USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 13
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pubescens ), Downy Woodpecker ; ( Melanerpes erythrocephalus ), Red-headed Woodpecker; (Colaptes auratus), Golden-winged Woodpecker; < Conurus Carolinensis ), Carolina Parrot ; (Bubo Virginianus), Great Horned Owl; (Syrnium nebulosum), Barred Owl; (Nyctea nivea), Snowy Owl; (Cathar- tes aura ), Turkey Buzzard ; ( Falco columbarium ), Pigeon Hawk ; (Nauclerus furcatus), Swallow-tailed Hawk ; (Icteria Mississippiensis ), Mississippi Kite; (Buteo borealis), Red-tailed Hawk ; (Haliatus leucocephalus), Bald Eagle; (Falco fulvius), Ring-tailed Eagle.
We give the following classification of birds into three divisions, as found in the "Transactions of the Illinois State Horticultural Society."
1st. Those of the greatest value to the fruit-growers, in destroying noxious insects, and which should be encouraged and fostered in every way.
Blue Birds, Tit-mice or Chicadees, Warblers, (small summer birds with pleasant notes, seen in trees and gardens), Swallows, Vuros (small birds called green necks). All birds known as woodpeckers except sap-suckers (Picus varius). This bird is entirely injurious, as is it is not insectivorous, but feeds on the inner bark, cambium, (and the elaborated sap) of many spe- cies of tree, and may be known from other Woodpeckers, by its belly being yellowish, a large black patch on its breast, and the top of its head a dark bright red. The males have also a patch of the same on their throats and with the minor margins of the two central tail feathers white. This bird should not be mistaken for the two other most valuable birds which it nearly resembles, to wit: the Hairy Woodpecker, (Picus villiosii et vars); and the Downy Woodpecker, (Picus pubescens et vars). These two species have the outer tail feathers white (or barred with black), and have only a small patch of red on the back of the head of the males. The Yellow-Hammer or Flecker, (Colaptus auratus ) is somewhat colored with yellow, and should not be mistaken for the sap-sucker. It is a much larger bird. The Red-headed Woodpecker, (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), sometimes pecks into apples and devours cherries, and should be placed in the next division, (2). The Wren, Ground Robin, (known as Cherwick ), Meadow Lark, all the fly- catchers, the King Bird or bee-catcher, Whip-poor-will. Night Hawk or Goat Sucker, Nut-hatcher, Pewee or Pewit. All the Blackbirds, Bobolinks, Finches, (Fringillidæe), Quails, Song Sparrows, Scarlet Tanager, Black, White and Brown Creepers, Maryland Warblers, Indigo Birds, Chirping Sparrow, Black-throated Bunting, Thrushes, except those named in the next class, and all domestic fowls except geese.
2D .- BIRDS OF DOUBTFUL UTILITY.
Which include those which have beneficial qualities, but which have also noxious or destructive qualities in the way of destroying fruits, and whose habits are not fully determined. (Thus the Robin, Brown Thrush and Cat Bird are very valuable as cut-worm eaters, but also very obnoxious to the small fruit growers. The Jay (Blue Jay ) not only destructive to grain and fruits, but very noxious in the way of destroying the nest eggs, and young of smaller and better birds, Robin, Brown Thrush and Cat Bird, Shrike or Butcher Bird, Red-headed Woodpecker, Jay Bird or Blue Jay, Crow and the small Owls (screech owls), Pigeons and Mocking Bird.)
3D .- BIRDS THAT SHOULD BE EXTERMINATED.
Sap-sucker, or Yellow- bellied Woodpecker, (see above), Baltimore Oriole, or Hanging Bird, Cedar Bird, or Wax-wings (Ampelis cedrorum), Hawks, and the larger Owls.
CHAPTER VIII. FLORA.
" Where opening roses breathing sweets diffuse, And soft carnations shower their balmy dews, Where lilies smile in virgin robes of white, The thin undress of superficial light ; And varied tulips show so dazzling gay, Blushing in bright diversities of day."
THEN we gaze out over a landscape, the eye is pleased with its chequered beauty and loveliness; here and there are bright flowers, clinging vines, green verdured hill and dale; majestic forest-trees, whose towering heads have withstood the blasts and storms of many winters,-these were created not only to please the eye and beautify the world, but the cereals and grasses were made to furnish food for man and beasts. Our article will particularly treat of the more valuable
* In the preceding mention of animals both the scientific and common names are generally given for the convenience of the reader.
