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 71
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John Vaughn and Hester Crane, Feb. 19.
Samuel Pinkney and Polly Reed, March 28.
Oliver Lund and Eulalie Ruble, April 24.
Isaac Sinclair and Melinda Pruitt,
May 15; married by John Allen, county commissioner, May 16.
Joseph Vanmeter and Peggy Taylor, May 28, married June 2, by Samuel Lee, Jr., a justice of the peace.
George Finney and Margaret Criswell, May 29.
Robert James and Eleanor Pea, June 17.
Alfred Hinton and Letitia Pruitt, June 19.
Jedediah Webster and Lucy Smith, July 9.
James Dulen and Betsey Handley, July 20.
Stephen Pierce and Edie Lee, Aug. 8. Andrew Bowen and Peninah Harding, Aug. 16.
Jacob Tabor and Matilda Ammonds, Sept. 3.
James Williams and Mary Gragen, Oct. 5.
James Seott and Mary Cowhick, Oet. 14.
Felix French and Polly Thomas, Nov. 5.
Nathaniel Pinckard and Sally Lindsey Nov. 6.
Thomas Asher and Sally Swanson, Dee. 5.
Isaae Morrow and Betsey Cox, Dce. 7. Joseph Wasson and Phoebe Barrow, Dee. 18.
Hiram Duff and Lueinda Thacker, Dec. 25.
Archibald Cooper and Polly Mont- gomery, Dec. 26.
James M. Lyon and Polly Miller, Dec. 30.
The following table shows the num- ber of marriages contracted in Greene county from 1821, to 1884, both years inclusive. This is believed to be a
595
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
complete record, with the exception of the years 1828 and 1829, which are de- fective upon the records :
1821
17 |1853
152
1822
28
1854
155
1823
38
1855
167
1824
27
1856
157
1825
34 1857
151
1826
45
1858
160
1827
56 |1859
158
1828 imperfect
30 1860
167
1829 imperfeet
14 1861
188
1830
74
1862
170
1831
73
1863
206
1832
82
1864
185
1833
84 1865
204
1834
109
:1866
280
1835
112 1867
262
1836
146 |1868
201
1837
157 |1869
189
1838
124
1870
184
1839
167 |1871
266
1840
122 1872
203
1841
124 1873
193
1842
114
1874
242
1843
121
1875
214
1844
121
1876
208
1845
111
1877
196
1846
123
1878
218
1847
121
1879
2:22
1848
144
1880
252
1849
12
1881
223
1850
139
1882
221
1851
136
1883
234
1852
139
. 1884
231
Total
8,515
POPULATION.
The first census taken after the or- ganization of the county was that of 1830, and in this the population of the entire county, now constituting Greene and Jersey, was set down as 7,674. In 1840 a second census was taken, and notwith- standing that the county of Jersey had been cut off from Greene, in the interim the population was shown to have in- creased to 11,951. In 1850 it had 12,429;
in 1860, 16,093, and in 1870, 20,277. In 1880, by the United States census the population is fixed at 23,010, of whom 21,462 are of American birth, and 1,548 of foreign.
The population of 1880 was distributed among the precincts and towns of the county, as follows:
Athensville precinct 1,842
Berdan precinct.
471
Bluffdale precinct. 903
Carrollton precinct, including city. 4,225
Carrollton city 1,934
Fayette precinct 316
Greenfield precinct, including town. .. 1,977
Greenfield town. 985
Kane precinct, including village 1,336
Kane village. 408
Roodhouse precinct, including city . . . 3,214
Sheffield precinct.
236
Walkerville precinct.
WInte Hall precinct.
4,145
Wilmington precinct. 1,504
Woodville precinct ..
1,430
Wrightsville precinct.
144
REGISTRY OF DEEDS.
Samuel Lee, Jr., was the first recor- der of the county of Greene, having been appointed to that office in the sum- mer of 1821.
