USA > Illinois > Knox County > History of Knox county, Illinois > Part 12
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
$12,000, this being the largest furnislied by any official for several years.
That elections were not as expensive in the earlier years as at pres- ent is plainly shown by the cost of the election in 1832. The expense for the entire county was but 50 cents. The general elections were held in August during the first few years of the county's existence, or until 1849. No tickets were used, each voter casting his " ballot " in the old viva voce way.
LOG JAIL.
Necessarily, as faithful historians, we must mar the pleasant progress of this chapter by reference to prison bars. Among the pioneers there were wicked and vicious people,-those who wantonly violated law and order, thus making themselves odious and dangerous to the con- munity. Such characters must be restrained and punished. To ac- complislı this a place of confinement must be erected wherein they might be incarcerated. Accordingly, Sept. 14, 1832, a contract was . entered into with John G. Sanburn to build a jail, the stipulated price being $250. However, for some unexplained reason, the Commis- sioners deducted $5.25 from the original amount. The building was not accepted and the money paid over until June 7, 1838, although it liad been completed and in use for several years. This primitive prison was constructed of logs, and was about 20 feet square. It stood on the west side of the square, north of the court-house. After the old brick jail at Knoxville was erected the log structure was abandoned, and some years afterward was moved into the country on the northwest quarter of section 20, Knox township, owned by Chris. Burrell, and used for a corn-crib. This old jail served in its day as well perhaps as the modern and much more costly structure. It is quite certain, however, that the experienced criminals of to-day would be confined in its wooden walls but a short time ere they would effect their liberty. Various attempts were made by prisoners to make their escape from this, the first jail building in the county. One effort, long remem- bered by the earlier residents of Knoxville, was made by a Mr. Din- gle, a blacksmith, who had been incarcerated unjustly for the alleged crime of obtaining cattle under false pretenses, at Henderson. It was on Sunday forenoon, while a majority of the people of the quiet little village of Knoxville were attending religious services. Rev. William Clark, an old soldier of. the Cross; now residing at Abingdon, was preaching. During the discourse the alarm of fire was given; the jail was burning. Everybody ruslied from the meeting. Dingle, in order to liberate himself, had set fire to the wooden door, and in the
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
attempt he came near losing his life, besides making confusion of the peace and quietude of the religious services.
KNOXVILLE NAMED.
Apparently the people soon grew to dislike the name by which their county-seat had been christened. Perliaps, however, it was not be- cause they really disliked the name "Henderson," but because they had greater love for another which they desired their town should wear. Steps were taken as early as 1832 to make this change. Dur- ing December of that year an act was passed by the Legislature, and approved the 22d, changing the name of the town of " Henderson " to that of "Knoxville." Since that time the little log settlement has grown into a neat and beautiful city. The first mention, however, of the new name on the records does not occur until Monday, March 4, 1833.
LICENSES.
The rate of tavern or saloon license was advanced in 1834 to $5, while the price of whisky was reduced from 122 cents to 62 cents per half pint. This seems, without explanation, to be an injustice to the vendors of ardent spirits; but the sagacious Commissioners evidently saw in the traffic too great profit, and with the same fidelity to the in- terests of the county always manifested they deemed it well to make this change. While it might appear to the reader that the fathers acted from personal motive in making this reduction, yet a glance at their past official acts would convince the most skeptical that the county's interests were above personal gain. License for peddling clocks was raised in 1835 from $12.50 per year to $50 a quarter. The Commissioners no doubt thought this class of dealers were imposing upon their constituency, and evidently charged this exorbitant license fee for the purpose of keeping them out of the county entirely.