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
woods utilized in the mechanic arts, and the grasses, plants, vegetables, and flowers most beneficial to man, and particularly those which are natives of the county. Many species of the native vegetable kingdom have fled; the Buffalo grass, which only grew on parts of the prairies, and almost wholly the large pampas grass, have become extinct, and given place to blue grass, which, in places where domestic cattle feed, is rapidly and quietly displacing all others. The plants are many and rare, some for beauty and some for medicine. The pink-root, the columbo, the ginseng, the bone-set, penny- royal, and others are used as herbs for medicine. Plants of beauty are the phlox, the lily, the asclepias, the mints, golden rod, the eye-bright gerardia, and hundreds more which adorn the meadows and brook-sides ; besides, are climbing vines, the trumpet creeper, the bitter sweet, the woodbine, the cle- matis, and the grape, which fill the woods with gay festoons, and add grace to many a decaying monarch of the forest. The trees and grasses, one so lordly and permanent, the other so humble and transient, are the true glories of the county. The oak, with at least its twenty varieties; the hickory, with as many more species; the thirty kinds of elm, from the sort which bear leaves as large as a man's hand, to the kind which bear a leaf scarcely larger than a man's thumb-nail; the black walnut, so tall and straight; the hack- berry ; gum tree black and sweet; the tulip; the giant cotton-woods, and hundreds more attest the fertility of the soil and mildness of the climate, while the blue grass, in its ten varieties, the timothy and red top, with clover so abundant in succulence, affords excellent pasturage, and opens a fine field for the dairyman or stock raiser.
The following is a partial list of the trees and plants of the county :
Populus angulata-cotton-wood, abundant.
Salix-willow, several varieties.
Alnus serrulata-alder.
Betula-birch ; Carpinus Americana-horn-bean, not common.
Corylus Americana-hazel-nut, abundant ; Castanea pumila-chinquapin.
Quercus rubra-red oak ; Quercus palustris-water oak, common ; Quer- eus tinctoria-black oak ; Quercus nigra-black-jack ; Quercus imbricaria -laurel oak ; Quercus prinus-chestnut white oak ; Quercus castanea-yel- low oak, not common ; Quercus alba-white oak, common ; Quercus obtusi- loba-post oak, abundant.
Carya glabra-pig-nut hickory ; Quercus macrocarpa-overcup oak, com- mon; Carya tomentosa-white-heart hickory ; Carya alba-shell-bark hick- ory ; Carya olivæformis-pecan.
Juglans nigra-black walnut, abundant. Juglans cinerea-butter-nut, not common.
Plantanus occidentalis-sycamore.
Ulmus fulva-red elm; Morus rubra-red mulberry; Urtica dioica- stinging nettle; Ulmus Americana-white elm, abundant.
Poa pratensis-spear-grass; Poa compressia-blue grass, common. Scripus pungens-bulrush.
Arisema triphyllum-Indian turnip; Tyhlatifolia-cat-tail ; Sagittaria variabilis - arrow-head; Cypripedium pubescens-yellow lady's slipper ; Cypripedium candidum-white lady's slipper, common.
Cannabis sativa-hemp; Humulus lupulus-hop, not common.
Datura stramonium-Jamestown weed; Asclepias cornuti-milk weed; Fraxinus Americana-white ash ; Fraxinus sambucifolia-black ash ; Phy- tolacca decandra-poke weed; Amarantus hybridus-pig weed; Rumex crispus-sour dock ; Sassafras officinale-sassafras; Benzoin odoriferous- fever bush ; Marrubium vulgare-hoarhound ; Solanum nigrum-night- shade; Physalis viscosa-ground cherry ; Monarda didyma-horsemint ; Nepeta cataria-catnip; Hedeoma pulegioides-pennyroyal; Diospyros vir- giniana-persimmon ; Plantago major-plantain; Verbascum thapsus-mul- lein, common; Cirsium lanceolatum-common thistle ; Lappa major-Bur- dock; Taraxacum densleonis-dandelion, common, introduced during the last forty years.
Erecthites hieracifolia-fire weed; Ambrosia artemisiafolia-rag weed; Xanthium strumarium-cockle bur; Bidens bipinnata-Spanish needle ; Bidens chrysanthemoides-beggar ticks; Manta cotula-May weed; Leu- canthemum vulgare-ox-eye daisy, common.
Eupatorium perfoliatum-thoroughwort, not common; Cornus Florida- dogwood ; Sambucus Canadensis-elder, very common ; Ribes cynosbati- wild gooseberry ; Pyrus coronana-wild crab, abundant.
Crategus, several species ; Rosa setigera-climbing rose; Rubus lucida- dwarf wild rose; Rubus villosus-blackberry, abundant.
