History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 22

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150


USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens > Part 22


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And hundred eyes and hearts watch by The soldier's sepulchre.


Rest on, embalmed and sainted dead, Dear as the blood ye gave! No impious footsteps here shall tread The herbage of your grave, Nor shall your glory be forgot, While fame her record keeps,


Or honor points the hallowed spot Where valor proudly sleeps.


Yon faithful herald's blazoned stone With mournful pride shall tell,


When many a vanquished age has flown, The story how ye fell!


Nor wreck, nor change, nor winter's flight, Nor time's remorseless doom,


Shall mar one ray of glory's light That gllds your deathless tomb.


Jacob Rutishamer died at Columbus, Ken- tucky, April 4, 1862.


James E. Saddler died July 4, 1863. Thomas L. Holliday was killed at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862.


Henry C. Calvin was mortally wounded No- vember 11, 1863.


George Davis died at Trenton, Tennessee, August 16, 1862.


Jacob Oertel was killed at Holly Springs, December 20, 1862.


Edward Curtis was killed at Sabine, Louisi- ana, April 8, 1864.


John H. Kinkade died at Carrollton, Louisi- ana, August 22, 1863.


Aaron Markham, a veteran, died at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.


Enoch Nelson died at Louisville, Kentucky, September 29, 1865.


Alexander L. Corporal was killed at Bird's Point, Missouri, January 10, 1862.


Daniel Lair was killed at Bird's Point Janu- ary 10, 1862.


Christian Myers was killed at Bird's Point. Missouri, January 10, 1862.


Samuel S. Schall died of wounds at Oxford, Mississippi, December 7, 1862.


William B. Park died at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, July 14, 1863.


Benjamin F. Pyle died at LaGrange, Ten- nessee, February 15, 1863.


Henry Thompson died at Memphis, Tennes- see, May 5, 1864.


George W. Culkins was drowned at Clear creek while scouting.


George C. Gates was killed January 18, 1862, at Bethel, Tennessee.


Ephraim Mckinney died in the service at Memphis, Tennessee.


Philip Schenck died at St. Louis, Missouri, August 1, 1862.


John Jackson died at St. Louis, Missouri June 18, 1862.


John M. Titus died at Vicksburg, July 26, 1864.


Daniel F. Giles died at Napoleonville, Louis- iana.


Theodore Mitchell died August 2, 1864, at at Napoleonville, Louisiana. James Beard died at wounds at Vandalia.


196


HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.


Commissary Sergeant James C. Canfield died at Richmond, Virginia, March 5, 1864, while a prisoner of war.


Thomas Able died in Andersonville prison July 1, 1864; number of grave, 2,415.


Henry H. Bellew died while a prisoner of war, March 1, 1864, at Richmond, Vir- ginia.


Captain Eben White died of wounds May 18, 1865.


George L. Hainline, a veteran, was killed at Bentonville, March 20, 1865.


Harrison H. Hampton died while in the service.


Henry Hart died June 2, 1862.


Edwin D. Kelly, a veteran, was killed at Jonesboro, Georgia, September 7, 1864. .


Cyrus Lane, a veteran, missing since the battle of Bentonville.


Orren Sperry, a veteran, died May 31, 1864. Charles Waters, a veteran, died of wounds, April 24, 1865.


John H. Crowl was killed at Bentonville, March 20, 1865.


George F. Hastings died from wounds, April 21. 1865.


Captain David P. Wells died April 7, 1862. Corporal James M. Eyre died September 19, 1862.


Corporal . William Powers died October 15, 1862.


Sylvester Yocum died May 4, 1862.


William C. Green, a veteran, was killed at · Resaca, Georgia, May 15, 1864.


Isaac Toland, a veteran, died April 12, 1865. First Lieutenant James Donaldson was killed July 17, 1864.


Benjamin Hendricks died March 1, 1862.


John Smithwait died January 7, 1862. Jacob Newell died March 7, 1864.


William Murry died October 31, 1861.


James D. Ervin died at Little Rock, May 9, 1865.


David H. Messick died at Memphis April 10, 1865.


William H. Woods died at Camp Butler March 24, 1865.


William P. Brown died at Colmar, Illinois.


Second Lieutenant Andrew W. McGoughy was killed July 10, 1864.


Sergeant Robert Pearson was killed at Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6, 1862.


