USA > Illinois > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 4
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16
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
CLERKS.
The names of the first five clerks have already been noticed, viz. : William Wilson, Timothy Nash, Ed. Humphries, Joel Manning, and D. H. Brush. D. H. Brush was three times elected to the offices of clerk and recorder the first time in August, 1837, and the last in August, 1843. His term of office expired in 1847. He was succeeded in office by Brown Keith, who was elected August 2, 1847, and qualified as clerk, September 6, and as recorder, September 8, 1847. John A. Logan, since so distinguished amidst the ranks of war and in the peaceful walks of life, was elected clerk of couuty commis- sioners' court, November 6, 1849, and qualified on the 9th of December same year. He was succeeded in office by Thomas L. Hall, who was elected in November, 1853. Mr. Hall was re-elected on the 3d of November, 1857, and again re-elected in 1861, but died during his term of office. The vacancy thus occasioned was filled by Hugh Crawford, who served till November 25th, 1865. In this year was chosen, for the clerkship, John F. Coven, who quali- fied, November 25th. James W. Hull served until 1873, was commissioned November 11, 1869. He was succeeded by Mr. Ben Johnson, a genial, and clever gentleman, and one who has filled the duties of the office with marked ability. At the last November election, Mr. Kirkham, an obliging and capable gentleman, was the successful candidate. Mr. Kirkham has had experience in the office, having been Mr. Johuson's deputy, and will fill the office with ability.
SHERIFFS.
Jesse Griggs held this office for many years ; the last time he served the people of the county in this capacity, was in 1836. He was succeeded by the well-known William Worthen, whose occupancy of the office lasted until 1838.
Mr. Worthen was succeeded by James M. Reynolds, who served one year only.
Jeffersou Holliday, honorably connected with the early settlement of the county, held this office in 1840. When he ceased to act is not shown.
The next on recordis James Willis, who was elected August 7th, 1843, and qualified on the 19th of September of the same year.
Mr. Willis was re elected on August 5th, 1844, aud qualified on Sept. 19th, of the same year.
Beujamin Henderson was elected sheriff on the 3d of August, 1846, and qualified on October 12th. He died before the expiration of his term. Who served out the term is not shown.
John Redfield was elected sheriff' on the 22d of August, 1847. He was superseded in office by John Elmore, elected on the 7th of August, 1848, and served until January 6th, 1551.
John B. Cliutou was elected to this office on the 5th of November, 1850, (it will be noticed that the election day was this time changed), but did not assume the duties of his office uutil the 6th of January of the next year.
William Cox was next. He was elected on Nov. 2d, 1852. He resigned this office on the 4th of October, 1854.
Ed. H. Recse is not on record, aud we ouly find that his term expired Nov. 4th, 1856.
William Cox was next, again being elected on the above day and year. Mr. Cox was followed by Abel C. Davis. He by William Cox. He by Joseph H. Reeves. He by James C. Thompson. He by Joseph H. Culley. Next followed Gilbert J. Burr, whose right to the office was contested by his opponent, James C. Thompson.
Next, was Joseph F. Robinson, and then James H. Campbell, who died before the expiration of his term. Franklin B. Hauks was elected to fill the vacancy thus created. Mr. Hanks was succeeded by John B. Kimball, and he by the present incumbent, Bejamin F. Sams.
STATE AND PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Samuel D. Marshall held this office in 1837. No further record is obtaina- ble, till we come dowu to 1862. Since that period, the list is found to com- prise a very remarkable array of talent. And first, since then, Monroe C. Crawford, now the able judge of this circuit, whose vigorous and impartial administration of justice in his present high office, has endeared him to the hearts of all who love order, law and peace.
George W. Wall, lately chosen judge by a handsome majority, in a neigh- boring circuit, and highly distinguished in legal circles for his great attain- ments in his profession, came next.
Mr. Wall was followed by Col. R. R. Townes, a man who won renown as Colonel of a regiment of Illinois volunteers, and is a good lawyer.
Mr. Towner was succeeded by Mr. A. R. Pugh, of our own county, who did himself great and lasting credit, by the faithful and energetic discharge of his duties, during the most trying period of our history. His name will not soon .be forgotten by the people for this, and yet, no doubt, is remembered by members of the famous "Williamson County Vendetta," and " Calahan Clan," who now languish behind prison bars at Joliet.
