USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
Charles S. White was born in Jersey County in 1868. He was gradu- ated from the Jerseyville high school in 1885, and was admitted to the bar in 1895, and immediately thereafter commenced the practice of his profession and has continued it ever since. In addition to being secre- tary and treasurer of the Jerseyville Mutual Life Insurance Company he has been a member of the board of education of the Jerseyville public schools for some years; for a number of years has been treasurer and clerk of the George Washington Educational Fund, and has been vice president of the Jersey State Bank from the time of its organization, and for the past two years, has been its president.
Paul M. Hamilton was born in Jersey County in 1872, and received his education in the public schools of this county, and the St. Louis Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1894, and immediately became a member of the firm of Hamilton & Hamilton, in which he still continues. In September, 1896, he was married to Miss Alma Carlin, a daughter of Walter E. Carlin. For some time after his appointment in 1901, Mr. Hamilton served as attorney of the claims department of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. During 1900 and 1901, he was secretary of the Piasa Chautauqua Assembly, and served Jerseyville as city attorney. In the fall of 1916, he was elected state's attorney of Jersey County, and he was elected president of the Jersey Township high school in 1915 and re- elected to that office in 1916, and was instrumental in securing the organ- ization, erection and equipment of that school. He is one of the directors
133
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
of the National Bank of Jerseyville, and occupies the same office estab- lished by his father, O. B. Hamilton, in 1890.
George W. Herdman was born in New York, March 6, 1839. In the fall of 1854, he located in Jersey County, having previously removed to Illinois with his parents. His early life was spent on a farm and in teaching school, and at the age of twenty-four years, he commenced the study of law. In the spring of 1867, he received his diploma from the University of Louisville, Ky., from which he was graduated. That same year, he began the practice of law at Jerseyville. In the fall of 1870, he was elected to the State Assembly as a representative from Jersey and Calhoun counties, and in 1876, was elected to the upper house, and served for four years. In July, 1882, he was elected judge of the Seventh judicial circuit, and filled the unexpired term caused by the death of Judge Albert G. Burr, and by re-election he held that office for fifteen years, or until 1897; when by reason of the redistricting of the state, and the taking in of Sangamon and Macoupin counties into the Seventh judicial circuit, the judgeship went to the larger counties. and James A. Creighton of Sangamon, R. B. Shirley of Macoupin County, and Owen P. Thompson of Morgan County, were elected. Since 1897, Judge Herdman has remained at his home in Jerseyville looking after his private affairs. He had an extensive practice while at the bar before his election to the judgeship, and was recognized as one of the best circuit judges of the state during his term of office.
Judge Allen M. Slaten was born on a farm in Jersey County, July 18, 1842. He attended the public schools of the county, McKendree Col- lege, and was graduated from the Jones Commercial College of St. Louis, Mo., in 1862. He is a son of John W. and Anna (Piggott) Slaten. On January 24, 1866, he was married to Miss Addie Vande- water of New Jersey. For several years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and then studied law and was admitted to the bar in January, 1876, and began the practice of his profession at Jerseyville. In 1890, he was elected county judge of Jersey County, which office he held for twelve years by re-election. He was one of the organizers and vice president of the Jersey State Bank, and for two years after the death of Senator T. S. Chapman, he was president of that institution. Judge Slaten is still a resident of Jerseyville, where he is engaged in the prac- tice of law, and he is one of the Jersey State Bank officials.
Martin J. Dolan, a native of Jersey County, born of Irish parentage. received his educational training in the public schools of the county, and the St. Louis Law School, from which he was graduated in 1892. Im-
1
134
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
mediately thereafter he opened a law office at Jerseyville, and began the practice of his profession. In 1896, he was elected state's attorney, of Jersey County, for a term of four years. Since then he has been engaged in a private practice, but of recent years has turned his attention to some extent toward realty operations and has been successful both as a lawyer and real estate operator.
O. H. Richards located at Jerseyville in 1905.
William T. Sumner came to Jerseyville from East St. Louis, Ill., in 1906. In 1908, he entered into partnership with Judge Thomas F. Ferns, which association continued until 1915, when Judge Ferns retired from the firm, and Gerald G. Reardon was taken in as a partner of Mr. Sumner, and the firm of Sumner & Reardon still continues. In 1917, Mr. Sumner was elected county judge to fill out the unexpired term of Judge H. W. Pogue, deceased, and still holds that office.
Gerald G. Reardon entered into partnership with William T. Sum- ner, in 1915, and still maintains this connection.