Corporal Joseph Gill was killed at Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6, 1862.


Thomas Faulkner was killed at Jackson, Mississippi, July 12, 1862.


Josiah Gill died at Natchez, Mississippi, September 1, 1863.


William H. Matheny, a veteran, died at Natchez, Mississippi, March 10, 1864.


Albert Milligan was killed at the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862.


Seymore Nichols died of wounds received at Hatchie October 15, 1863.


Henry W. Penrose died at Memphis, Ten- nessee, August 5, 1862.


Solomon R. Shepherd was killed at Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6. 1862.


George H. Teas was killed at Shiloh, Ten- nessee, April 6, 1862.


William Twitchell has been missing since the battle of Shiloh, Tennessee.


Corporal James H. Welch was killed at Shi- loh, Tennessee, April 6, 1862.


Francis L. Warren died at Pittsburg Land- ing, April 15, 1862.


James L. Carter died at Brownsville, Texas, November 25, 1865.


Joseph C. Plotts died at Fort Holt, Kentucky, November 22, 1862.


James R. Davis died at Brownsville, Texas, August 30, 1865.


Martin Phillips died November 6, 1865, at Brownsville, Texas.


First Sergeant James M. Shreeves died at Vicksburg, August 19, 1863.


Corporal David M. Cranbaugh, a veteran, died of wounds, April 14, 1865.


George Bane was killed while on picket duty, July 14, 1863.


George W. Fowraker died at Walnut Hills, Mississippi, June 28, 1863.


Robert M. Fugate died at Memphis, Tennes- see, January 14, 1864.


Oliver J. Hoyt was killed at Vicksburg, Mis- sissippi, May 19, 1863.


.


197


HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.


Jesse N. Inman, died at Memphis, Tennes- see, September 27, 1862.


Joseph B. Medaris died at Bushnell, Illinois, May 2, 1864.


Matthew McComb died at Bridgeport, Illi- nois, December 25, 1865.


Joseph P. Putnam, a veteran, was mortally wounded at Kenesaw mountain and left on the field June 27, 1864.


William Snapp died at Camp Sherman, Mississippi, August 29, 1863.


Sergeant H. H. Weaver died at St. Louis April 8, 1863.


Corporal James B. Murphy was killed at . Walnut Hills, June 25, 1863.


Corporal William J. Eckley, a veteran, died of wounds August 15, 1864.


George W. Eckley died at Camp Sherman, Mississippi, August 8, 1863.


John Sexton died at Camp Sherman, Mis- sissippi, August 31, 1863.


George Hanks died at Corinth, Tennessee, December 24, 1862.


Corporal William A. Bluine was killed at Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862.


Christ Brinay died of wounds July 29, 1864.


James Cocliran,a veteran, was killed at Nash- ville, Tennessee, December 16, 1864.


Abraham G. Chute died at Springfield, Mis- souri, November 6, 1861.


William H. Emeil was killed at Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862.


William H. Jarvis was killed at. Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862.


Nathan Loge died at Iuka, Mississippi, Aug- ust 9, 1862.


Thomas Lawyer was killed at Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862.


William Loftis died at Mound City, Illinois, August 6, 1863.


John M. Mourning died at Lebanon, Mis- souri, February 10, 1863.


James Murphy died of wounds March 18, 1862.


George E. Norman was killed at Rocky Face Ridge May 11, 1864. Jolrıı W. Seward died October 22, 1863.


Sergeant William Nelson died of wounds December 1, 1863.


James H. Sheets was killed at Stone River December 31, 1862.


Henry Torhouse, a veteran, died December 16, 1864.


George W. Ramsey died at Jackson, Tennes- see, September 8, 1862.


Corporal Andrew Kellough was killed near Corinth May 8, 1862.


William R. Jacobs died at Glendale, Missis- sippi, October 1, 1863.


James Lyons died at his home in Bardolph July 28, 1862.


Samuel B. Stokes died at Decatur, Alabama, May 15, 1864.


Charles F. Winslow was killed near Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864,


Jonathan Haynes died at St. Louis, Missouri, July 3, 1862.


William Fair died at Roanoke, Sonth Caro- lina, March 31, 1865.


William Kirkpatrick died while in the ser- vice.


Lieutenant Garrett J. D. Jarvis was killed at Fort Blakeley, April 9, 1865.