The first instrument recorded is a mortgage which was filed for record on the 2d of May, 1821. This was dated Feb. 24, 1821, and by it Richard Wil- helm conveyed to Elizabeth Seymore the east half of the southeast quarter of Sec. 24, T. 7 north, R. 7 west, which contained 80 acres, and was given to secure the payment of $100. This property lies in what is now Jersey eounty.
The first deed, to land within the present limits of Greene county, was given in 1822, and by it Robert Hobson
596
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
conveyed to Elijalı Woodman the tract of land known as Mount Pleasant, whereon the original proprietor had hopes of placing the county seat.
PLATS.
The plats of the original towns in the county were filed for record on the dates given below. To nearly all of them additions have been made, but space forbids the mention of them, and as they are a matter of record, it is needless.
Carrollton was surveyed March 13, 1821, for Thomas Carlin, but the plat was not filed for record until July 30, 1825.
White HIall, filed for record March 9, 1832, by David Barrow.
Camden, filed for record May 11, 1832, by George Finney.
Zenith, filed Feb. 17, 1834, by Joseph Piggott.
Athensville, filed Oct. 2, 1834, by Green Weaver.
Greenfield, filed Dec. 5, 1834, by George W. Allen.
Shippings Port, filed May 11, 1835, by John and William Beeman.
Fayette, filed Sept. 19, 1835, by Man- oah Bostwick, James Metcalf and Wil- liam Blair.
Columbiana, recorded Sept. 24, 1835, by Salmon Bushnell.
Rivesville, filed for record Nov. 11, 1835, James Rives, proprietor.
Delaware, filed Nov. 27, 1835, by Charles Gregory and Henry Floyd.
Woodville, filed March 36, 1836, by Amon Wood, Seawright Wood, Cyrus A. Davis, Squire Wood and Harrison S. Poindexter.
Albany, filed April 4, 1836, by Rex-
carrick Ayers, Sherman Goss, Enos Ayers and Lafayette MeCrillis.
Newport, filed April 30, 1836, by John and William Beeman, Jesse H. Rogers, Robert S. Negus and John W. Scott.
Wilmington, filed May 21, 1836, by Messrs. Young, Henderson, Lane, Iligby, Thomas Hanks and Groce.
Walkerville, filed for record July 18, 1836, by John Walker.
Bluffdale, filed Aug. 26, 1836, by John A. and Jordan Calvin.
Concord, filed Sept. 13, 1836, by Daniel Maynard.
Norwalk, filed for record Oct. 25, 1836, by Robert Close and Gabriel Manly.
Middleton, filed March 6, 1837, by John Barnett.
Centerville, filed April 18, 1837, by Charles Maxfield.
Bloomfield, filed Oct. 28, 1837, by Amasa Vamatre.
lIolliday's Station, recorded Nov. 12, 1864, by Tobias Holliday. Vacated Nov. 2, 1865.
Berdan, filed Sept. 20 1865, by Wil- liam R. Kellogg, Lewis S. Olmstead and Linus E. Worcester.
Hollidaysburgh, filed Nov. 2, 1865, by Tobias Holliday. This was after- ward changed to Kane.
New Providence, filed Feb. 20, 1866, by F. M. Bell, Jesse L. Allen and John Bell.
Kane, filed Sept. 4, 1866, by Thomas H. Boyd.
Mount Pleasant, filed for record Nov. 8, 1840.
Roodhouse, filed for record Feb. 15, 1869, by John Roodhouse.
Thompson City, filed March 18, 1870, by Robert Thompson.
Homer, filed Dec. 14, 1837, by Na-
597
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
thaniel M. Perry, Abram B. Harris and W. W. Myrick.
Barrow. filed March 1, 1871, by A. Barrow.
Sheffield, filed July 18, 1871.
Hank's Station, filed for record July 21, 1871, by Thomas Hanks.
Rockbridge, laid out in the spring of 1871, by Sheffield and Hudson, the plat being filed in May of that year.
CHAPTER V.
THE COURTS OF GREENE COUNTY.