Asimina triloba-papaw, quite abundant along the creek bottoms; Nelum- bium luteum-May apple, abundant in shady places.
Sanguinaria Canadensis, or blood-root; Lepidium Virginicum-wild pep- per-grass ; Portulaca Oleracea, or purslane; Tilia Americana, or linden, not abundant ; Zanthoxylum Americanum-prickly ash, scarce; Rhus typhina -sumach ; Rhus toxicodendron - poison oak ; Vitis astivalis-summer grape, common; Vitis cordifolia-frost grape ; Ampelopsis quinquefolia- Virginia creeper; AEsculus pavia-buckeye, scarce; Acer saccharinum- sugar maple; Acer dasycarpum-white maple ; Negundo aceroides-box elder ; Baptisia tinctoria-indigo weed, not abundant; Cercis Canadensis- red-bud ; Gymnocladus Canadensis -- Kentucky coffee-tree; Gleditschia tria- canthos-honey locust ; Prunus Americana-red plum ; Prunus chicasa- Chickasaw plum ; Prunus ecrotina-wild cherry ; Fragaria Virginiana-wild strawberry ; Rubus occidentalis-black cap raspberry ; Rubus Canadensis- dewberry, common.
In the above list we have given the scientific as well as the English names, believing such a course to pursue in the study of plants more beneficial to the student or general reader. There may be some plants omitted, yet we think the list quite complete.
CHAPTER IX. CIVIL HISTORY.
HE portion of Illinois now comprised within the limits of Macou- pin county was originally a part of the county of Madison, but on the creation of Greene county, it became a part of the new county, and was known as the "Attached part of Greene county." In 1829 the legislature, in session, at the capital Vandalia passed an act entitled "an act creating the county of Macoupin" and appointing five commissioners to select a seat of justice, whose names appear in the bill which is appended. The county was named Macoupin in the act. This word is of Indian origin and is abbreviated from " Macoupina," which signi- fies in their tongue "white potato," for that is the name they gave to the wild artichoke which grew abundantly along the water courses. The name was given to the principal stream of the county long before its organization, and when the new county was created was conferred upon it.
Thomas Carlin, afterwards governor of the state, was at that time a senator from this district, and it was largely through his instrumentality that the passage of the bill was secured. The celebrated and eccentric pioneer preacher, Peter Cartwright, was also a member of the general assembly, and opposed the bill, saying among other things that "God had set apart this region as a reservation for the geese and ducks." But the demands of the citizens of the " Attached part of Greene county were acceded to, and the legislature passed the following bill, entitled
"AN ACT CREATING THE COUNTY OF MACOUPIN."
" Be it enacted by the people of the state of Illinois represented in the general assembly, That all that tract of country within the boundaries, to-wit :- beginning at the southwest corner of township seven, north of range nine, west of the west principal meridian; thence east on the line dividing townships six and seven, to the southwest corner of Montgomery county ; thence due north to the southern boundary of Sangamon county; thence west on the southern line of Sangamon and Morgan counties, to the range line dividing ranges nine and ten ; thence south on said range line to the place of beginning; shall form and constitute a county to be called Macoupin.
Sec. 2. For the purpose of fixing the permanent seat of Justice of said county, the following persons are appoinded commissioners, to-wit: Seth Hodges, Joseph Borough, John Harris, Shadrack Riddick, and Ephraim Powers, who, or a majority of them, being first sworn before some Justice of the Peace of this state, faithfully to take into consideration the convenience of the people with an eye to the future population, and eligibility of the place, shall meet at the house of Joseph Borough, in said county of Macou- pin, on the third day of March next, or within six days thereafter, and proceed to examine and determine on a place for the permanent seat of Justice of said county; Provided the commissioners aforesaid shall locate the seat of Justice on public land, they shall designate the same, and certify to the county commissioners of said county, as soon as they shall be qualified to office, the half quarter or quarter section of land so selected for said county seat; and it shall be the duty of said county commissioners as soon thereafter as they may be enabled, to enter the same in the land office of the
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
district in which the same may be situated, and they shall immediately thereafter lay off the same, or any part thereof, into town lots, and sell the same on such terms and conditions as may be most advantageous to the interests of said county ; and the proceeds of the sale shall be appropriated to the erection of a sufficient court-house and jail. But if the said commis- sioners, appointed to locate said seat of Justice, should locate the same on the lands of any person, or persons, and such proprietor, or proprietors, should refuse or neglect to give to the county, for the purpose of erecting public buildings for the use of said county, a quantity of land not less than twenty acres, situated and lying in a square form, to be selected by said commissioners, then, and in that case, the said commissioners shall proceed to select some other situation, as convenient as may be to the place first selected ; Provided, the like quantity, and for the purpose above mentioned. And the said commissioners, after having made such location, shall designate the same, and certify as aforesaid, to the next county commissioners' court, to be held in and for said county ; and it shall be the duty of said county commissioners to demand and receive a title in fee simple, for the use of said county, for the donation of land as above stated, and to lay out the same into town lots, and sell the same, and appropriate the proceeds thereof as before mentioned : which place, when so fixed upon, shall be the permanent seat of Justice of said county ; all of which proceedings shall be entered of record on the books of the county court.