Isaac D. Snedeker is a native of Jerseyville, and a son of Orville Snedeker, before mentioned. He is forty-two years old, and has been practicing in his father's former office, for the past sixteen years.
Richard Clyde Chappell, a son of Edward Chappell, the present sheriff of Jersey County, was born in this county. He attended the public schools of Jersey County, and was graduated from the Jersey- ville high school in 1912, and from the Springfield Law School in 1915, since which time he has been practicing his profession at Jerseyville.
Fred A. DuHadway was born in Jersey County, and was graduated from the Jerseyville high school in 1907, and from the law school of the Illinois State University in 1911. Following his graduation, he en- tered the law office of Vaughn & Chapman, and continued there until 1916, when he went to Hardin, Calhoun County, Ill., and he and W. H. Chapman formed the firm of Chapman & DuHadway, with offices at Jerseyville and Hardin, which association still continues.
Walter J. Chapman came to Jerseyville from Medora, Ill., in 1906, and entered into partnership with E. J. Vaughn. In 1908 he was elected state's attorney of Jersey County, and re-elected in 1912, holding the office until December, 1916, when he was succeeded by Paul M. Ham- ilton. Mr. Chapman has been president and a member of the school board, and is quite successful in his profession.
Oscar B. Hamilton was born in what is now Jersey County (then Greene) January 31, 1839. His parents were Nathaniel and Mary (Dougherty) Hamilton, and lived a half mile west of the old stone
135
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
schoolhouse at Otterville, in a log cabin erected by his father upon the land entered by him from the United States government in 1835. He received his common school education at the Hamilton Primary School in the old stone schoolhouse, and his law course in the St. Louis Law School, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1870, immediately thereafter commencing the practice of his profession, and has practiced sedulously from that time to the present. On October 25, 1860, he was married to Eliza M. Brown, a daughter of Chauncy Brown, one of the first commissioners of Jersey County. In February, 1874, Mr. Hamil- ton entered into partnership with Orville A. Snedeker; under the firm name of Snedeker & Hamilton, which continued for nine years, when Mr. Snedeker retired, and later Mr. Hamilton entered into partnership with Allen M. Slaten under the firm name of Hamilton & Slaten, which continued until 1886, when Mr. Hamilton removed to Meade County. Kas., where he entered into a banking business, and into the practice of his profession. He was called on to act as special judge to hold the December and January terms of the Meade County district court, in 1886-7, lasting about four weeks, at which term there were a number of quite important cases tried, among others, a murder case, where a man was convicted of killing another by shooting, and sentence was passed upon him, the extreme penalty in that state being imprisonment in the penitentiary for life. Said law requires a defendant to be taken to the penitentiary and held a year, and after that time the governor could issue a warrant for his execution, but no defendant has ever been ex- ecuted under that law. At several other later terms of the district court of Meade County, Mr. Hamilton was called upon to act as judge. In July, 1890, Mr. Hamilton returned to Jerseyville, and entered upon the practice of his profession here, and occupies the same office now in 1918 that he did at that time. In 1890, he entered into partnership with O. D. Leach, under the firm name of Hamilton & Leach. Mr. Leach withdrew from the firm in 1894, and the firm became Hamilton & Brown. Later Mr. Brown withdrew from the firm and went to Iowa, and Paul M. Hamilton, a son of Oscar B. Hamilton, became a member of the firm in 1894, which connection is still maintained. Mr. Hamilton has been president of the Jersey County Bar Association for many years, and vice president and trustee of the George Washington Educational Fund, and was for nine years a director and active promoter of the Piasa Chautauqua Assembly, and president of the Jersey County Historical Society since its organization in 1909, besides holding other positions of trust during his connection with this county. He was city attorney of
136
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
the city of Jerseyville in 1875. At the Republican National Convention at Chicago, in 1880, Mr. Hamilton was one of the "Old Guard" of 306 that stood by General Grant throughout that convention, which suffi- ciently indicates his political preference. He is the editor of this history of Jersey County.
PRESENT ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE BAR
The present active members of the bar in Jersey County are as fol- lows: The firms of Hamilton & Hamilton, Sumner & Reardon, Chap- man & DuHadway, and M. J. Dolan. Charles S. White, Hiram P. Noble, George M. Seago, I. D. Snedeker, Richard Clyde Chappell, George W. Herdman, and Allen M. 'Slaten.