Man in his proneness to go astray re- | justice and three associates, who, in ad- quires the strong arm of law for his government. If he had no law, and no penalties attached to the violation of such law, he would, in the license of such a state of society, degenerate into a state of barbarism, yes, worse than barbarism. From the first creation of man, humanity has been placed under the restraining hand of law, and penal- ties, more or less severe, have been affixed to the violation of the statute, be the same oral or written. "In the day whereof thou cateth, thou shalt surely die," was as much a law and a penalty for its violation, as is the whole statute book of the state of Illiaois. The ex- istence of laws necessarily implies the creation and existence of courts for the interpretation of all questions involved in obscurity, and for the impartial trial of the violators of the safeguards of civ- ilization.
The first constitution of the state de- clared that the judicial power should be vested in a supreme court, and such inferior courts as the general assembly should ordain and establish. The su- preme court then consisted of one chief
dition to their duties as an appellate court, were required to hold the circuit courts in the several counties. The state was accordingly divided into four judicial circuits, within which the chief justice and associate justices were as- signed to hold circuit courts. This they did until Dec., 1824, when five circuit judges were appointed by the general assembly, and the state divided into five judicial circuits, but the circuit judges were only permitted to remain in offiee two years, as all the act creating them was repealed Jan. 12, 1827, and the circuit courts once more placed in the hands of the judges of the supreme court. In 1829, one circuit judge was appointed by the general assembly to hold court north of the Illinois river, the 5th judicial district being created for the purpose, the justices of the su- preme court continuing to perform their duties in the other four circuits. These courts were held in this manner until January, 1835, when five additional cir- cuits were established, and six circuit judges appointed to perform the duties therein.
-
598
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
The judiciary of the state remained in this shape, additional circuits being organized, and additional judges ap- pointed from time to time, as the grow- ing business seemed to warrant, until 1841, when, by act of legislature, the circuit judges were legislated out of ex- istence, and their duties again placed upon the supreme judges, now increased in number to nine, the state being di- vided into that number of judicial cir- cuits. It thus remained until 1848, when circuit judges became a perma- nent part of the judiciary of the state.
The first term of the circuit court held in Greene county commenced on the 26th day of April, 1821, and was presided over by Hon. John Reynolds, at that time associate justice of the supreme court. Samuel Lee, Jr., was, by the judge, appointed clerk of the court, and had filed his hond with Thomas Rattan, Thomas Carlin and Willis Webb, as sureties, and took his place. After opening the court Thomas Carlin, sheriff of the county, presented to the court a venire of grand jurors, and the following gentlemen having been elected were empaneled as the first grand jury and duly "sworn to en- quire for, and in behalf of, the county of Greene:" John Finley, foreman; Mar- tin Wood, Thomas Gilliland, Nathaniel Wass, Cyrus Tolman, Isaac Pruitt, James McFadgin, John Morfoot, Walter McFarland, Hugh Jackson, Jacob Fry, Charles Gregory, Willis Webb, Chris- tian Link, John Costley, William Webb, William Costley and Philip Fry. There being no jury room, these gentlemen retired to the prairie to consider over the matter laid before them, and soon returned with the following indict-
ments, each endorsed "true bill:" Peo- ple of the state of Illinois, vs. William Greene, assault and battery; the same vs. Thomas Lumley, assault and bat- tery; the same vs. William Morris, same offence. There being no further business before the grand jury they were discharged and capias ordered to issue against each of the above defend- ants, returnable at the next term of court. There being no cases upon the doeket, court adjourned to court in course.
