USA > Illinois > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws > Part 17
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
supposed to have contained 1,000 Sac warriors. At a point called the 'Two Rivers,' they struck out eastward and across the high prairies to the Illinois, which was reached near the mouth of Spoon river." Who can now tell the location of the point called the "Two Rivers?" The expedition was against the hostile Indians on and about Peoria lake, and had set out from Camp Russell, in Madison county.
From said " History of Quincy " we obtain the following further facts :
"1819-Willard Keyes, who afterward built the second house in Quincy, floated past on a raft, but did not land.
"1820-The Western Enterprise, the first steamboat on the Mississippi river as far up as this place, and which landed here.
" 1824-John Wood filed a notice, in the Edwardsville Spectator, of application for a new county.
"1825. Aug. 17-The (Adams) County Commissioners borrowed $600 of Russell Farnham to purchase original town site.
"1825-The first Circuit Court was held Oct. 31, 1825; John York Sawyer, Judge; Henry H. Snow, Clerk."
On the jury lists for this first term of courtin Adams county, we find the names of the following Hancock county citizens, to-wit: Mor- rill Marston, Lewis Kinney, Luther Whitney, Hezekiah Spillman, Curtis Caldwell, Peter Williams and Benjamin McNitt.
The first county court held in Pike, after separation from Madi- son in 1821, was held at Cole's Grove, near Gilead (now in Calhoun county). We notice that James W. Whitney, the "Lord Coke " of the Quincy and Hancock bar afterward, was appointed its Clerk.
At its session of June 5, 1821, Daniel Shinn, John Shaw and John W. Smith, were appointed to view and locate a road from Ferguson's Ferry, on the Illinois river, to Fort Edwards, on the Mississippi river; and it was " Ordered, That all that part of the Fort Edwards road lying north of the north line of section 27, township 6 south, range 5 west, compose the fourth district of said road, and that John Wood, (ex-Lieut .- Gov.) be appointed superintendent of that district, and to have control of all the hands living within three miles each side of the road."
June 6, 1821-" Ordered, That the militia of the county be or- ganlzed into a regiment, etc., and that all north of the base line be and compose the Third Company District" (this included Hancock county).
July 6, 1821-" Ordered, That the report of the Commissioners to view and lay out a road *
* through Cole's Grove to Fort Edwards, be accepted as far as the north line of section 27, town 6 south, 5 west; that being as far as said Commissoners were able to proceed, owing to the excessive vegetation; and it is further ordered (time extended) until after the vegetation shall be destroy- ed by frost," etc.
Nothing further concerning this part of the county till December 6, 1824: "Ordered, That all the part of the Fort Edwards road
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
between Bear creek and Fort Edwards, be and compose the 8th district of said road, and that Samuel Groshong be appointed Supervisor."
And on March 7, 1825-" Ordered, That a ferry license be grant- ed to Peter Williams to keep a ferry across the Mississippi river at Fort Edwards, on his paying a tax of five dollars besides the Clerk's fees; and that the following rates of ferriage be established, to-wit:
"For a single person,. $ .25 Every Dearborn wagon,. $ .50
For a single horse,. . .25 Other four-wheeled carriages,. . 1.00
Head of cattle over 1 year old, .. .25 Two-wheeled carriage,. .75
Hog, sheep, or goat,. .0614 Every cwt. of dead lumber, .... .0614"
This was the first legalized ferry ever established within the limits of Hancock county. The last entry is in relation to the Fort Edwards road again, April 27, 1825:
"Ordered, That Levi Hadley, John Wood, and Willard Keyes be, and they are hereby appointed Commissioners to survey and locate that part of the Fort Edwards road, commencing at a point above Mill creek and continuing on to Fort Edwards on the bluffs, or where they think the best ground; provided, that said Con- missioners will perform said service gratuitously and without ex- pense to the county."*
The first session of the Adams County Court was held at Quincy, at the house of Willard Keyes, on Monday, the 4th of July, 1825; Peter Journey, Willard Keyes, and Levi Wells, Commissioners; Henry H. Snow, Clerk.
At regular September term grand jurors were ordered summon- ed, and we find the following residents of this county: Morrill Marston, Lewis Kinney, Luther Whitney, and Benj. McNitt; and of the petit jurors: Hezekiah Spillman and Peter Williams.
Nov. 9, 1825-" Ordered, That the attached part of this county be set off into an election precinct, to be called Fort Edwards pre- cinct, and that all elections for civil officers be held at the house of Lewis Kinney in said precinct ; Lewis Kinney, Luther Whitney and Peter Williams, Judges of Election."