Mr. Pugh was succeeded in office by William A. Lemma, the present occu- pant. Judge Lemma fills an office that, as the above list shows, has been occupied by men of distinguished ability, but those who know him, know that he will fill it ably and well. He is a man of fine presence and ability, and great and increasing popularity.
TREASURERS.
The first on record to fill this office (it is well to remember, that in early times, one man filled nearly all the offices of the court), is Emauuel Cannady. When he assumed and relinquished the duties of the office, is not shown. It was prior to January 1st, 1835, however, for we find that Jefferson Allen served as Treasurer from that date till the first of June, 1836.
Mr. Alleu was followed in office by William Doty, who took charge on the 7th of March, 1837, as the following record shows :
" At a regular term of the County Commissioners' Court, held at Browns- ville, on March 7th, 1837, William Doty was appointed Treasurer for the ensuing year. Bond in $2,000, approved."
Mr. Doty served until Sept. 4th, 1837. John Byars was the next Treas- urer, as witness the following : " At an election held in August, 1837, John Byars was duly elected Treasurer, and on Sept. 4th, 1837, was duly qualified, and filed his bond in the sum of $4,000."
John M. Hanson was elected first Monday in August, 1839, filed bond Sept. 3d, 1839, 83,000. Qualified and served to Sept. 4th, 1843.
William Pike was elected to this responsible office on August 7th, of this year. He qualified September 4th, 1843, and served until March 6th, 1845.
The next Treasurer was Thomas M. Sams, brother of Ben. F. Sams, our present efficient Sheriff. He was appointed to a vacancy caused by the retirement of William Pike, by the County Commissioners' Court, on the 29th of April, 1845. His term expired on Sept. 5th, of the same year.
William R. Phelps was elected to his office on Aug. 4th, 1845. Qualified on the 3d of September, same year. His term expired on Sept. 22d, 1846. The next custodian of public funds, was Jacob Shultz, appointed by County Court, on September 22d, 1846.
Washington Davis was the next incumbent of the office, elected August 2d, 1847, resigned Dec. 11th of the same year. On the 8th of January, 1848, William Garner was appointed by the court to fill the vacancy, caused by Mr. Davis' resignation.
Daniel Worthen was elected on Nov. 7th, 1848, aud served for oue year. Julius Bainberge was chosen to the office on Nov. 6th, 1849, but, failing to qualify, on the 11th of January, 1850, the County Court appointed Clai- borne Barrow to the position.
The next was N. B. Henderson, who assumed the duties of this office on . Nov. 8th, 1853. He was succeeded by B. M. Parrish, on the 11th of Nov. 1855. Mr. Parish resigned his office, and the County Court appointed, on March 6th, 1857, C. W. Easterly, to the vacaucy. Mr. E. served until Nov. 13th, 1857.
On the 3d of this month, Edward McGuire was elected as Treasurer, and qualified on the 13th of the saine month.
Next, came John L. Phelps, who being removed, his- place was filled by Edward McGuire.
Next, came Davis Cox, and then Jefferson Conner, then Oliver Cross, then Cornelius C. Culley, and then Gilbert J. Burr, who was re-elected, then William Bradley, who is now serving his second term.
CIRCUIT CLERKS.
A list can be given of these since 1857. William Wilson, at an early day, discharged the duties of this aud several other offices ; as also did Timothy Nash, Ed. Humphries, Joel Manning, and Col. D. H. Brush.
Edward H. Reese was clerk from 1857-perhaps before-till July 1st, 1860, at which time he resigned. Judge A. M. Jenkins appointed, on July 3d, James P. Watson to fill the vacancy so occasioned. Mr. Watson was elected to this office by the people on November 8th, 1864; qualified, November 18th, 1864, and served until his death.
John Ford was appointed to fill the vacancy, and took the prescribed oath on the 15th day of September, 1865.
17
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Gilbert J. Burr was elected in the following November to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Watson, and filed his bond on November 25th, 1865.
Hugh Crawford next held the office, and he was succeeded by the present efficient clerk, Mr. Robert W. Hamilton. So faithfully did this latter gentleman perform the onerous duties of his responsible position, that the people elected him a second time to it.
CORONERS.
Samuel Bowers held this office in 1837, and Alexander Cochran in 1840. John Devine, of Grand Tower, now discharges its duties to the satisfaction of the public.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Claiborne Barrow has held this office, as have also M. F. Swartzcope, Edward Newsome. John A. Werner is the present incumbent of the office.
