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 36

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 36

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William T. Head, who is mentioned elsewhere was elected to the office of sheriff in 1850, resigning the office of county treasurer to take this position. He served the people of the county two years,

Sydnor H. Hogan was elected in 1852, to fill the position of sheriff. and was re- elected to the same office in 1854, and served four years in this office. A notice of him may be found in connection with the office of treasurer, which he filled at a later date.

George A. Taylor, in 1856, was elected to the office of sheriff and occupied the position for one term of two years.

George A. Taylor, one of McDonough county's pioneers, came in the fall of 1833. He is a native Virginian, and was born January 16, 1809, his parents being Josiah and Elizabeth Taylor. When

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

George was about eight years of age, his parents removed to North Carolina, where he grew to manhood. He then went to Cumberland county, Kentucky, where he was united in marriage with Elizabeth A. Vawter, in 1833, and soon afterwards removed to Illinois and entered. land in Chalmers township, McDonough county, and engaged in farming. He afterwards moved into Scotland township. His principal occu- pation was farming until 1850, when he came to Macomb, and served as deputy sheriff until 1856, being then elected to the office of sheriff, and served as such for two years. At the expiration of his term as sheriff, he purchased a farm lo- cated about three miles east of Macomb, and again followed agricultural pursuits. In the fall of 1865 he sold his farm, wintered in Macomb, and the following spring removed to the village of Industry, and, in company with his son, Winslow H., carried on hardware and grocery bus- iness for14 years. In the spring of 1880, Mrs. Taylor died, and her husband then closed out the business and returned to Macomb, and, with his son, purchased the livery business which they now con- duct. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, two are living. Paulina, now the wife of R. H. Morsey, and Winslow H. Lucy Jane, the eldest of the children, became the wife of A. C. Morsey, and settled at Pekin, Illinois, where she died in 1880, leaving five children. Mr. Taylor, voted for Andrew Jackson in 1832, and has adhered to democratic principles ever since, always voting that ticket straight. Besides holding the office of sheriff, he has filled a seat in the board of supervisors.

The next to occupy the office of sheriff of this county was F. D. Lipe, who was elected thereto at the election in the fall of 1858, and who filled the same for one term of two years. Mr. Lipe has been already noticed in connection with the office of county treasurer.

At the general election in the fall of 1860, Silas J. Hopper was chosen by the qualified .voters of the county for the office of sheriff. He entered upon the duties of the office and served the peo- pie for two years.

Amos Dixon was the 10th occupant of this office. He was elected in the fall of 1862, and served two years.

Amos Dixon, who was elected sheriff of this county in 1862, is a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, born Jan- uary 10, 1826. He was brought up on a farm, receiving a limited education in the common schools of his native state. He came to this county in 1852 and first settled in Industry township; there re- mained until elected sheriff, when he moved to the city of Macomb. In 1852 he was married to Mary E. Pyle, also a native of Pennsylvania. Politically he has always affiliated with the democratic party.

Next came G. L. Farwell, who was chosen in 1864 by the citizens to fill this honorable, but onerous, office, and he, also, remained in this official capacity two years. .

Capt. G. L. Farwell, one of the early settlers of Macomb, was born in St. Charles, Missouri, August 30, 1818, his parents being John and Abigail (How- land) Farwell, the former of whom died when the captain was only five years old. His mother subsequently married Benja-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

min Walker. The family afterwards moved to Illinois, and G. L., at the age of 16, went to Quincy and engaged as a clerk, where he remained until 1842, when he came to Macomb and joined his sister, the wife of Hon. James M. Camp- bell. In 1845 Mary W. Cheatham be- came his wife: . They have one child living. In 1861 G. L. enlisted and was mustered into the service as captain of company D, 28th Illinois infantry, which rank he held during his service, being mustered out in August, 1864. During the battle at Jackson, Mississippi, the captain was wounded, a rifle ball pene- trating his right arm and passing through his body. On his return home he was elected sheriff and served one term, since which time he has been a constable and- general collector. Politically, he is a republican. The G. A. R. and the A. F. and A. M. claim him as a member.

Samuel Wilson was elected, in 1866, to this office, and held it one term.

