USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 17
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1,882 1,282 1,199 1,016 116 185 ...
.....
2.031 104
154
47
10 154
8,429 115
Catwokia ..............
₭53, 1:0 14,913
7,926,20
113,600 17,095
93,492
19,966
113,458
146
150
15,983
1.510
495
6,142
715
5,309
8,141
8,420
7,509
11,840
144
2,732
1,344
1,529 946
1,577
555
528
741
874 1,64%
1,365
3 425 ...
215
2,019
3.290
229 2,132
.....
2,231. 9 1040 9 310 7 153 195 2,009
2 150
1,952
7 975 15 235 2 20 270 1,710
165
1,021
127
143
52
249
1
225 335 124
839 27 545 47 298 11,862
392
Total ............... 34,462 7748 412,130
131,016
2,907,251 344,538 3,251,789 5,685. 1,893 547,972 15,172 245,750) 31,070 220,596 2319 43,313 19,765 17,950 45,297 36,640 731 8456 x2 2396 31 468 5762 54,670 4999 6931 2685 11,899 287 9678 537 6186 100,903 4,851
Digitized by
ste
:
1879
=
·
1871
1872
Brighton ......... .
1,794
404 19,662.92
3,182.25
105,940
9,973
175,913 229
147 45,376
11,810 1,210
9.459
10,265
10,170
12,007
153
3.2×5
1,419
1,315
511
1,260
143
669
1,5×7
1,213
1 250 1 25 ... ....
226
429
7, 110 15 110 8
8, 210, 23 278
..... 11 129 50 21 230. 30 10 114
17 110
2,0%
85
Shipman ---------
Staw's Point ..........
1,517 384 16,773.38
6,000.20
155,940
12,867
168,8071
277
75
24,280
640
12.234
9.695
11,794
10,927 1,147
4,563 1,576
9,781
48
608
115
25
1,823
316
316
1.456 2,587
1,177 4% 215
1,103 2 90 2 10 3 45 302
165
730 13 395 53 708
6,524
88
440
2
256
417
155
7,736
965
Firden don't Girard) 3,075; 476
891 220 19,640.48
2,756.88
80,691)
4,720
85,411
116,575 46012 331 12
76,088
427
7,568 11,508 1,057
7,542 1,100 8,678 1,637
12,478 2,067
9,371' 1,386
9,716 1,13G 9.926
1,484
8,681
1,002
9.568
1,016 1.332 994 778
7,204 7,490
61
1,020
1,360
814
768
1,634
2,168
1.623
2 300 ... .
203 1,599 164
428
2
36
1. 10 10
1. 20 13
126
700
21
Staunton ........
870. 232 16,312.43
5,631.51
104,745
16,8.32
121,577 .....
122,125 4423%
265, 33,665
480
677
3,559.92
81,269
11,622
139,830
#22 ..
479
371
48,947
7.197
583
665
777
673
582
11,572
7,083 140 3,182
1033
1.913
1.623
383
288
510
539
2.397 2,489
1 100
1
50
1
10 ... .....
210
1,65
1,910 137
183
206
16
66
218
4
5 160
3
1:25 ......
H.
1,072 253 19,332.69
3,444.01
710 192 20.340.97
2,349.23
181,395
6,289
187,684 ........
130.816.
155,849
4,527'
125,547
15,266
107,346
116,499|
77
9,665
11,641
119,072
13
1,555
75
77
4,433
8,970
965
7,605
NT
110 1,861
438
1,490
357
550
1,422 1,420
2,174 1,647
9 1415 28 1565 8 100
2,995 498 101x 276
171 1.465 120 150
2.206 191 24x
1.244 109
210
267 252
114
1,300
25
North Otter ............
1,250 217 19,332.57
643 171 16,218.40
1,440 297 15,031.06
695 226 17,380.15
5,591.77
9,526.71
56,376
17,942
130,695
78
1,715
50
210 .....***
Dorchester .....
877 229 13,088
9,038
73,241 25,702
98,943
13
25
15,037
656 3×6
9,13% 1,251
8.00
61 1,033
994
671
657- 1,192
222 1,344 1,162
7 1296 3 75 2 10 241 8 910 11 275 4 60 1x4
3,4%
2,633 17M
1,839 114 1,233 112
2,580 210' 240 2,629 193 198 178
235
00
62 94
315
1.