The second term of the circuit court commenced Oct. 4, 1821, Hon John Rey- nolds presiding as judge. A grand jury was empaneled, consisting of the fol- lowing gentlemen: John G. Lofton, foreman; Nathaniel Wass, Cyrus Tol- man, Thomas Finley, Robert Whitaker, John Moore, Hughston Reynolds, Sam- uel Costan, James Davidson, John Wiatt, Thomas Gilliland, Zachariah Allen, William. Pruitt, Joseph Rey- nolds, Henry Teagarden, Hugh Jack- son, Thomas G. Lofton, Clark Beebe and John Huitt. These gentlemen re- tired for deliberation, and court pro- ceeded to try the cases on the docket. The first one called was that of the state against William Green, who was indicted at the last term of court, as having committed an assault and bat- tery. The defendant appeared in court and plead not guilty of the misde- meanor, as charged, so a jury was em- paneled to try the case. This, the first petit jury in Greene county, was com- posed of the following gentlemen : Young Wood, John Finley, John Drum, James Whiteside, William Davidson, James Colwell, Joel Meacham, William Hoskins, Calvin Tunnel, Gershom Pat-
599
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
terson, Walker Daniel and Alvin Coe. After hearing the evidence in the case, and been charged by the court, they gave in a verdict of guilty, and the court assessed a fine of five dollars and costs against the defendant.
The next two cases were of a similar nature. The first civil suit on the docket was that of Samuel L. Irwin vs. Rowland Shephard, but the defense not being entirely prepared, asked for and was granted a continuance. The next case was that of Jason Whiting vs. Ebenezer Horton, and was a suit for debt on attachment. The defendant not appearing, judgement in default was rendered for the plaintiff in the sum of $300.57, and costs. Judgement was is- sued, and the constable who had charge of the goods was ordered to turn them over to the sheriff, who was ordered to sell the same at public sale. There were quite a number of other cases tried at this term. The grand jury made a pre- sentment against William B. Whiteside and Robert Sinclair, for burglary. This was one of the most celebrated cases of those early days, and grew out of the following circumstances. Many of the pioneers of this country brought with them considerable sums of money, to purchase land with. This was mostly in gold and silver coin, and although inconvenient, it was necessary, in the total absence of banks.to keep it in their cabins. Such was the general character for honesty and integrity possessed by these early pioneers, that but little care was taken to conceal it, nor was it safely secured with barred doors or locked re- ceptaeles. In 1821, however, this mu- tual confidence in each other received a severe shock, by a heavy robbery that
took place in the southern part of the county. It seems that there lived at Lofton's prairie, an Englishman and his wife by the name of Dixon, people well advanced in years, who were known to have considerable money in their pos- session. One night several men came to the cabin of this couple, which was some distance from any neighbor, and by threats and demonstrations of per- sonal violence, extorted from the old gentleman. some $1,200, and then made off. As soon as they were gone, the oldl man communicated with his neighbors, an alarm was raised and a number of men, headed by Judge Lofton, started in pursuit. Mr. Dixon recognized two of the men, Robert Sinclair and Wil- liam B. Whiteside. The latter was a resident of Madison county, had been sheriff, and a prominent citizen of that locality; Major Sinelair was also a quite a prominent citizen of Madison county. They were overtaken near Alton and brought to trial at Carrollton. On be- ing placed in the dock, Mr. Whiteside, pleaded " not guilty," and asked for a continuance of the case, but was over- ruled by the court. Sinclair pleaded the same, and asked the same indul- gence, but was also overruled. The state's attorney, however, asking the con- tinuance of the case it was granted. At the term of the court which commenced April 25, 1822, William B. Whiteside was placed on trial, before the following jury and tried for his offense: Lewis Abrams, Joseph Klein, Charles Kitch- ens, Ruloff Stephens, Abraham Bowman, Daniel Duvall, John Finley, Francis Bell, Charles Gregory, William Eldred, Timothy Ladd and James Beeman. Thomas H. Benton, then a rising
600
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
young lawyer, appeared for the prosecu- tion. On this jury was a strong friend of the prisoner, Charles Kitchens, who is said to have hung the jury. This, of course, caused delay which was taken advantage of by the attorneys for the defense, and soon the death or departure of important witnesses, and finally the decease of Mr. Dixon, left the state without any testimony, and the case was dropped. Robert Sinclair was also tried ' and convic- ted of burglary, the value of the property being placed at $1,209.33, but while either out on bail, or the hands of the sheriff, accounts differing in this particular, he contrived to ship away, and mounting a fine, fast race horse, which was placed in readiness for him near the David Black farm, he sped away to the southward, hotły pur- sued by the sheriff, but the speed and bottom of his noble steed gave him the inside track, and he finally escaped. He went to Arkansas, where he after- wards arose to distinction. The court that tried these men was presided over by Hon. Joseph Phillips, at that time chief justice of the supreme court of the state.