Samuel Wilson is the eldest son of John and Jane (McComsey) Wilson, and was born March 17, 1817, at Mechan- icsburg, Champaign county, Ohio. His father, John Wilson, was born August 12, 1781, in Greenbrier county, Virginia, and resided with his parents until 1804, when he pushed out into the wilderness of Ohio, making a settlement in Madison county, where he was married. Mrs. Wilson was a native of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, born October 7, 1787, and re- moved to Ohio in 1808; was married December 20, 1809; seven children were born to them-Melissa, Margaret, Sam- uel, John, Eli, Jane and Mary Ann. On the 1st of March, 1816, John Wilson moved to Champaign county, where the

subject of this sketch was born. Sam- uel resided with the authors of his being until September, 1835, when the family emigrated to Illinois, and, coming to Mc- Donough county, made a settlement in Bethel township, where John Wilson, the elder, died on the 14th of June, 1843. His aged wife followed him on the 11th of February, 1861. Samuel Wilson and Susan Edmonston were married in this county, November 30, 1837. Mrs. Wil- son was a native of DuBois county, In- diana, born May 20, 1822, and died June 6, 1884. This couple were the' parents of ten children, three daughters and seven sons, whose names are as follows: Mary Jane, Annie, William, Eli, Zachary T., Nicholas E., James E., Samuel, Laura Lizzie and Edwin M. Samuel Wilson has been a constant resident of this county ever since 1835, except part of one year, he having moved to Kansas in November, 1872, but returned to this place in the following June. His occupation has been principally farming, but he sold goods' at Middletown, or Fandon, for a while. He was the county assessor for the year 1843, and again in 1851 and 1852 he assessed the south half of the county and the city of Macomb. In pol- itics he was a whig until 1856, when he attached himself to the free soil, or re- publican party, with whom he still affil- iates. At the beginning of the war, in April, 1861, he raised a company and was unanimously chosen captain. On reporting at Springfield he found that he was too late to be included in the first call for volunteers, but on proceeding with his company to Quincy, assisted in the organization of the 16th Illinois in- fantry, of which he was made lieutenant-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

colonel, and served with the regiment un- til November 14, 1862, when he resigned on account of ill-health and disability, and returned home. In 1866 he was elected sheriff of the county, as above related. On the 14th of March, 1881, he was appointed United States storekeeper for the fourth collection district of Illi- nois, and in January, 1884, was trans- ferred to the fifth district, and is now on duty at Peoria. Although without the limits of the county, yet Mr. Wilson claims Bethel township, McDonough county, as his residence.

John E. Lane was the successor of Mr. Wilson in the office, having been elected in 1868.

J. E. Lane was born in Russell county, Kentucky, October 1, 1834, and is a son of Ghalson and Mary (James) Lane, both natives of Kentucky. In the spring of 1836 he with his parents removed to Illinois and settled in Industry town- ship, McDonough county. In May, 1861, he enlisted as private in the 16th Illi- nois volunteer infantry, and served as such until 1862, when he was appointed first sergeant of company A, and served in such position until June 20, 1864, when he returned to Macomb. He was married October 20, 1864, to Josie A. Kendrick, a daughter of W. H. Ken- drick, of Macomb. They have one child -Frank A. In May, 1865, he was ap-

pointed city marshal, assessor and collector and served two years; in December, 1866, he was appointed deputy sheriff by Colonel Sam. 'Wil- son, and served in that capacity for two years, and in the fall of 1868 he was elected sheriff of the county, which position he held for two years. In the

fall of 1870 he bought a farm in Carroll county, Missouri, which he worked for two years. He returned to Macomb, December 24, 1872, and on the 16th day of January, 1873, bought . the interest of S. L. Babcock in a grocery store, and went into partnership with Jos. Upde- graff, and continued in the business with him for one year, when Mr. Upde- graff retired, and he continued in the business alone for about one year, when he formed a partnership with G. W. Pace, with whom he continued the busi- ness until the fall of 1877, when they sold out. He was elected constable in the spring of 1877, and was re-elected in the spring of 1881, and is constable at present. In December, 1870, he was ap- pointed deputy sheriff by Fred. Newland, and was reappointed in 1882, to serve four years.

In 1870, Thomas Murray was duly elected to fill this official position, and entering upon the duties thereof, he served two years.

Samuel Frost, the sheriff elected in November, 1872, remained in office the regulation two years.