Dealers in general merchandise paid $8 per year for the privilege of supplying the people with the necessities of life, that being the standard price for this license (excepting the first year, when it was $10) until 1837, when all traffic and trade was commenced to be car- ried on without license. Even "taverns" -- the saloons of early days -- were not restricted by any county enactments. The amount charged for ferry license was small, being only $2. It was the mini- mum of all licenses ever issued excepting those granted to run taverns the first year. There being no bridges over the streamns, there was a large field for the ferry business. With each license the Commission-
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
ers mnade special rates. In doing this they took into consideration the location, tlie amount of travel, etc. As a specimen tariff for ferries we copy from the records tlie one regulating Asa Crook's ferry on Rock river near Prophetstown: " Wagons with 4 horses or 4 oxen, $1. Wagons with two horses, 75 cents. Wagon or carriage with 1 horse, 50 cents. Man and 1 horse, 25 cents. One person, 123 cents. Cattle 5 cents a head. Sheep 3 cents a head."
It was one of the curious provisions of the law, in the times of which we are writing, that each person could let his cattle and hogs run at large, and that he could identify them by certain ear-marks, which were to be recorded in a book kept by the County Clerk. The vast prairies were then in their native condition, free from fences, cul- tivation or any sort of improvement. By inany they were thought to be worthless for all practical farming purposes, except to furnish grazing for stock. Horses and cattle often wandered into adjoining connties. There was, however, means by which such stock might be recovered. In each county-seat was an estray pen wherein all nn- claimed and unknown stock was confined. Notice was made quite often of the number, kind and marks, of the stock taken up. In 1832 an estray pen was built upon the same lot on which the court- house stood, at a cost of $17.50.
For many years, or until 1837, Henry county was attached, for ju- dicial purposes, to this county. It was much larger then than at present, including, as it did, a greater portion of Whiteside county. All taxes were assessed and collected over this large territory by Knox county authorities. Elections were ordered and judges appointed by the Commissioners of this county. Licenses were granted, roads opened and all other matters were attended to by them. In 1835, owing to high water, the Assessor of Henry county was unable to reach Knox county with his books within the legally required time. They were, however, accepted on arrival.
The house of Asa Crook on Rock river was generally, if not always, appointed as the place for holding the elections. Crook was allowed mileage for 60 miles travel, at 5 cents a mile (this being pay for but one way), for bringing election returns from his house to Knoxville. He, living near Prophetstown, Whiteside county, then known as Prophet's village, Henry county, ran a ferry-boat across Rock river, about 20 miles below the present city of Sterling. The license being issued to him by the Commissioners of Knox county, they also granted to William A. Cushman the privilege of running a ferry across the same river, on section 19, township 19 nortlı, 4 east, being some miles below Crook's ferry.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Thus we see the Commissioners, although unlearned in law and unacquainted withi science and literature, had jurisdiction over a large territory, and that they conducted the public affairs rightly, and built a firm and solid foundation upon which the future prosperity and greatness of this portion of our beloved State should rest. This is plainly evident from the unparalleled strides made in 'agricultural and mechanical progress; from the more than 100,000 busy inhabitants now dwelling within this territory; and from the vast stores of wealtlı accumulated solely fromn resources within it. Those great and un- concealed wonders reflect honor and credit each day upon their found- ers; aud as days and years multiply, when the same territory over which they presided shall be teeming with millions of. earnest and energetic people, then will greater honors and more exultant praise and adoration be expressed for the brave, sturdy pioneers who ex- plored and opened up a region so prolific, and founded a community that for genius, enterprise and wealth will 'in the near future out rank many older settled countries, and indeed will vie with many kingdoms of the earth. Then these vast prairies will be cultivated as a garden. Every forest tree and woodland will be utilized, and populous cities with numerous factories and vast stores of commerce may be numbered by the score. Then will the modes of travel be superior to the remarkable railroad facilities of to-day, and transport the increased products with greater facility. Indeed, everything shall then be as different and as superior to what they are at present as the things of to-day are as compared with those of fifty years ago. Our readers may regard this as wild and unreasonable speculation-as wholly visionary; but they are only the conclusions deduced from a careful study of history,-of a comparison of what has been accom- plished, with certain advantages, with the results that the superior advantages now enjoyed will as certainly accomplish.
BRICK COURT-HOUSE.
