History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 85

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1424

USA > Illinois > Mercer County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 85
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 85

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James C. Hutchinson continued to hold the office of county com- missioner until the September term of the commissioners' court, when he was succeeded by Francis J. C. Peasley, who held the office until September, 1842, when he was succeeded by Michael Crane, who, with commissioners Martin and Coghill, constituted the board until Septem- ber, 1843, when Mr. Coghill was succeeded by Isaiah Brook. The court remained thus constituted until September, 1844, when William Cous- land succeeded Preston Martin on the board. In September, 1845, Ira Miller succeeded Michael Crane. In September, 1846, Matthew Findley and Jeremiah Rose succeeded Brook and Cousland. In September, 1849, Ebenezer Chapin succeeded Matthew Findley, and Charles S. Cowan having been elected clerk succeeded Alfred Knowles. In September, 1848, Matthew Findley succeeded Ira Miller, and the board thus constituded continued until December, 1849, when the county government was organized under the new constitution.

Township organization has not been adopted in this county, but the old system of county government is still maintained, the county being divided into precincts for election purposes, and the county govern- ment composed of a board of three commissioners, manage the affairs of the county. This constituted the county government until the adoption of the constitution in 1848, when, under a provision of which, the general assembly of the state passed an act in relation to the government of coun- ties, in force April 13, 1849, by which each county elected a county judge and two associate justices of the peace, who were directed to hold a regular term of court for the transaction of county business, on the first

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Mondays of March, June, September, and December, in each year ; the county judge being authorized and directed to hold a probate term of court on the third Monday of each month for the transaction of business pertaining to the estates of deceased persons, and for the pur- pose of attending to all cases that might arise under general probate jurisdition. The two associate justices of the peace so elected by the voters of the county at large, were county justices of the peace, and were vested with justices' jurisdiction for the whole county. The county judge was likewise ex-officio justice of the peace for the entire county. On the third day of December, 1849, William C. Rice, county judge, Daniel Edmunds, and George W. Penny, associate jus- tices of the peace, and Charles S. Cowan, clerk of the county court, filed their respective bonds, and were qualified for the offices to which . they had been elected. The court thus constituted, organized and pro- ceeded to the transaction of business. Robert Cronover, county treas- urer, took the oath of office, and his bond was fixed at $2,000. At this meeting of the court, Earl Frizzell, a revolutionrry soldier, pre- sented his declaration, as required by the war department, to secure a. pension from the United States government, and after complying with the requirements prescribed by law, the court issued the required cer- tificate. At the December term, 1850, of the county court, Boothe Nettleton, who had been elected sheriff, filed his bond, took the oath of office, and entered upon the discharge of his duties.

A company having been organized under an act of the general assembly, April 19, 1851, under the name of the "Burlington and Warren Plank Road Company," for the purpose of constructing a plank road across the Mississippi river bottom, from Hopper's mills, in Hen- derson county, to a point on the river bank opposite the city of Bur- lington, Iowa, the county court, at its September term, 1850, granted said company a license to run a ferry across the river from a point where their plank road touches the river on the east bank, to the city of Burlington, upon paying into the county treasury the sum of $10. At the December term of the county court, 1852, Samuel P. MaGaw, sheriff elect of the county, filed his bond and was duly qualified.

CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY.

Henderson county was, on its organization, in the fifth judicial circuit, and the first term of the circuit court was held in Oquawka, May 28, 1841, in a store-room belonging to Col. Patterson, on Second street, near the present location of the brick block of Robert Moir. Hon. Stephen A. Douglas presided as judge, John S. Pollock, clerk, William D. Henderson, sheriff, and H. L. Bryant, state's attorney pro