Samuel Frost, the present secretary and superintendent of the Macomb tile and sewer pipe company, came to this' county from Fulton in 1858. He is a native of Ohio, born October 10th 1832. He was brought up on a farm and re- ceived a fair education, in the common schools of his native state. He worked hard when a boy upon farms in different neighborhoods, making his father's house his home. In 1850 he was mar- ried to Frances Murphy, a native of Ohio. He then left the old homestead, but remained in Ohio engaged in farm-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

ing until 1852, when he came to Fulton county of this state, and followed the same business until 1858, when, as before stated he came to this county. His first settlement here was made on section 4 of Eldorado township, where he rented a farm which he afterward purchased. He lived there from the spring of 1859 till 1864, then sold out and bought an- other farm in New Salem township, and there remained until the fall of 1872, when having been elected sheriff of the county, he removed to Macomb, rented the farm two years and then sold it. In 1874 he purchased a farm in Scotland township, moved on to it and there lived six years, then returned to Macomb. He has since sold that place. He then engaged in the grocery business, and

continued four years. In September, 1884, he entered upon the duties of his present position. During the time of his residence in Eldorado township, the civil war broke out, and he enlisted in company F, 84th regiment, Illinois vol- unteer infantry, and remained in the service about 18 months, when, on ac- count of disability he was honorably discharged. He participated in various engagements, among them the battle of Stone river, where he was wounded, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. Mr. and Mrs. Frost have had nine children, six boys and three girls, six of whom are now liv- ing. Celia, married to Ezra Rinehart, and living in New Salem township; George deceased; Charlie married to Ollie Payne, living in Odessa, Missouri. Albert, living at home; John married to Josie Masterson and living in Ma- comb; Hattie, the wife of Samuel Daw-

son, and now deceased; Mary, married to Joseph Kline and living in Scot- land township; William living at home, and James (deceased). Mr. Frost is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the G. A. R. His political creed is that of the republican party, but he may properly be classed among the inde- pendents.

J. B. Venard was the next to fill the of- fice of sheriff, being elected in the fall of 1874. A sketch of this gentleman may be found in connection with the history of the city of Macomb, of which he is the present postmaster:

Charles C. Hays served in this office for two years, having been elected in 1876.

The election of 1878 developed a warm contest for the office of sheriff, and Winslow H. Taylor was elected by a plurality of only 33, his principal oppo- nent being Mr. Hays, the former occu- pant of the office.

Winslow H. Taylor, of the livery firm of Taylor & Son, was born in Bethel township, McDonough county, Illinois, on the 17th day of August, 1843, his par- ents being George A. and Elizabeth (Vawter) Taylor. In 1850 the family re- moved to the city of Macomb, and, in 1857, Winslow H. commenced to learn the tinner's trade, which he followed during the winters, and assisted his father on the farm during the summers, until the month of August, 1864, at which time he was united in marriage with Lu- cintha Tatman, a daughter of Hiram Tatman. In 1865 he removed to the town of Industry and engaged in the hardware and grocery business. One year later his father entered into a part-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

nership with him, and, under the firm name of George A. Taylor & Son, carried on the business until 1880. In the fall of 1878, Winslow H. Taylor was elected as sheriff of the county, he being the first democratic sheriff elected for many years. He served one term, since which time he has been engaged in the livery business. He has also served as a mem- ber of the board of supervisors, from In- dustry. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been the parents of five children, four of whom are yet living-Mae, Lizzie, Nel- lie and Stella. Mr. T. is a member of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, as is he also of the Knights of Pythias.

Frederick Newland, the present sheriff of McDonough county, was first elected to this office in 1880, and has been kept in that position by the people ever since, as a mark of their appreciation of his efficiency and rectitude.

Frederick Newland is a native of England, having been born in that country November 5, 1836, his parents being Abraham and Sarah (Porter) Newland. During his early life he worked in the coal mines, and resided in his native country until 1855, at which time, accompanied by his mother and brothers (his father having preceded them), he emigrated to the United States and located in LaSalle county, Illinois. Two years later they removed to McDonough county, settling at Col- chester. Here Frederick followed min- ing until 1861, then responded to his country's call and enlisted in company C, 16th Illinois infantry, and served three years. Upon being mustered out of the service he returned to Colchester and entered mercantile life as a clerk

with his brother. While in that capacity he was elected to the office of sheriff of the county in 1880, and at the expiration of his term of office was re-elected. As an able and efficient officer, Mr. Newland meets and merits the approbation of the law-abiding portion of the community, and has the respect of all. Politically, he is a republican, but counts his friends and supporters by the score in the opposite political party. He is a member of the Macomb lodge of Knight of Pythias, as is he also of the Grand Army of the Republic post of the same city. In January, 1862, Frederick New- land and Sarah E. Ingalls, a native of Illinois and the daughter of Daniel D. T. Ingalls, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony. As a result of this union they are now the parents of six children, Jessie M., William N. S., Eleanor E., Emojean, Celia E. and Frederick I.