1.050
164
173
2-6 420
179
Western Mound .....
1,604 444 14,379.24
8,374.14
104,220.
17,905
35,306'
96,484
163,320
17
57
4
15,817
North Palmyra ....... 1,234 261 20,691.77
3,737.94
142,974
12,875
121,020
92,080 98,716 107,431,
17,783
110,855.
143,983
783
54 69,205
178.643, 1160
136 175,017
32,230 1,165
Chesterfield ......
1,048 2XX 12.917.82
1,05 263 18,276.54
4,730.48
128,208
96,4×4 ..
152,274
11,046.
211 437
360.
413 .....
194
1 10 .......
9×4
.. .....
1
25
251
1917
167 212
95
39
3
75 31 331
12x 28 770 33 445
6,075 200
Bunker Hill ..
737 204 12,531.83
10,598.39
87,445
23,410
138,184
5,799
169,623
9,020
272
1174 70 3275 48 65
2. 100. 4
75 32 341
4,950
21
Gillespie .....
Girard isee Virden) ......... 300 11,103.33
Bigard.
Honey Point ........ Silvood ....
1,211 280 20,284.90
2,338,60
124,290
6,526
40
2,492
36%
Scottsville.
South Otter ...........
Scoth Palmyra ....... 1,166 281 12,860.64
1,958 2.450 1,025 1,162 1.073
2,490
1,317
771
1,467 1.955
1.540
3 220.
300
. ... *****
102
1,263
30
32
Pulk
999 221
18,650.36
4,394.67
204 1,699 138 162 71
333
135
10 113
501
Brushy Mound ..
2 225 4. 203 2 30 353
3,23× 297 402
136
Carlinville ......
2,8x1 677 20,516
2,359.25
# 240 6 12x 1 30 375 3,930 471 622
60 1. 160
2 20 172
122
77
230
7 200 20 195
4.1:25
139
102
2
1,3
262
. ... .....
1.581
55
10,518 122 5,950) 137
6,99% 143
59
6,811 137
74
1,965
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No
No.
No.
Arta !=
TOWNSHIPS.
in 1x76.
Land.
Acres of
143,589 12,298
155,887
of all Lands.
Town Lots.
Town Lots.
HORSES.
CATTLE.
MULEs & ARRES .
SHEPP.
HoGs.
BOIL'RE SAFER, Tables
INIL'D'e PROOF &other AND WAGONR. CLOCKS. MACHINES.
KNITTING FORTES. ORGANS HAND,
Clocks and watches ....... Pianos .....
45
Goods and merchandise .....
83.183
:
157
249
X90 63 2153 48 641
6.80x 842 19.290 41
2,086.881
1,424 1,034: 1 150 ..
1.141
1,151
1.556
413 1,634 2,313
83
10,726
90
936
83.
'511
1.448
143
1.385
1,168 1,371 1,105 2.609 1.960 63
679 2.×37
110 1,937
8,202
1.800
10,781 1,294
11,775 1,554
397
668
650
18, 144
718 13 330 17, 320,
10 11 115.
66
1.400
51 115
422
107
645 19 740 27 375. 11.020
197
2,140.14
6,826.72 6,981.76
7,067.55
9,646.72
1,255 16
1,353 1.659.
1,596
1,082
1,236
102
15,821
8,273
110
74,318
727
3
2,140
Total number of acres under cultivation. 112.785 Total value of taxable personal property. 994,238
S. ENG's F. & B. BI'AM CARRIAGER WATCH's SEWING; & PIANO ; MELIH MIAF. Mater !
: >
50
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS, ETC., OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS, FOR THE YEAR 1879.
NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS.
Bushels of
Bushels of
Bushels of
Bushels of
Bushels of
Bushels of
Bushels of
Bushels of
Bushels of
Pounds of
Tons of Hay.
Gallons of
Gallons of
Arres of
.No. of Sheep
Pounds of
Pounds of
Fat Cattle Sold.
Fat Hogs Sold.
Fat Sheep Sold.
died of Cholera,
Barr
112,665
27,287
11,149 765
500
3,404 185
2,4×9
66-
4,496
17 4.372
2,894 547
2,172 145 506
Bird.
