USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough county, Illinois, its cities, towns and villages with early reminiscences, personal incidents and anecdotes and a complete business directory of the county > Part 16
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On the twenty-sixth of May, 1863, Hon. B. R. Hampton pre- sented the following preamble and resolution to the Board, which, on motion of J. P. Updegraff, was adopted :
WHEREAS, There has been a number of battles recently fought by General Grant's division of the army, between Jackson and Vicksburg ; and.
WHEREAS. Many of the citizens of MeDonough county are soldiers in that division : and.
WHEREAS, The Sanitary Commission of Chicago have called upon the people of the State of Illinois for aid for the sick and wounded soldiers at Vicksburg ; therefore,
Resolved. That we make an appropriation of one hundred dollars out of any county funds not otherwise appropriated, for the benefit of said sick and wounded soldiers, and the clerk is hereby directed to issue a county order for that amount, and send the money to the Chicago Sanitary Commission.
During this year our armies met with a number of reverses, and doubts arose in the minds of many as to the power of the govern- ment to put down the rebellion. Organizations were formed throughout the North of men who favored an instant cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal of our troops from southern soil, and a compromise with the rebels. The organization was regarded as treasonable by the administration, and many of the leaders of the movement were arrested without regular warrant and ineareer- ated in various prisons, while the writ of habeas corpus was sus- pended. A great hue and cry was raised because of this fact : the government was denounced as tyrannical, and a forcible resistance was seriously advocated. A large number in MeDonough county joined in the movement with the opposition. and party strife again ran high. Friends of long standing became enemies, and threats of personal damage were made upon both sides. Recruiting for the army was well nigh suspended, and the Union cause seemed
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very dark. 'At this juncture, B. R. Hampton introduced the following resolution, and asked its adoption by the Board of Su- pervisors at their session in May, 1863 :
WHEREAS, Our nation is now involved in civil war, brought about by the acts of de- signing and unscrupulous men who seek to destroy the best government ever instituted upon the earth by man ; and believing it to be the duty of all public bodies, assembled for the purpose of transaction of public business, to throw their influence, whether it be much or little, on the side of the government and for the maintenance of its power and authority ; therefore,
Resolved, That although some of us may differ with the administration in relation to some of its war policy, yet we are anxious to see the rebels subdued and forced to sub- mit to the regularly constituted authorities of the United States ; and further, that we are opposed to any and all propositions for a compromise, come from what source they may, short of an unconditional surrender of the rebels to the government.
Resolved, That we utterly condemn all sympathizers with the rebellion, wherever found, as also that spirit of fault-finding which is so rife among us.
On motion, the subject of the adoption of the resolutions were laid upon the table, and afterward being taken therefrom, after slight amendment by Mr. Hampton, and considerable discussion ensuing, Supervisor Reid offered the following as a substitute for those of Mr. Hampton :
Resolred, That McDonough county has been, is now, and will forever remain devotedly attached to the federal government of the United States, under the constitution which creates that government and defines its powers.
Resolred, That we are in favor of destroying the rebellion, and sanction any legitimate means for the accomplishment of that purpose, either through an honorable compromise of difficulties or a convention of all the States for arranging terms of mutual inter- course, leaving to every State the right to regulate their domestic affairs in their own way, subject only to the constitution.
Resolved, That we sincerely regret that the President has not moved with the whole power of the army placed in his hands by a confiding but betrayed people, upon the ene- my's works, but instead thereof has made war upon unarmed and patriotic citizens of the North, whose only "crime" has been devotion to the constitution and best interests of the country.
Resolved, That we view with just alarm the repeated usurpations of power by the President and his military officers, in the arbitrary arrests and imprisonment of peace- able citizens ; in their mock trial and imprisonment ; in the attempt to overawe peaceful meetings of the people called "to petition the government for redress of grievances ; " in the arbitrary suspension of the habeas corpus; in the substitution of the will or whim of an irresponsible officer for the written law ; that if these and other kindred usurpations are not rebuked and counteracted by the friends of law and order, then in- deed is a military despotism established over us, our constitution destroyed, and a new government destructive of our liberties inaugurated in the place of the fundamental law bequeathed to us by our fathers.