Dec. 6, 1825-Jeremiah Rose, John Wood and Henry H. Snow were appointed to view a road leading east to intersect Fort Ed- wards road, laid out in June, 1825, by Pike county.
Luther Whitney, Lewis Kinney and Truman Streeter, appointed to view a road from Bear creek (where the viewers appointed by Pike county left off ) to Fort Edwards.
Dec. 15, 1825-"Ordered, That Luther Whitney be appointed Supervisor of all roads from Bear creek to Fort Edwards, and that he have charge of all hands between said points."
* For the foregoing extracts from the records of Pike county we are indebted to W. B. Grimes, Esq., the gentlemanly Deputy County Clerk, at Pittsfield.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
March 6, 1826-The following were established as tavern rates in the county of Adams, including Hancock:
For each meal .25 Wine per bottle. $1.00
Lodging per night. .1216
Gin
.1834
Half pint whisky .
.121%
Single horse feed .1212
French brandy .3719
Horse feed per night, with fod-
rum
.1834
der and grain. .25
wine .. .371/2
June 5, 1826-Lewis C. R. Hamilton appeared in open court, and entered as a matter of record, the emancipation of a certain negro boy named Buck, born the 16th day of December, 1817,- and entered into bond for his maintenance as the law requires.
Peter Williams appointed Constable.
Peter Williams, Jerry Hill and Luther Whitney, appointed Judges of Election in Fort Edwards precinct.
Dec. 5, 1826-Hezekiah Spillman, Peter Williams, James White, Russell Farnham, Morrill Marston, Lewis Kinney, Luther Whit- ney, Benjamin MeNitt, John Waggoner, and Curtis Caldwell (all of Hancock), on jury lists.
Sept. 4, 1826-Luther Whitney a duly elected County Commis- sioner.
Sept. 6-Ordered, That the Sheriff be authorized and required to have the court-house (log cabin 22 x 18, costing $185) suitably pre- pared for the reception and accommodation of the next Circnit Court; that he provide a suitable place for the Judge's seat-to be nine feet long and platform one foot high-four 10-feet benches, and two 7-feet ditto, and a temporary table for the use of the bar.
License granted to Russell Farnham as a non-resident peddler for one year, for $10 and Clerk's fees. -
March 5, 1827-On the application of Wesley Williams, ordered, that a certificate of good moral character be granted him, for the purpose of obtaining a license to practice law in this State.
James White, Peter Williams, and Luther Whitney, appointed to view and stake a road from Fort Edwards to the head of the rapids of the Des Moines-a road from thence to the settlement on Crooked creek in township 6 north, 5 west, and thence to Fort Edwards.
Said viewers reported to dispense with the road from the head of rapids to Crooked creek and thence to Fort Edwards, and say: " We set out from Fort Edwards a southeast direction, and turned a north direction as soon as we could get around the brakes, thence through prairies and timber a north direction, until we got oppo- site the rapids, thence we went a course a little north of west to the head of said rapids."
March 31, 1827-Wesley Williams was unanimously appointed Treasurer of Adams county .
Sept. 5, 1827-Wesley Williams appointed (afterward substi- tuted by Levi Wells) to draw the revenne of Adams county fromn the State Treasury, conditioned to "exchange it for specie, at not less than 70 cents to the dollar."
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
1828-James White elected a County Commissioner. John Harding, John Gregg, John Clark, Hugh White, Henry Nichols, John R. Wilcox, Robert Wallace, Edson Whitney, Daniel Cren- shaw, William Flint, and Andrew Vance (of Hancock) appear as jurors.
Sept. 14, 1829-[Hancock organized] and " Charles Holmes appointed Treasurer, to fill vacancy occasioned by the removal of Wesley Williams from the county ."
FROM RECORDS OF ADAMS CIRCUIT COURT.
" To the Clerk of Adams county-Greeting:
" Please to take notice that I have appointed the fifth Monday in October next for holding the Circuit Court in and for the county of Adams and State of Illinois. Given under my hand at Atlas, this 28th day of May, 1825. J. Y. SAWYER, Judge of the First Judicial Circuit."
Court held as per order:
Present-John York Sawyer, Judge; Henry H. Snow, Clerk ; Levi Hadley, Sheriff; John Turney, Att. Gen. pro tem.
Next term, Oct. 19, 1826-Sawyer, Judge; Jonathan H. Pugh, on behalf of Attorney General.