134,768
78,682
12,840
30
160
3,489
2,404
5,663
48 5,640
5.442 829
2.832 141
202
Brighton.
64,910
57,405
28,286
1801
5,785
1.727
10
10
3,925
25 12.631
13,540 114
1,638 475
533
Brushy Mound.
50,591
49,319
8,980
1095
1.172
1.329
2,9$7
14 1,332
159
908
21
1,006
Bunker Hill
53,617
50,014
25,664
2122 120
19.935 232
1.556
4,031
2,762
125,044
100
1,546
56
Carlinville
86,050
70,485
17,120 260
680
3.265
3,070 250
350
1,439
465
1,757
41 4,067
10,954
142
989 100
711
Chesterfield
93,930
. 43,666
9,370
239
2,160 117
295
Dorchester.
45,296
40,053
17,312 377
1402 121
5.333 135
250
828
2
3,366
6 4,085
4,003
70
118 170
174
Gillespie
75,485
69,123
30,115
763
3,666
70
1,233
2 3,064
3 1,940
12,470 173
1,468
31 723
Girard
68,260
25,786
25,729 170
220 320
7,499 615
1,920
2,274
828
7,810 359
1,378
24 476
Hilyard.
49,860
51,710
18,249
160
2.790
20
1,432
2 415
5,563
5,750 133
1,418 178
40
Honeypoint
74,385
65,188
22,551 122
549 ......
4,895
97
1,779
207
4,041
14 1,718
4,292 117
1,471 107
981
Nilwood
109,996
72,382
23,890
80
5,832
50
2,409
4%
4,142
8 J23
3,789 501
2,208
12
1,961
North Otter ..
126,877
42,879
15,250 318
550 500
14,570 850
3731
North Palmyra
131,075
30,597
16,396 386
2069 141
13,643 2403
1783
3.045
4,148
48
3,861
50 4,078
9,760 517
2,171 141
1,413
Polk.
64,230
40,846
8,562 10
1200
2.725
85
1526
4,138
306
1,775
2,557 376
2,1×9
7
3,613
5,295 195
5,310
15
975
1.814 186
144
Shawspoint ..
58,220
63.099
17,900
1,345
3,125 50
6
1,004
710 105 1,904
2,010
10,205 138
1,448 64
211
Western Mound.
108,495
43,094
6,935
1078
2.325 100
1,765
1,342.
4,042
6,5x2
1,550 191
2,310 447
622
Virden.
84,206
10,549
17,394
70
952
5
13,364
40
1,989
3,067
15 351
6.519 606
1,525
66
409
Total
2,072,066 1,203,794 452,499 4115 22,675 1367
143,955 5774 74 2789 43,441 11,904 743 81,647 645 93,634 351,338 7692 39,233 3233 15,850
Table from the United States Census Report, showing the population of Macoupin County at different periods :
1830
1,990
1840
7,826
1850
12,355
1860
24,602
1870
32,726
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
September 1838. Lewis Solomon, Samuel Lair. Frederick A. Olds.
.
1839. Lewis Solomon, Andrew S Opdyke, Samuel Lair.
=
1840. Lewis Solomon, Andrew S. Opdyke, Seburn Gilmore.
"
1842. John S. Foster, S. Gilmore, David McShee.
1843. David McShee. J. S. Foster, Jarrot Dugger.
1844. David McShee, J. S. Foster, Jarrot Dugger.
1845. Jarrot Dugger, David McShee, John M. Hilyard.
1836, 1838 .
Joseph Borough.
1867,1869
. John M. Woodson.
1840-1846
John Harris.
1871
. Charles Voris.
1853, 1855
. John M. Palmer.
1873, 1875
. Beatty T. Burke.
1857
Linus E. Worcester.
1877, 1879
. George W. Herdman.
REPRESENTATIVES.
Date.
Name.
Date.
Name.
1830
. George Churchill.
1865
. S. Gobble.
1832
. Joseph Borough.
1867
. W. C. Shirley. .
1854. Geo. A. W. Cloud and George Judd.
1834-1838
. John Harris.
1869
. B. T. Burke.
1840
. F. A. Olds.
1871
. Geo. A. W. Cloud.
1842
. Sargent Gobble.
. William McAdams.