Resolred, That we call upon this government to return to true and faithful allegiance to the Constitution, and to employ the remaining period of their short term of power in honest endeavors to restore the country to the condition of peace, prosperity and growth which distinguished our country before the advent of a sectional organization to power.
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Resolved, That the proffigate squandering of the public money by the officers under the control of President Lincoln is without a parallel for recklessness and infamy in the history of any civilized nation ; in the language of John P. Hale, we solemnly " believe and declare that the liberties of this country are in greater danger to-day from the corruption and profligacy practiced in the various departments of this administration than they are from the open enemy in the field."
Resolved, That we request our Representative in Congress, the Hon. Lewis W. Ross, to use his best exertions to secure the repeal of.the conscription bill, the indemnity bill, and all other oppressive and partisan enactments of the late Congress; also, to oppose all measures looking toward a recognition of the independence of the Southern Confede- racy.
Resolved. That in the language of Governor Seymour, " Having given the administra- tion a generous support in the war, we pause to see what kind of a government it is for which we are asked to pour out our blood and our treasures, and demand to know whether the war is waged to put down rebellion at the South, or destroy free institutions at the North."
Pending the question of the adoption of the resolutions, Super- visor Porter offered the following as a substitute therefor, to-wit :
Resolred, That we, as a Board of Supervisors, whatever shades of difference of opinion there may be among us, we are united in this, a firm and unshaken determination to stand upon the Federal Constitution-standing upon this broad basis, we are opposed to secession, and to suppress it, we are m favor of the use of the means guaranteed to us by a wise and benignant government, arms, amnesty, redress of grievances, an honorable compromise on all subjects of controversy ; in short, by the use of all means that become a wise and Christian nation.
Resolved, That upon this basis shall we stand till the " trump of peace shall sound."
The resolutions of Mr. Porter were rejected, and those of Mr. Reid adopted.
As we have before remarked, enlistments for the army were slow at this time, and in order to encourage volunteers, Hon. B. R. Hampton, at the December meeting (1863) of the Board of Su- pervisors, offered the following resolution, which was rejected by the Board :
Resolved, That in addition to the bounties offered by the government of the United States for recruits, we offer a county bounty of fifty dollars to each man who is the head of a family, and twenty-five dollars to each single or unmarried man who shall hereafter enlist in the military service of the United States.
The call of the government became more urgent, and as the quota of the county was not full, drafting was resorted to. We may here state that had MeDonough county received credit for all who had gone from her midst, no draft would have ever been ordered here ; but many, in order to receive the large bounty offered by other counties. went there for the purpose of enlist- ment. Hon. William HI. Randolph, some time previous to this, re-
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ceived the appointment of Deputy U. S. Marshall, and upon him devolved the enforcement of the laws. It was in this duty that he met his death.
The United States government was now terribly in earnest- men must be had. A large bounty was offered, but still not enough to tempt many to leave the comforts of home to endure the toils and privations of a soldier's life. Those who were for- merly opposed to the giving of a bounty by the county for vol- unteers, now became clamorous for it to be done at once. On the fourteenth day of December, 1864, W. H. Green, Esq., offered the following preamble and resolution which was adopted by the Board of Supervisors :
WHEREAS, It has become necessary for the government of the United States to draft men into the service of the United States, for the purpose of suppressing the rebellion in the Southern States ; and,
WHEREAS, The government of the United States does not pay a sufficient bounty to obtain volunteers for said service ; now, therefore,
Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors of the county of McDonongh request William H. Neece. the Representative of this county in the Legislature of this State, to have such law or laws passed at the next meeting of the Legislature as will empower the Board of Supervisors of this county to levy a tax sufficient to enable the county to offer bounties to persons enlisting in the military service of the United States, and to enable drafted men to procure substitutes when drafted into said service.