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tem. At this term Henry B. Harbinson filed his bond and qualified as the first coroner of the county. Of the character of Judge Douglas as a judge, lawyer, and statesman, it is needless here to speak. His char- acter and achievements, both on the bench and in the national councils, have passed into history ; and when passion and prejudice shall have had their day, and the impartial historian shall take up his pen, the record shall then assign the name of Stephen A. Douglas its true place in the list of statesmen and jurists of our country. Judge Douglas continued to preside in our circuit until the November term, 1843, when he was succeeded by Jesse B. Thomas, who continued to preside until the November term, 1845. Richard M. Young succeeded Judge Thomas at the June term, 1845, and then Norman H. Purple came to preside in this circuit, and continued until the June term, 1848, when he was succeeded by William Minchell, who held the same position until the September term, 1851, when Onias C. Skinner, of the county' of Adams, who had been elected by virtue of an act of the general assembly of the state, passed in pursuance of a provision of the consti- tution adopted in 1848, dividing the state into judicial circuits, and providing for the election of judges by vote of the people, became judge of this circuit, and continued to preside with signal ability at each term of the court in this county until the year 1855. Judge Skinner won a deserved reputation as a learned and upright judge, and soon after retiring from the circuit bench he was elected to fill a place on the supreme bench from the central grand division of the state, where he fulfilled the expectations of his legal friends and maintained the high character he had so justly won. Judge Skinner died at his home in Quincy about three years ago, his death being caused by having been thrown from his carriage by a frightened team while riding through the street near his residence.

Hezekiah M. Wead, of Peoria county, next held court in this county for one year, when John S. Thompson, of Mercer county, was elected in his place, and continued to preside as judge of our circuit court until 1861, when he resigned, and Aaron Tyler, of Knox county, was appointed by the Governor to fill the unexpired term for which Judge Thompson had been elected. Judge Thompson came upon the bench with but little legal experience at the bar, but the possession of a sound legal mind, great industry and an unfaltering determination to deal justly with all questions submitted to him for adjudication, enabled him to discharge the arduous duties devolving upon him with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the legal friends with whom he asso- ciated. His decisions and rulings while on the bench bore well the scrutiny of the higher court, when taken there for review.

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CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY.

In 1861 Charles B. Lawrence, of Warren county, was elected judge. Of him we need only say that he brought to the discharge of his judicial duties that ripe scholarship, that well trained judicial mind, that has made for him a place in the front ranks of the legal profession in the state and also in the entire west. This circuit was favored with his able judicial administration until the year 1864, when he was elected judge of the supreme court from the northern grand division of the state. At the election of 1864 John S. Thompson was again elected judge to fill the vacancy made by the resignation of Judge Lawrence, and continued to preside until he was succeeded by Arthur A. Smith, who was elected in 1868. Judge Smith was a resident of Knox county, and had served in the army as a lieutenant-colonel of the 83d reg. Ill. Vol., and has been twice elected to fill the position of judge of the cir- cuit in which Henderson county is embraced, and still continues to preside as one of the three judges who compose the judiciary of the circuit. This long service and repeated choice of the voters of the cir- cuit speaks louder in behalf of his merited popularity with the people of his circuit than any eulogy that can be written in this brief review.

In 1877 the general assembly passed an act re-organizing the judi- cial circuits throughout the state, and Henderson county with Warren, Knox, Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island counties, became the tenth judicial circuit, entitled to elect three judges. Judge George W. Pleas- ants, being the judge of the circuit in which Rock Island county was em- braced, and residing in that county, became one of the judges of this circuit, and at the election held in August, 1877, John J. Glenn was elected as the associate of judges Pleasants and Smith. Judge Glenn is a resident of Warren county, and brought to the discharge of his judicial duties large experience at the bar, a clear analytical mind, great industry and unquestioned integrity, which has won for him the confi- dence of the people of his circuit, and the warm esteem of his many friends. Although an active partisan he has never been accused of allowing his partisan predilections to sway his judicial decisions, but has sought to hold the scales of justice in equal poise for each and all men alike. Judge Pleasants, in 1877, was designated as one of the judges of the appellate court of the first district, composed of Cook county, and upon his re-election in 1879, was again designated as one of the judges of the appellate court for the second district, composed of all the counties of the northern grand division except Cook county, which position he now fills with credit to himself and to the satis- faction of the members of the bar, and the public generally.