Harmon F. Morris died at Paducah, October 9, 1862.


John Myers died at Yazoo Pass, March 16, 1863.


Peter Peters died at Selma, Alabama, July 26,1865.


.


John W. Royce died at Columbus, Kentucky, October 21, 1863.


Patrick Brannan was killed at Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1864.


Colonel Carter Van Vleck died August 23, 1864, of wounds received at Atlanta, Georgia.


Major William L. Broaddus was killed, Sep- tember 20, 1863.


Martin V. Fugate waskilled at Chickamauga September 20, 1863.


Samuel H. Fugate died at Resaca, Georgia, May 17, 1864, from wounds.


Lebeus Allhouse died at Richmond, Virginia, February 14, 1864, while a prisoner. of war.


198


HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.


Solomon Toland was killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.


Richard W. Scott died of wounds Septem- ber 2, 1864.


Second Lieutenant John E. James was killed in battle June 27, 1864.


Marshall C. Kline was killed at Atlanta, Georgia, August 7, 1864.


George W. Dowell died at Nashville, Ten- nessee, October 29, 1863.


John Forrest was killed at Jonesboro, Ga., September 1, 1864.


William W. Harmon died at Savannah, Feb- ruary 21, 1865.


John W. James was killed at Jonesboro, Georgia, September 1, 1864.


Thomas Lindsey died at Chattanooga June 25, 1864.


Jacob H. Michaels was killed at Kenesaw Mountain June 27, 1864.


Sergeant Michael Mealey was killed at At- lanta, Georgia, September 4, 1864.


Charles H. Magie died at Nashville, Tennes- see, August 19, 1863.


John Monahan died at Chattanooga, April 3, 1864.


Charles L. Norris died November 6, 1864, at Chattanooga.


John W. Rush was killed at Jonesboro, Georgia, September 1, 1864.


Sylvester Riddell died at Nashville, Tennes- see, December 30, 1853.


Cyril Tyft was killed at Jonesboro, Georgia. September 1, 1864.


Richard L. Terry died of wounds, in the ser- vice.


Richard C. Allen died at Andersonville prison, May 28, 1864.


Albert C. Bennett died at Boston, Kentucky, November 12, 1862.


William H. Bowman died November 26, 1863, of wounds.


Christopher Brown died at Richmond, Vir- ginia, January 23, 1864, while a prisoner of war.


Simeon Craig died at Andersonville prison September 22, 1864; number of grave, 9,307.


First Sergeant Jerome J. Clark died of wounds April 30, 1865.


George H. David died of wounds October 2, 1863.


Hugh H. Doran died in Andersonville prison May 28, 1864.


Benjamin F. Lane was killed at Chickamauga September 20, 1863.


Parmenium Hamilton died of wounds Octo- ber 15, 1863.


Moses A. McCandless was killed near Griggsville, Tennessee, November 26, 1864.


Francis M. Stewart died at Andersonville prison August 20, 1864; number of grave 6,292.


Thomas J. Vail died at Nashville, Tennessee, July 3, 1863.


William Weaver died of wounds September 6, 1864.


John R. Carroll died in Andersonville prison, August 24, 1863.


Samuel F. Gibson died in Andersonville prison, July 29, 1864.


Sergeant Thomas M. Whitehead died at Gal- latin, Tennessee, December 11, 1862.


Corporal Quincy A. Roberts was killed at Rocky Face Ridge, May 9, 1863.


Corporal Thomas J. Stearns died at Nash- ville, Tennessee, February 14, 1863.


Samuel Blair died at Louisville, Kentucky, October 26, 1863.


Silas E. Brotherton died at Lookout Moun- 1 tain, Tennessee' August 7, 1864.


John Baker died of wounds September 21, 1863.


Milton Clark died at Nashville, Tennessee, December 25, 1862.


George W. Casto died at Chickamauga Sep- tember 21, 1863.


John Driscoll died at Somerset, Kentucky, November 27, 1862.


Frank Gadd died of wounds, January 20, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee.


Francis M. Holliday was killed near Dallas, Georgia, May 30, 1864.


Edward O'Bryan was killed at Rocky Face Ridge May 9, 1864.


199


HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.


George Parks died of wounds at Nashville, Tennessee, February 13, 1863.