This was accordingly done, and Mr. Neece, in due time, intro- duced a bill before the Legislature in accordance with the provis- ions of the above request. The bill became a law, receiving the signature of the Governor. Monday, February 6th, 1865, the Board of Supervisors were called together to take action on this law. A dispatch was forwarded to Mr. Neece inquiring into the provisions of the bill, which answer being satisfactory, Supervi- or MeSperitt offered the following resolutions, and moved their adoption, viz :
Resolved by the Board of Supervisors of Me Donough county, That the sum of three hundred dollars be, and the same is, hereby appropriated to each and every volunteer that may have been, or shall be, enlisted in the military service of the United States, to fill the quota of McDonough county under the proclamation of the President of the United States, made in December. 1864, for 300,000 men to fill the army : provided, that this appropriation shall be allowed to no person who shall be credited to any other county, city or State, and to no person who shall volunteer or present a representative substi- tute from any township after its quota under the present call shall have been filled. Also, that the sum of three hundred dollars be. and the same is. hereby appropriated to each person. a resident of this county, who shall be drafted under the present call, to furnish a substitute or enter the service himself: provided, further, that where townships or parts of townships have already furnished volunteers under the present call, by clubs or townships, and have paid the men so furnished, then such clubs, townships, or parts of
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townships, shall have the right to their respective shares of this appropriation. instead of the men so paid and in the service. to be paid to such person or persons as the club or township may designate : to be divided pro rata among all persons contributing to such club or township fund in proportion to the amount of their contribution : provided. also, that no inhabitant of the city of Macomb shall be entitled to any part of this appropriation unless the tax to pay the same shall have been levied upon the property of said city, as well as the property of said county.
For the payment of the above appropriations the Clerk of the County Court of Mc- Donough county is hereby authorized and directed to draw his order on the Treasurer of this county for the sum of three hundred dollars, payable in one year, and drawing six per cent. interest from date, in favor of each and every person volunteering, and cred- ited to the several townships and wards of said county, or their respective orders : and also to each and every drafted man (after he shall have been accepted). or his order, so far as the same may be necessary to fill the quota of said county : provided, that any order for said sum of three hundred dollars may be made in amounts of fifty dollars. if required by the person entitled thereto. The certificate of the Provost Marshall of this district, as to the names of the persons volunteering or having been drafted, and as to the quotas of the different townships or wards of this county. shall be sufficient evidence to the Clerk to authorize him to act under the present appropriation.
Various substitutes were offered for the foregoing resolutions. Among others Supervisor Provine offered one embodying the fol- lowing objections : First, that it would be unequal and unjust for those that have sons, or that have sent sons under twenty-one years of age. Second, that it is the duty and the privilege of every able-bodied man to respond to the call of his country in defense of his civil and religious liberties. Third, that the mak- ing of such appropriation would involve the county in such a debt as would result in bankruptcy and ruin.
Previous to a vote upon the question the privilege was given to Col. L. II. Waters, Judge J. S. Bailey and James M. Campbell to present their views. All the various substitutes were voted down and the original resolutions of Mr. MeSperitt were adopted. Mr. Hamilton afterwards (at March term, same year) endeavored to have passed a resolution exempting from taxation under the levy to raise money for the payment of the bounties certain classes, as follows: First, those who have been themselves in the service during the present war. Second, those who may be widows or orphans of soldiers who have served in the present war. Third, those who have hired substitutes in the present war previ- ous to the present call. Those from whose families minors have gone out as soldiers during the present war. The resolution of Mr. H. was voted down.
By reference to a report made by the County Clerk to the Ad- jutant General of the State, we learn that there was expended by the county as bounty money the sum of $131.400. In addition
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IIISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
to this Mound township expended $5,860 ; Prairie City, $18,049.39; New Salem, $6,266.50 ; a total for the county of $161,575.85.