I shall not be accused, I know, of invidiousness by any who are acquainted with Judge Pleasants, when I speak of him as an ornament

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

to his profession, and a judge possessed of rare judicial ability. His legal attainments, his clear, discriminating mind, are all of the highest order. Always self-possessed upon the bench, patient with wearisome arguments that do not instruct, ever ready to listen to any suggestions or authority presented by counsel, he possesses that rare faculty of eliminating from a case before him, almost by intuition, all extraneous matter, and coming at once to the true issues to be determined, and when he has reached a legal conclusion in a case upon which to base a judgment, his reasons are so convincing that few suitors go from his court dissatisfied with his adjudications. It is to be regretted that his health is impaired, and all join in the hope that his physical strength may be renewed, and that he may be spared yet for many years to grace the position which he now so ably and worthily fills. In 1879 jugdes Smith, Pleasants and Glenn were elected for a full term, and still hold the courts of this circuit.

POLITICAL PARTIES.

At the formation of the county the political parties were divided into whig and democratic, as understood in the national divisions, the whig party having about 200 majority in the county. There were during the early history of parties a small number of radical anti-slavery men in the county, who could not subscribe to the doctrines held by either of the other parties on the slave question, and held aloof from their organizations. Too feeble in numbers to effect the object desired, having but little countenance or support anywhere in this state or the west, they bore the reproach everywhere heaped upon the head of a man who dared declare that slavery was wrong, and that the onward march of events and the light of civilization proclaimed its early downfall. To be an abolitionist in those days was to abdicate all hope of political advancement, and all claims upon the suffrages of voters at the polls.

The war with Mexico and the large acquisition of territory on our part as the price of peace, the agitation consequent upon the passage of the compromise measures of 1850 by congress, aroused the atten- tion of the people of this county as well as those of other sections, and led to the formation of a third party in Henderson county, which for the first time entered the field and contested at the polls for public favor in 1852, under the name of the "free soil" party. These dis- tinctive organizations continued until the formation of the republican party in 1856, which was composed of the bulk of the defunct whig party and the anti-slavery element combined. This new party in the presidential campaign of that year, under the candidacy of John C.

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Fremont, contested with the democratic party for supremacy. Since that time the republican party's majority in the county upon all test votes has ranged from 100 to 300.

It is true that the small anti-slavery element cast a few votes by way of protest in the year 1848, and the organization denominated the "know nothing," or American party, made some show of strength at the polls in the year 1854, but all these fragments became finally con- solidated with one or the other of the great parties of the day in 1856. From 1856 to the present time the republican party, when an issue has been sharply made, has usually had about 350 majority in the county.

TOWNS.

The town of Oquawka was laid ont in 1836, by Alexis Phelps and his brother, Stephen S. Phelps, who purchased a claim and im- provement that had been made upon the grounds now occupied by the town. Oquawka owes its name to the Indians with whom it was a noted point in their travels and tribal convocations. The word is said to signify the lower end or termination of the Yellow Banks, the point indicated being situated at the termination of a series of high sand bluff's along the river, extending at intervals to a point above the town of New Boston, eighteen miles above Oquawka. Upon the laying out of the town it at once became a place of commercial im- portance, a large trade centering upon its levees. It was for many years, and until the opening of railroads revolutionized trade, the ship- ping point for a large country around, including Warren, Knox and a part of Mercer counties. Extensive warehouses lined the river landing in which the products of the surrounding country was in the winter stored, to await the opening of navigation in the spring, when ship- ments would begin for St. Louis and New Orleans, about the only two market points relied upon at early periods. Goods shipped from east- ern cities for this market came generally by way of Pittsburgh and the Ohio river to Cairo, and thence up the Mississippi to our landing. Some shipments of heavy goods were made by sea to New Orleans and up the river. Upon the opening of the Illinois and Michigan canal a new route was opened by Erie canal, and lakes, thence to the Illinois river and up the Mississippi. Oquawka contained, in 1852, about 1,800 population, but has since fallen off, so that it contains not more at present than 1,000. Like many other towns and cities, she in an evil hour, and under the guidance of bad counsel, encumbered herself with burdensome debts, beyond her ability to liquidate, which resulted in the necessity of levying taxes that became burdensome upon the business of the place, and capital, alarmed at the future prospects, fled