By 1836 the county had become quite populous; at least it was then so regarded, for so many new comers had arrived that several of the earlier pioneers concluded they were becoming too greatly crowded, and accordingly pushed further westward. However, as early as these years the people began to regard the old log court-house as wholly inadequate for the increasing business, and also unworthy of this fair county. They now aspired to a more pretentious structure in which to transact the public business, and consequently began the agitation of building a new court-house. September 6, 1836, the Commission- ers ordered the clerk to advertise for plans for a new court-house. On
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
the 10th day of March, 1838, the contract was let to Alvali Wheeler and Zelotes Cooley of Hancock county, Illinois, the consideration being $15,450, and the contractors stipulating that they would com- plete the building by May 1, 1840.
According to the original plan, the building would contain no cupola. The Commissioners however, in January, ordered that one be erected, at a cost of $725. They also decided to paint the walls, selecting cream color as the most appropriate. Eldert Runkle, a Commissioner, was appointed inspector, whose duty it was to inspect all material which entered into the construction of the building, and to see that the work was performed according to contract. This court-house was erected in the center of the northern portion of tlie public square at Knoxville, where it still stands. It is a two-story brick structure, 42 feet 5 inches by 62 feet 5 inches in size, and con- tains six rooms and a hall. In earlier times it was considered one of the finest court-liouses in the State, and indeed it was a building of more than ordinary pretentions; and, although more than forty years have passed since it was begun, it is yet a good and substantial build- ing. Since the county-seat has been removed from Knoxville it has been used as an opera-house and office building.
Now that the new court-house was about ready for occupation, some disposition must be made of the faithful log building which had sheltered the official heads of the county for ten years. At a meeting of the Commissioners, March 7, 1840, the Clerk was ordered to give notice that it would be sold on the first day of April. On that day it was bid off to Alvah Wheeler for the sum of $89.50, giving him the privilege of letting it remain upon the lot for two years. It was then moved one mile and a half west of Knoxville, upon the farm of Alvalı Wheeler, now owned by Chris. Burrell, and converted into a dwelling.
In 1836 the court-house was removed from its original site to a lot on the corner of South and West streets, near the present location of the barn in the rear of the residence of John Carns, Esq. Charles Price took the contract of moving the building for the consideration of $67.50. In November of the same year the lot upon which the log court-house originally stood, being lot 10, block 5, was subdivided into nine lots. Eight of these were sold for an aggregate of $3,901. The adjoining lot, at the first sale, brought $37.50. This advance in value of real estate was marvelous, and scarcely has a parallel. Reck- oning its value upon the basis of the price of lots, at the first sale, we find the enormous increase of 10,000 per cent. within five years, or an average of 2,000 per cent. each year. While the price of property had advanced rapidly, yet this is an exceptional case, and does not fairly
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
represent the increase. The advance during these five years ranged from 300 to 1,000 per cent.
JAIL AT KNOXVILLE.
The new court-house had scarcely been completed before it was thought best to build a new jail. At the January term of the Com- missioners' Court in 1841 they let the contract for erecting the pro- posed prison to Zelotes Cooley for $8,724. This contract, however, was rescinded shortly afterward and re-let to Alvah Wheeler, who in 1845 completed the building. Lot 3 of the subdivision of lot 10, block 5, the lot upon which the jail stood, together with the jail build- ing, was exchanged some time before this to Jonathan Rice for the south half of lot 1, block 5, which is at the northwest corner of the square. Upon this lot the new brick and stone jail was erected. It is no longer used for the purpose for which it was built, but as a ten- ement house. It is a two-story brick, 30 by 50 feet in size, and con- tained six cells.
It appears that the new jail was scarcely more secure than the log one, and that the people soon wanted it replaced by one more sub- stantial, as evinced by the following article taken from the "Knox Republican" of Wednesday, March 18, 1857:
ESCAPE OF PRISONERS.