At the September term of the circuit court. in 1823, Judge Thomas Reynolds presided. This gentleman was a very talented lawyer of his day, the peer of Benton, Marshall and others. He re- moved to Missouri and attained consid- erable reputation, and was finally elect- ed governor of that state.
Judge John Reynolds again presided over the September term, 1823, and faithfully discharged his duties. He was one of the foremost men of his time. In 1822 he was made chief jus-
tice of the supreme court. In 1830 he was elected governor of Illinois on the democratie ticket, and afterward served three years in congress. He was a Pennsylvanian by birth, born in 1788, and came to Illinois with his parents when but 12 years of age. He died at Belleville, St. Clair county, in 1865.
John York Sawyer, one of the circuit judges appointed by the general assem- bly, was commissioned January 19, 1825, and assigned for duty in the 1st judi- cial circuit, in which Greene county then was. The first term of court in this county over which he presided com- menced on the 16th of May, 1822. He held the office of judge until January, 1827, when circuit judges were legis- lated out of office.
Atthe April term, 1827, Samuel D. Lockwood, one of the associate justices of the supreme court, presided as cir- cuit judge. Judge Lockwood was quite a popular lawyer, and was attorney-gen- eral of the state during the years of 1821, and 1822, and on the 19th of Jan- mary, 1825, was appointed to the su- preme court, and remained upon that bench until Dec. 4, 1848.
In 1835, Stephen T. Logan was ap- pointed circuit judge of the 1st judicial circuit, under the law of Jan. 7, of that year, and entered upn the discharge of his duties, with the spring term of court in this county. Judge Logan, was a finished scholar, a deep student, but of a retiring disposition, and served but a short time, resigning in the spring of 1837. He was succeeded on the bench by William Brown, who was commissioned March 20, 1837, but re- signed the office July 20, of the same year.
601
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
The next to hold the office of circuit judge in this, the 1st judicial circuit, was Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., who was ap- pointed in July, 1837, and remained on the bench until early in 1839, when he resigned the office. Judge Thomas was afterward quite a prominent member of the supreme court of this state, being appointed in 1843, to succeed Stephen A. Douglas.
Hon. William Thomas was the next judge of the circuit court, being com- missioned as such on the 25th of Feb., 1839, and remained upon the bench un- til the reorganization of the judiciary in 1841, again legislated these judges out of office. Judge Thomas was an able lawyer, and quite a prominent man.
On the abolishment of the office of circuit judges, in 1841, the duty of holding the circuit court again devolved upon the judges of the supreme court, and Judge Stephen D. Lockwood, again came upon the circuit, and held court until the first election for circuit judges, under the constitution nf 1848.
The first judge, elected under this law in the 1st judicial circuit, was Hon. David Meade Woodson, who was elected in Sept., 1848, and commissioned on the 4th of Dec., of the same year. He performed the duties of this respon- sible office so unpartially, and to the satisfaction of the people, that he was twice re-elected to the position, hokling the same for 18 successive years, and declined the tendered nomination for a fourth term in 1867.
