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 5
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Therefore, he made a motion that the new capital be called Shieldsboro, and his motion prevailed over all opposition.
For a very short period, this was the name of the conuty seat of Jackson, and then it was rechristened Murphysboro', in honor of William C. Murphy, of Perry, one of the locating Commissioners, who, while in the Legislature, had exerted himself to further the interests of this county.
Before this, the Legislature, with wise forethought, had passed a bill, in force March 1st, 1843, anthorizing the County Commissioners of Jackson county to borrow money for certain purposes named therein.
By this, the County Commissiouers were anthorized to make a loau of money ou behalf of the connty of any person or persons, not to exceed three thonsand dollars, which money, wheu so borrowed, the law specified, should be applied to the erection of a court-honse in said county, and for no other purpose.
The money was borrowed, and the temple of justice was erected on the public square early in the ensuing year, and the citizens of the county began to experience the blessings of a county debt.
The same year the jail, which was a woodeu structure situated iu a corner of the conrt-house square, was built, and served as a place for the incarcera- tion of criminals until the year 1865. It that year the present building, which cost, (some think,) a rather fancy price, was built.
The Board of Commissioners, in 1877, feeling that the coudition of the conrt-house was a reproach to the county, advertised for bids on repairs and additions. The appearance of the building, when complete, will be very handsome, as may be seen by turniug to the lithograph of it in this book. On opening the sealed proposals, it was found that Isaac Rapp, of Carbon- dale, was the lowest responsible bidder. His bid was $10.850. Some changes having beeu made in the plan, and some extras being needed, it is calculated that the total expenditure on the building will be, when complete, about $18,000.
COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS.
The amount, on the 1st of September, 1876, was $76,112.44. This is something of a burden. At present, it bears too great a rate of interest. The finauces of the couuty ueed looking into more thoroughly. Surely the scrip of so rich and great a county should be worth more than 85 cents on the dollar.
THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1844.
Iu the year 1844, in the month of Jnne, occurred an unprecedented rise in the Mississippi river. The mighty volume of water scorned to be confined by its banks, and overleaped them, causing wide-spread dismay and destruc- tion. Some idea of the great height to which the angry waters rose, will be gained, when it is said that a steamboat rode through the streets of Kaskas- kia. and rescued from the upper windows of the old convent, the terrified uuns, who had abont giveu up all hope of aid.
The water rose more than four feet above the highest mark of the flood of 1851, when the current of Muddy river is said to have been reversed and ran up stream for a month.
The inhabitants of bottoms, in many cases, lost their all, and barely escaped with their lives, and the greatest distress was occasioned to all dwellers in the lower levels of our own and her sister counties.
It was too late for them to replenish their ruiued crops, and had it not been for the charity of those whose location above the flood saved them from a like calamity, famine would certainly have marked them as his prey. Per- sonal property was destroyed, and fences went traveling towards the gulf on the bosom of the great tide, which was from four to six miles wide.
At the next session of the Legislature, the following Act for the relief of sufferers, was passed :
An Act for relief of certain persons therein named.
WHEREAS, the actnal settlers in the couuties of Madison, St. Clair, Mon- roe, Randolph, Jackson, Union, and Alexander, on the Mississippi bottom, at the time of the late high and unexampled rise in said Mississippi river, in Jnne, 1844, have suffered great losses in the destruction of personal property, in the sweeping away of fences aud great depreciation of real estate, from that providential dispensation : And whereas, this General Assembly is im- pressed with the propriety and justice of their claim to relief from shariug, for a time, a portion of the public bnrden, and to eucourage a return of those persons who have thus suffered, to their homes and late improvements, and thus restore that interesting section of onr State, to its accustomed prosperity, as this Legislature cau accomplish the same: Therefore,
SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented iu the General Assembly, That all taxes dne and owing to thic State of Illinois, or to either of the above named connties, from persons who were actually residing on the Mississippi bottom lands in said conuties, immediately pre- ceeding the high rise of water iu the said Mississippi river, during the summer of 1844, aud whose farms or improvements were subiuerged by said high waters, be, and the same are, hereby remitted and released. And if any person actually residing at that time, on said bottom, and whose crops or improvements were destroyed in whole or in part, by said high water, have paid their taxes for the year 1844, the same shall be remitted by the collec- tors of their respective counties, upou being required thereby, by such per- son or persons.