" On Saturday evening, while the Sheriff was from home on business, five persons escaped from our insecure county jail. The prisoners were all locked up in their cells at dark. The gentleman in charge examined the lock that was put on the door,-one of the best locks about the jail and the most difficult to be picked, -- and found it all safe, and left the premises for a little while ; and on returning found a door opened, which he had left fastened; and, on entering the prison, found that all the doors had been opened, the prisoners had fled, and no traces of them could be found. The night was exceedingly dark. The only conjecture we can form from an examination of the circum- stances and the premises is, that one of the prisoners must have had a false key and unlocked the door with his left hand, and tlien pro- cured the keys from a table in the dwelling, and with them must have unlocked the rest of the doors and let his fellow prisoners free. If the county intends to hold the prisoners taken for crimes, and secure the citizens from the marauding thief, they must elect such supervi- sors as will have the courage to build a new and substantial jail. As somne parts of the jail could not be used, from their insecurity, the
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Sheriff was compelled to put two into one cell and three into another, together; and when thus permitted to associate, they were able to concoct and execute their deliverance."
HORSE-THIEVES.
· The earlier settlers were greatly troubled with marauding bands of thieves. Horses were generally the desired booty. So numerous and bold had these desperadoes become that to protect themselves the citizens banded together, forming the " Knox County Society for the Detection of Thieves." Yearly meetings of this society were held in June. The Commissioners, in order to aid this society and to shield the people, in 1845 offered a reward of $50 for the detection of a per- son stealing a horse.
LAST MEETING.
Taxes were very light in 1845, being only 10 cents on the $100. This is perhaps the minimum per cent. of taxation ever reached in this county. The last meeting of the county Commissioners' Court was held October 12, 1849. Manyweather Brown, Alfred Brown and Amos Ward, being members, were all present. After the transaction of such business as properly came before them, they adjourned "until court in course," but never re-assembled. And so passed away the time-honored and economical system of county management by three commissioners.
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David Stoush .
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
CHAPTER III.
BLACK HAWK WAR.
Happily for the few settlers of Knox county, tlie atrocities com- mitted during the war with the Indians in 1832 were all enacted with- out its boundaries. There were, however, so many depredations committed in adjoining counties that great fear was manifested by the settlers here lest their own homes would be the scene of similar mas- sacres. It must be remembered that at this time all the country lying north of this county extending to Rock river was under the jurisdiction of the Commissioners of Knox county, and therefore virtually a portion of the county, which had the tendency to make the murders committed there seem the nearer. Upon Rock river the bloody battles were fought between the Indians and whites. Various and terrible depredations were committed on peaceable whites, which tended more than the war to horrify the pioneers here. A settler was shot by six Indians just over the line in Warren county. One man was killed near Princeton; another in Buffalo Grove; another be- tween Fox River and the Illinois, and two near Ottawa, A party of about 70 Indians made a descent upon a small settlement on Indian creek, a tributary of Fox river, and massacred 15 persons, -- men, women and children,-and took two young women prisoners,-one 15, the other 17 years old. These people, composing three families, lived in one house. The Indians approached the house in the day time, and entered suddenly, with but little notice. Some of the inmates were immediately shot down, others were pierced through with spears or dispatched with the tomahawk. The Indians afterwards related, with an infernal glee, how the women liad squeaked like geese when they were run through the body with spears, or felt the tomahawk entering their heads. All the victims were carefully scalped; their bodies were mutilated and mangled; the little children were cliopped to pieces with axes; and the women were tied up by the heels to the walls of the house. The two young ladies were hurried by forced marches beyond pursuit. After a long. and fatiguing journey with their Indian conductors, through a wilderness country, with but little to eat, and being subjected to a variety of fortune, they were at last rescued, $2,000 being given as a ransom.
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
As early as 1831 trouble was feared, and even expected, with the Indians. To learn positively the condition of affairs, the few families at Henderson sent Thomas McKee, Thos. Maxwell, Joseph Rowe, and Robert Greenwell to Rock Island to consult with Gen. Gains, who was commander of the military post on Rock Island. The General assured the gentlemen that no danger need be apprehended. He also wrote a letter to the people telling them they need not fear any trouble from the Indians. This communication had the tendency to dispel the uneasiness the settlers had experienced for their safety. On making this trip, after crossing Pope creek the messengers struck an Indian trail which soon led them upon quite a band of mounted Indian warriors. As soon as seen by the savages half of them defiled to either side, thus sur- rounding the pioneers. McKee, being able to address then in their own language, told them they meant no harm, and showed them they liad no guns; but still the Indians were in doubt, and took them to be spies. Finally McKee told them they were on their way up to trade with Davenport. The name of Davenport carried with it a charm for the Indian; so on this occasion, the statement had the de- sired effect, and they were permitted to pass peaceably on, but were closely watched. Passing through the Indian headquarters on Rock river, Prophet's village, they saw hundreds of Indians.