May 29, 1827-Samuel D. Lockwood, Judge: Wm. Thomas, Prosecutor pro tem.
Oct. 28, 1828-Lockwood, Judge; Wmn. Young appointed to prosecute .*
" The first trip ever made by a steamboat from St. Louis as high up as Galena, by private enterprise, was made in the spring of 1827, by Capt. James May, with the steamer Shamrock. Steamboats had been employed by the Government some three years previously, to carry military stores and soldiers to Forts Armstrong, Crawford and Snelling."-[CHARLES NEGUS, before Van Buren (Iowa) Pioneers.]
* For these extracts from Adams county records, and for numerous other favors, we are indebted to Gen. E. B. Hamilton, of the Quincy Bar.
CHAPTER IV.
THE FIRST OFFICIALS.
Judge Young's order for organizing the county of Hancock was issued in the summer of 1829, and it recited that the county was represented to contain a population of 350 persons, the number fixed by law to enable it to maintain a separate existence. Count- ing one to five of population, would give it seventy adult male citi- zens. At the first session of the County Commissioners' Court, there were sixty men selected to serve as jurors in the Circuit Court, twenty-four for the grand and thirty-six for the petit jury. There had been five men elected to county offices (three County Commis- sioners a Sheriff and a Coroner,) and the Board of Commissioners had appointed its clerk. There were thus sixty-six men named as residents of the county in the month of August, 1829.
These facts present some points of inquiry which we have been at some trouble to investigate. Did it require all the adult male citizens to put the county machinery in motion ? And if there were left any other eligible citizens, who were they ? The inquiry has shown the fact that there were residing in the county, at the date of its organization, not only enough male adults to meet the requirements, but a few more; that there were certainly not less than seventy, perhaps seventy-five; and that the county without doubt could honestly claim the requisite population.
The matter is of little importance now, except as it presents the curious fact, that full thirteen-fourteenths of the eligible citizens of the county were pressed into active service the first year of its exist- ence.
Again, what of all those sixty or seventy men whose names ap- pear upon our county's records of fifty years ago ? Whence came they? and when? and what has become of them? As pioneers, as the first emigrants to, and settlers in this county, then a wilderness, now past the semi-centennial year of its existence, and peopled with nearly 50,000 human beings, they are deserving of more than usual notice.
But a remarkable and solemn fact is developed: Of those sixty- six pioneers, who were first called to serve the county in a civil ca- pacity, and who began to shape its destiny, NOT ONE now remains in the county ! and ONE ONLY is known to be living at this date, Janu- ary 1, 1880 ! That one is ISAAC R. CAMPBELL, of St. Francisville, Mo., one of the grand jurors, and first County Treasurer.
We have called them "pioneers " and "settlers. " Pioneers they certainly were, but a large number of them can scarcely be
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
called settlers; for we find that many of them left the county at an early day, to pioneer, and perhaps to settle in still newer locali- ties. More than one (as will be seen) left the county for the county's good; some left it to make homes and grow up with the country elsewhere; while still others remained to be good citizens and do further service, and died regretted.
After much labor and inquiry, we have been able to gather in- formation concerning many of these, which we present in the order in which they are named on the records, beginning with
THE OFFICIALS.
Richard M. Young-Who occupied the bench of the Fifth Judi- cial Circuit at the time Hancock was organized, and whose duty it was made by law to issue the order for organization, was a native of Kentucky, and was an carly settler in the State. He was ap- pointed to the Judgeship in 1828, and resided at Galena, but after- ward settled in Quincy. His circuit embraced all the counties between the Illinois river and Galena, and east to Chicago. In 1837 he was elected by the Legislature to the U. S. Senate, and after his term of service had expired, was appointed by President Polk to be Commissioner of the General Land Office. Henry Asbury, Esq., of Quincy, in his "Sketches of the Bench and Bar," published in the Quincy Whig, says of Judge Young:
"Judge Young resided here for many years. He was a gentle- man in all his aspects-not perhaps the most profound of our judges and lawyers, but for his day and time, and in the absence of modern facilities and great libraries, his attainments were of such a character as to command for his memory our high respect. He was an honest man, and died in poverty at Washington city some years ago, though he had been Judge of the Supreme and Circuit Courts in Illinois, a Senator in Congress, and Commissioner of the General Land Office. His open-handed generosity left him poor in his old age."