SEC. 2. That all persons in the first section of this Act enumerated, shall be released from all taxes for State or couuty purposes, which would other- wise be collected for the year 1845, and the Assessor in each county above recited, shall not be required to assess the property, real, personal or mixed, belonging to such persons in said river bottom.
SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of the collectors in each of the above reeited counties, to submit to County Commissioners' Court of each of the aboved named counties, at their March term, 1845, a list of all taxes remitted under this Act, which, if approved by conrt, as withiu the provisions of this Act, the same shall be a sufficient receipt or voucher upou which said collectors may settle with the Auditor of public accounts.
SEC. 4. The Secretary of State shall be required to send a copy of this Act to the Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court of each eouuty above recited, immediately after the passage of this Act, who shall notify the col- lectors of their respective counties of the same.
SEC. 5th. The provisions of this Act shall not apply to any persou or per- sons unless the greater part of their farms or improvements, excepting buildings, were submerged by said high water, aud to no person whose persoual property now exceeds two hundred dollars in value.
SEC. 6. This act shall take effect from and after its passage.
An Act of the following purport went into effect Fcb. 3d, 1843.
The returns of the treasurer of school trustees of the several townships, and the returns of the trustees of school lands uot iucorporated in the counties of Jackson and Clinton, to the sehool commissionrse of said counties of the number of white children under the age of twenty years, were not made in conformity with law, then in force if at all, further time was given for them to perfect, and make returns until the first day of May next. The act further provides that all moneys in the hauds of the school commis- sioners of said connties subject to distribution, which have not been dis- tributed, shall be by the said commissioners, as soon as the provisions of the act shall be complied with, and the commissioners were directed, iu appor- tioning the same, to make the apportionment according to the number of children returned according to the provisions of this act.
The Act took effect from and after its passage.
An Act to the following effect was passed January 1st, 1845.
It was enacted at Springfield, by the 14th General Assembly, That all persons who had in possession, deeds or other written instruments of records in the recorder's office in Jackson county, the records of which were coll- sumed by fire in 1843, who had not presented the same to the board of in- vestigation, might at any time hereafter present the same to the recorder, whose duty it should then be to enter the same on the books of record in his office, and the said record should be valid in law.
A law went into effect on Feb. 21st, 1845, the preamble recited, that inas- much as the records belonging to County Commissioners' court, including
20
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the assessment list of said county for the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, were consumed by fire, in consequence of which, the state and county tax due for the aforesaid year had never been collected, and further, that whereas, the County Commissioners had procured from the assessor a copy of the original assessment list.
It was enacted that the copy of the aforesaid assessment list be, and the same was made legal, as valid as the original would have been if it had not been destroyed. And it was made the duty of the clerk of the County Commissioners' court, to make out a copy of said list, and hand the same over to the collectors of Jackson county for the year 1845, whose duty it was made to qualify, give bond, collect the back tax due, account for and pay over the same in the usual manner at the proper time.
The court were instructed however to strike from said list the names of those persons living on the Mississippi bottoms, whose property had been destroyed by the late floods, thereby exempting them or so many of them, as they may deem unable to pay taxes due from them for the year 1842, from the payment thereof.
The legislature in session in 1847 passed a bill, the provisions of which were as follows :
Act of Legislature.
It was enacted that the Muddy Saline Reservation, with its appurte- nances, is hereby vested in the county of Jackson, for certain purposes after- ward stated.
Mr. Benington Boon, of Jackson county, was appointed agent for the county, and was required within twelve months from the date of the passage of the act to advertise said lands for sale in tracts of not more than 80 acres ; and after advertising the time and place of sale six weeks, in two public newspapers of the State, to sell the same to the highest cash bidder, or on a credit of nine months, twelve and eightcen months, under the direction of the County Court, the purchaser to execute bonds to the county of Jackson, with approved security and a morgage on the premises, which bond and mortgage were to be delivered to the treasurer of the county.
SEC. 3. Provided that the proceeds of the reservation be expended under the direction of the County Court of Jackson county, on the road leading from Murphysboro', to - -, on the Mississippi river, on that point which lay in the
Mr. Boon, by section 4, became entitled to a fair compensation for his services, to be paid out of the treasury of Jackson county. This fair com- pensation, however, was not to exceed one dollar per day, and he was required to give bond for the faithful performance of the duties of his office.
CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
These will be found treated of more fully in the department of township sketches. We will simply here give a notice of a few of the more prominent.
