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 3
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Previous to the organization of the county the taxes were as- sessed and collected by Schuyler county, and among the first acts of our County Commissioners was a request that the authorities of
24
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
that county furnish them a list of taxes assessed for the coming year, which request was at once complied with.
In December, 1830, James Clarke, Esq., went to Springfield, and, in behalf of the county, entered the quarter section of land upon which the old town of Macomb was subsequently laid out. For this service he was allowed the munificent sum of $3, which was certainly well earned, for, while returning, he was overtaken by the big snow storm so well remembered by all the old settlers, and it was with great difficulty that he arrived safely at home. The snow began to fall when he was between Springfield and Beardstown, and in a few hours time all traces of the road were obliterated, and the only way by which he could with certainty know he was pursuing the right course was by observing the trees and large weeds that he had noticed in previously passing over the road. The recollection of this " big snow " is vividly impressed upon the mind of more than one old settler, and the remembrance of the horrors of that long winter will never be oblit- erated while their lives shall last. The snow began to fall the night of the twenty-ninth of December, and continued falling for three days and nights, until it reached an average depth of about four feet, drifting in places as high as eighteen or twenty feet. Great suffering was experienced in consequence. The settlers relied for their daily food upon the Indian corn which they were enabled to raise, together with the wild game, which was abundant at that time. Plenty of the former was raised to supply the wants of all until the next season's crop ; but when the snow fell, but little had been gathered. Game could not be had. The great depth of the snow was a barrier to all travel, and it may well be imagined the sutterings of the people were great indeed. In a letter, published in the March (1876) number of Clarke's Monthly, Hon. James Clarke thus graphically described the situation :
" The snow fell an average depth of about four feet, and re- mained on the ground for about three months. All kinds of wild game literally starved to death. Before the snow fell the deer were as fat as could be, and before it passed away they were so poor they were not fit to eat. Wild turkeys would fall from the limbs of trees. The morning after the snow fell my wife was about three hours shoveling it from our cabin. We then lived about one hundred yards from the house lately occupied by Isaac Haines, a little southwest of Macomb. I did not have my corn gathered, and had a good sized family to feed, and had five
25
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
horses and some cattle. As soon as possible I sent John Wilson, the young man afterward murdered by McFadden, with the horses to Morgan county to have them kept through the winter. Each day we would have to go out to the field, and where we could see a stalk of corn standing above the snow reach down until we came to the ear, pull it off, gathering enough for the day. There were no mills in the country, and cach family would, with a mortar and pestle, pound their corn so as to make bread. A few were fortu- nate enough to have large graters with which they would grate up the corn. The first thing done each morning would be to build the fire and put on a big pot of water in which the corn would be thrown and boiled awhile, then taken out and grated and made into good, wholesome bread. This, with what game we could get, was what we had to live on during the long winter.
"Several families came to the county that fall, and, of course, had no corn. All things were then held more in common. Those that had none were welcome to help themselves from their more fortunate neighbors, all that was required of them being that they should gather it themselves. Resin Naylor, better known as " Boss " Naylor, was one of that class, and it was a little amusing to see him go out to the fields, walking for a time on top of the snow, on which a crust was formed, but now and then going through, getting his corn, and come in blowing like a porpoise and sweating dreadfully. But we all managed to live, and had good cause to be thankful it was no worse. The young men and women of this day have little knowledge of what a pioneer life consisted. Away out upon an almost boundless prairie, far from home and kindred, with an opportunity of hearing from them only every few months, it was dreary indeed, but how different itis now! However far the distance, they can be communicated with in a few moments time."
During the previous summer Mr. John Rogers erected himself a log house on the prairie, in Industry township, but the winter coming on, he concluded it would be better for him to move to the timber, which he accordingly did, taking his cabin with him ; but the snow beginning to fall before he had finished rebuilding, he enclosed the cabin in a tent, and managed to live in it during the long winter that followed, his only food being hominy, with- out salt. This so disgusted him that the next spring he left the county, never to return.
26
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
We have little doubt that many a weary one during that long winter sighed for the comforts of the " old home ;" but, nothwith- standing its dreariness and the suffering of the people, none be- came disheartened save the one above mentioned. We find them in the spring of 1831 as determined as ever to carve out for them- selves a home in this truly beautiful country.
During this first year of the organization of the county but one couple was brave enough to try " the sweets of wedded bliss," for but one marriage license was granted-John Wyatt and Betsy Massingill.
27
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
CHAPTER II.
1831.
The snow lay upon the ground until about the first of April ; meantime the few inhabitants of the county lived as best they could, trusting the good time would yet come.
