USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 19
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Various means were resorted to for protection; a common one was to plow with a prairie plow several furrows around a strip sev- eral rods wide, outside the improvements, and then burn out the strip; or wait till the prairie was on fire and then set fire outside, reserving the strip for a late burn, that is, till the following sum- mer, and in July burn both old grass and new. . The grass would start immediately, and the cattle would feed it close in preference to the older grass, so that the fire would not pass over in the fol- lowing autumn. This process repeated would soon, or in a few years, run out the prairie grass, and in time it would become stocked with blue grass which will never burn to any extent. But all this
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took time and labor, and the crowd of business on the hands of a new settler, of which a novice has no conception, would prevent him do- ing what would now seem a small matter; and all such effort was often futile; a prairie fire driven by a high wind would often leap all such barriers and seem to put human effort at defiance. A prairie fire when first started goes straight forward with a velocity proportioned to the force of the wind, widening as it goes, but the center keeping ahead -it spreads sideways, but, burning laterally, it burns comparatively slow, and if the wind is moderate and steady, is not difficult to manage, but if the wind veers a point or two, first one way and then the other, it sends the side fire beyond control. The head fire in dry grass and a high wind is fearful, and pretty sure to have its own way unless there is some defensible point from which to meet it. A contest with such a fire requires an engineering skill and tact which can be learned only by experience, and a neigh- borhood of settlers called out by such an exigency, at once put themselves under the direction of the oldest and most experienced of the number, and go to work with the alacrity and energy of men defending their homes and property from destruction.
The usual way of meeting an advancing fire is to begin the de- fense where the head of the fire will strike, which is known by the smoke and ashes brought by the wind long in advance of the fire. A road, cattle path or furrow is of great value at such a place; if there is none such, a strip of the grass can be wet, if water can be procured, which is generally scarce at the time of the annual fires. On the outside, or side next the coming fire, of such road or path the grass is set on fire, and it burns slowly against the wind till it meets the coming conflagration, which stops, of course, for want of fuel, provided there has been sufficient time to burn a strip that will not be leaped by the head fire as it comes in. This is called back-firing; great care is necessary to prevent the fire getting over the furrow, path, or whatever is used as a base of operations. If it gets over and once under way, there is no remedy but to fall back to a more defensible position, if such a one exists. If the head of the fire is successfully checked, then the forces are divided, half going to the right and half to the left, and the back-firing continued, to meet the side fires as they come up; this must be con- tinued till the fire is checked along the entire front of the premises endangered and the sides secured.
Various implements were used to put out a side or back fire, or even the head of a fire in a moderate wind. A fence-board, about
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four to six feet long, with one end shaved down for a handle, is very effective, if struck flat upon the narrow strip of fire. A bundle of hazel-brush does very well, and a spade or shovel is often used. The women often lent their aid, in cases of danger; their weapon was usually the kitchen mop, which, when thoroughly wet, was very efficient, especially in extinguishing a fence on fire. When the fire overcame all opposition, and seemed bound to sweep over the settlement, a fear of personal loss would paralyze, for the mo- ment, every faculty, and as soon as that fact seemed imminent, united effort ceased, and each one hastened to defend his own as best he could. It is due to historical truth to say that the actual losses were much less than might have been expected, though fre- quently quite severe. The physical efforts made in extinguishing a dangerous fire, and in protecting one's home from the devouring element, were very often severe, and even dangerous, and the author has known of more than one instance where it resulted fatally.