(It is well to call attention to the fact that until the construction of the Illinois Central through the county almost the entire population was rural. Since then the era of towns has commenced, and along the lines of the various railroads have sprung up quite a number of cities and towns. Mur- physboro', indeed, dates back to the ycar 1843, but was a small village until after the date spoken of. The population of the towns is not far, at present, from 7,000, or nearly one-third of the population of the county).
NAME. POPULATION. 2,500
LOCATION.
Carbondale,
Eastern portion on I. C. R. R.
Murphysboro', 2,300 (county seat ), Cairo and St. Louis R. R.
Grand Tower, 1,000 South- west G. T. & C. R. R.
Makanda, 300 South-east I. C. R. R.
De Sota,
600
North of Muddy, on I. C. R. R.
Elkville,
150
North-east I. C. R. R.
Ava,
300
North-west C. & St. L. R. R.
Other boroughs are Campbell Hill, Gillsburg, Pomono, Basky Dell. Those desiring fuller information regarding these, will find it in the histories of townships.
THE JACKSON COUNTY BAR.
For many years this has had a high reputation, but it is undoubtedly now stronger in intellect and brighter in talent than ever before. Among those that have in the past by their ability gained for it such a reputation, we may
make mention of Mr. Dudding, now in California, Judge A. M. Jenkins, and John A. Logan.
The members of the bar of this county are, many of them, men of culture and, refinement, who have prepared themselves at the great law universities, for the practice of their great profession. Some of them, too, are men of distinguished reputation.
Col. D. H. Brush is perhaps the oldest practitioner, and has been a suc- cessful man in his profession. His residence is in Carbondale. Judge Andrew D. Duff, also of Carbondale, is widely known as one deeply versed in the law, and needs no eulogy from us. Hon. W. J. Allen, of Carbondale, is a lawyer in whom are united profound knowledge of his profession and great oratorical ability. He is employed much in criminal cases. Hon. Isaac Clements, of Carbondale, stands well in his profession. He is popular with the masses, and has represented his district in Congress. He is at present one of the Commissioners of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary. Hon. Wm. A. Lemma, the present prosecuting attorney, is a mian of high attainments and great popularity. He resides in Carbondale. His partner, Hon. W. W. Barr, is an orator of no ordinary gifts, and a good lawyer. Hon. F. E. Albright, of Murphysboro', now representing his district in the legislature for a second term, is aptly named. He is conceded to be bright in the law.
Hon. William A. Woodward, of Carbondale, member of the legislature, was educated for his profession at the law school of Bloomington, Ind. He is energetic and will succeed. Judge J. Banks Mayhan is an educated gentle- man who has by his courtesy and ability made many friends and secured a good practice.
George H. H. Andrews, county judge, is a man of fine presence and good attainments. George W. Smith is a young man who is rapidly rising in his profession. He is a man of integrity, industry and ability. So also is his partner, R. J. Stephens, a clear-headed and well-educated young man. Judge C. H. Layman, ex-county judge, is conceded to possess a fine judicial mind. George W. Hill is a young man of great energy and good education; with him there's no such word as fail. A. D. Norman, of Carbondale, is a rising man and possesses a capacity for work that is cnviable M. C. White has not long been a member of the bar, but during his short connection with it has established himself as a capable and worthy man. R. A. Bradley, a native of the county, who has been honored by being placed in positions of responsibility by the electors of this county, completes the list. It will be seen that the array of talent is truly a remarkable onc, anl justifies the statement often made, that Jackson county has one of the most able bars to be found in any county of the Statc.
THE GREAT REBELLION.
When the tocsin of war was heard in the dark days, the sons of Jack- son crowded forward to offer their swords to the National Government. We may well be proud of her part in the war. The lawyer left his office, the artisan his shop, the physician his practice, the farmer his plow, and marched away, 'neath flaunting banners, to the stirring, martial music, in defence of the grand principle of nationality.
Many of her sons greatly distinguished themselves. ()ne of them com- manded an army corps, and won a reputation for military capacity second to none. Others gallantly rode at the head of regiments, and led their follow- ers to victory. Others commanded companies and did gallant service for the flag. The greater portion, however, served as privates in that grand army which went sadly forth against their brethren in defence of their principles.