In the spring of this year James M. Campbell, Esq., came to the county, and was cordially received. He had, in December pre- vious, received the appointment of Clerk of the Circuit Court from the Hon. Richard M. Young, Circuit Judge, and came to enter upon the duties of his office. Like most of the settlers living in the county at that time, Mr. Campbell was from the State of Ken- tucky. This fact was not discovered at first, and Mr. Campbell was regarded as a Yankee, and, consequently, looked upon with suspicion. John Baker resigned the office of Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court ; a new man was to be appointed, and who it should be was a question. Mr. Campbell was suggested. One of the Commissioners replied most emphatically that no Yankee should ever be Clerk of that Court. Mr. Campbell was asked if he was really and truly a Yankee. " Well, gentlemen," replied Mr. C., " if to be born in the city of Frankfort, State of Kentucky, living there until six years of age, coming to the State of Illinois and remaining for six years, then returning to Kentucky and living there for twelve years, and again returning to Illinois, constitutes a Yankee, then I am one." It is unnecessary to add that the ex- planation was satisfactory, and the appointment made. Being of an energetic turn of mind, and something of an enthusiast, he at once took a leading part in the affairs of the county, and has ever since been in active life, having many times been honored by the citizens of the county with the highest offices within their gift.
28
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
Strict economy governed the Commissioners in all the affairs pertaining to the welfare of the county. Every bill presented was carefully scrutinized, and value received was invariably required before payment. We may here remark that such has always been the action of every Board of County Commissioners, or Super- visors, since the organization of the county, which will ac- count for the good credit always enjoyed. Very few bills of doubtful propriety have ever been smuggled through.
At the March term of the County Commissioners' Court James Clarke was allowed the sum of three dollars for going to Spring- field and entering the land upon which the original town of Ma- comb was located. As remarked in a preceding chapter, the money was well earned, for while returning home he was over- taken by the big snow storm, and was several days in making the trip. We have heard him remark that often times while on the journey he thought he would be compelled to give up and lie down and die. The snow in many places had drifted so much that his horse could not get through, and he would be compelled to effect a passage by raking it away with his hands.
In payment for the use of his house for court purposes John Baker was granted the fee simple right to two lots in the town of Macomb, which was then to be laid out. John J. Keaton was em- ployed to make the survey, for which he was allowed the sum of thirty-five dollars. David Clarke and John Baker were employed to carry the chain, for which they each received fifty cents a day. William McDonald received sixty-two and a half cents per day for driving the stakes, the work being more arduous than that of carrying the chain. It appears from bills allowed by the County Commissioners' Court the wages paid laborers at this time were from fifty cents to one dollar per day.
Many laughable anecdotes are related of this survey. Mr. Keaton was not a regular surveyor, and is said to have known less about surveying than those who carried the chain. He had great difficulty in making the corners-in fact never did make them, and they have never been straightened to this day. Another man being wanted to assist in the work, several were approached for this purpose, but all had an excuse to make, one man replying that he would not give the pleasure of his day's drunk for the two best lots in the town. It should be remembered there were few teeto- talers in the county at that time. The first plat of the town not
29
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
proving satisfactory, the citizens petitioned the County Commis- sioners to change it, which was done, although one of the members of the board, Hon. James Vance, entered upon the records of the court his protest against the action.
At a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, held April 12, 1831, the question of building a Court House was discussed, and the following order made :
Ordered, That the building of a house, to be used as a Court House, be let to the lowest bidder, of the following description, to-wit : To be built of logs, hewed on both sides, to face from nine to twelve inches ; to be built eighteen feet by twenty, with a white oak plank floor above and below, laid loose ; nine feet between the joist and sleepers, the sleep- ers laid two feet apart, laid on the sills ; joists not more than two feet apart, of good white oak, hewed, or sawed four inches thick by nine inches wide ; to be chinked and daubed on the outside ; one door six and one-half feet high and three feet wide, well faced and cased : a good batten door, hung on good iron hinges ; one window, to have twelve panes of glass, and one window of six panes of glass : to be placed in said building by the in- struction of James M. Campbell ; each window to have a good strong batten shutter, hưng with butt hinges, covered with boards four feet long, of good width, and what is called double covered, with good gutters and eaves. The said building when completed and finished to be done in workmanlike manner. The said building to be on a lot in the town of Macomb, (on a lot) to be in due time, that is within two weeks, made known to the undertaker. The undertaker will be required to give bonds, with sufficient security. for the faithful performance of his undertaking in the penal sum of double the amount of his bid, made payable to the County Commissioners, or their successors in office, for the use of the county. that the said house shall be finished on or before the first day of Sep- tember inst.
It is further ordered, That the weight poles are to be of sufficient weight to be of ser- vice ; that the undertaker furnish everything necessary for the above building, except the glass for the windows.
On the same day the above propositions were made the contract was let to William Southward for the sum of sixty-nine dollars and fifty cents. As will be observed, there is a considerable diť- ference between the first and last buildings erected for court pur- poses.