1865. T. L. Loomis, John Yowell, and Isham J. Peebles.
1869. Phelander C. Huggins, Andrew A. Atkins, and Martin Olmstead.
1873. Lewis P. Peebles.
1877. Lewis P. Peebles. Present incumbent.
1846
. H. V. A. Tappan.
1875
. O. P. Powell.
1849
. F. A. Olds.
. H. F. Martin.
1851
B. T. Burke.
. Richard Rowell.
1853
L. Solomon.
1877
. H., W. Wall.
1855
. George H. Holliday.
. John N. English.
1857
B. T. Burke.
. H. W. Wall.
1859
W. C. Shirley.
1879
. J. N. English.
1861
. James T. Pennington.
. George E. Warren.
- --
The foregoing are the names of the men who represented Macoupin County, or the District including said County.
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
The first board of County Commissioners .- Theodorus Davis, William Wilcox, Seth - Hodges, elected in 1829.
The second board of County Commissioners -Lewis Solomon, Roger Snell, Samuel Lair, elected in 1832.
The third board of County Commssioners .- Samuel Lair, Ezekiel Ross, Jesse Rhoads, elected in 1834.
The fourth board of County Commissioners .- Ezekiel Ross, Jesse Rhoads, Thos. Corr elected in 1836.
The fifth board of County Commissioners .-
A list of the members of the General Assembly from MACOUPIN County since the organization of the County, 1829:
SENATORS.
Date.
Name.
Date.
Name.
1830
Thomas Carlin,
| 1859, 1861
. A. L. Knapp.
1832, 1834
Larkin Craig.
1863, 1865
. H. M. Vandeveer.
1846. David McShee, John M. Hilyard, Bird Peebles,
1849, 1851
Franklin Witt.
1848. John M. Hilyard, David McShee, Bird Peebles.
1849. Bird Peebles, David McShee, John M. Hilyard.
COUNTY JUDGES.
1849. John M. Palmer, James Breden. and G. A. W. C'loud. June 1852. Wm. Weer and Geo. A. W. Cloud. November 1852. Samuel S. Gilbert and James Breden.
1856. S. S. Gilbert, Geo. A. W. Cloud, and George Judd.
1857. L. Solomon, T. B. Rice, and G. A. W. Cloud.
1861. Thaddeus L. Loomis, G. A. W. Cloud, and Thos. B. Rice.
1844
John T. Wood.
. A. L. Virden.
. Thomas Hart.
. S. S. Gilbert.
PROBATE JUDGES.
J. P. Smith, appointed in 1831; P. W. Winchester, elected in 1832; Chas. Stover, elected in 1837 ; Thomas Jayne, elected in 1839; John M. Palmer, elected in 1843; Seborne Gillmore, elected in 1847; John M. Palmer, elected in 1848; Wm. Weer, Jr., elected in 1851; S. S. Gilbert, elected in 1853; Lewis Solomon, elected in 1857; T. L. Loomis, elected in 1861, re-elected in 1865; P. C. Huggins, elected in 1809; Lewis P. Peebles, elected in 1873; Lewis P. Peebles, re-elected in 1877, and is the present incum- bent. Since the county went under township organization the probate judge also per- forms the duties of county judge.
MASTERS IN CHANCERY.
Jolin W. Bainbridge, appointed in 1843; A. McKim Dubois, appointed in 1845; Samuel S. Gilbert, appointed in 1857 ; Charles A. Walker, appointed in 1861; Samuel S. Gilbert, re-appointed 1870 ; John I Rinaker, appointed Dec. 21st, 1876, and is the present incumbent.
Digitized by
Corn.
Whe
Oats.
Rye.
Irish Potatoes.
Sweet Potatoes.
Apples.
Peaches.
Pears.
Tobacco.
Molasses.
Wine.
Pasture.
Wool.
Butter.
No. of
No. of
No. of
No, of
Hogs and Pigs
Cahokia
69.385
59,629
27,917 310
1803
2,318
3,942
57
9,517
547,740 465
1,586 160
828
2.418
4,691
66 6,527
86 4,942
375 164
14 1.251
657
309
1.257
93
549
South Palmyra
65.585
25,211
5,790
107
1,056 139
5
1,298
1,891
439
3,543
10 8.315
7,169
151
755
625 169
1,488
Staunton
44,144
58,004
39,848 415
2402 160
16.960 451
Shipman
73,768
63,750
20,276
5 1643
2,032
82 8,099
9,590 597
1,910 128
1,470 65
191
Scottville ..
