voters, to determine whether said county shall subscribe $50,000 to the capital stock of the Jacksonville & Carrollton Railroad Co."

These bonds, if used, were to be for stock, for the county, were to run until 1875, drawing 6 per cent interest. The election was held at the time appointed, and as there was 1,662 votes cast in favor of such subscription by the county, and 330 against it, the court ordered Judge Link to subscribe for $50,000 worth of stock in the name of Greene county, and also authorized hini to issue the necessary bonds.

The court as above constituted held until Dee., 1853, when it was succeeded by a county court, of which Charles D. Hodges was county judge, and L. E. V Worcester and Thomas J. Short were associate justices.

It appearing that Judge Link, who had been instructed to subscribe for the $50,000 worth of stock in the Jackson- ville & Springfield railroad, and issue

county bonds to pay for the same, had gone out of office without doing so, the court instructed Judge Hodges to do it, and to cast the vote of the county for directors at an election to be held at Carrollton on the 27th of Dec., 1853. In Sept., 1857, in response to a petition signed by John Amos and 120 others, an order was made submitting to the qualified voters of the county the ques- tion of Greene county subscribing for $50,000 worth of the capital stock in the extension of the Rock Island & Alton railroad, the county to again issue bonds for such stock, payable March 1, 1875, and to bear interest at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum. The election was to be held at the same time as the general election in Novem- ber. At this same term of court the Jacksonville, Alton & St. Louis Railroad Company, the successors to the Jacksonville & Carrollton Rail- road Company, presented a

re- quest for the $50,000 bonds voted to that road, and the same were issued under the seal of the court and delivered to the company.

At the regular election in 1857, the county judge and both associate justices were re-elected to the same positions.

Judge Hodges resigning his position, a special election was held, Feb. 22, 1859, to fill the vacancy, and Thomas H. Boyd was chosen to fill the position of county judge. Early in the year 1859, it becoming evident that the old jail was entirely unfit for the purpose used, the county determined to build an edifice of that character. Therefore, bids were advertised for, and at the April term of the county court held that year, bids were received and opened as

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

follows: Edgerton & Sages, $9,000; Hleadrick & Martin, $9,339; Alfred Hin- ton, $9,875; and Speaks & Hudson, $10,200. The first mentioned firm hav- ing made the lowest figures, were awarded the contract. Francis l'. Vedder, T. H. Boyd and E. H. Prine were appointed to purchase a town lot in the town of Carrollton on which to erect the new jail, dwelling, barn, smoke-house, etc., and to superintend the erection of the building.

In December, 1859, Levi T. White- side succeeded L. E. Worcester as asso- ciate justice of this court, and took his seat accordingly.

At the general election of 1861 Thom- as II. Boyd was re-elected county judge and Robert Green and John Ruyle chosen associate justices, and on the 2d day of December they took their plaees, and at once opened court. For several years back nothing but gold and silver had been received for taxes in the county, with the possible exception of notes of the State Bank of Missouri, but in June, 1862, the court authorized the treasurer to receive treasury notes of the United States for the taxes and other debts due the county. A war tax of fifteen cents on each $100 of taxable property in the county was levied for the support of the families of volun- teers in the service of the United States.

At the January term, 1865, the ques- tion of the recent call for troops for the service of the United States, made De- cember 19, preceding, and the order for a draft to fill quotas, came up for dis- cussion and the court ordered the issuing of bonds enough to purchase substitutes, or pay recruits a bounty to induce

enlistments, not to exceed $100,000 in amount, and placed in the hands of Judge Boyd the matter of distributing them, in sums not to exceed $450 per reeruit. H. L. Clay was appointed agent to procure recruits. The bonds were issued and the necessary mnen pro- cured, and the danger of the draft re- moved,

Thomas II. Boyd was re-elected to the office of county judge at the general election of 1865, and together with Len- uel J. Patterson and Frederick M. Fish- back, his new associates, opened court on the 4th day of December, 1865. Judge Boyd remained on the bench until the fall of 1866, when he resigned and was succeeded by Judge Alfred Hinton.

The county court ordered in June, 1868, another special election on the question of the advisability of the county subscribing 850,000 worth of bonds toward the capital stock of the R. I., A. & St. L. R. R. Co., The bonds to bear eight per cent. interest, and to run for 10 years. For the full vote on these bond questions the reader is re- ferred to the official vote of the county.