At this same meeting John Baker applied for a license to keep a tavern, which request was ordered on his paying into the Conn- ty Treasury the sum of six dollars and fifty cents, together with the Clerk's fees for issuing the license. The board then adopted the following scale of prices to govern inn-keepers in the county :
For each meal of victuals. $0 25
For each night's lodgings. . 0 1212
For each horse feed per night. 0 25
For each horse feed
0 1212
For each half pint of whisky. 0) 1216
For each half pint French brandy
0 25
For each half pint Holland gin or wine 0 25
For each half pint peach brandy 0 1834
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
It will doubtless seem strange to our young readers to know that this John Baker, to whom a license was granted to keep a tavern, which was but another name for a grocery and whisky shop, was a Baptist preacher, but such was the fact. He figured for several years in the county as a minister of the gospel and a retailer of the ardent. He, a few days after obtaining his license, took as a partner Samuel Bogart, a Methodist preacher, and, under the name of Bogart, Baker & Co., the firm engaged in the sale of dry goods, groceries, whisky, tobacco, etc. That no preacher is now allowed to drink, much less sell ardent spirits, is certainly proof sufficient to show that the temperance cause is advancing.
By an examination of the records of the Board of County Com- missioners, we find that four licenses were granted during this year (1831) to keep tavern in Macomb, from which it may be sup- posed that liquor was in demand. We can scarcely imagine who their customers were, and can only solve the problem by suppos- ing that they carried on business after the manner of the old man and his wife, who, owning a barrel of cider between them, and only a sixpence to spend, tapped the barrel at both ends, and sold to each other.
On the twenty-sixth day of April the first public sale of lots was made in the town of Macomb, William Edmondston acting as auctioneer, he having previously been appointed by the board as commissioner for the sale of all lots. But few were sold, and the amount realized was quite small.
On the sixth day of June John Baker resigned the position of Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, and James M. Camp- bell was appointed in his stead "during good behavior." We conclude his behavior must have been good, for he held the posi- tion for many years. He was required to give bond in the sum of $1,000 to " faithfully, fairly and impartially do and perform the duties of Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court to the best of his understanding and abilities."
License was required at this time for the sale of all kinds of mer- chandise, and we find applications made by James M. Campbell, Henton & Robinson, and Bogart, Baker & Co. to keep a "dry goods and retail store," which were granted on the payment of the sum of five dollars per year, together with the Clerk's fees. These firms all transacted business in Macomb.
31
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
At this meeting of the board the various magistrate districts were made election precincts for the Congressional election, to be held the first Monday in August. For this election the clerks were each allowed one dollar and twelve and a half cents, and the judges one dollar per day. We suppose the clerk's duties were more laborious, hence the difference in price.
By an act of Congress the sixteenth section of land in every township was set apart, and the proceeds ofits sale used, for com- mon school purposes. Commissioners were appointed in each county to superintend its sale and take charge of the proceeds. In September of this year James Vance received the appointment as Commissioner of School Lands, and was instructed by the board to loan all money received therefor for not less than twelve per cent. per annum. Trustees for each township were also appointed for the school lands.
The assessment of taxes then and now will bear no comparison, as we learn from the records that Resin Naylor was only allowed fifteen dollars for assessing the taxes of the whole county.
The Court House was finished according to contract, and Cir- cuit Court convened therein for its second term on the twenty-first day of October. There were present the Hon. Richard M. Young, Circuit Judge; Hon. Thomas Ford, State's Attorney; William Southward, Sheriff, and James M. Campbell, Clerk. At this ses- sion considerable business was transacted, the most important be- ing the trial of David Morgan for murder. This was a case from Schuyler county. After a patient hearing, the jury rendered its verdict, finding him guilty, as charged in the indictment. For some cause the verdict was set aside, the indictment quashed, and the prisoner discharged.
An indictment was found by the grand jury against Thomas Morgan, a brother of David, for murder, after which he was ar- rested, and obtained a continuance of his case until the next term of court. There being no jail in the county, he was remanded by the Judge to the Schuyler county jail. At the next session of the court he obtained a farther continuance, and ere another term he broke jail, and was never afterward heard from.
Quite a number settled in the county this year, among whom was J. W. Brattle, for many years surveyor for the county, and a man well and universally esteemed. Mr. Brattle has probably done more surveying in MeDonough county than all others com- bined since the organization of the county.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
John Huston resigned the office of County Treasurer on the seventeenth day of March, 1831. Resin Naylor was appointed to succeed him, and was placed under bonds to the amount of $800. Quite a difference between his bond and that of the present Treas- urer of the county, who is held in the sum of $530,000. Mr. Nay- lor continued to hold the office a number of years, receiving his appointment each year from the Board of County Commissioners.
Twelve couples were united in the holy bonds of matrimony this year.