STATE'S ATTORNEYS
The following men have served Jersey County as state's attorneys from 1848 to the present time: 1848, Clark K. Goodrich; 1852, Cyrus Epler; 1856, James W. English; 1864-70, William Brown, who resigned in 1870; 1870-72, William H. Pogue; 1872-76, Benjamin F. Slaten, who was the first one elected exclusively for Jersey County, the others being elected for the circuit of which Jersey County formed a part; 1876-80, William M. Jackson; 1880-87, Adams A. Goodrich, resigned ; 1887-96, Harrison W. Pogue; 1896-1900, Martin J. Dolan ; 1900-08, George M. Seago ; 1908-16, William J. Chapman ; 1916-20, Paul M. Hamilton.
COURT HOUSE, 1872-1884
CHAPTER XV
COUNTY INSTITUTIONS
FIRST COURTHOUSE-PROCEDURE FOR ERECTION-CONTRACTS-DESTRUCTIVE FIRE-SECOND COURTHOUSE-THIRD COURTHOUSE-LAYING OF CORNER- STONE-INSCRIPTION-COMPLETION OF COURTHOUSE-DIMENSIONS --- FIRST TERM OF CIRCUIT COURT-FINAL SUMMARY-FIRST JAIL-PRESENT JAIL - FIRST POORHOUSE - SECOND POORHOUSE - THIRD POORHOUSE PRESENT POORHOUSE.
FIRST COURTHOUSE
Edward Daley, one of the proprietors of Jerseyville, was a represen- tative from this county in the Eleventh General Assembly of the State Legislature, 1839-40, and he was very active in promoting the Act of Organization of the new County of Jersey, and in having the county seat located at Jerseyville. In order to secure both of these objects, it was necessary to give pledges that the Public Square should be donated to the new county for public building sites, and that the citizens of Jersey- ville would build a courthouse and jail upon the "Square," that would be acceptable to the county commissioners, and free of expense to the county.
On January 4, 1840, a committee was appointed by subscribers to the courthouse building fund,' composed of the following: Elijah Van Horne, chairman; and Thomas L McGill and Solomon Calhoun, of which Thomas L. McGill was made secretary. The committee employed Peyton C. Walker to propose plans and specifications for the courthouse, which were to be presented to the county commissioners for their approval.
On January 11, 1840, the committee met and received plans for the courthouse from P. C. Walker for presentation to the county commis- sioners for their approval.
On January 18, 1840, the committee again met and proceeded to examine subscriptions and ascertain whether funds subscribed were sufficient to justify them in proceeding further. As a result of their
137
138
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
investigations, they decided to wait until further funds were sub- scribed.
On April 18, 1840, at a meeting of the subscribers to the courthouse fund, the committee were instructed to make a new plan and curtail the building, so as to proceed with the money already subscribed.
On April 30, 1840, the committee again met, and consulted upon a plan for letting contracts.
On May 9, 1840, at a meeting of the committee, Mr. Goodrich motioned and it was ordered that the committee make plans and specifications for a courthouse, and that they secure proposals for the erection of a court- house the present year, and it was ordered that an advertisement for proposals be published in the "Backwoodsman."
On May 11, 1840, the committee employed William Farley to make new plans for the courthouse, to be presented to the county commis- sioners for approval.
The contracts let were as follows:
William Shephard and David Dunsdon, foundation $ 245.00
William Shephard and David Dunsdon, caps and sills 180.88
Richard Johnson and Peter Perrine, brickwork. 1,200.00
Aaron Rue and William Bailey, framing and enclosing 1,300.00
William Bailey and Peyton C. Walker, finishing. 1,825.00
$4,750.88
Not in contract
$ 190.67
Building committee
113.00
303.67
Total
$5,054.55
Total subscription
$5,033.50
Amount unpaid
742.69
$4,290.81
Amount doubtful
350,000
3.940.81
Amount still unpaid
$1,113.74
The above statement is taken from a report of the building committee to the county commissioners, of date of March 18, 1843. No record can be found as to how this deficit was finally cared for. However, the county commissioners had accepted it and commenced to occupy the courthouse in the spring of 1841. It was improved by the construction
139
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
of an addition on the north, of which the first floor was used as a jail, and the second floor as a jury room. A front was also built on the south side, with a stairway to the courtroom, on the second floor.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
In 1862-63, fireproof offices were erected southeast of and separate from the courthouse, which were occupied by the circuit and county clerks until the present courthouse was completed. On Sunday morn- ing, January 6, 1884, the first courthouse was burned by reason of a defective flue. It was one of the coldest nights of the winter, and it was supposed that on account of the intense heat engendered by the extra firing of the stoves, sparks escaped from the flue and ignited the wooden lining of the jail, upon which the inner iron lining of the jail was fastened. By reason of the delay in securing entrance, the jailor having gone to his home one-half a mile distant, four persons in the jail were smothered to death before relief could reach them, although every effort was made to rescue them by Charles Keith, James Powell, William Hibble, Joel E. Cory, and Moses Cockrell, at great hazard to themselves. The prisoners who perished were Walter Dunsden, charged with murder; Emile Koehler, charged with horse stealing; August Schultz and James Griggs, who were charged with larceny.
