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 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134
The fourth license was issued May 18, 1831, to Elias H. Branden and Jane Kennedy. The ceremony was performed two days later by Rev. John Baker.
223
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
The following parties constitute the remainder to whom license wes granted during the year 1831:
Eli Harp and Lucinda Broogan, June 1; married by Rev. John Baker, June 2. James Vance and Helen A. Miller, August 24; married August 25th by Rev. Samuel Bogart.
Thomas Bridges and Frances Miller, August 24; married August 25th, by James Vance, justice of the peace.
Jeremiahı G. W. Tate and Polly Scog- gin, October 11; married October 13, by Enoch Cyrus, justice of the peace.
Henderson H. Hardesty and Laura A. Bagley, October 11; married October 13, by Rev. J. G. W. Tate.
Thomas Coffman and Allie Seybold, October 11; married October 13, by Rev. J. G. W. Tate.
David Detherow and Ruth Southward, October 18; married October 18, by Rev. Samuel Bogart.
Larkin Osborne aud Delilah Belyin, December 20; married December 25th, by James Vance, justice of the peace.
Thomas Huddleston and Anna Canna- day, December 22; married December 22, by Jacob T. Reno, justice of the peace.
License was issued to the following named parties during the year 1832:
William Shannon and Polly Miller, January 9; married January 12.
James B. Tomberlin and Clara Hays, January 7; married January 12.
Nicholas J. Hays and Mana Head, February 28; married March 1.
Philip T. Cordier and Julia Head, April 9; married April 26.
Alexander Lee and Margaret G. Hud- dleston, May 19; married May 20.
Berry Jones and Betsey, Wyatt, June 8; married June 10.
William Barber and Eleander Wells, June 20; married June 23.
John M. McFadden and Parmelia McNight, July 1; married July 1.
Nicholas Campbell and Mary McGee, July 13; married July 13.
James Cyrus and Margaret Duncan, September 1; married September 16.
Thomas W. Pickett and Mary F. An- derson, October 8; married October 9.
The following named were licensed to marry during the year 1833:
Peter D. Smith and Jane F, Darby- shire, February 8; married, February 14. John Jackson and Elizabeth J. Metcalf, March 4; married, March 6,
Nicholas R. Teas and Charlotte M. Averill, March 6; married, March 7.
Williamson Forgusson and Cassenda Morris, April 4; married April 11.
William McDonald and Nancy Hays, April 8; married April 11.
W. C. Rells and Emma Woodward, May 2; married same day.
Richard S. Lowe and Eliza M. Ander- son, May 7: married same day.
Michael C. Harris and Sarah E. Dar- byshire, May 16; married, May 29.
David G. McFadden and Darcus Bowen, May 16; married same date.
W. A. Walker and Mahala A. Camp- bell, July 30; married, August 1.
John L. Russell and Mary Willis, October 2.
John Scott and Mary Duncan, Nov- vember 2; married, November 7,
Charles Duncan and Darcus Coffman, November 2; married, November 10.
Thomas J. Davis and Parmelia Job, November 16; married November 24.
224
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
David Metcalf and Dorcas Dougherty, November 21; married, November 24.
Moses J. Wallis and Susan Monk, December 2; married, December 5.
The marriage licenses issued during the year 1834, were to the following par- .ties:
F. C. Tomberlin and Matilda Coker, January 11.
Richard Pennington and Delia Shan- non, January 28.
Morgan Jones and Elizabeth Osborn February 19.
Charles Hungate and Catharine Halo, March 11.
L. H. Robinson and Abagail Dame- son, March 13.
Andrew H. Walker and Jane L. Camp- bell, March 19.
James Osborn and Ruth Smith, May 14.
William Stults and Jane Gearheart, September 6.
James M. Hendricks and Elizabeth Bristow, September 7:
John Long and Corintha Twitchell, September 8.
Charles Bradshaw and Anna Cyrus, October 2.
John Dill and Nellie Clinkenbread, October 3,
Wylie McFadden and Nancy Mc- Fadden, October 8.
John H. Beagles and Mary A. Stapp, October 21.
Jonathan Ratican and Nancy Cannon, October 22.
Hezekiah Cain and Irene Woodward, October 26.
Allen Isaacs and Elizabeth Barber, October 31.