SURVEYORS.

Some of the prominent representative men of the county have several times been called upon to fill the office of sur- veyor. The first that occupied the posi- tion was Jesse Bartlett, who was elected in July, 1830. He was succeeded by James W. Brattle,1832. Many of the parties who have held the office, are mentioned in some other connection, and it would be useless to repeat the same here. A list of them is however given with the date of their election, for a convenient refer- ence: C. W. Bacon, 1835; S. A. Hunt, 1838-43; H. I. C. Averill, 1846-47; J. W. Brattle, 1848; W. H. Rile, 1849-51- 53; C. A. Gilchrist, 1855; S. A. Hunt, 1857-59-61; A. J. White, 1863; J. B. Nickel, 1864; J. W. Brattle, 1865; S. A.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Hunt, 1867; W. J. Edie, 1869; James Shannon, 1871; B. F. Howard, 1875; Cephas Holmes, 1879-84.

CORONERS.

The following is a list of those who have filled the office of coroner in Mc- Donough county, together with the date of their election: Peter Hale, 1830; Isaac Bartlett, 1830; John Woodsides, 1832; R. S. Lowe, 1834; John P. Head, 1837; C. G. Overton, 1838; B. B. Head, 1840-42; W. W. Clayton, 1845; John P. Head, 1848; L. Graves, 1850; S. H. Mc- Candless, 1852; David Reece, 1854; J. H. Epperson, 1856; J. H. Swigart, 1858; Isaac P. Montfort, 1860; Jeremiah Sul- livan, 1862-64; W. W. Head, 1866; J. H. Epperson, 1868; D. W. Campbell, 1870; W. R. Pittman, 1872; W. H. Way- land, 1874; G. W. Reid, 1876-78; C. F. Griffiths, 1880; R. Lawrence, 1882; J. Hindman, 1884.

James Wells Brattle was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, June 16, 1795. His father, William Brattle, was a native

of Wethersfield, Connecticut, as was also his mother, Hannah Wells. His people were farmers, but for many years James pursued the profession of a sur- veyor. He obtained his education in his native village, and worked on a farm and studied surveying while yet a young man. In the fall of 1829 he came west and located in Hancock county near Nauvoo. He laid out that town, and pursued the occupation of a surveyor in that locality until 1831, when he went to Carthage, the county seat, and was elected county surveyor. In 1836 he came to McDonough county, where he has since remained. He has laid out many towns, including the city of Ma- comb, which was re-surveyed and platted by him. Mr. Brattle has always enjoyed good health, and gives promise of living years to come. His parents died while he was yet young. He never married. He has always enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his neighbors, and his friends are numerous.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE COURTS OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

· Man, a finite being, is of a necessity, | when our first parents, Adam and Eve, from his nature, an imperfect creature, were placed in the garden of Eden, with the injunction to let the fruit of a certain tree alone, with the penalty for trans- gression attached, man has had to have some law to govern him, or he descends and as such requires that laws, both human and divine, shall be enacted, with the penalties attached for their violation, for his government. Ever since the day

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

to barbarism and rapine. Through a long line of law givers and legislators, we trace the laws of the present back to the decalogue, given to the tribes of Israel when they wandered in the deserts of Arabia, the underlying principles of which are the fundamental basis of all modern law. Circumstances and sur- roundings have changed since the days when that alone was needed, and the present complex and often prolix laws are the superstructure built upon the foundation of the "ten commandments."

The existence of laws implies the ex- istence of courts wherein all questions of law shall be determined and interpre- ted. This fact, so patent, being deter- mined, the framers of the state constitu- tion instituted certain courts of justice, each with well defined powers. Changes have been made, from time to time, in the jurisdiction of these courts, but the rights of every citizen, of high or low degree, have ever been maintained.

Among the men who took a part in laying the foundation of this portion of the state of Illinois, there is, perhaps, no class that stands out more prominently than the members of the bench and bar, and McDonough county has had the honor of having contributed some of the ablest men to this portion of gov- ernment. Of these, in their turn, it is now the pleasure of the historian to pre- sent a view. Many of the sketches of the talented men who have occupied the bench in some of these courts are meager, but, they having passed from this arena of active life, but little can be gathered respecting them, although no pains have been spared to make this chapter as full and complete as possible.