The books and movable property were mostly removed but the court- house was in ruins.
SECOND COURTHOUSE
After the first courthouse was destroyed by fire on January 6, 1884, a one-story frame building was erected on the east side of the Public Square, at a cost of about $900.00, which was ready for the March term of the circuit court, and in it the courts were held for ten years thereafter. This building was sold to the Methodist Episcopal Church in the fall of 1894, and has been since that time used as a chapel in connection with the religious work of that denomination. There being no jail in this county, the prisoners were kept in the jail at Carrollton, Greene County, until the present jail and sheriff's residence were built in 1885.
THIRD COURTHOUSE
- The county board of supervisors submitted to the voters of Jersey County, at the regular November election in 1892, the proposition to
140
IHISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
vote $40,000.00 in bonds for the purpose of erecting a courthouse. The proposition was carried by a vote of 1,366 for, to 977 against, giving a majority of 389 for the bonds. At the meeting of the board of super- visors in March, 1893, on motion of L. T. English, of English Town- ship, a resolution was adopted for issuing $40,000.00 bonds, bearing not exceeding five per cent interest, to erect said building, and on motion of C. P. Stafford of Quarry Township, the roll was called on the said resolution, and every member of the board was recorded as voting "aye," to-wit : P. D. Cheney, chairman ; F. J. Mains, J. Stirratt, James R. Bell, L. T. English; R. R. Ward, William Goshorn, William L. Ruyle, C. P. Stafford, F. Knapp, J. H. McDow, and L. H. Vanderslice.
On February 3, 1893, the plans of Henry Elliott for the erection of the new courthouse were adopted.
On April 11, 1893, a contract was entered into with F. W. Menke, of Quincy, Ill., for the erection of the courthouse.
At the same meeting, the following men were appointed as members of the building committee: P. D. Cheney, James Stirratt, William Goshorn. C. P. Stafford and Joseph Knight.
On June 6, 1893, at a meeting of the county board, a resolution was drawn by R. R. Ward that all citizens of this county, and the county board, and the county officers of Greene County be invited to be present at the laying of the cornerstone of the new courthouse on July 4, 1893.
LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE
The cornerstone of the new courthouse was laid July 4, 1893, by M. W. G. L .; Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of the state of Illinois, according to the ritual of that organization, most worshipful Grand Master G. M. Crawford; Doctor Grimes, of Pittsfield, Ill., Grand Senior Warden ; J. W. Prindle, Grand Junior Warden; Jesse K. Cadwallader, G. M .; Joseph G. Marston, G. S .; R. S. Beaty, G. T .: and W. W. Esta- brook. G. C.
Prentiss D. Cheney, chairman of the county board, had general charge of the ceremonies during the proceedings. At two o'clock, P. M., the programme commenced with music by the city band, followed by invocation by Rev. Ira C. Tyson. The Declaration of Independence was then read by Miss Fannie Bowman, and after Joseph G. Marston. Grand Secretary, had read the list of the articles placed in the box. the cornerstone was duly put in place. Then followed a song by J. W. Snyder. A. W. Newton, Augustus Embly, Alexander C. Robb. L. E.
COURT HOUSE, JERSEYVILLE, 1894
141
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Brown, H. A. Tunehorst, and Joseph McReynolds. Addresses were made by Hon. A. A. Goodrich, of Chicago; Balfour Cowan, of Virden, Macoupin County ; James McMillan, of Morgan County ; L. J. Patterson and Judge Thomas Henshaw of Greene County. The ceremonies closed with the singing of America by the audience.
There was a very large crowd of people in attendance, notwithstand- ing the heavy rain which commenced to fall about eleven o'clock, and continuing for more than an hour.