Reuben Harris and Mary Marlow, November 11.
Nelson Montgomery and Cynthia A. · Walker, November 18.
Thomas W. Hunt and Nancy A. Ar- cher, November 19.
Jackson Clinkenbread and Mary A. Metcalf, December 5.
John W. Westfall and Icemenda Neece, December 15.
Lemuel Bates and Priscilla Jones, December 20.
James C. Head and Sarah A. Ander- son, December 29.
It is curious to note the fluctuations of the matrimonial market as shown by the foregoing table; how the state of the times causes a falling off or an increase of the number. In 1862, the war caused the usual depression in the number of matrimonial ventures, and kept it at a low ebb until 1864, when it began to increase - as the "boys came marching home." In 1866, when all the battle-scarred veter- ans had returned, the market jumped to an abnormally high condition, and which it kept for some years.
RECORDS.
The first deed recorded upon the books of the county bears the date of April 8, - 1830, and was made by Joel Moore and Sally Moore,his wife, conveying the north west quarter of section 17, in township 4 north, range 3 west, 160 acres, to John - I. Foster, for the consideration of $100. The instrument was acknowledged be- fore James D. Morrison, a justice of the peace in and for Morgan county, Illinois, and was filed for record on the 13th of April, 1831, by Jas. M. Campbell, clerk of the circuit court and county recorder.
227
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
The first county warrant issued by the newly organized county of McDonough, bears the date of September 7, 1830, and was for the amount of one dollar, and in favor of William McDonald. It was a payment for services as judge of election. Nos. 2 and 3 were for the same amounts, issued the same day to Ephraim .Perkins and George Dowell, for the same service.
The first will entered for record was that of Henry Foster, who died in De- cember, 1832. The will was presented. for probate March 4, 1833, before Wil- liam Willis, at that time probate justice. A note appended to the record shows that the personal property of the de- ceased amounted to $268.05.
. TOWN PLATS.
The plats of the original towns in the county were filed for record on the dates given below. To nearly all of them many additions have since been made, but space forbids the mention of them, and as they are a matter of record it is useless.
Macomb, or as it was then. spelled, "McComb," was' filed for record upon the 26th of April, 1831, by McDonough county, represented by James Clarke, James Vance and John Hardesty, county commissioners.
Doddsville was filed for record July 7, 1836, by Samuel Dodds and Paris Wheeler.
Seawardsville, filed for record August 24, 1836, by William Seaward.
Middletown, filed March 22, 1837, by James Edmonston and John Patrick.
Blandinsville, filed March 16, 1842, by Joseph L. Blandin.
Hill's Grove, filed April 20, 1844, b Isaac Holton.
Tennessee, filed April 5, 1854, by Thomas K. Waddill, Joseph B. Bacon and Stephen Cockerham.
Bushnell, filed for record upon the 29th of August, 1854, by Iverson L. Twyman, David P. Wells and John D. Hail.
Bardolph, filed September 1, 1854, by George W. Parkinson, W. H. Randolph, W. C. Chambers and Charles Chandler.
Prairie City, filed October 11, 1854, by Edwin Reed.
Colchester, filed November 22, 1855, by Lewis H. Little and Charles A. Gil- christ.
Industry, filed July 30, 1856, by Wil- liam R. Downen.
Chester, filed September 15, 1856, by N. I. Hayes, W. Hathaway, C. C. Chan- dler and S. B. Kyle.
Colmar, filed June 26, 1858, by Wil- liam W. Graves.
New Philadelphia, filed September 22, 1859, by Lloyd Thomas.
Sheridan, filed July 19, 1867, by Thomas Morris.
Clarksville, (now Sciota) filed for record by W. B. Clarke, December 23, 1867.
Grant, filed for record by James H. Langsford, February 15, 1869.
Reedyville, filed August 9, 1870, by John H. Reedy and Jacob Grim.
COURT HOUSE.