They reached the fort in safety, and started on their return trip only to encounter more dangers. Coming to Rock river, Mr. McKee, without investigating, rode in on his faithful horse, thinking he could ford the stream without trouble, as he had done before. Soon the horse went under; the saddle-bags, filled with shelled corn, floated off down the stream; a struggle ensued. Finally, Mr. McKee, seeing the animal could not gain the shore, turned him, and after an ex- haustive struggle, reached the shore he left. A squaw and young In- dian got in a canoe and recovered his saddle-bags, for which he gave them the contents. They then gave an Indian 25 cents to show them a shallow ford. The Indians were suspicious of these messengers and sent one of their number to follow them as far as Pope creek.
For a time no danger was felt; but early in the spring of 1832, when Black Hawk recrossed the Mississippi, the feelings of fear were again kindled among the isolated settlers, and now many of them deter- mined for their safety to leave the country where they were liable to be slaughtered any day and return to older settlements, for in their defenseless condition they could afford no security to their families. Thomas McKee, then a young man, strongly objected to any move- ment which would lead to abandonment of their homes. He held forth the idea that if the settlers all were armed they could protect
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
themselves from invasion by the Indians, and it was his belief that arms could be obtained by applying to the commander of Fort Arm- strong. Many of the settlers thought not, and, being desirous of leaving, naturally opposed any attempt that iniglit be made to secure guns. They thought it wise and best to return to their old towns. There was, however, one man, F. V. Barber, formerly a lieutenant in the regular army, who with Mr. McKee thought arms could be ob- tained on application. Mr. McKee resolved to make the attempt at. all hazards, and, accordingly, in company with James McMurtry and Fantelroy Freeman, set out for Rock Island. After a long and weary journey through a wild, uninhabited country, they reached the fort, where, without delay or trouble, they secured 100 guns with accou- trements. These were sent down the river to Oquawka, and from there brought in wagons to this county, where they were distributed among 72 men living in Knox and Warren counties, which at the time included almost every man in this county. Major McKee and his companion were more fortunate than were Mr. St. Vrain with a few other men who were sent to Rock Island by General Atkinson about this same time. On their way they fell in with a party of Indians led by a chief well known to St. Vrain, who was an Indian agent. This chief was called "The Little Bear." He had been a par- ticular friend of the agent, and had adopted him as a brother. Mr. St. Vrain felt no fear of one who was his friend,-one who had been an inmate of his house, and who had adopted him as brother, and ap- proached the Indians with the greatest confidence and security. But the treacherous Indian, untrue in war to the claims of gratitude, friendship and brotherhood, no sooner got him in power than he mur- dered and scalped him and all his party with as little compassion as if he had never known him or professed to be his friend.
The following receipt was signed' by those who received arms, and included rifles, flasks, bullet-molds, screw-driver, wiper, spring-vice, powder, lead, rifle-flint. The dates of receipts range from April 21 to June 3, almost all of them, however, being distributed on the former date: "We, the undersigned, citizens of Henderson river and Knox and Warren counties, do hereby acknowledge to have received of Thomas McKee, Jr., and Fantelroy Freeman thie several articles of arms and accoutrements set opposite our respective names." Those marked with star subsequently served in the Black Hawk war.
F. R. Freeman, William McMurtry," James McMurtry," Edward Martin,* J. B. Criswell,* Ebenezer Criswell,* J. M. E. Criswell, Westly Pennington, Jolin McGeehee, Nicholas Rice,* John McMur- try,* Edmond Adcock,* Jolin Robertson,* Elbert Robertson,* Joseph
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