The names of the members of the county board inscribed on the cornerstone are as follows: Prentiss D. Cheney, chairman; William H. Bartlett, Piasa Township; W. L. Ruyle, Ruyle Township; Robert L. Smith, Elsah Township; Joseph Knight, Mississippi Township; Christo- pher P. Stafford, Quarry Township; F. J. Mains, Jersey Township ; James Stirratt, Fidelity Township; James R. Bell, Otter Creek Town- ship; Lloyd T. English, English Township; Robert R. Ward, Rosedale Township; and William Goshorn, Richwoods Township. Also inscribed on the cornerstone are the names of Henry Elliott, architect, and F. W. Menke, contractor.
The county officials present at the laying of the cornerstone were as follows : Allen M. Slaten, county judge; Cosmos Keller, sheriff; Daniel J. Murphy, county clerk; Ludovic Laurent, circuit clerk ; John A. Shep- hard, treasurer; Harrison W. Pogne, state's attorney ; Dr. J. A. Flautt. coroner; Richard Kiely, county superintendent of schools; Albert W. Newton, county surveyor ; J. M. Page, master-in-chancery.
The city officials present were : Henry A. Shephard, mayor; Joseph O'Laughlin, clerk; John Powell, marshal; Joseph S. Carr, attorney ; Arch. F. Ely, treasurer; and aldermen, H. B. Hill, J. C. Ross, F. J. Bertman, Henry Nevius, Fred Jacob, S. H. Bowman, and George Ely.
COMPLETION OF COURTHOUSE
The building was completed in the summer of 1894. The building . committee accepted the new courthouse from the hands of Mr. Menke, contractor, May 18, 1894, and they made their report to the board of supervisors June 5, 1894. The amount paid the contractor was $40,- 411.85. The building is constructed of Grafton stone, the trimmings of Bedford stone. It is two stories and a basement in height, with a large porch in front. On a level with the first floor, the corridor ex- tends north and south through its center, and two large stairways lead to the second floor. On the east side of the corridor on the first floor are the county treasurer and county clerk's offices and the county judge's
ยท
142
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
room. On the west side of the corridor are the sheriff's office, the circuit 1 clerk's office, and the county courtroom. On the second floor in front of the rotunda are two rooms, one occupied by the superintendent of schools, and the other by the county road engineer. On the west side is the grand jury room and the circuit judge's room ; on the east side are the petit jury rooms, and on the north, the circuit courtroom of elab- orate finish, and all of the rooms are well furnished.
In the basement there is a corridor extending north and south through the building, on the east side of which is the ladies' restroom, fur- nished with easy chairs, bed, lounge, tables and closets, for the con- venience of ladies and their children during their visits to the central part of the city. On the north of the restroom, in the northeast corner of the basement, the county board very kindly finished a room and donated the use of it to the Jersey County Historical Society. On the west side of the basement is one room used for general election purposes, and the other room is used for the men's toilet. There are also toilets in connection with the jury rooms on the second floor. Two large firc- proof vaults extending from the basement to the top of the first floor, are connected with the offices of the county and circuit clerks on the first floor, and with the Historical Society in the basement. The build- ing is heated by steam from the furnace in the basement of the jail and sheriff's residence, which are also heated by steam. Electric lights are used throughout the courthouse and jail building.
DIMENSIONS
The extreme length of the courthouse building is ninety feet; its width is seventy-one feet, and its height to the top of the statue on the dome is 1241/2 feet. The courthouse is a beautiful, modern, impos- ing structure, and a credit to the citizens of the county who voted the bonds to construct it, and to the county board and the architect and contractor who erected it. The bonds which were issued in payment for the building of the courthouse were issued in separate $1,000.00 bonds, payable at the option of the county board. They were called in and liquidated in sums of $3,000.00 to $5,000.00 a year, and in a very short period were all extinguished, and the people of the county hardly realized the burden of the erection of the courthouse.
FIRST TERM OF CIRCUIT COURT.
The first term of the circuit court in the circuit courtroom of the new courthouse by Judge George W. Hardman being the September
143
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
term, 1894. At that time he and Cyrus Epler of Morgan County, and Lyman Lacy of Mason County were the judges of this judicial district.
FINAL SUMMARY
It may be truthfully said, that, taking into consideration the popu- lation and business of this county, it would be difficult to construct a building better adapted to the wants and necessities and conditions of its people than our present courthouse. Situated on a beautiful lawn, in the center of the Public Square, in the city of Jerseyville, it is a pleasure and a delight to all our citizens, and an object of interest to visitors to our city and county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.