As has been already mentioned, the first place used as a court house in the county of McDonough, was the log cabin of John Baker, on the site of the city of Macomb, for which the county gave him
14
-
228
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
two lots in that embryo city as rent. At a meeting of the county commissioners, held on the 12th day of April, 1831, the subject of building a court house was raised and after considerable discussion, it was agreed to build such an edifice. This was a hewed log affair 18x20 feet in ground area, and was erected, by con- tract, by William Southward for $69.50. A description of this building is given in the chapter in relation to county gov- ernment, on page 205. This building answered the purpose for which it was erected for a couple of years, but in March, 1833, the building of a new court house was determined upon. This was to be of brick and two stories in height. In answer to an advertisement inserted in the Jacksonville Patriot, in March, 1833, for plans and specifications, several such were received and opened at the meeting of the commissioner's court in May of that year, and one of which was adopted. It was then.
"Ordered, That the following be the plans of a court house in and for the county of Mc- Donough, viz: the foundation walls of stone, forty-six feet four inches square, and two feet thick and three feet high; one foot above the surface of the earth; which foundation shall be made of stone, range work above the ground, and to show a smooth face or front, nicely hewed, and laid in lime and sand mortar; also two division stone walls (of the same as above) twelve by twenty feet in the west end, that being the northwest and southwest corners of said building, which walls are to be eighteen inches thick. three feet high. one foot above the surface of the earth; there will be a wall extending from the corners of each of the jury or small rooms to the east end of the building, at parallel lines with the outside foundation wall, same depth in the ground, and only to come to the
surface of the earth, eighteen inches thick, laid in lime and sand mortar; walls made of first rate brick and other suitable materials, 40 feet square, lower story 18 inches thick and 14 feet high; upper story to be 13 inch walls and 12 feet high; the small rooms, inside wall, to be 13 inch walls; on the outside an oval and round cornice of brick; one circular top door frame four feet by eight and a half feet in the clear, with panel work, and glass on each side and above, placed in the north, south and west centers of the walls of the house; a window placed six feet above the judge's seat, and 36 window frames, 16 of which in the lower story and 20 in the upper, each to contain 12 panes of glass 12 by 18 inches, at equal dis- tances, to be proportionate,and to have above each a double arch (13 inches) finished off smooth. The frame of the cupola to be run . up through the center of the house-top; in the corners of the house, on the lower floor, will be a fire place of convenient size, and above, in the jury rooms, in the northwest and southwest corners, a small fire place, aud in the northeast corner, above the gal- lery, will be left a space and flue for a stove pipe; chimneys to be run out five feet above each corner of said building; the short joist will be three by ten inches; tlie long joist four by ten inches; making a round founda- tion for a circular cupola 10 feet in diameter, three feet above the roof, and closed in so as to make a roof to keep out the rain; a square roof, with an eave all around, sheeting jointed, and laid close, and with good and sufficient and suitable jointed shingles, 18 inches long, and to show six inches; all of which work shall be done in work-like manner; and the timber of said building shall be of the most suitable kind; the sills of the windows and doors are to be of black walnut, three inches thick, and of sufficient width; the walls to be jointed and penciled; which shall be adver- tised by the clerk in the 'Jacksonville paper (Patriot) three insertions; to be let to the Jow- est bidder on the first Monday of June next; which building is to be completed according
-
229
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
to the contract on or before the first day of November, 1834.
An advance of one-fourtli of the bid will be made to-the undertaker so soon as com- menced, in order to carry on the building, one-fourth to be paid when the contract is half done, one-fourth when the contract is completed and received, and one-fourth at the expiration of nine months from the time the contract and work is received by the county commissioners' court. Bond, with approved security or securities, will be re-, quired to be given in a penalty of double the amount of the undertaker's bid, which pen_ alty will be required as a forfeiture in case the contract is not complied with in every respect.
A committee consisting of Moses Heaton, James Clarke and Benjamin T. Naylor, were appointed to superintend the erection of the building.
The contract for the stone and brick work was awarded to George Miller and John T. Bishop, who had bid $2,498. They, at once, entered upon their labor and in a short time they had their part finished.
In the month of September, 1835, a further contract was made by the county with Morris Roberts and David F. Martin to complete the inclosure of the building for the sum of $1,334. This part of the work was finished and accepted in the spring of 1836. A further contract was made with Benjamin T. Naylor, and Robert A. Brazleton for the completion of the wood-work for $4,000, thus mak- ing the entire cost of the building $1,832. This structure stood in the center of the square and in it were held all the meet- ings of the county commissioners, the county court, the board of supervisors and the circuit court and for all county purposes. In 1860, C. L. Higbee was
making a political speech in the court room, the walls made an ominous noise, cracking audible, which caused an im- mediate stampede. In a moment's time he had naught but empty benches for an audience. For the next six years the building was but little used, Campbell's Hall being secured and used for court purpose.