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

the town to avoid taxation, while manufacturing and other enterprises sought more favored localities. The debts thus incurred were first the issue of bonds to the amount of $10,000, to aid in the construction of the "Washington and Oquawka Plank Road," an enterprise in the state of Iowa, the projected plank road terminating at a point on the river opposite Oquawka. The corporation and the road long ago were counted among the things of the past, and remembered only as a warn- ing to others to avoid like follies. The next enterprise in which the authorities of the town took stock, and thus added burdens to those already borne, was in May, 1857, when the issue of $25,000 of bonds was secured to pay Messrs. Phelps and Jamison for work and labor performed on that part of the Peoria & Oquawka railroad lying between the town of Sagetown and Oquawka. The "work and labor" consisting of partially grading the line between these two points, the people being led to believe that in so doing they would secure railroad facilities by connection with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy line. But it proved a failure. The people incurred the indebtedness without any guaranty of a return for their money, and the debt is to-day out- standing and will be left as a legacy to the next generation. These debts, together with the share of the county indebtedness which the town has to pay, makes the burden a heavy one.

Of the towns in this county Oquawka is the oldest. It was laid out July 9, 1836, by the brothers, Alexis Phelps and Sumner S. Phelps. Its territory, before any additions were attached, was comprised of fractional Secs. 15 and 22, T. 11 N .. R. 5, W. of the 4th P. M., as shown by the records of Warren county, Vol. II, p. 344. William C. Butler was the surveyor for the proprietors. In the deed of dedication the proprietors, in addition to liberal reservations of lots for school pur- poses, set apart and dedicated for use of the Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and Presbyterian churches, eligible and valuable lots for the erection of church edifices. Some years subsequently Abram D. Swarts laid out two additions to the town, upon the east side.

In order of date, the next town laid out in the county was the town of Shokokon, upon the Mississippi river, about five miles below the city of Burlington, Iowa. The original proprietor of this town was Robert McQueen, who laid it out July 16, 1836, on the N. W. ¿ of Sec. 27, T. 9 N., R. 6 W., as will be seen by referring to the records of Warren county, Vol. II, p. 344. John B. Talbott was employed as surveyor. Although a fine and fertile country lay adjacent to this town, it did not prove a success. The river at this point proved to be too shallow for steamers, except at times of high water, the channel or deep water running near the Iowa shore, thus leaving this town

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upon a slough, with but poor shipping facilities. It, however, became a great point for lumber, annually rafted down from the Wisconsin pineries, and finding a market in the country lying east of Shokokon. Its population never exceeded 300.

The town of Olena was laid out by Robert Kendall August 14, 1838, on Sec. 11, T. 9 N., R. 5 W., and the record of the survey by Benjamin Thomkins is recorded in Warren county, in Vol. II of records, p. 215. This town is situated near the geographical center of the county, and contains a population of about 300. It is situated in flourishing farming country, and is the center of considerable trade. It has no railroad facilities. Wolf creek, a small stream, flows west- ward near this place.

Warren, laid out March 25, 1840, by Lambert Hopper, on the N. W. ¿ and the N. E. { of Sec. S, T. 9 N., R. 5 W. The plat of this town will be found recorded in Warren county, Vol. VII, of records, p. 345. Benjamin Thomkins was the surveyor. Some years later Josiah Dunn laid out an addition to this town.

At one time during the lifetime of its enterprising proprietor this town carried on quite an extensive trade. A good flouring mill and a woolen factory drew trade and business from a long distance. The land in the immediate vicinity is of a poor quality, the mills have been allowed to run down since the death of the proprietor, and its former prosperity has in a measure disappeared.