Sec. 3. Until public buildings shall be erected for the purpose, the courts shall be held at the house of Joseph Borough, in said county, or at such other places as the county commissioners may appoint.
Sec. 4. An election shall be held at the house of Joseph Borough, in said county, on the second Monday of April next, for one sheriff, one coro- ner, and three county commissioners, for said county, who shall hold their offices until the next general election, and until their successors are qualified; which said election shall be conducted in all respects, agreeably to the pro- visions of the law regulating elections, Provided that the qualified voters present may select among themselves three qualified voters to act as Judges of said election, who shall appoint two qualified voters to act as clerks.
Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the circuit court of said county, to give notice, in writing, at least ten days previous to said election, to be held on the second Monday of April next, and in case there shall be no clerk in said county, it shall be the duty of any Justice of Peace, residing in said county, and commissioned a Justice of the Peace, for the county of Greene, to give notice of the time and place of holding said election.
Sec. 6. The citizens of the said county of Macoupin are entitled, in all respects, to the same rights and privileges as are allowed to other citizens of other counties of this state.
Sec. 7. The commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice of said county, shall receive one dollar and fifty cents per day, for each day neces- sarily spent in discharging the duties imposed on them by this act, to be paid out of the county treasury of said county, and the said commissioners shall give to the said seat of justice some appropriate name.
Sec. 8. The inhabitants of said county shall vote in all elections for mem- bers of the General Assembly, in the same manner as they were authorized to do, before the passage of this act."
Approved, January 17, 1829.
NINIAN EDWARDS, Governor.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
The law establishing the county, it will be observed, provided for the elec- tion of a county commissioners' court, a sheriff and coroner ; the election was held at the house of Joseph Borough; the vote resulted in the choice of Theodorus Davis, William Wilcox, and Seth Hodge for commissioners ; Tristram P. Hoxsey was appointed county clerk, in addition to which, he performed the duties of county recorder and circuit clerk. Joseph Borough was appointed surveyor in 1829, by the Governor, and laid out the county seat. The number of votes cast at the first election was seventy-eight.
RECORD OF THE MEETING OF THE FIRST BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
At a special term of court held on the 12th April, 1829, " Ordered," that until public buildings shall be erected for the purpose, the courts in future shall be held at the house of John L. Davis, in Macoupin county.
April 18, 1829 .- Ordered, that Macoupin county be divided into three election precincts, for the election of justices of the peace and constables for county.
April 18, 1829 .- Ordered, that all that tract of country lying within the following boundaries, to wit, beginning at the south-west corner of Macoupin county, and running thence east with the line of said county, to the Bond county line, thence north with said line twelve miles, thence due west to the line of Greene county, thence due south with said line to the place of begic- ning, shall constitute an election district for justices of the peace, and con- stables, and be called Cahokia district.
April 18, 1829 .- Ordered, that all that tract of country lying within the following boundaries, to wit. : beginning at the south-west corner of township nine north in range nine west, thence due east to the Bond county line, thence due north with said line twelve miles to the south-east corner of town- ship eleven north, range six west, thence due west to Greene county line, thence south with said line to the place of beginning, shall constitute an election district for justices of the peace and constables, and be called Macou- pin district.
April 18, 1829 .- Ordered, that all that tract of country lying within the following boundaries, to wit : beginning at the south-west corner of township eleven north, range nine west, thence east to the line of Montgomery county, thence due north with said line to the line of Sangamon county, thence due west with the said lines of Sangamon and Morgan counties to Greene county line, thence due south with said line of Greene county to the place of begin- ning, shall constitute an election district for justices of the peace and consta- bles, and be called Apple Creek district.
April 18, 1829 .- Ordered, that elections shall be held in each of the dis- tricts in this county for the election of two justices of the peace and two con- stables for each district, except the district in which the county seat is, in which district there shall be three justices of the peace and three constables elected, on Saturday, the sixteenth day of May next.