In May, 1863, James M. Campbell was appointed by the board to confer with the council of the city of Macomb in reference to the subject of a new building, the board being of the opinion that "the city ought to contribute liber- ally in the construction of a new court house."' At the September meeting of the board Mr. Campbell reported, and a communication was also received from a special committee appointed by the council declining to take action in the matter at that time for certain reasons therein set forth. The communication from the city council was answered, set- ting forth the necessity for a new court house and stating that nothing would be done unless the city should do its part.
On Saturday, September 19, 1863, at the regular session of the board of county supervisors, B. R. Hampton of- fered the following resolution, which was adopted:
"Resolved, That this board offer for the best plan of a new court house, to be erected in the city of Macomb. together with its esti- mated cost, the sum of twenty-five dollars; for the second best plan, etc., the sum of fif- teen dollars; and for the third best plan, etc., the sum of ten dollars; said plans to be sub- mitted to this board at its next December meeting,to be then determined by the board, and that the clerk be directed to give public notice of these several propositions of the board."
230
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
Under this resolution, on the 23d of December, of the same year, a plan for the proposed court house was presented by W. C. McLeod, and there being no others, he was awarded the first prize. The plan somehow does not seem to have been adopted and the subject seems to have evaporated in talk.
At the September term, 1864, of the board of supervisors, a resolution was presented and adopted, requesting the member of the general assembly repre- senting McDonough county, to urge the passage of an act authorizing the county to issue bonds to the amount of $50,000, to raise funds toward building a new court house. And at the March term, 1865, the board appointed a committee of three to confer with a like committee from the council of Macomb, in regard to the location of the proposed edifice. Nothing came of the conference and the subject again was dropped. All this time each session of the grand jury was condemning, as unsafe, the building then in use.
In the spring of 1866, the walls of the court house were patched up and the building again used. It was never re- garded safe, however, and the crowds assembled there were always in fear the walls would give way and destruction would be their doom. In consequence of this state of affairs the sheriff and bailiffs could never keep order, and the patience of the judge was sorely tried. On the least noise being heard, the timid would precipitately retire from the room. The judge could stand it no longer, so, in 1868, he publicly declared that McDonough county must have a new and better court house. At the
September meeting of the board there- after, George A. Taylor, the supervisor from Industry township, offered the fol- lowing resolution, which was adopted:
WHEREAS, It is apparent to all candid- minded men that the safety of our land re- cords, upon which the title to the land of all our citizens rests, and of the records of both our circuit and county courts, as well as the board of supervisors, upon the preservation of which depends vast public and private rights of the whole body of the people of the county, now rendered the more striking from tlieir narrow escape from destruction by the elements,and the dilapidated and crumbling condition of our present court house; by many deemed not only unsafe for the people to meet in while the courts are being held, but, as all know, wholly inadequate to ac- commodate the jurors and others connected with the administration of justice, absolutely demands the laying aside all local feeling and prejudice, but acting solely upon a liigh sense of duty to the people of tlie whole county that we should at once proceed to take the necessary steps to build a court house adequate for the wants of the large and daily increasing population of our county, and a safe depository of its public records and archives; therefore,
Resolved, That it is the sense of this board that measures be taken at its present meeting to secure, with as little delay as possible, the building of a suitable court house in this county.
S. A. White, the representative from the township of Tennessee, submitted the following resolution, which was also adopted:
Resolved, That this board appoint L. G. Reid a committee to procure plans and speci- fications for the erection of a new court house in McDonough county, and the probable cost of the same; and to confer with the city council of Macomb, or others, for the pur- pose of knowing the amount said city or
231
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
others will appropriate to build said house; and to report to this board, at an adjourned meeting of said board, to be held on the first Monday in October next, at one o'clock P. M.
At this time there existed a strong feeling, both among the members of the board of supervisors and their constitu- ents, tlie people of the county at large, that as the city of Macomb would reap many of the advantages of having the court house erected within its limits,. that that city should contribute a con- siderable sum toward the building of the same. At a meeting held in Octo- ber, 1868, Supervisor James A. Mustin, of Blandinsville, offered the following, which was adopted by the board:
Resolved, That this board refuse to erect a court house in the city of Macomb until said city become legally obligated to donate in aid of the construction of the same twenty thou- sand dollars.