Judge Young's term on the circuit lasted eight or nine years. The first sessions of his courts were held at private houses on the rapids, afterward in the log cabin court-house in Carthage, in which the bench was a splint-bottomed chair, the lawyers, juries and clients occupying the slab benches.
Dignified and courteous in his demeanor, on and off the Bench, we believe that it can be truly said, that no one of his many suc- cessors ever gave more general satisfaction to the people, or carried with him in his retirement more of their sincere respect, than did Judge Young.
George Y. Cutler-Was one of the three to whom Judge Young addressed his order, and was consequently one of the judges of the first election. He was a popular man, as he received fifty votes of less than sixty cast for Commissioners, with six candidates running. Concerning Mr. C., we can obtain but little information. He resided at the head of the rapids, where he sold goods; was a
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
whole-souled, genial man-a native of one of the New England States. He died about 1834, and his estate stands sixth of entry on the Probate records, under date of Sept. 1, 1834. How long he had been in the county is not ascertained. "Cutler's Grave," snr- rounded by a wall of stone, is still an object of note, near the bank of the Mississippi at Nauvoo.
Henry Nichols-One of the first County Commissioners-having received 37 votes-came to the county at an early day, date not known; neither do we learn the State of his nativity. He settled in Rocky Run township, where he continued to reside until about 25 years ago, when he removed to Wisconsin, where he was lately residing, in a green old age, and in excellent health. He was mar- ried to Miss Delia, the daughter of Luther Whitney, and sister to Sheriff Edson and Horace B. Whitney. His son, Luther, resides at the same place in Wisconsin.
Judge Nichols was a man highly esteemed by his neighbors, was an active and prominent participator in public affairs, and was fre- quently honored with offices of trust in the county.
James White .- Captain White was a juror for Adams county in the first year of its existence (1825), and received thirty-one votes at the first election in Hancock, electing him by one majority over Major Morrill Marston. Capt. White was born in Ohio, whence he emigrated to Missouri Territory in 1818, three years before it became a State. In 1824-or, perhaps, 1823-he came to reside and trade with the Sac and Fox Indians, who at that time had a large village of some 400 or 500 lodges at the head of the rapids, where Nauvoo now stands. In 1824, the treaty was made with those Indians by the general Government, by which they relin- quished their lands on this side of the river. Capt. White, wishing to obtain possession of the site of their village, for the payment of 200 sacks of corn, induced them to vacate in his favor-when they loaded their wik-ke-ups and other "plunder " into their " dug-outs" and paddled across to the Iowa shore. On the vacated spot, Mr. White opened ont a farm ; but his chief occupation during the remainder of his life-or until the business was superseded by steamboats -- was that of keel-boating on the Mississippi. In this business he was assisted by his two sons, Alexander and Hugh, and by his future son-in-law, Isaac Newton Waggoner. His old resi- dence stood on the bank of the river, near where the Nauvoo House now stands. He died June, 1837. ITis son, Alexander, survived him only a few months-died October, 1837. The son Hugh for many years resided near the old place, and followed the business of steamboat piloting, and was widely known between St. Louis and Galena. William, the third son, died early.
Alexander White in his later years was engaged in merchandis- ing. He was a candidate for Sheriff at the first election, but was beaten by
Elson Whitney .- This gentleman received 31 votes, to Mr. White's 22. He was the son of Luther Whitney, one of the per-
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
sons to whom Judge Young's order was addressed. He afterward resided on a farm nine miles below Warsaw, in Rocky Run town- ship. He was re-elected to the office of Sheriff for several terms, Mr. White being his competitor on two or three occasions. Mr. Whitney was an active politician of the Whig school, and an efficient and capable officer. In the difficulties between the old eiti- zens and Mormons he took an active part. He was married to a daughter of Charles Hill, and sister of the late Davis Hill, of Rocky Run. Mr. Whitney removed with his family to Leaven- worth, Kansas, some 20 or 25 years ago, and died ten or a dozen years since.
Robert Wallace-Was elected Coroner without opposition. That he resided somewhere along the rapids, is all that we can learn of him. He left the county at an early period.
John Johnson .- This gentleman was chosen the first County Sur- veyor, not by election, but by appointment from the Governor, having been recommended to that position by the County Commis- sioners at their first session. He was also on the first grand jury list. Mr. J. resided at Riverside, and was appointed Postmaster at Montebello by President Jackson, an office which he held till his death, Dec. 31, 1836. Of his nativity or early life little is known.