It is ordered, that Ephraim Powers, John Chapman and Lewis Cormack be appointed judges of elections, for justices of the peace and constables in Cahokia district.
Also, that Theodorus Davis, Samuel M. Harris and Samuel Lear be ap- pointed judges of election, for justice of the peace and constables in Macou- pin district.
Also, that Hugh Gipson, John Nevin and James Mabry be appointed judges of election for justices of peace and constables in Apple Creek district.
Also, that the elections for justices and constables in Cahokia district shall be held at the house of Ephraim Powers in said district.
Ordered, that the elections for justices of the peace and constables in Macoupin district thall be held at the house of Joseph Borough.
Also, that the elections for justices of the peace and constables in Apple Creek district shall be held at the house of Felix Hoover.
It is ordered by the court, that William G. Coop be appointed county treasurer and assessor of this county.
SECOND SESSION.
At a County Commissioners' Court, begun and held at the house of John L. Davis, in and for said county of Macoupin, on Thursday, the seventh day of May, 1829.
Present ; THEODORUS DAVIS, WILLIAM WILCOX,
Commiss'rs.
On motion of several citizens of Apple Creek district, the line dividing said Apple Creek district and Macoupin district, is changed thus fourteen miles directly east from the western line of said county, the line shall commence and run diagonally across the townships, so as to strike the eastern line of said county, two miles south of the north-east corner of the county aforesaid.
May 27, 1829 .- Some doubts having arisen with regard to the authority of the clerk of this court, he took the different oaths of office.
THE SELECTION OF THE SITE FOR THE COUNTY SEAT.
At a meeting of the Commissioners' Court, held on the 2d of June, 1829, ' " The Court received the report of the commissioners, appointed by law for fixing the seat of Justice for this county, which said report read as follows, to wit :"
"The commissioners appointed by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, in the year 1829, to locate the seat of Justice for the County of Macoupin, having met at the house of Joseph Borough in said county, and having fixed upon the following site for the seat of Justice of said county, &c.,
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
being and lying on S. W. qr. of Sec. 28, Township 10 N. Range 7 W. Donation 30 acres, to be situated in an oblong square, 80 poles in front on the north side, to run 60 poles south. Stake drove on the north side of the public square, equi-distant from E. and W. corners on N. side, facing Main St., to run due East and West.
. "Given under our hands and seals, this first day of June, A. D., 1829.
SETH HODGES. JOSEPH BOROUGH. JOHN HARRIS."
The Court received a title in fee simple for the above described lot, or do- nation of ground, which said bond is ordered to be filed in the clerk's office of this Court. The site for the county seat was named Carlinville, in honor of Thomas Carlin, who afterwards became Governor of Illinois, and who, as has been seen, secured the passage of the creating act.
COPY OF PROPRIETORS' BOND TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
"Know all men by these presents that we, Seth Hodges and Ezekiel Good, are held and firmly bound unto William Wilcox, Theodorus Davis and Seth Hodges, county commissioners for Macoupin county, and their successors in office, in the penal sum of one thousand dollars, for the true payment whereof we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators jointly, severally and firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated this 1st day of June, 1829.
"The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above- named Seth Hodges and Ezekiel Good have agreed to make a good and law- ful deed to the above-named county commissioners and their successors in office to thirty acres of land situate, and lying and being on the southwest quarter of section of No. 28, 10 N. in W. R. 7, to wit, situated in an oblong square, 80 poles in front, on the north side to run 60 poles south. Stake drove on the north side of the public square equi-distant from E. and W. on N. side facing Main street, Main street to run due east and west. Now if the said Good and Hodges shall make a good and sufficient deed to the above- described lot or parcel of ground as soon as the patent for said ground shall come to their hands, then this obligation to be void, else to remain in full force.
"SETH HODGES."
SEAL.
" EZEKIEL GOOD."
SEAL.
LAYING OFF THE TOWN OF CARLINVILLE, JUNE TERM OF COURT, 1829- JUNE 1.
"It is ordered by the court that the surveyor of this county proceed to lay off the town of Carlinville into town lots, under the direction of the Commis- sioners of this county, and that he return a plot of the same to the office of this court, previous to the 27th day of August next, and it is further ordered by the court that twenty lots of the aforesaid town of Carlinville be offered for sale on the 27th day of August next on the premises, on a credit of six, twelve and eighteen months, the purchaser giving bond with approved secu- rity for the purchase money, and that the clerk of this court furnish an advertisement conveying the intent and meaning of this order, to be published in the Illinois Intelligencer, and also advertise the same in such public places in this county as may be deemed expedient.
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