The premises about the residences and yards being tramped by the family and domestic animals, after a year or two, became tol- erably safe from fire, but the fences, corn and stubble fields were frequently burnt over. When the prairie was all fenced and under cultivation, so that prairie fires were among the things of the past, the denizens of the prairie were happily released from the constant fear and apprehension which for years had rested like a nightmare on their quiet and happiness, disturbing their sleep by night, and causing anxiety by day, especially when called from home, know- ing that on their return they might look on a blackened scene of desolation, instead of the pleasant home they left. And when re- turning after a day's absence, the sight of a fire in the direction of home, although it might prove to be several miles beyond, would try the mettle of the team, by putting them to a speed pro- portioned to the anxiety of the driver. And here it may be well to throw a little cold water over the thrilling and fearful stories, got up to adorn a tale, of hair-breadth escapes of travelers and settlers from prairie fires; such stories are not told by the old set- tlers, who know whereof they speak. It is true, a family might encamp in the middle of a dense growth of dry grass, and let a fire sweep over their camp, to their serious injury. But with ordinary intelligence and caution, a traveler on the prairie need have no fear of a fatal catastrophe, or even of any serious danger. If the head of a fire is approaching, it is usually an easy matter to get to
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one side of it, and when it has passed, pass over the side fire on to the burnt prairie, which can easily be done, by getting on to a spot of dry, rolling prairie, where the grass is seldom more than eight to twelve inches high. Or, if the head fire is too wide, and its speed too great to allow getting around it, then at once set a fire to leeward, and when it has burnt a short distance, put out the fire on the windward side of the place of setting, and pass on to the burnt prairie and follow the fire till far enough from the dry grass to be out of danger. There are places on low, moist prairie bottoms, or sloughs, where the grass and weeds were much heavier than on dryer land, and their burning was terrific and dangerous; but these places could be avoided, as an approaching fire could be seen a long distance, giving time to prepare for its coming. The early settlers will ever have a vivid recollection of the grand illumina- tions nightly exhibited in dry weather, from early fall to late spring, by numberless prairie tires. The whole horizon would be lighted up around its entire circuit. A heavy fire, six or seven miles away, would afford sufficient light on a dark night to enable one to read fine print. When a fire had passed through the prairie, leaving the long lines of side fires, like two armies facing each other, at night, the sight was grand; and if one's premises were securely protected, he could enjoy such a fire exhibition hugely, free of cost; but if his property was exposed his enjoyment of the scene was like a very nervous person's appreciation of the grand and majestic roll of thunder-the sublimity of the scene lost in the apprehension of danger.
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CHAPTER IV.
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CIVIL HISTORY.
FORMATION OF LOGAN COUNTY .- FIRST ELECTION. - ELECTION PRE- OINOTS. - TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION .- OFFICIAL RECORD .- COUNTY SEATS. - POSTVILLE, MT. PULASKI AND LINCOLN .- PUBLIO BUILD- INGS.
When Illinois was admitted into the Union it was composed of fifteen counties, one of which, Bond, included the present county of Logan, and much of the northern part of the State. During the legislative session of 1820-'21, Sangamon County was created, the act being approved Jan. 30, 1821. Its limits then included the following defined territory, which any reader can readily trace on a township map of the State. Commencing at the northeast corner of Locust Township in Christian County, then north to a point on the Illinois River about two miles below the City of Peru, down the middle of the river to the boundary line between Cass and Morgan counties, then east to the northeast corner of Morgan County, then south on the line between Morgan and Sangamon counties to the northwest corner of Otter Township in Macoupin County, then east to the place of beginning. The territory de- fined included what is now a part of Christian County, a small part of Macon, all of Logan, part of McLean, all of Tazewell, part of Woodford, part of Marshall, part of Putnam, and all of Mason, Menard and Cass.
Logan County remained a part of Sangamon until the session of 1838-'9, when a bill was presented to the Legislature by prominent citizens of this portion of Sangamon, asking for a separate county organization, under the name of " Logan County." The origin of the name of the county is not now definitely known. It is ascribed to the Indian Chief, Logan, to Judge Logan, and to Logan County, Ky. Which of these is correct can not now be determined. In February, 1839, the act was approved. Its prominent parts read as follows:
"Act to incorporate Logan County." Section one of the act (216)
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defines the boundaries of Menard County. Section two related especially to Logan and reads: "Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois represented in the General Assembly, That all the tract of country lying within the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of township 20 north, of range 4 west; thence south to the southwest corner of section 18; thence east one mile; thence south to the southeast cor- ner of Menard; thence east to the line dividing ranges 3 and 4; thence south to the southwest corner of section 7, town- ship 17 north, of range 3 west; thence east to the northeast corner of section 15, township last aforesaid; thence south one mile; thence east to the eastern boundary of Sangamon County; thence with the present boundary of Sangamon County to the place of beginning, shall constitute the county of Logan."
Section eight of the same act provides as follows for the location of the county seat:
" That Charles Emmerson, of Macon County, Cheney Thomas, of McLean County, and Charles Matheny, of Sangamon County, be, and they are hereby, appointed commissioners to locate the seat of justice of Logan County; and who, or a majority of whom, shall in all respects perform their duties in the manner that the com- missioners for the location of the county seats of the counties of Menard and Dane are by this act required to do; and shall meet at the town of Postville, in the said county of Logan, on the first Monday of May next, or within twenty days thereafter. for the purpose of performing the same; and such location, when so made, shall be and remain the seat of justice of the said county of Logan until the end of the session of the General Assembly in the year 1841."
The act further provided for an election to be held in each of the connties on the first Monday of April following. In Logan County the election for county officers was to be held at Postville and Mt. Pulaski.