Many of those that left home and friends for the tented field with thoughts of glory uppermost in their minds, never returned. Their country demanded the sacrifice, and they cheerfully laid down their promising young lives for her. A full list of the officers and soldiers furnished by our county during the war for the Union and the war with Mexico will be found in another part of this work. God grant that never more may the horrors of civil war darken our land We repeat it, Jackson has reason to be proud of the con- duct of her sons in the hour of danger. Far to the south and west they have pressed at their country's call, till their victorious fect trod the halls of the Montezumas. Wherever duty called they were found. They never have been found wanting. The blood of the old pioneers flowed in their veins and they were incapable of fear. With
" Cheers for the living and tears for the dead "
we leave them to the enjoyinent of their well-won laurels.
COUNTY FARM
JAIL
LOGAN
HOU E
ISAAC RAPP CONTRACTOR
COURT HOUSE
REPAIRED 1877
ROB! A. BEASLEY EDW ME GUIRE HENRY WILLIAMSON
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BUILDINGS JACKSON COUNTY ILLINOIS
THE COUNTY
21
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
FORM OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
This county, in 1872, adopted township organization, but soon changed back to the old form of government.
In 1877 they voted in favor of township organization a second time. It would be the part of wisdom, this time, to test for several years the new method of government. Its advantages or disadvantages cannot be fully discovered in one year, nor in two. There will be jars, perhaps, in the machinery, that will cease after a time when inexperience is succeeded by thorough knowledge of the new method. Let the people try it for not less than five years. Then will its superiority or inferiority to the other method be for ever settled, and on it the seal of approval or condemnation will be set beyond the power of change.
The following is a true and correct statement of the property assessed for the county of Jackson for the year 1877, as taken from the Assessor's returns, and certified to the Auditor by Ben Johnson, clerk County Court :
PERSONAL PROPERTY.
Number. 4,347
Av. value. Ass. value. $27 57
Horses of all ages.
$119,863
Cattle of all ages
6,745
7 75
52,282
Mules and asses of all ages .
1,795
30 18
54,173
Sheep of all ages
3,453
1 04
3,577
Hogs of all ages .
14,339
1 23
17,700
Steam engines, including boilers
38
331 05
12,580
Fire and burglar-proof safes .
14
112 50
1,575
Billiard, pigeon-hole, bagatelle, or similar. tables
12
25 83
310
Carriages and wagons of whatsoever kind
1,925
18 78
36,153
Watches and clocks. .
1,724
5 16
8,894
Sewing and knitting machines
916
22 96
21,034
Pianofortes .
83
75 24
6,245
Melodeons and organs
84
36 43
3,060
Franchises . .
·
.
·
·
Patent rights
1
50 00
50
Total assessed value of enumerated property . 8337,496
AMOUNT OF UNENUMERATED PROPERTY.
Merchandise
$68,905
Materials and manufactured articles
2,980
Manufactured tools, implements and machinery 6,107
Agricultural tools, 32,813
Gold and silver plate, and plated ware 270
Diamonds and jewelry .
50
Moneys of banks, bankers, and brokers, etc.
970
Credits "
1,600
Moneys of other than bankers .
13,621
Credits of other than bankers
26,500
Bonds and stocks 2,750
Pawnbrokers' property
Property of corporations not before enumerated
Property of saloons and eating-houses 715
Household and office furniture 68,744
Investments in real estate, and improvements thereon 6,568
Shares of stock, State and National Banks
All other personal property . 18,162
Total assessed value of unenumerated property $250,755
RAILROAD PROPERTY ASSESSED IN COUNTY.
Class C, personal property .
. $23,038
Class D, Lands No. acres . 8,629
Av. value $9 47 81,874
Class D, Lots. . No. lots . . 749
11 72
8,785
Total value railroad property assessed $113,697
REAL ESTATE LANDS.
Ass. value.
Improved lands .
No. acres 101,894
Av. value $7 41
$754.969
Unimproved lands
208,517
2 14
445,313
Total
$1,200,282
REAL ESTATE.
Improved town and city lots . No. lots 1,233 Av. value $283 72 Unimproved 2,417 18 91 45,699
$349,636
Total . $395,335
Total value of all taxable property assessed in county- $2,297,565
Acres in cultivation-wheat, 43,123 ; corn, 31,269 ; oats, 4,571 ; meadows, 6,486; other field products, 2,498; acres in enclosed pasture, 8,883; in orchard, 3,524. Total land, 171,467.
The State Board of Equalization raised this 16 per cent.