CIRCUIT COURT.

McDonough county, when organized, was a part of the fifth judicial circuit, which included all of what was known as the "Military tract," which covered the whole northern part of the state of Illinois, to the boundary line. At the time of the organization, Richard M. Young was upon the bench as judge of the circuit court, and issued the order authorizing the election of county offi- cers and the organization of McDonough.

Before the newly organized county of McDonough had reported to Judge Young the result of the election of the county officers, the following document was sent,by him to John Baker, circuit clerk pro tem .:

STATE OF ILLINOIS, Sct. FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUITS

To all whom it may concern, greeting:

Know ye that I, Richard M. Young, cir- cuit judge of the fifth judicial district of the state of Illinois, north of the Illinois river, and presiding judge of the circuit court in and for the county of McDonough and state aforesaid, in pursuance of the power vested in me by virtue of the tenth section of the act entitled "An act supplemental to 'an act ·regulating the supreme and circuit courts, approved January 19, 1829,' approved Janu- ary 23, 1829," do hereby order and appoint that circuit court be held in and for the said county of McDonough, at such places as may be selected and provided by the county com- missioners' court of said county, on the Thursday after the third Monday in June, and the Thursday after the first Monday in October, until different days shall be ap- pointed by the legislature, or until I shall make another order to the contrary.

Given under my hand and seal, at Galena, this 5th day of July, A. D. 1830, and of the independence of the United States the fifty- fifth . RICHARD M. YOUNG,

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

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

On the opposite page of the sheet of foolscap on which this is written, is the following letter from Judge Young to the circuit clerk of this county:

GALENA, ILL., July 5, 1830.

DEAR SIR :- Supposing that the election of county officers in your county took place on the 3d day of July, as directed by the order issued for that purpose, I send you herewith, on the first page, an order for the holding of circuit court, for all legal and judicial pur- poses, will be considered as organized on this day (the 5th of July, 1830). As soon as you receive this order, and the county commis- sioners shall have provided a place for the holding of the circuit court, you will please set up public notices, in four of the most pub- lic places in the county, of the times and place of holding of the court, that all persons interested may have timely notice thereof. The order herewith transmitted, you will please file among the records of the court. All writs and processes will be made return- able at the place selected by the county com- missioners at the times mentioned in the annexed order.

I am very respectfully, etc., RICHARD M. YOUNG.

P. S .- Please inform me by letter at what place the circuit eourt will be held, stating the quarter section, section, township and range on which the house is located, in order that I may have some knowledge of the rel- ative situation of the different places of hold- ing court in the new counties; also, who are elected county officers, and oblige.

R. M. Y.

In accordance with this order of the circuit judge as above, on the 17th of October, 1830, the first term of the cir- cuit court was held in this county, at the house of John Baker, in the town of Washington, (now the city of Macomb), the temporary county seat of McDon- ough county. There were present, in attendance on the court, Hon. Richard

M. Young, circuit judge; John Baker, clerk, pro tem .; William Southward, sheriff. This term lasted but one day and but little business was transacted, The first grand jury in the county, se- lected by the county commissioners at their September session was present, and was composed of the following gen- tlemen: William Osborne, Joseph Os- borne, William Garrett, Roland Lee, George Grace, William Hendry, William Stephens, Elias McFadden, John Bar- ber, David Troxwell, Peter Hale, Nathan A. McFadden, John Carmack, John Wyatt, Sr., John Woodsides, William Deakins, Wright Riggins, Elijah Bris- tow, Caswell Russell, Abraham Gassett and John Vance. The petit jury in at- tendance, also, was made up as follows: Charles Shannon, William Shannon, John Wilson, James Vance, Jr., John Bridges, Thomas Bridges, Thomas Phil- lips, Nimrod Smith, Eli Osborne, Nich- olas Campbell, John Massingill, Eph- raim Mitchell, Enoch Cyrus, Nathan Bartlett, Russell Duncan, Reuben Har- ris, Jr., Ephraim Perkins, George Shell, William Job, Nathan Hume, Noble Owsly, and Larkin Osborne. Neither of these juries were called on to act, both being dismissed, as there was no busi- ness to be brought before them. The order of Judge Young, calling an elec- tion for the organization of the county, was ordered spread upon the records of the court, as well as an order in relation to the time of holding court.

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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 36

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

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