A LIST OF THE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM JACKSON COUNTY (OR THE DISTRICT IN WHICH SAID COUNTY WAS INCLUDED) FROM 1818 TO 1877.
SENATORS.
In 1818-19-Conrad Will. In 1820-22-William Boone. In 1824-26-Joseph Duncan. From 1828 to 1834-Conrad Will. From 1835 to 1842-Braxton Parrish.
In 1844-46-Willis Allen. In 1849-Hawkins S. Osburn. In 1855-John E. Detrich. 1857-59-E. C. Coffey. 1861-James W. Rodgers. 1863-Israel Blanchard. 1865-67-Daniel Riley. 1869-Samuel K. Casey. 1871-S. K. Casey and Jas. M. Washburn. 1873-5-7-Jessse Ware.
REPRESENTATIVES.
In 1818-19-Jesse Griggs. From 1820 to 1826-Conrad Will. In 1828-S. H. Kemmell. In 1830-No name on file from Jackson county. In 1832-Alexander M. Jenkins.
In 1834-James Harreld. From 1836 to 1840-John Logan. In 1842-44-R. A. Bradley. In 1846-John Logan. In 1849-R. A. Bradley.
In 1853-John A. Logan.
In 1855-Thomas M. Sams.
In 1857-John A. Logan. In 1859-James Hampton.
In 1861-Peter Keifer. In 1863-James M. Washburn.
In 1865-William H. Logan.
In 1867-Hugh Gregg. In 1869-E. L. Denison. In 1871-William Schwartz. In 1873-William A. Lemma, W. J. Inscore, and John H. Oberley. In 1875-F. E. Albright, M. J. Inscore, and Claiborne Winston .. In 1877-F. E. Albright, A. H. Irwin, and W. H. Woodward.
CHANGE OF COUNTY SEAT IN 1843.
Brownsville, until its extinction, the capital of the county, was situated on the right bank of the Muddy, at a distance of nearly five miles a little south of west of Murphysboro'. This, for many years, was the only town in the county. Around it are grouped many interesting recollections. This was the place where all the citizens entitled to the elective franchise assembled in those early days to vote, viva voce, for the men of their choice, and on ques-
tions of state and national interest; where the militia mustered on the green on the glorious training day ; where the then youthful Sidney Breese, now so distinguished as a jurist in our state and throughout our nation. failed in his first pleading ; where Governor Duncan addressed the people powerfully from the stump; where Alexander M. Jenkins, Captain in the Black Hawk war, Lieutenant-Governor of Illinois, and Judge of Circuit, learned the trade of a carpenter in his youth; where Conrad Will cracked jokes and manufactured salt : Brownsville, whose site is now a wheat field, ceased to be the capital in 1843.
As we stood upon the site of this ancient village, which, though scarcely known to have had an existence by the prosent generation, yet lives in the memories of the old settlers, and observed the few, faint traces that have survived the lapse of time, the well-remembered lines of Goldsmith, in his " Deserted Village," came, unbidden to our lips :
"Sweet was the sound, when oft, at evening's close, U'p yonder hill the village murmur rosc; There as I passed with careless steps and slow, The mingling notes came softened from below ; The swain responsive as the milk maid sung : The sober herd that low'd to meet their young ; The noizy geese that gabbled o'er the pool ; The playful children just let loose from school ; The watch-dog's voice that bayed the whispering wind, And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind ; These all in sweet confusion >ought the shade, And filled each pause the nightingale had made. But now the sounds of population fail,
No cheerful murmurs fluetnate in the gale, No busy steps the grass-grown foot-way tread, But all the bloomy flush of life is fled.
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Near yonder copse, where once the garden smiled, And still where many a garden flower grows wild; There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose, The village preacher's modest mansion rose. * * * * *
Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way, With blossom'd furze unprofitably gay, There, in his noisy mansion, skilled to rule, The village master taught his little school :
A man severe he was, and stern to view, I knew him well, and every truant knew ; Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace The day's disaster in his morning face.
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Yet lie was kind, or, if severe in aught, The love he bore to learning was in fault ; The village all declared how much he knew, 'Twas certain he could write, and cipher too; Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage, And e'en the story ran-that he could gange : In arguing too, the parson owned his skill, For e'en though vanquished, he could argue still ; While words of learned lengtli, and thund'ring sound, Amazed the gazing rusties ranged around,- And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew. But past is all his fame. The very spot Where many a time he triumphed, is forgot."