George R. Vorhees died April 13, 1862.


Abel H. Willis died at Andersonville prison March 15, 1865.


James P. McCamenout died September 1, 1862.


George W. Willis died at Chattanooga, Oc- tober 13, 1863.


Corporal Richard H. Mcclintock was killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863.


Corporal David G. Harland died of wounds, January 3, 1863.


Augustus Miles was killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863.


Coleman Mitchell died of wounds, April 3, 1863.


Samuel Walker died of wounds, October 24, 1863.


John A. Greer died June 9, 1865.


Sergeant George T. Yocum was killed at Stone river, December 31, 1862.


Sergeant John A. Eyre died at Macomb, Jan_ uary 16, 1864.


Corporal William J. Hensley died at Bowling Green, Kentucky, December 29, 1862.


Corporal Edward S. Piper died at Manches- ter, July 18, 1863.


Corporal Nathan A. Miller died at Murfrees- boro, Tennessee, May 22, 1864.


Joseph T. Adcock died at Murfreesboro, Ten- nessee, January 6, 1863.


Francis Brooks died at Louisville, Kentucky, November 23, 1862.


David Brown died at Danville, Kentucky, December 10, 1862.


Jackson V. Ferguson died at Benton Bar- racks, Missouri, February 10, 1863.


Allen A. Herndon died at Nashville Febru- ary 20, 1862.


Alexander McQuestion died at Nashville, February 7, 1863.


Abraham Purdam died of wounds at Nash- ville, February 15, 1863.


Richard W. Pennington was killed at Stone river, December 31, 1862.


John H. Rollins died at Nashville, Tennes- see, January 2, 1863.


Josiah Swigart died in McDonough county, Illinois, June 9, 1864.


William H. Simmons died at Bowling Green, Kentucky, November 23, 1862.


Edward Smith died of wounds September 22, 1863.


Henry Vanmeter died at Dallas, Georgia, June 1, 1864.


Abraham W. Willis died at Louisvilie, Kentucky, December 6, 1862.


William H. Winslow died at Nashville, Tennessee, December 31, 1862.


Corporal Eli Elwell was killed at Stone river December 31, 1862.


Corporal James H. Kennie died of wounds at Chattanooga, October 20, 1863.


Vachel Benson was killed at Stone river, De- cember 31, 1862.


Christopher Enders was killed at Stone river, January 23, 1863.


Allen Graves died at Murfreesboro, Tennes- see, January 23, 1863.


George W. Kerr died at Quincy, Illinois, Feb- ruary 11, 1864.


Sergeant Thomas Campbell died at Cowan station, Tennessee, July 27, 1863.


David P. Peterman died of wounds at At- lanta, Georgia, July 23, 1864.


Artemus Myers was killed at Kenesaw moun- tain, June 27, 1864.


Henry C. Martin died on steamer Di. Vernon, January 18, 1863.


James T. Burham died August 20, 1865.


Sergeant Robert T. Carter died at Vicksburg, Mississippi, August 13, 1864.


John Covert died at Jefferson Barracks, Mis- souri, August 24, 1864.


Benjamin Duncan died at Memphis, Tennes- see, August 5, 1864.


Frederick Falch died at Mound City, Illi- nois, December 30, 1862.


Benjamin Frankenburg died of wounds at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, December 13, 1864.


Alpheus M. Gibson died at Quincy, Illinois, December 14, 1864.


Wilson L. McKennelly died at Memphis July 20, 1864.


200


HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.


William H. Couch, of wounds, March 30, 1863. .


John Ittle died in the insane asylum at Washington, D. C., October 1, 1863.


Sergeant John Bechtel died at Lake Provi- dence, Louisiana, March 21, 1863.


Thomas Bredbent died of wounds May 16, 1863.


Abner Barrett died at Keokuk, Iowa, Octo- ber 24. 1863.


John Bainbridge died at Memphis, Tennes- see, January 28, 1863.


William H. Boyd died at Jackson, Tennes- see, November 15, 1862.


Simon Calbert died at Memphis, Tennessee, July 24, 1863.


Job Gartside died at St. Louis, Missouri, No- vember 1, 1864.


George Hall died at Jackson, Tennessee, Oc- tober 30, 1862.


Benjamin Bugg died at Memphis, Tennessee, February 17, 1863.