Such is a resume of the civic history of our county. It requires no mar- vellous gifts of second sight to prophesy her coming greatness. Few conn- ties in the State have a brighter future.
Her agricultural and mineral resources are great, and the products of hier farms and mines will swell as the years circle away. Few counties have such advantageous commercial outlets. Along her western border, through- out its entire extent, there washes ceaselessly by, the great river of the earth. This affords us a cheap transportation to northern. eastern and southern markets.
In addition to this valuable natural means of outlet, traversing the county from north to south, runs the Illinois Central Railroad, one of the best managed corporations in the State; on this line, northiward, run, at certain seasons, with few stoppages, the special fruit-trains. The Grand Tower and Carbondale and the Carbondale and Shawnectown railroads, forming a con- tinuous line, link together our eastern and western borders. In addition, the Cairo and St. Louis traverses the heart of the county in the general direction of from north to south.
Hither at no distant day will tread the footsteps of a busy and mighty population ; lured by the great inducements our county offers, will come thic capitalist to invest his millions, and the honest immigrant in search of a home. Again will the iron of our sister State journey to our border, to be freed from all its impurities and made fit for the service of man.
A day of greater brightness dawns for our county. Our soil is good; our climate healthful; our stores of fuel absolutely inexhaustible; our timber of good quality ; our markets, for all that can be raised, are near and easily ac- cessible ; our citizens are industrious, intelligent and moral ; and the voice of the teacher is heard throughout our boundaries. All elements of progres and greatness are at hand. Our county has produced great men, whose voices heard amid the din of conflict, have given courage and hope in the contest, or when heard amid the councils of the nation, have commanded at- tention. She yet will produce the poet and the scholar, whose " words shall fire men's hearts till the world's mad race be run."
" But all too long through seas unknown and dark, By shoal and rock hath steered my venturous bark, And landward now I drive before the gale, And now the blue and distant port I hail, And nearer now I see the port expand, And now I gladly furl my weary sail."
CHAPTER III.
ORGANIZ.ITION OF COUNTY ..
SLAVES BROUGHT INTO COUNTY-MILITIA-NAVIGATION OF BIG MUDDY RIVER- FIRST CARGO OF COAL.
HIS year, 1816, Jackson county was organized. It was the tenth county formed in the state, and became entitled to one delegate in the Territorial Legislature. At the time of its formation the name of a military officer was ringing throughout the land for a heroic defence of a belcagured city. During the war of 1812, signalized by the cowardly surrender of General Hull at Detroit, by the heroic defence of the fort at Lower Sandusky by the youthful Croghan, by Perry's glorious victory on Lake Erie, by the defeat of General Proctor, and the great Indian warrior, Tecumseh, at the battle of the Thamcs, and by the battle of Lundy's Lane. General Andrew Jackson of Tennessee, tlien commander of the American forces in the South, in the year 1814, while at his head quarters in Mobile, received authentic information that preparations were making
Annuities and royalties
.
Steamboats or other water craft
22
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
for a formidable invasion of Louisiana, and an attack on New Orleans. He immediately repaired to that city, which was in great confusion and alarm, restored order and inspired confidence, organized the militia, and erected fortifications, thus preparing for a vigorous defence. Ou the 22d of Decem- ber about 2,400 of the enemy reached the Mississippi, nine miles below New Orleans. After some preliminary fighting, some of which was very bloody, Jackson withdrew his troops to his intrenchments, four miles below the city. Here they were confronted by the British general Packenham and 24,000 brave and experienced soldiers. On the 8th of January, 1815, in the morning, Packenhanı ordered and led the assault against the American defences. Behind their breastworks, stimulated to heroie deeds by the presence of their great chief, 6.000 Americans, mostly militiamen, but the best marksmen of the world, silently awaited the onset. When the glittering columns came within cannon range, the batteries were served with terrible precision, the balls made gaps through the ranks, but they were promptly closed, and still the line of belted breasts moved on, till they came within rifle and musket range. Then the American liue presented oue vivid stream of fire, covering the plain with dead and wounded, and throwing the enemy into confusion. General Packenham, iu attempting to rally his troops was killed. General Gibbs, the secoud in command, was mortally wounded, and General Keene severely. The euemy now fled in dismay, General Lambert, on whom the commaud devolved, being unable to stay the headloug flight of his troops, retired to his encampment, leaving 700 dead upon the field, and more than a thousand wounded. General Jackson's loss was only seven killed and six wounded.
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