The description of the tavern in "Sweet Auburn" suits well that kept in the " pleasant days of old " by Jesse Griggs, and where Diza Jenkins, who afterwards became the wife of Joel Manning, worked.
" Near yonder thorn, that lifts its head on high, Where once the sign-post caught the passing eye, Low lies that honse where nut-brown draughts inspired, Where gray-beard mirth, and smiling toil retired, Where village statesmen talked with looks profound, And news much older than their ale went round. Imagination fondly stoops to trace The parlor splendors of that festive place; The white-washed wall, the nicely sanded floor, The varnished clock that clicked behind the door ;
18
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The chest contrived a double debt to pay, A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day ; The hearth, except when winter chilled the day, With aspen boughs, and flowers and fennel gay. Vain transitory splendors ! could not all Reprieve the tottering mansion front its fall ? Thither no more the peasant shall repair, To sweet oblivion of his daily care; No more the farmer's news, the barber's tale, No more the woodman's ballad shall prevail, No more the smith his dusky brow shall clear, Relax his ponderous strength, and learn to hear.
Yes! let the rich deride, the proud disdain, These simple blessings of the lowly train, To me more dear, congenial to my heart, One native charm, than all the gloss of art."
But we forbear, as were we to quote all of the beautiful poem, which ap- plies to the past and present of old Browusville, we should have to transfer it entire to our columns. Maybe some poet one day shall embalm recollec- tions of this deserted village in verse not less pleasing, poetical, and enduring than that which has immortalized Lissoy as " Sweet Auburn, loveliest village of the plain."
The court-house was a frame building, two stories in height, and was only partly seated. Various the ories have been suggested concerning the origin of the fire, but the following is the most plausible, and is prohahly the cor- rect one : Iu one of the rooms was kept the " little school" of the village. It may be well to remark that to insure greater security against fire, the court-house occupied the centre of an entire square, in which were no other buildings. Hence the fire must have originated in the building itself. The pupils of the school were in the habit of removing the hot ashes and coals from the stove aud throwing them into the ash-hox. It was supposed that the box was fired in this way, and thus the flames werc communicated to the structure. It was shortly after midnight, on the morning of the 10th of January, 1843, when Mrs. Lyons, an old lady, first discovered that the building, containing the records of the county stretching over a period of 27 years, was on fire. At the time she first saw it there was but a small blaze, but some minutes elapsed before an alarm could be given to the sleeping in- habitants. No adequate means existed for subduing the flames, and it was at once seen that the court-house was doomed.
D. H. Brush, at that time, County Clerk, Circuit Clerk aud Recorder, rushed into the burning building, at the imminent hazard of his life, to save the county records in his charge. All that were rescued from the flaming structure, were saved hy his heroic exertions. But few, however, were saved, and the most of the books of the county, containing so much information relating to the civil history of the county in its earlier years, and relating to her officials aud their acts, and which can never hc restored, were cousumed. The building.burned like tinder, and in a short time, the site of the court- house was covered with black and smoking ruins, and the sun rose the next morning upon a town whose days were numbered.
In this condition of affairs, it was necessary to appeal to the Legislature then in session at Springfield. Our representatives had no difficulty in pro- curing the passage of a bill, creating a Board of Investigation, to restore official records. The bill was approved by Gov. Ford on the first day of Feb- ruary, 1843. By the provisions of the bill, William Doty, Willis Allen and Jefferson Allen, were appointed as the investigating board for Jackson county. in " relation to the Records of the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, County Commissioners' Court, Probate Justice of the Peace and County Recorder," which were destroyed hy fire at the period above stated.
D. H. Brush was clerk of this board, and M. F. Swartzcope was employed by it to visit the county of Randolph, and transcribe needed records from its books. This board honestly performed its duty, but of course, the loss could never be entirely made up.
Brownsville was too far west in the county, and this fact was felt by a majority of the citizens.
The Legislature passed at the instance of our representatives, the following hill :
An Act in relation to the county seat of Jackson county.
SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, that Samuel F. Russell, of Williamson county,
William C. Murphy, of Perry county, and John Cochran, of Uuion county, be, and they are, herehy appointed Commissioners to re-locate the county seat of Jackson county.