96,655
19,325
4,158 393
South Otter ..
129,613
45,511
20.818 297
1,133 112 1,444
200 200
5,109
20 2.478
177
1,360
1,562
604
2,71)
989
4.230
. Robert W. Glass.
John Scott.
1873
. Jonathan Plowman.
1863
. Charles A. Walker.
-
1841. David MeShee, A. S. Opdyke, S. Gilmore.
Lewis Solomon.
1847. John M. Hilyard, Bird Peebles, David McShee.
917
1,521
33:
58
5
. J. N. McMillan.
Killed by Ings.
51
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
CLERKS OF COUNTY COURT.
T. P. Hoxey, appointed in 1829, served until 1837. John Wilson, elected in 1837, (removed the same year). A. McKim Dubois, elected (pro tem.) in 1837. J. A. Chestnut, elected in 1838, and served by re-election, until 1851. Enoch Wall, elected in 1851, and served until 1858. George H. Holliday, elected in 1858, and served until 1869. Thos. M. Metcalf, elected. in 1869, and re-elected in 1873. C. Westermier, jun., elected in 1877, and is the present incumbent.
CLERKS OF CIRCUIT COURT.
Tristram P. Hoxey, elected in 1829, served until 1841. A. McKim Dubois, elected in 1841, re-elected in 1843, re-elected in 1845, and served until 1860. A. S. Mayfield, elected in 1860, re-elected in 1864, (died in office), term served out by M. Mayfield. Hy. W. Burton, elected in 1868, re-elected in 1872. Geo. R. Hughes, elected in 1876, and present in- cumbent.
SHERIFFS OF THE COUNTY.
John Harris, appointed in 1829, served until 1834. Jefferson Weather- ford, elected in 1834, and re-elected in 1835 and 1836. B. T. Burke, elected in 1838, and filled the office by re-election until the year 1851. Wm. M. Snow, elected in 1851. J. L. Plain, elected in 1854. M. McClure, elected in 1856. J. L. Plain, elected in 1858. M. N. Wills, elected in 1860. H. Tappan, elected in 1862. M. N. Wills, elected in 1864. Joseph B. Liston, elected in 1866. S. B. Wilcox, in 1868. Wm. H. Fishback, elected in 1870, died in office, term served out by Peter Schaffer, coro- ner. James T. Pennington, elected in 1872, and re-elected in 1874. Isaac Heaton, elected in 1876. John F. Sunderland, elected in 1878, and is the present incumbent.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
Wm. G. Coop, appointed in 1829. Wm. G. Coop, elected in 1830. Henry H. Havron, elected in 1831. Travis Moore, elected in 1832. Archer B. Beauchamp, elected in 1832. Travis Moore, elected in 1833. John Lewis, elected in 1834, and filled the office by re-election until 1839. James MeLarning, elected in 1839, and served until 1847. Thos. P. Ross, elected in 1847. Wm. M. Maddox, elected in 1850. L. F. Palmer, elected in 1850, re-elected in 1851, and re-elected in 1853. Wm. M. Snow, elected in 1853, re-elected in 1854. Thos. Hart, elected in 1854, re-elected in 1855. Mark Crowder, elected in 1855. Dempsey Sawyer, elected in 1857, re-elected in 1859, and served until 1865. Mr. Steward was elected in 1865, re-elected in 1867. Randolph J. Haley, elected in 1869. John W. Ayers elected in 1871. John W. Wills, elected in 1873. Lucius B. Corbin, elected in 1875. Zachariah Harris, elected in 1877, and present incumbent.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
Philip Deatherage, appointed in 1829, (died the same year). Ezekiel Good, appointed in 1829, and served until 1837. Benjamin V. Stephenson, elected in 1837, and re-elected in 1839. Isaac Whitaker, elected in 1841, and served until 1851. Geo. H. Holliday, elected in 1851. F. H. Chap- man, elected in 1853, and by re-election, held the office until 1859. Thomas R. McKee, elected in 1859. A. W. Edwards, elected in 1861. G. W. Farrar, elected in 1863. T. G. Capps, elected in 1865. James Woodul, elected in 1867. E. C. Winchester, elected in 1869, and by re-election held the office until 1875. Jacob R. Muhleman, elected in 1875, and is the pre- sent incumbent.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
William Miller, appointed in 1833, and served until 1839. Daniel An- derson, elected in 1839, and served until 1846. Enoch Wall, elected in 1846. G. W. Wallace, elected in 1847. Wm. Weer, elected in 1849. George B. Hicks, elected in 1851, re-elected in 1853. Lewis Judd, elected in 1855, re-elected in 1857. Horace Givin, elected in 1859. Chas. E. Foote, elected in 1861, re-elected in 1863, and served until 1869. Fletcher H. Chapman, elected in 1869. John S. Kenyon, elected in 1873. F. W. Crouch, elected in 1877, and is the present incumbent.