These new counties were attached to and became a part of the first judicial district. Logan was allowed one representative in the next General Assembly, and until the officers were qualified to act in the newly formed counties, the sheriff of Sangamon County was empowered to transact all new business arising therein.
On the day appointed the election of officers was held, which re- sulted in the choice of Michael Mann, Probate Justice; John Des-
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218 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
kins, Sheriff; George B. Lucas, Coroner; ยก Jabez Capps; Recorder, and Thomas R. Skinner, Surveyor.
The county was now divided into two election precincts, the voting places being at Mt. Pulaski and the county seat. Three commissioners transacted all the business for the county; laid out roads; regulated licenses; attended to the poor, then generally "farmed out," as it was termed, that is, given to some one who would feed and clothe them for a certain considera- tion paid out of the county treasury. The commissioners, at their first meeting, drew lots for their respective terms of office, one serving for three years, one for two years, and one for one year. Thereafter one commissioner was elected annually. Soon after the organization of the county, it was found incon- venient for all voters to come to Mt. Pulaski and Postville to vote, and an additional precinct was made with a voting place at Middletown. Another was soon after made on Salt Creek, one on Sugar Creek, one at Elkhart and one at the Kicka- poo. On Salt Creek the voting place was Eli Fletcher's barn. Other voting places were formed from time to time as the county settled, until 1865, when the vote on the township organiza- tion was made, which resulted in the adoption of that mode of division for the county.
The law creating township organization in Illinois passed the General Assembly in 1861. By its provisions, the people of any county could so organize their county for judicial and civil purposes whenever a majority so desired. The vote on this question was held in November, 1865, but for some cause was declared illegal, and the next year another vote was ob- tained, which resulted in the adoption ot the law in this county. The County Court, at the December term of 1866, appointed Asa C. Barnes, of Atlanta, H. C. St. Clair, of Mt. Pulaski, and L. D. Dana, of Elkhart, commissioners to divide the county into townships, and to give to each a name. This duty was performed in March of the following year, when the commissioners defined the limits of each township, and gave to each the name it yet bears. An election for township officers was held in each township on Tuesday, April 2, and on the 13th of May the new Board of Supervisors, seventeen in number, met for the first time. Since that date this board has performed the functions of the old Board of Commissioners, and the civil division remains the same.
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CIVIL HISTORY.
OFFICIAL LIST OF LOGAN COUNTY.
The following is a complete list of the officers of the county as furnished by the records from 1838 to 1885:
County Judges .- Thomas R. Skinner, 1849-'57; Reuben B. Ew- ing, 1857-'69; William E. Dicks, 1869-'77; Stephen A. Foley, 1877 -.
Recorders .- Jabez Capps, 1839-'47; J. M. Handsley, 1847-'8. Probate Justices .- Michael Mann, 1839; Colby Knapp, 1839- '43; Ezekiel Bowman, 1843-'6; William Stallings, 1846-'9.
Public Administrators .- John Primm, 1844-'51; James Primm, 1851-'61; G. H. Estabrook, 1861-'63; George W. Edgar, 1863.
Circuit Clerks .- Samuel Emmitt, 1848-'56; Joseph D. Web- ster, 1856-'64; F. C. W. Koehule, 1864-'72; Thomas T. Holton, 1876-'84; E. F. L. Rautenberg, 1884 -.
County Clerks .- James T. Jenkins, 1849-'69; James T. Hoblit, 1869-'73; William Toomey, 1873-'82; C. M. Knapp, 1882 -.
Sheriffs .- John Deskins, 1839-'44; John Lucas, 1844-'46; Ezekiel Bowman, 1846-'48; J. C. Hurt, 1848-'50; R. B. Latham, 1850 -'2; Ezekiel Bowman, 1852-'4; Thomas J. Larison, 1854-'6; George Musick, 1856-'8; Thomas J. Larison, 1858-'60; Aaron B. Nicholson, 1860-'2; Abram Mayfield, 1862-'4; William G. Starkey, 1864-'6; T. J. Simpson, 1866-'8; C. B. Jackson, 1868-'70; H. L. Pierce, 1870-'2; William A. Schafer, 1872-'4; Solomon Morris, 1874-'8; Richard F. Ayres, 1878-'80; William Wendell, 1880- .
Coroners .- George B. Lucas, 1839-'40; Solomon Wood, 1840- '43; James Primm, 1843-'4; Alfred Sams, 1844-'6; E. Lucas, 1846-'8; George Snyder, 1848-'54; Luther Hill, 1854-'6; N. H. Foster, 1856-'60; T. Stryker, 1860-'1; J. F. Boy, 1861-'2; N. Sumner, 1864-'6; Ira A. Church, 1866-'8; P. B. Knight, 1868- '72; J. J. Greene, 1872-'6; W. W. Houser, 1876-'S; John Evans, 1878-'80; John T. Boyden, 1880-'4; Walter Birmingham, 1884 -.