On the first day of November, 1864, occurred the most terrible tragedy recorded in the annals of MeDonough county. In July of this year the President of the United States issued his procla- mation for an additional number of men for the United States service; and further ordered that if the call was not complied with by volunteers within fifty days from date of said call, drafting should be resorted to. Each State in the Union was di- vided into districts and sub-districts, and to each was assigned their just quota. A record of all enlistments heretofore made had been kept and each district properly credited with all volunteers reporting therefrom. MeDonough county was in the Ninth Dis- triet, Capt. B. F. Westlake, of Mt. Sterling, Brown county, Pro- vost Marshal. On the fifteenth day of June, 1863, William H. Ran- dolph, of the city of Macomb, received the appointment of Depu- ty Provost Marshal, and was re-appointed Sept. 28, 1864, commis- sion to date from Sept. 15, 1864. About this time notice was given to the various sub-districts in the county that upon the sixth day of October, the draft for the townships of Eldorado, Emmet, Hire, Sciota, Industry, Bethel, Lamoine, Chalmers, Scotland, Mound, Walnut Grove and New Salem, would take place at Mt. Sterling, and requested that committees should be appointed from each township to attend the drawing to see that it was fairly con- ducted. According to notice, the draft took place and a list of drafted men immediately forwarded to Captain Randolph. Upon that list appeared the name of John Bond, of Hire township. Mr. Bond was duly notified, and failing to report according to the statute made and provided, was considered a deserter, and it be- came the duty of Captain Randolph to arrest him as such. Ac- cordingly on the morning of the first day of November, 1864, he proceeded to Blandinsville for that purpose, arriving there a lit- tle before daylight. About sunrise, he met Bond in the saloon of Chris. Sappington, and told him he had come for him, and asked him to go peaceably with him to Mt. Sterling. This Bond refused to do, stating that he would not go and fight for the niggers, and that the quota of his township was full, and it was unnecessary. Mr. Randolph told him he must go. Bond went out of the sa- loon, followed by Randolph, going over to the hotel of his broth- er James. Here they were met by Miles, another brother of John, who said to him, " Your horse is ready ; it is time to take
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HISTORY OF MI'DONOUGH COUNTY.
a ride." Mr. R. then placed his hand upon John's shoulder and told him he was his prisoner. Upon this, Bond drew his pis- tol, fired at Randolph, and then ran. Mr. R. returned the fire, and followed him out the door, where they were again met by Miles, who also fired at him. Randolph then turned, and the Bond brothers jumped on their horses and fled the country. Ran- dolph was shot in four places, two mortal wounds being inflicted. He was taken to the house of a Mr. Hudson, where he died in about eighteen hours after being shot. Drs. Emery and Durant, of Blandinsville, and Jordan, of Macomb, were called in, and all that could be done for his relief was attended to, but all in vain. Coroner Sullivan held an inquest on the remains on the third inst .. the jury returning a verdict that he came to his death at the hands of John Bond and Miles Bond, aided by James Bond and Ty- ler Ray, and that the act was without sufficient justification. The next day, the fourth, the remains were brought to Macomb, and interred in Oakwood cemetery, being followed to the grave by a large procession of sincerely mourning relatives and friends.
At the death of Mr. Randolph the citizens of the county offered a reward of $5,205 for the arrest of the four accomplices in the murder, viz: John Bond, Miles Bond, James Bond, and Atilla Ray. Of this amount Mrs. Randolph was to give the sum of $2,000. At the March term (1865) following of the Circuit Court, the grand jury found a bill of indictment against the four above-named persons implicated by the coroner's jury. The in- dietment against Ray, we believe, was afterwards quashed.
As remarked, after having shot Captain Randolph, the Bonds fled the country, and the attempt made to capture them at the time was unsuccessful. Nothing reliable as to their whereabouts was learned by the public for several years. Frank E. Fowler, of Macomb, now of Galesburg, Illinois, then in the employ of the government as United States detective, determined, if possible, to effect their capture. In response to a card, we received the following account of the capture of Miles Bond, from Mr. Fowler :
" On Saturday, June 13, 1868, I arrested Miles W. Bond, near the town of Sonora, Hardin county, Kentucky, for the murder of Deputy Provost Marshal William H. Randolph, on the first day of November, 1864. I had been on the track of Bond about three years, but when about ready to capture him 'he wasn't there.'