CORONERS.
David Coop, Sen., elected in 1829. Robert Wallace elected in 1832, re- elected in 1834, and re-elected in 1836. Wm. S. Raymond elected in 1840.
Wm. S. Dugger elected in 1842; re-elected in 1843. Josiah Boroughs elected in 1844. Wm. S. Dugger elected in 1846. John Graham elected in 1847 ; re-elected in 1848. Josiah Boroughs elected in 1853. Wm. F. Dugger elected in 1856. Wm. B. Brink elected in 1856. Mr. McDaniel elected in 1858. J. D. Kerr elected in 1860; re-elected in 1862. Mr. Wright elected in 1864. John Cromwell elected in 1866. M. R. Judd elected in 1868. Chas. A. Herb elected in 1870. Peter Schaffer elected in 1871 (pro tem). David Deeds elected in 1872. Peter Heinz elected in 1874. Andrew Rath- geber elected in 1876. Jas. S. Duncan elected in 1878, and present incumbent.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
After the adoption of the constitution in 1848, the legislature of 1849 passed an act to provide for township organization. Previously to the pas- sage of this act, township organization in this state was unknown. A new law relating to this subject was enacted in 1851, and the law of 1849 was repealed. In 1870 the people of Macoupin county, by a decided majority, adopted this form of government, which has since been adhered to.
At the December term, 1870, the county court appointed John I. Rina- ker, E. H. Davis and John P. Henderson, commissioners to divide the county of Macoupin into towns agreeably to the statute to provide for township organization. We quote the following from the records :
" Carlinville, Ill., Jan. 25th, 1871.
" At a meeting of the Board of Commissioners appointed by the county court of Macoupin county, state of Illinois, at the December term, A. D. 1870, of said court, to divide said county into townships, and name the same, under the township organization laws of the state of Illinois, held at the court-house in Carlinville on this day, in pursuance of agreement, the board organized by the appointment of John I. Rinaker as Chairman and John P. Henderson secretary.
"The said board, as such commissioners, proceeded to divide the county into towns, making as many towns as there are townships according to government survey, there being twenty-four in number. The board not being fully advised in regard to the wishes of the people in the several towns or some of them, in regard to names for the said towns, and wishing to further consult the wishes of the people, it was moved and carried that the board adjourn to meet again on Thursday, Feb. 2, 1871, at the county clerk's office in Carlinville, Macoupin county, Ill.
" JOHN I. RINAKER, Chairman Board Commiss'rs. "JOHN P. HENDERSON, Secretary Board.
" Carlinville, Macoupin Co., Ill., Feb. 23d, 1871.
"The board met pursuant to adjournment, present John I. Rinaker, E. H. Davis and John P. Henderson. After due consideration of reports from different parts of the county, the board proceeded to make changes in the names of towns in accordance with the expressed will of the people, and agreed and finally adopted the names as set forth in the report this day agreed upon and filed with the county clerk, which report was duly signed by the several commissioners, and the board adjourned.
"JOHN I. RINAKER, Chairman.
"JOHN P. HENDERSON, Secretary Board.
The next year township 12 N., R. 6 W., was divided into two townships, namely Virden and Girard, so that the number of townships is now twenty- five.
CONCLUSION.