Surveyors .- Thomas R. Skinner, 1839-'42; Conway Pence, 1842-'57; W. Skinner, 1857-'61; J. W. Ewing, 1861-'63; L. L. Hatton, 1863-'5; D. L. Braucher, 1865-'9; T. G. Gardner, 1869- '84; Thomas S. Davey, 1884 -.
School Commissioners .- S. C. Parks; David D. James; William G. Starkey, 1859-'63; A. Guthrie, 1863-'5; J. G. Chalfant, 1865-'9; L. T. Regan, 1869-'73; J. G. Chalfant, 1873-'7; W. H. Derby, 1877-'81; S. M. Guttery, 1881 -.
Treasurers .- Benjamin E. Clark; Matthew McElhiney, 1859- 14
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'63; Peter J. Hawes, 1863-'5; Joseph Ream, 1865-'82; A. May- field, 1882 -.
State's Attorneys .- T. T. Beach, 1872-'6; James T. Hoblit, 1876-'80; Randolph B. Forrest, 1880-'84; Robert Humphrey, 1884 -.
County Justices, 1857-'66 .- The Justices enumerated in this list served four years, except in cases of death or resignation. They are arranged according to the years in which they were elected:
1857-C. H. Goodrich, Ezekiel Bowman, Isaiah T. McCoy, John Clark, Franklin Fisk, Matthew McElhiney, Sheldon Parks, Isaiah Thomas (resigned July 2, 1859), William E. Dicks, Peter J. Hawes, John T. Bryan, James McGraw, Nathaniel M. Whittaker, A. J. Lanterman (resigned Oct. 17, 1859), R. T. Willey (removed), William Barrick, Thomas Nolan, Alfred L. Bryan, Bartholomew Gardner, Abner Howe, William H. Bennett.
1858-Ezekiel Bowman, John Morgan (resigned Aug. 14, 1858), Martin Buzzard (resigned Ang. 13, 1860).
1859-J. Henry Ball (resigned April 26, 1860), Joseph F. Ben- ner, William S. Morse.
1860-Cornelius Lambert and Wilford D. Wyatt.
1861-Louis D. Norton, David T. Littler, Jacob Yager, James Randolph, Jason Owen, Turner H. Cantrall, Elias Ellis, Arthur Quisenberry (resigned Jan. 18, 1862), Bartholomew Gardner, John Shoub, Lafayette Post (resigned Sept. 25, 1863), John Clark, Will- iam H. Bennett, William E. Dicks, William R. Sirley, Asa C. Barnes, William Beizley, James M. Howser, F. D. Cass, John T. Bryan.
1862-Norman Sumner, John J. Hatfield, Isaac May.
1863-Charles H. Ormsby, James H. Kellar, Colby Knapp.
1864-William Barrick.
1865-Jason Owen, John D. Gillett, Peter Rinehart, David Bowles, J. T. Hackney, David W. Clark, Cyrus Dillon, G. M. La- Forge, Oliver McGarvey, Ezekiel Bowman, Jacob Baker, John Clark, Jacob Yager, Andy Simpson, James W. Gasaway, John A. Smallwood, William H. Dunham, Charles H. Miller, C. F. Stew art Robert P. Dawes, John B. Tipton, Albert McCollister, Henry W. Sullivan, Hamilton A. Hough, Bartholomew Gardner, Will- iam E. Dicks.
County Constables, 1857-'66-The Constables mentioned in this list served four years, except those who resigned or died in
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office. They are arranged by the years in which they were elected:
1857-Jeremiah Miller, William W. Higgs, Thomas McFarland, Abel Larison, Ezekiel Inman (resigned Jan. 5, 1859), William Lemaster, Alfred L. Gideon (resigned March 24, 1858), Robert H. Rayborn, Jacob T. Rudolph, James T. Hawes, James H. Rus- sell, E. C. Martin (resigned May 13, 1858), A. J. Lindsay, David Miller (resigned Jan. 13, 1858), Thomas S. Clark, John Tyler, An- drew Huston.
1858-Henry Reece, Joseph T. Green (resigned March 19, 1860), Abraham S. Lindsay (resigned Oct. 20, 1859), Decatur Lewis, Richard P. Chenowith, Gage S. Gritman.
1859-William W. Higgs.
1860-Oliver K. High and Culver Staggers.