Henry T. Forrest was killed at Champion Hills, Mississippi, May 16, 1863.


Nathaniel M. Guy died at Vicksburg, Mis- sissippi, July 8, 1863.


Jasper Kennett died at Memphis, Tennessee, February 11, 1863.


William C. Morris died at Oxford, Missis- sippi, December 16, 1862.


Flavius J. Sypherd died at home, December 27, 1864.


Isaac N. Stodgill died after having been dis charged on account of disability.


George P. Hezlip died of wounds, July 13, 1863.


Amos B. Johnson died at Quincy, Illinois, April 27, 1865.


Surgeon William A. Huston died at Mem- ·phis, Tennessee, June 25, 1864.


Edward S. Brooking was killed while a pris- oner near Memphis, Tennessee.


Henry P. Nichols died at home, December 2, 1864.


Samuel Sheley died at Memphis, September 1, 1864.


Christopher P. Stantial was killed at Mem- phis, Tennessee, August 21, 1864.


John H. Lowell died at home, May 26, 1865.


Henry H. Harris died at Memphis, Tennes- see, September 1, 1864.


Lieutenant Lester W. Porter was killed at Memphis, Tennessee, August 21, 1864.


Corporal Thomas R. Ritenour, died at Co- lumbus, Georgia, September 16, 1865.


Joseph Johnson died at Dalton, Georgia, May, 1865.


Avery Hall died at Nashville, March 7, 1865. David Stolcup died of wounds at Chatta- nooga.


John Clarrey died at St. Louis.


Matthew Begg, a United States veteran, died at Cairo, Illinois, October 13, 1863.


CHAPTER X.


COUNTY GOVERNMENT.


In December, 1818, when the state of Illinois was admitted into the union, as one of the great sovereign states, the territory now known as McDonough


county, was a part of Madison county, and remained so until 1821, in which year, by an act of the legislature, ap- proved on the 20th of June, it was made


.


201


HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.


a part of Pike county. On the 10th of ' February, an act of the same body was approved whereby its present boundaries were defined, and it was attached to the county of Schuyler, for judicial, election and recording purposes. It remained thus until in the summer of 1830, when it being thought that there were enough inhabitants to justify a seperate organi- zation, a petition signed by a majority of the legal voters of the county, was pre- sented to Hon. Richard M. Young, at that time judge of the Fifth judicial dis- trict, and holding court at Rushville, Schuyler county. This was /upon the 14th day of June. The petition went on to state, that McDonough county had the requisite number of inhabitants des- ignated by the legislature for the legal organization of counties, and praying for the necessary authority so to do. There- upon, on the same day, Judge Young issued an order, of which the following is a verbatim copy:


STATE OF ILLINOIS, MCDONOUGH COUNTY . Sct.


To the People of the State of Illinois, to all who shall see these presents, greeting :


WHEREAS, By the said ninth and eleventh sections of the act entitled "An act forming new counties out of the counties of Pike and Fulton, and the attached parts thereof," ap- proved January 13, 1825, it is made the duty of the presiding judge of the Fifth judicial circuit of the state of Illinois, whenever it shall be made to appear to his satisfaction that either of the counties of Hancock, War- ren, Mercer, Henry, Putnam or Knox con- tains three hundred and fifty inhabitants, to proceed to organize the same, and to grant an order for the election of county officers preparatory thereto; and


WHEREAS, By virtue of an act entitled "An act supplementary to an act entitled 'An act


forming new counties out of the counties of Pike and Fulton, and the attached parts thereof,' " approved January 25, 1826, a new county was created, to be called the county of McDonough, with the express provision therein contained that the inhabitants of the said county of McDonough should enjoy and possess all the rights and privileges granted to the inhabitants of the several counties created by the first recited act, and to which the said last mentioned act is a supplement; and