At the time Mr. Campbell came to the county there was no postoffice within its limits, citizens obtaining their mail from Rush- ville, the nearest office. He at once made arrangements with the Postmaster at that place to send him the mail belonging to citi- zens of this county, he becoming personally responsible for the payment of the postage, which at that time was scarcely ever pre- paid, the price being twenty-five cents per letter. It is said of Mr. Campbell that on receiving the letters he placed them in his hat in order that he might accommodate the people as he met them on the streets or elsewhere. A petition was sent to the Postmaster General for the establishment of an office at Macomb, and for the appointment of Mr. Campbell as Postmaster, which was granted, and his commission was received December 1, 1831. He held the office for some fifteen years, save for a period of three months, in 1841, when George W. Damron was appointed in his . stead.
OLD COURT HOUSE.
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
CHAPTER III.
1832-34.
During the years 1832 and 1833 but few matters of importance transpired in the county. The seasons came and went-a few families moved into the county, a few others moved out of it, be- coming dissatisfied with the hard life of the pioneer. And it was indeed hard. Very few of the immigrants were possessed of any considerable property ; there was no market for what was raised ; money was held at a high rate of interest, and the securities offered were poor. Those who remained in the county were of two classes, those who were too poor to get away, and those who be- lieved there was " millions in it."
Up to this time no place had been provided for the confinement of prisoners, there being but little necessity for any. The want now began to be felt; accordingly, at the March (1833) term of the Board of County Commissioners, the subject was fully can- vassed, and it was agreed that a jail should be built. The order was made in the following terms :
Ordered, That the building of a jail for said county be let to the lowest bidder on the second Monday of April next, and that the Clerk advertise the same, to-wit : Twenty feet square, with three rooms at least nine feet between the floor and ceiling : the walls built of hewed logs, twelve inches square, laid close, dovetailed together and pinned, each log at the corner, so as not to admit of anything passing through the inside of said rooms: to be lined with plank two inches thick, of white oak, spiked on across the logs, laid close ; with the floor of said sized timber of two thicknesses, crossing at right angles. with a ceil- ing : and as a floor, of the same said plank, and spiked over, as on the walls, of the following description : The walls planked are to be spiked in diamond form. four inches square on all the walls, ceilings and floors, with a clapboard roof nailed on. the boards to be three feet long, and of good width ; all of which to be done in workmanlike manner. &c .; with three doors covered with sheet iron. with a place left so as to open on hinges : a small grate in the center of the two inner doors, and to be so fixed as to be as strong when done as though they were solid : with three grates, two large enough to admit a pane of glass ten by twelve, with a sash swinging on hinges on the inside of each room. and one window large enough to contain six panes of glass ; in each window to be placed two
H-3
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
grates of iron bars only four inches square from center to center of the bars ; and two outside doors to the criminal rooms, hanging on the outside, opening into the debtor's room, and that the bar to be of iron three inches breadth bar, and crossing through the center with bars one inch square : the house to be placed on a stone foundation, built at least six inches above the highest point of the ground, and to set into and under the sur- face at least two feet, two feet thick, and the space filled with stone to the lower part of the floor ; and the whole to be completed in a workmanlike manner, &c.
The contract was let to James Edmondson, who, in due time, completed the work to the satisfaction of the Commissioners. The building yet stands, and has been used for over twenty years by the city of Macomb as a city prison, going by the name of the " old calaboose."
This building has always been considered a pretty strong one, but we are informed " by one who knows " that, when first built, a man by the name of John Seward was incarcerated in it for as- sault on one Devonshire. Not liking his quarters, he kicked a log out, and was soon a free man. IIe was evidently good on the kick.
The following rather strange order was spread upon the records at this term of the court :
Ordered, That the Treasurer assess a tax at the rate of one-half per cent. on town lots, provided that Congress has repealed the law exempting public lands sold from taxes for five years, and that he govern himself according to law ; and on slaves, registered or in- dentured negro or mulatto servants ; on pleasure carriages, on distilleries, on all horses, mares, mules, asses and neat cattle above the age of three years, and also on all horses, mules, asses and neat cattle under three years of age; on watches and clocks, and their appendages, on wagons and carts, on hogs and sheep.
But one slave was known to have been held in the county, and it seemed to be the determination that none should be allowed unless duly taxed.
The Court House erected in 1831 becoming too small, it was de- termined to erect one of brick, " two stories high, and not more than forty-six feet square." An advertisement was inserted in the Jacksonville Patriot in March or April, 1833, for plans and specifications for such a building, and in answer plans were fur- nished at the May term of the Board, and one adopted, as follows :
Ordered, That the following be the plans of a Court House in and for the county of McDonough, 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 founda- tion 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 cor- ners of each of the jury or small rooms to the east end of the building, at parallel lines
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