The court that met for the first time time on the 6th of December, 1869, was composed of John Ruyle, county judge, F. M. Fishbaek, and J. H. Rives, asso- ciate justices.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

The first session of the commission- er's court commenced upon the Ist of Dec., 1873, when Joseph F. Ballinger, William H. Barrow, and Curtius W. Brace, after due qualification, took their place. On organization, they cast lots as to the length of time each was to serve, when Mr. Ballinger drew the

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

three year, and Mr. Barrow, the two year term. Mr. Ballinger was elected chairman of the board. This court was composed of the following gentle- men for the years succeeding this:

1875-Joseph F. Ballinger, W. H. Barrow and J. II. Greene. Mr. Bal- linger still in the chair.

1876-George H. Amos, John H. Greene and William B. Robinson. The latter gentleman was chosen chairman.

1877-George H. Amos, John H. Greene and William M. Morrow. J. H. Greene was honored with the chair- manship.

1878-George H. Amos, W. M. Mor- row and Singleton F. Greene. W. M. Morrow was chosen to fill the chair.

1879-W. M. Morrow, S. F. Greene and W. M. Maberry. Mr. Morrow, re-elected chairman.

1880-S. F. Greene, W. M. Maberry and George Hf. Amos. S. F. Greene was chosen to fill the position of chair- man for the year.

1881-W. M. Maberry, G. H. Amos and L. F. Williams. Mr. Maberry was the chairman.

1882-George H. Amos, L. F. Will- iams and John Snyder. The first named was chosen to fill the chair.

1883-John Snyder, L. F. Williams and William P. Gilmore. Mr. Williams was elected chairman.

1884-John Snyder, W. P. Gihnore and James H. Smith. John Snyder was chosen as chairman for the year.

1885-On the 1st of Dec., 1884, the board met for the first time. It con- sisted of W. P. Gilmore, James H. Smith and Elon H. Eldred. Mr. Gil- more was chosen chairman. This was the last board of commissioners.

BOARD OF COUNTY SUPERVISORS.

The first meeting of this body took took place upon the 13th day of July, 1885, when the following members took their seats: J. G. Pennell, F. M. Fish- back, E. A. Eldred, M. C. Thompson, W. B. Robinson, J. D. MeLain, J. II. Rives, Robert Vantuyle, J. B. Robards, J. M. Otey, Henry Tunison, E. B. Pegram, J. L. Johnson. W. B. Robin- son was elected chairman.

MATRIMONIAL.

Marriage licenses have always been required in the state of Illinois, and the facts given here are taken from the records in the office of the county clerk.

The first marriage in the county, of which there is any record, is that of David Hodges and Louisa Wentworth. On the first day of May, 1821. Mr. Hodges made an application for a mar- riage license, which was cheerfully granted, and upon the 6th of the same month, John Allen, a justice of the peace, united the happy pair.

The second license was issued to John Johnson and Rachel Buchanan, on the 26th of June, 1821, but when and by whom the ceremony was performed, the records bear no testimony.

Robert Piper and Rebecca Lynn re- ceived a license on the 2d of July, 1821.

Morris Welch and Mary Shelly, July 14, 1821.

William Moore and Huldah Ilunni- cutt, July 24, 1821, and were united in marriage the same day by Rev. Aaron Smith.

Whitmell Ryley Crane and Elizabeth Crane, July 30, 1821.

Joseph Pierce and Sally Ennis, July 31, 1821.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

William Stoekton and Margaret Mc- Fadgin, Aug. 4, 1821. .

During the remainder of the year, licenses were granted to the following people:

Robert Sinelair and Anna Vaughn, Aug. 18, married Aug, 23, by John Allen, a justice of the peace.

John Medford and Rachel Little, Sept. 3.

William Allen and Polly Pinkerton, Sept. 4; they were married the 6th of the same month, by John Allen, J. P.

Ilugh.Carlin and Sally King, Oet. 13.

David Miller and Mourning Finley, Oct. 13; married Oct. 14, by Rev. Aaron Smith.

John Piper and Juliana Fahnestock, Oct. 23.

Levi Larrison and Rebecea Ennis, Oct. 24.

Robert McDow and Esther Lofton, Oet. 30.

John Williams and Chaney Johnson, Dee. 25.

During the year 1822, licenses were issued as follows:

Borden Wilcox and Almira Kellogg, Jan. 10.

Peter Barrow and Naney Pullam, Jan. 10.

Jacob Young and Jenny Kincaid, Jan. 22.

John Costley and Peggy Allen, Feb. 19; married by Jehu Brown, county commissioner.

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History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 70

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150