Thus much has been written of the civil annals of Macoupin county. Its history includes but half a century. Men and women, in full vigor of intel- lect and enjoyment of health still dwell in our midst, who were here at its organization. Its growth from the first has been steady, and the change wrought marvellous. Beginning with its birth, just fifty years ago, we have followed its upward career until the present (1879). We have made men- tion of those who assisted at its formation, and have since been honorably connected with its history. We have seen it grow from the feebleness of infancy to the strength of manhood, from littleness to greatness, from great poverty to abundant wealth. We have seen its population increase from 1,500 to more than 40,000 souls.
Remarkable also have been the events and revolutions, the discoveries
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
and inventions, that have occurred and been made on this earth of ours, since Macoupin had its birth. Scott and Taylor, Grant and Sherman, have been placed among the great captains of history; Tennyson and Browning, Bryant and Longfellow, Whittier and Lowell, have sung; Irving and Haw- thorn, and Thackeray and Dickens have won a place among the masters of English; the "god-like" matchless Webster, the impassioned and eloquent Clay, the powerful and metaphysical Calhoun, have shed new luster upon their country and their race, and sunk into the bosom of the grave; Agassiz and Darwin and Huxley, and Faraday and a host of coadjutors have extended the circle of the sciences; Bancroft and Prescott, Hildreth and Motley, and Froude have won high rank among the historians of earth ; Spurgeon and Punshon, and Beecher and Moody, have enforced the duties of morality and religion with a force and eloquence not inferior to that of a Massillon, a Bossuet or a Taylor; Stuart Mill, has arisen as a bright star upon the hori- zon of philosophy, and Thomas Carlyle upon that of history and philosophy ; and Abraham Lincoln, of our own Illinois, has been crowned saviour of his country and benefactor of mankind; Morse, the American scientist, has discovered how to send that subtle agent, electricity, on its lightning pinions to do the bidding of man, and the ocean cable has been laid by Field along "the slimy bottom of the deep;" McCormack has given to the wheat-grow- ing belt the reaper, and the voice of Stephenson's locomotive has been first heard in the land; Howe has been distinguished by the public as the inventor of the sewing machine, and the Atlantic and Pacific have been joined by iron bands; Mexico has been conquered and a magnificent domain wrested from her added to our western border, and Alaska has been purchased of Russia; the center of population has traveled nearly three hundred miles westward along the thirty-ninth parallel, and the population of our country increased until it numbers more than 40,000,000; St. Louis has from a small city grown to one of more than 500,000 inhabitants, while upon the shore of Lake Michigan, there has arisen as if through enchantment, a noble city which wears the proud title of "Queen of the West and North ;" gold has been discovered in the far west, and great states have there been organized; and finally, the shackles have been struck from the limbs of the slave, and the great war for the Union has been fought and won.
Mighty, indeed, have been the changes of the last fifty years throughout the world and in this county. Gone is the frail wigwam of the Indians, and the rude cabin of the pioneer; gone are log court-house and jail, and in their stead are costly and imposing edifices. The game has vanished that brought hither the savage, and furnished wholesome meat for the family of the hardy settler. In all material things there has been great advancement, and we would fain believe, progress also in morality. What is in store for us in the future no man can say.
" The wide, the unbounded prospect lies before us, But shadows, clouds and darkness rest upon it."
CHAPTER X. THE BENCH AND BAR.
THE BENCH.
HE first judge of this circuit was Samuel D. Lockwood of the supreme bench. Until 1835 the judges of the supreme court were required to perform circuit duty. At that time a law was passed severing the duties of supreme and circuit judges. Judge Lockwood presided until the change was made, with the exception of the years 1830 and 1831, when Theophilus W. Smith-also of the supreme bench -at Lockwood's request, sat in his stead. When the old system was re-estab- lished, in 1840, Judge Lockwood came back to the circuit and remained until the adoption of the new constitution in 1848. This distinguished man came to Illinois at an early day, and was a prominent actor in its history for many years. He was a man of stainless purity, and the peer as a jurist of the ablest of his associates on the bench.
Stephen T. Logan, of Springfield, one of the brightest legal intellects in the west, and who won a national reputation, in law and politics, by the legislature, was elected judge of the First Judicial District, which included Macoupin county. In 1836, Thomas Ford, afterward governor, presided
here at the request of Logan, who early in 1837 resigned. Governcr Dun can appointed William Brown, of Jacksonville, judge pro tem.
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