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
" Some three weeks before the arrest I located Bond at the above mentioned place, and proceeded to arrange for making his arrest, which had to be done very cautiously, as he had many rel- atives and friends watching my every movement. So I gave out in your neighborhood that I was going to Massachusetts to visit relatives. The next you heard was a telegraphic dispatch from Louisville, Kentucky, that the arrest had been made.
"On arriving at Louisville, Bond being a desperate man, I secured the co-operation of an officer, and together we proceeded to the place of capture. Bond had just left his house and was crossing the road, at about five o'clock in the morning, when we came upon, and immediately seized him and clasped the irons upon him, without giving him any time to make the least resist- ance. He was immediately hurried off, and arrived in Macomb Tuesday morning, June 16, 1868, just three years four months and fourteen days from the day of the murder.
Since the murder, Bond had been wandering all over the coun- try, his occupation being that of farmer, barber, miller, carpenter, etc. He took his arrest as coolly as could be expected. At first he had not much to say, but before arriving at Macomb he became quite talkative, giving all the information in regard to his life since he left the county. He had been living under the name of Samuel S. Walker. Shortly after arresting him I called him by the name of Miles, his given name, and he remarked to me,- 'That is the first time in over three years that anybody has called me by that name.'
Very respectfully, "FRANK E. FOWLER."
At the October term, 1868, the case of Miles W. Bond was call- ed, and, on motion of his attorneys, a change of venue was taken to Schuyler county, and his trial had at the May term of the cir- cuit court of that county. L. W. James, prosecuting attorney, assisted by D. G. Tunnicliff, C. F. Wheat, L. II. Waters and .J. C. Bagby, conducted the prosecution, while S. C. Judd, S. P. Shope, W. II. Neece, Robert Walker and Henry Metz appeared for the defense. A number of witnesses were examined on both sides, and the case ably argued by the attorney. The fact of the killing of Randolph by the Bonds was clearly proven, and not de- nied by the defense; in fact the defendant himself did not deny the charge against him, and in the trial of his brothers, John and James, some two years afterwards at Macomb, swore to the fact. The attorneys for the defense made the following points : First,
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
There is no record of a draft having been made. Second, At the time of the arrest of John Bond the draft was filled. The object of the conscript law was to raise soldiers, and consequently the force and object of the law was attained when the quota was full ; after that the Provost Marshal had no right to arrest alternates who would have been dismissed if they had reported. Third, In attempting to arrest John Bond, he transcended his duties, and Bond was justified in resisting arrest. Fourth, Miles Bond, seeing the life of his brother in danger, by the law was justified in shoot- ing his antagonist.
The case was ably managed upon both sides, and, after a patient hearing, it was submitted to the jury, who brought in a verdict of " not guilty."
About the beginning of the year 1870 two men came to Ma- comb, having in charge John and James Bond, claiming to have captured them in Missouri, and claiming the reward offered for their apprehension. Doubt was entertained as to their story, it being generally believed it was a " put up job," the Bonds desiring to surrender, and had arranged with these men to come and de- liver them up and divide with them the amount of the reward offered. It was therefore refused, and they only received about $50 to pay their expenses.
At the March term, 1871, the case of John and James Bond was called, but on account of the absence of two important wit- nesses, the State's Attorney, L. W. James, obtained a continuance till the next term. At the special term, held in July following, the case was again called, but in consequence of the sudden and violent illness of Capt. B. F. Westlake, a material witness, a con- tinuance was again granted to the people. At the September term all were found ready, and on Tuesday, the twenty-sixth day of the month, the trial began, Judge Sibley, of the Adams District, presiding. Only two jurors were accepted out of the regular panel. Ninety-two others were summoned and examined before the twelve could be obtained. On the completion of the regular num- ber, the trial proceeded. For the people appeared L. W. James, Prosecuting Attorney, assisted by C. F. Wheat and D. G. Tunni- cliff. The defense was represented by Messrs. Judd & Neece. The trial lasted for three days. Twelve witnesses were examined for the people, and five for the defense. Upon the points where boh were examined there was no apparent difference in their testi-
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