WHEREAS, It has been made to appear to my satisfaction that the said county of Mc- Donough contains three hundred and fifty inhabitants and upwards, and inasmuch as the greater part of the qualified voters of said county have requested, by petition, that the same should be organized with as little delay as possible, I do therefore,in pursuance of the power invested in me by virtue of the provisions contained in the above recited acts, order and direct that an election in and for the said county of McDonough, at the house of Elias McFadden, in said county, on Saturday, the third day of July next, for the election of three county commissioners, one sheriff, and one coronel, to serve, when elected and qualified, in and for the said county of McDonough, respectively, until they shall be superseded by the persons who may be elected at tlie general election, to be held on the first Monday in August next ensuing the date hereof; and for the purpose of having this order carried into execution, I do hereby appoint Ephraim Perkins, Wil- liam McDonald and John Rogers, Esquires, of said county, judges of said election, whose duty it shall be to set up written or printed advertisements or notices of said election in at least six of the most public places in said county, inclusive of the place at which the said election is hereby directed to be held, having due regard to the situation and popu- lation of the different settlements, at least ten days immediately preceding the said election, to the end that all persons con- cerned may have timely notice thereof, the


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202


HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.


election to be viva voce, between the hours of 10 o'clock in the morning and 7 o'clock in the afternoon of said day, and conducted in all respects, as near as may be practicable, in conformity with the act entitled "An act regulating elections," approved January 10, 1829; and, lastly, the said judges are to cer- tify the result of the said election to the office of the secretary of state as soon thereafter as may be convenient, in order that the persons who may be elected and entitled to commis- sions may be commissioned and qualify with as little delay as possible, and after the said election of the said county officers shall liave taken place in pursuance of this order, I do hereby declare the said county of McDonough to be organized and entitled to the same rights and privileges as the other counties in this state.


Given under my hand and seal, at Rush- ville, tliis 14th day of June, A. D., 1830, and of the independence of the United States the fifty-fourth.


RICHARD M. YOUNG,


"Circuit Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois.


Accompanying this document was the following letter, which is of historical importance enough to make an apology for its insertion here needless:


RUSHVILLE, SCHUYLER COUNTY, ILL., June 14, 1830.


Gentlemen :-


Enclosed you will find an order for the election of county officers in the county of McDonough, preparatory to the organization thereof, according to request of citizens of that county. I have appointed you judges of election, as you will see by reference to the order, and request that you will take it upon yourselves to act in that capacity. In conducting the election, I wish you to pur- sue the order strictly and to govern your- selves in all other respects, as nearly as will be practicable, in conformity with the act


entitled "An act regulating elections," ap- proved January 10, 1829. Your county will be considered as organized according to the statute as soon as your county officers shall have been elected in pursuance of theenclosed order. It will be your duty, I suppose, to give certificates of election to the different persons who may be elected, immediately after the election takes place,as well as make returns thereof to the office of secretary of state, in order that they may enter upon the duties of their respective offices immediately, the county, as I before observed, being con- sidered as organized as soon as the election takes place. I enclose, also, the copy of a notice to be set up previous to the election as directed by the order, in six of the most public places in the county. After the county commissioners are elected, it will become their duty to fix upon tlie temporary seat of justice for said county, and to provide a place for the holding of the circuit court. As soon as these facts are made known to me, I will grant an order for the holding of cir- cuit court, until the legislature shall provide permanently for that purpose.


I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant,


RICHARD M. YOUNG.


On the outside of the letter sheet as folded, there being no envelopes used in that day, is the following superscription: On Public Business :


Messrs. Ephraim Perkins, William McDonald and John Rodgers, McDonough County, Illinois.


Care of James Vance, Esq.


COMMISSIONERS' COURT.


In accordance with this order the elec- tion was held and James Clarke, James Vance and John Hardesty were elected county commissioners; William South-


203 ·


HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.


· ward, sheriff; and Peter Hale, coroner. These were the first officers of the new county. On the 3d day of July, the same day the election was held, the newly elected county commissioners 'held a meeting and the official business of the county was initiated. The first order emanating from this body af- firmed the fact that the order of Judge Young had been fully and legally carried out, and that the county commis- sioners were duly and truly elected. Michael Stinson was by them appointed clerk, pro tem., and, in their third order, the seat of justice of the county was located at the residence of John Baker, on the southwest quarter of section 31, in township 6 north,, 2 west, which township is now known by the name of Macomb. The commissioners declared that the said county seat should "be known as the town of Washington for the present." At the same meeting they also appointed Ephraim Perkins, Wil- liam McDonald and George Dowell, judges of the forthcoming election, to be held at the "town" of Washington, the first Monday in August following. They then adjourned until the 5th of July, to meet at the dwelling of James Clarke, one of their number. .




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