Hon. David Meade Woodson, late judge of the 1st judicial circuit in the state of Illinois, was born in Jessamine county, Ky., May 18, 1806. He was
a son of Samuel H. Woodson, an emi- nent lawyer of that state. David re- ceived his education at the classical schools near Lexington, and at Tran- sylvania University, and at the age of 17 began the study of law under one of the professors of that institution. He finished the term in his father's office, but in 1827 his father died, and the care of a large and complicated estate, and that of a mother and 7 minor children, devolved upon him and his brother, so he was compelled to give up his pro- fession for the time being. In 1832 he was elected to the legislature over a large democratie majority, and there cast one of the votes which sent Henry Clay fo the U. S. senate. He was the youngest member in the legislature. Oct. 6, 1832, he was married to Lucy McDowell, daughter of Maj. John Mc- Dowell, of Fayette county, Ky. In the fall of 1833 he came to Illinois and selected Carrollton as his future home. Here he practiced law in partnership with Charles D. Hodges, for 14 years, and in 1848 was elected to a judgeship. In 1835 he returned to Kentucky and spent another session in Transylvania University, where he graduated with honor. In Aug., 1836, his wife died in Kentucky. She left one child-now the Hon. John M. Woodson, of St. Louis. On Nov. 1, 1838, he was again married to Julia Kennett, daughter of Dixon H. Kennett. They had one daughter -- now the wife of H. C. Withers, late partner of her father. In the legislature of 1838-39, he was elected to the office of state's attorney, to fill a vacancy. He continued in this office until 1840, when he was elected by the people of Greene county to the
602
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
legislature, over a democratic majority of from 400 to 500-a flattering success. In 1843 he was nominated to a seat in congress, but was unsuccessful on ac- count of the popularity of his opponent, Stephen A. Douglas. In 1847 he was elected to the convention called to amend the constitution, and did all in his power to oppose the result of the convention, which was the degrading of the primary law of our state. He then devoted himself to his profession until 1848, when he was clected circuit judge, and filled the position with ability and impartially until 1867, when he again engaged in practicing law. He was again elected to the legislature on the democratic ticket, in 1868, thus showing the popularity and estimation in which he was held, both personally and politically. Judge Woodson died in 1877.
Hon. Charles D. Hodges was elected to the bench of the circuit court, in the spring of 1867, and was duly commis- sioned upon the 27th of June, 1867, and served six years. Judge Hodges rep- resented this district in the 55th con- gress, and is noticed under that head.
The general assembly by act of March 28, 1873, divided the state into 26 judi- cial districts, in each of which one judge of the circuit court was elected on the 2d day of June, 1873, for the term of six years. Greene county was placed in the 18th judicial circuit, and Hon. Cyrus Epler elected to the office of cir- cuit judge.
The general assembly, in 1877, how- ever, reduced the number of circuits, placing two together, and giving each circuit three judges. By this Greene county became a part of the 7th circuit, having for judges Hon. Cyrus Epler and and Hon. Lyman Lacy, and on the elec- tion for the third judge, Hon. Albert G. Burr, of Carrollton, was elected. All three of these gentlemen were elected in 1879. Albert G. Burr was the rep- resentative of the distriet in the 40th and 41st congresses of the United States, and a sketch of this eminent gentleman is given elsewhere.
At the election of June, 1885, Hon. Lyman Lacy, Hon. Cyrus Epler and Hon. George W. Herdman, were elected to the bench, and occupy the positions at the present writing.
CHAPTER VI.
EDUCATIONAL.
In respect to educational facilties the differs much from that of early days, county of Greene is fully up to the and is a great improvement, for, as it average of the other counties of the state. The present method of govern- ment of publie or common schools
always is with all innovations, the law in this respect has run the gauntlet, and finally arrived at what must be con-
603
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
sidered as nearly filling about all the requirements.
The educational system of Illinois has reached a degree of perfection and efficiency attained by but few states in the Union, and surpassed by a less number, and those the newer ones, where no early prejudices existed to overcome.
COMMISSIONERS OF SCHOOL LANDS.
In the pioneer days, when the county of Greene was organized, there was no such thing as public schools, the rough cradles of learning of those times be- ing supported by subscription, or were private schools The office of county superintendent of schools was not yet created. The only officer connected with the schools, in any way, under the constitution of 1818, was the com- missioner of the school lands, who had charge of the funds arising from the rent or sale of the 16th sections donated in each congressional township for ed- ucational purposes. This officer was appointed by the county commissioners' court, who were empowered to fix the compensation of the same.
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