1861-Alfred Sams, Jonas Shupe, William W. Higgs, Abner Kendall, John Hull (resigned Nov. 23, 1862), James H. Russell, Thomas J. Montgomery (resigned Aug. 15, 1863), Culver Staggers, George W. Webb (resigned July 5, 1864), Charles M. Smith, Ja- cob T. Rudolph, John W. Grantham, Jacob V. Cunningham, An- drew Huston, Benjamin A. Graham, Decatur Lewis, James Cun- ningham, Jr. (resigned Nov. 29, 1862).
1862-Andrew Pinneo, John A. Critchfield, Andrew J. Fanning (resigned June 13, 1863).
1863-James B. Ransdell, Henry Reed, Randolph Davis.
1865-Jacob Bordwell (resigned Jan. 22, 1866), Haise Brown (resigned March 5, 1866), O. L. Sumner, E. R. Woland, Andrew Huston, Robert D. Clark, Henry Hendrickson, Nathan Newkirk, Jacob Shoup, M. S. Thomas, Joseph Lucas, Randolph Davis, Rob- ert Laughlin, Alfred Sams, James Poe, William J. Petitt, Hiram L. Pierce, R. C. Ewing, Jacob Eisiminger, David E. Randolph (resigned March 1, 1866).
COUNTY SEATS.
The first county seat, Postville, was laid out by Russell Post, from whom it received its name, in the year 1835. He discovered here a butiful site for a town, and being something of a specu- lator in Western town sites, at once entered the land and laid out a village. John Sutton soon after erected a small hotel, where the travelers from Springfield would often stop for refreshment when on their way to and from the State capital. The first store, a primitive structure, was built by Ackman & Rankin. They were
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soorr followed by James Primm and S. M. Tinsley, in a similar en- terprise. Mr. Primm was the first Postmaster in the town. He was succeeded in the office, about 1848, by Solomon Kahn, who retained the office until the union of Lincoln and Postville, and the removal of the postoffice to the latter place. Ackman & Rankin's store was the first house built on the town plat. It was erected during the spring and summer of 1836. Hiram Edwards had the contract for its construction, and received $70, in hard money, for the work.
FIRST COURT-HOUSE IN LOGAN COUNTY.
John Edwards hewed the logs for its construction. These were hewn to a thickness of six inches, and as wide as the log would make. The whole was roofed with clapboards. After its erection, the proprietors divided it into two rooms, using the rear room as a storeroom. Mr. Sutton's house being too small for the entertain- ment of travelers, a more commodious structure was built, on the corner of the square, by William McGraw. Another was after- ward added by Dr. John Duskins. It fronted the court-house. As Postville was on the direct road from St. Louis to Chicago, it be-
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came a regnlar stopping place for stages. "A large amount of mer- chandise was taken from St. Louis by this route, to Springfield, Bloomington and Chicago. Chicago was yet a village, with scarce a hope of future greatness.
The organization of the county, and the location of the county- seat at Postville, aided much in its prosperity. The commissioners appointed, in the act of incorporation, -to locate the seat of justice for the new county, selected Postville, it being near the center of the county, and donating a square of land, and four or five lots in addition. A court-house and jail were at once ordered erected, and work upon them commenced. The court-house was built in the center of the square, faced the south, and was two stories high. Its entire cost was not likely more than $200. The jail was built mainly by Elisha Parks. It was constructed of hewed or sawed logs, each one foot square, notched at the ends, so that when laid in the wall they fitted closely together. This jail was about twelve feet square, and that many feet in height to the first story. The upper floor was made of logs of the same dimensions as those com- posing the sides, securely fastened to the upper tier of logs. The lower floor was composed of logs hewed abont twelve by sixteen inches in thickness, the greater thickness placed upward. These were laid closely together, and, as well as the walls and upper floor, were covered with heavy oak plank, two inches in thickness, thoroughly nailed on, within and without. In the center of the upper floor a small trap door]was made, sufficiently large to admit a man's body. In order to secure light and ventilation, this door was composed of a crosswork of iron bars, firmly fastened together, and secured with a good padlock several inches from the door. Two windows, of similar material, were also made. Over all a good, heavy roof was placed, and in the end of the upper story a door was made of heavy plank, which in turn could be securely bolted. When a prisoner was confined within this citadel, he was, in most cases, safe. He would be taken in at the upper door, the trap-door of the inner cell raised, a ladder let down, and he was compelled to descend into the prison. The ladder would then be withdrawn, the trap-door and outer door bolted, and he was safe It is confi- dently affirmed that criminals could more easily escape from the jails of to-day than from this one.
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