A new committee having been appoin- ted to confer with the city council of Macomb, met with that body and after an extended conference, presented their report to the boaed. It seems by this that the council had voted to donate the sum of $15,000 but refused to give one dollar more, and as the board would not recede from its demand for the $20,000 there was imminent danger of the whole thing falling through or that the seat of government of the county would be taken to some other place, especially as the city of Bushnell was anxious to have the honor of being the county seat, and were making great efforts for the re- moval. At this juncture, that public spirited citizen of Macomb, N. P. Tins- ley, stepped into the breach and appear- ing before the city council, agreed to
guarantee the extra five thousand dol- lars demanded by the board of super- visors, giving the city his obligation for that amount, provided the "city fathers " would accede to the demands of the county board. This settled the matter and upon the 8th of October, 1868, the following agreement was made and sign- ed by the respective parties:
This agreement made this eiglith day of October, 1868, between the city of Macomb, McDonough county, Illinois, by Joseph P. Updegraff, mayor, and William E. Withrow, clerk of said city,agents of said city, duly ap- pointed by the city council of said city for this purpose, and the county of McDonough aforesaid, by J. B. Kyle,chairman, appointed the agent of the board of supervisors of said county for the said purpose of the second part, witnesseth, that, whereas, the board of supervisors of said county have in contem- plation the erection of a court house and jail for said county, and the parties therein hav- ing had mutual propositions involving the location of said house on certain conditions in the city of Macomb, aforesaid, which have been accepted by the parties, it is hereupon agreed as follows, to-wit: That the board of supervisors will erect a court house in the city of Macomb at such point as the said board may determine, with which the said board may, if they see fit, combine a jail for said county, the said court house with or without said jail to cost not less than sev- enty-five thousand dollars, and to be under- taken and completed in a reasonable time. It is moreover agreed that the said board shall at this present session levy, and when the ordinary taxes for said county are collected for the current year, they shall cause to be collected towards the erection of said build- ing the sum of one per cent. on the assessed property of said county. Also it is agreed that they shall take steps to carry forward the said building as fast as the lateness of the season, and the extent of the enterprise will reasonably allow.
232
HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.
In consideration of said agreement it is also hereby agreed on the part of said city that there shall be paid by the said city to the said county for said purpose, in addition to the share of taxes laid by the said board on the property in said city, the sum of twenty thousand dollars, in three equal pay- ments; the first, on the first day of May, 1869; the second on the first day of May, 1870; and the third, on the first day of May, 1871.
It is also agreed that should the said city pay the whole or any part of said moneys in manner as agreed, and the said board for any cause should fail to complete the said house in a reasonable time, or should abandon the enterprise, that whatever the said city may have advanced in the enterprise shall be re funded to the city: provided, however, this "reasonable time" is not to be construed so as to hurry the said board faster than a due regard to the quality of the building, the ex- tent of the building, and the ordinary mode of erecting similar buildings of good grade in other counties of the state, will allow.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seal, the day and year just above written.
J. P. UPDEGRAFF, Mayor of the city of Macomb. W. E. WITHROW, Clerk of the city of Macomb. J. B. KYLE, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of McDonough county, Illinois.
This settled the question of the erec- tion of a new court house in the city of Macomb and in furtherance of the mat- ter, L. G. Reid, who was appointed a committee for that purpose, advertised for plans and specifications for the build- ing, and one submitted by E. E. Myers, of Springfield, Illinois, seeming to meet the views of the board it was adopted. Rooms were now rented in Bailey's block, on the northeast corner of the square, for the convenience of the county officers, who immediately moved thereto.
The work of demolishing the old build- ing was at once commenced and soon it was a thing of the past, and the square cleared and the ground made ready for the new structure. Bids from contrac- tors and builders were now solicited and upon the 29th of December, 1868, at an adjourned meeting of the board, propo sals from nine different parties were opened and discussed. The parties with the amount of their bids was as follows:
B. F. Bushnell & Co. $160,000
Deakman & Messenger 165,768
D. J. Silver . 147,500
Same (modified) . 133,650
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.