Wesley Williams .- At the first session of the County Commission - ers'Court Mr. Williams was chosen Clerk to the Board; and afterward, when Judge Young opened the first Circuit Court, in October of the same year, he was appointed Circuit Clerk. These two positions he held for several years, besides several others to which he was subsequently appointed; and with what fidelity and correct- ness, the early records of the county will abundantly show. No man among the pioneers of Hancock county was better known than he in its earlier days ; and no one, perhaps, among them all did more to shape its destinies.
Mr. Williams was a resident of Quincy several years, and held offices of trust there-that of Treasurer of Adams county the year previous to the separation. On the organization of Hancock, he resigned and removed to this county, and was appointed to the clerkship here. He was a lawyer by profession, though he never engaged in general practice in this county, his official duties re- quiring his undivided attention. Previous to the removal of the county-seat to Carthage, he was Clerk of both the Circuit and County Commissioners' Courts, and also Judge of Probate, and after removal to Carthage he was appointed Postmaster, a position he held for several years. His son, Samuel Otho Williams, a young man of excellent clerical ability, assisted him in his official duties, and was at one time for a short period Circuit Clerk by appoint- ment. He was married to a Miss Baldwin, of Carthage, and died two or three years later.
Wesley Williams was one of three brothers, all lawyers by profes- sion, natives of Kentucky, who came to Quiney and settled about 1825 or 1826. Archibald, elsewhere referred to in these pages,
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
remained in Adams county, but became eminent as a jurist, and had an extensive practice throughout the Circuit and the State. Robert R. and Wesley settled in this county about the same period. Of the former but little is known, as he died at an early day.
Wesley Williams was born in Lincoln county, Ky., March 24, 1792, and died at Fountain Green, May 12, 1870, aged 78 years, 1 month and 18 days. He was married in Bourbon county, Ky., on April 2, 1816, to Miss Elizabeth Ayres, from whom he was divorced in this county (she never residing west with him). He was again married to Ruth Scobey, June 9, 1831. Three sons and two daughters were the fruits of these marriages-Eli. H., now residing at Carthage, Samuel Otho, before mentioned, and Wesley C., residing in Prairie township, and Isabel (Spangler) of Fountain Green, and Kate (present name unknown). Wesley C. is said to have been the first child born in Carthage.
Isaac R. Campbell .- This name closes the list of county officials in 1829. Mr. C. was the first Treasurer of the county, not by elec- tion, but by appointment of the County Commissioners' Court. He remained in the county for only a few years, and finally settled at St. Francisville, Mo., where he is still living at the date of this present writing, at an advanced age, the only living representative of Hancock's first officials, and probably the only remaining one of her sixty jurymen of fifty years ago.
We notice among the early marriage licenses granted in the county, one (the 9th) to Isaac R. Campbell and Emily Davis, cere- mony performed by Luther Whitney, Esq.
FIRST GRAND JURORS.
The following are the names of first panel of grand jurors selected by the County Commissioners' Court, with such account of them as we have been able to obtain, viz:
Daniel Crenshaw-Resided in what is now Rocky Run town- ship. Died in 1831. His estate stands third on the probate records for settlement, under date of October, 1831. Some of his descend- ants (or relatives), we believe, are still residents of that township.
Luther Whitney .- This gentleman, with his sons, Edson and and Horace B., came to this county at an early period-exact date not ascertained, but he was here while the county was a part of Pike. He resided in Montebello township. His name appears on the jury list of both Pike and Adams counties; and he held the office of County Commissioner in Adams in 1826. Mr. Whitney was a native of Vermont, but removed to Kentucky at an early day, thence to Missouri, thence to Hancock county. He lived only a few years after organization. He served also in the capacity of Justice of the Peace, and was a prominent man in many re- spects, though we obtain but little of his career.
Morrill Marston .- Major Marston was one of the officers at Fort Edwards, and, at the time of the abandonment of the fort, was
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IHISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
court-martialed, we believe for intemperance. He settled in the county a short distance below the fort, near the Calamus spring, where he opened a farm. He was a native of Rockingham county, New Hampshire. His name also occurs on the Pike and Adams jury lists.
Major Marston was a very intemperate man, and died in a fit of intemperance by drowning, as was supposed-having been found in a shallow slough between the fort and his residence. His estate stands first of entry on the records of the Probate Court, under date of March, 1831. He had no relatives or heirs in the county at time of his death, and his estate was put into the hands of administra- tors ad interim, and finally administered by his brother, David Marston, who came west for the purpose.
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