SEC. 2. Said Commissioners, or a majority of them, shall meet in the town of Brownsville, on the second Monday in August next, or within a reasona- ble time thereafter, and, after being duly sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties, shall proceed to examine such parts of said county as they may think proper, to enable them to locate said couuty seat for the public good. The Commissioners shall make said location as near the center of said county as an eligible site can be procured, taking iuto cousideration the public interest. The Commissioners shall make out aud return to the Clerk of tlie County Commissioners' Court, a certificate of the re-location of said county, which shall be recorded by the clerk.
SEC. 3. If the location of the county seat shall be made on private pro- perty, the owner shall be required to donate a tract of land, not less than twenty acres, which shall include the town site selected hy said Commission- ers, aud shall convey the same by a good deed to the couuty of Jackson.
SEC. 4. The County Commissioners of Jackson county, as soon as the county seat is located under this, the provisions of this Act, shall proreed to lay off iuto lots, and sell so much of said tract of land as may seem to them best for the interest of said county, which shall be sold at public auction after having given due notice of the time and place of said sale. 'The pro- ceeds of the sale to be applied, under the direction of the County Commis- sioners, to the erection of public buildings for said county.
SEc. 5. After the county seat shall have been located as provided for iu this Act, the county officers of Jacksou county, who are required by law to keep their offices at the county seat, as soon as they can procure suitable places for keeping their offices, shall move the same to the county seat so located.
SEC. 6. On the removal of said county seat, the county officers of Jackson county, shall give public notice, aud proceed to sell to the best bidder, all the public property owned by the county in the town of Brownsville, aud the proceeds of all such sales shall he applied to the ercction of public buildings, under the direction of the County Commissioners, at the county scat, when located under the provisions of this act : Provided, that they may retain the jail until they shall think it necessary to build a jail at the county seat when located.
SEC. 7. The County Commissioners shall, immediately on the location of the county seat, proceed to cause to he erected at the county scat a suitable court-house, and other necessary buildings for public uscs, which shall be prosecuted with all reasonable diligence.
SEC. 8. The Commissioners appointed by this act to relocate the county seat of Jackson county, shall be allowed a reasonable compensation for their services, to be paid out of the treasury of Jackson county.
SEC. 9. If the county seat shall be located on public land, the Commis- sioners shall inform the County Commissioners thereof, who shall imme- diately procure the purchase of said land for the county upon which they shall cause a town to be laid off, and the lots sold, the proceeds of which shall be applied to the erection of public buildings.
SEC. 10. That at an election to be held iu the county of Jackson, on the first Monday in August, the judges of said election in the several precincts shall open a column in their poll books, in which they shall be required to record all the votes of the legal voters of said county, for or against the removal of said county seat, and return the same to the Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, who shall, in the presence of two justices of the peace, open and examine the same, and if there shall be a majority of the votes in favor of the removal of the said county seat, this act to be in full force and virtue, and if a majority of the votes of said county be opposed to the removal of said couuty seat, this act to be null and void.
[Approved Feb'y 24th, 1843, by Gov. Ford.]
As was fully expected, a majority of the votes were in favor of removal, and the above act was consequently in " full force and virtue."
The Commissioners named in the bill met at the specified place at the appointed time, and, after the required oath by the Clerk of the County Court, D. H. Brush, addressed themselves at once to the accomplishment of the task imposed upon them.
Dr. John Logan, an old and influential citizen, offered to donate to the county, for its new capital, a tract of twenty acres of land. After due deliberation, his offer was accepted. The public square of Murphysboro.' occupies the centre of this tract. The deed of Dr. Logan and wife to the county, which was recorded on Sept. 13th, 1843, will be found on page 66 of
19
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Book 2. The land was received for the county by its agents, Thomas B. Hill and Peter Gill, and certified to by them and John Mansfield and C. Sarony.
The Board of Commissioners created by the act given above, requested, when the subject of naming the new connty seat was reached, the Connty Commissioners and their Clerk to vote with them on it, which they did.
Mr. Cochran, of Union, was an ardent admirer of Gen. James Shields, who had won great renown for soldierly qualities and gallantry iu the war with Mexico; who had rode at the head of a brigade of Illinois troops, and was brevetted Major-General for capacity and intrepidity ; the soldier who was shot throngh and through at the battle of Cerro Gordo, and was reported at home as killed, but who lived to add to the brightness of his military fame by services under Scott at Chernbusco and Chepultepec.
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