Dallas City, lies partly in Henderson and partly in Hancock county. That part in Henderson county lies in the extreme southwest of the county, Sec. 35, T. 8 N., R. 7 W. It is a flourishing town of about 500 inhabitants. The Carthage and Burlington division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad passes through this town. The town has a fine landing for steamers, which carry away large shipments of produce from the surrounding country. It is a neatly built place, upon the bluff front, facing the river. Its population are intelligent and enterprising, and carry on an extensive business in general trade and lumber. Among its enterprising citizens we may here make mention of John M. Finch, who was one of its original proprietors and who still continues to reside in his early home, active as in his boyhood days, allowing no enterprise to be undertaken for the improvement of his town without giving it his active aid and support. The town has two churches and its schools receive the active and intelligent support of its citizens and are kept up to a high standard. The town was laid out and surveyed August 11, 1849, by William H. Rollinson and John M. Finch ; J. Wilson Williamson was the surveyor employed. The

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record of the survey and deed will be found in Vol. IV, p. 176 of record of deeds in Henderson county.

The town of Terre Haute is situated in the prairie region of the county, on Secs. 20, 21, 28 and 29, T. S N., R. 5 W. It was sur- veyed and platted by William C. Rice, surveyor, March 27, 1854, and the plat recorded in Vol. VIII, p. 184 of records in Henderson county. It contains about 250 inhabitants and is the center of considerable trade. It has no railroad or river facilities for shipping, Lomax station, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, being its principal point of shipment. It is the center of a rich farming country and sur- rounded by lands of extraordinary fertility.

East Burlington lies upon the bank of the Mississippi opposite the city of Burlington, Iowa. It was laid out March 12, 1855, on Sec. 33. T. 10 N., R. 6 W., by A. D. Green, as trustee for the proprietors. Maj. A. N. Armstrong, acting as surveyor. Prior to the construction of the railroad to that point, it had a small population, but after that time, with the erection of the railroad bridge leading to the city of Burlington, the business of the place was transferred mainly to the op- posite side of the river, and little remains of the former town. The railroad company have erected large stock yards upon the ground, and made other extensive improvements. Large sums of money have been expended in grading up the river front to a point above high water mark. At this point the Carthage division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad forms a junction at the east end of the bridge with the main line. The land back of, and eastward from the town, is low and cut up with sloughs, and nearly the whole is subject to over- flow for miles inland during the river floods.

Biggsville is situated on Secs. 16, 17, 20, 21, T. 10 N., R. + W., upon South Henderson creek, and was laid out by Andrew Douglass and Samuel Douglass, October 3, 1855, William McChesney, surveyor. It now contains about 550 inhabitants. The Chicago. Burlington & Quincy railroad runs through this place. The town is surrounded by the finest quality of farm lands, which are kept in a high state of culti- vation. The town contains three churches, one United Presbyterian, one Methodist Episcopal, and one Cumberland Presbyterian, all of which have a large membership of highly intelligent christian people. The schools of the town have always been its particular pride, and have been of a high order. The citizens have reason to look with pride upon their churches and schools. Near this town resides a gen- tleman whose business success in life deserves at least a brief mention.

David Rankin is a man still on the sunny side of three score years, who has his home about four miles south of Biggsville, upon his farm

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of almost countless acres. He began life a poor farmer boy near the place where now his fine residence stands, and by industry, persever- ance and an extraordinary business capacity, he gained step by step until his possessions in lands and herds seemed almost marvelous. He purchased large tracts of land along the Illinois Central railroad, in Illinois, and operated them successfully ; then extending his enter- prises westward he invested largely in lands in Atchison county, in the State of Missouri, which he improved and stocked with swarming herds of cattle, laid out the town of Tarkio, which has filled with an active population, and is rapidly rising in business importance. At this point he has established a national bank which has proved a com- plete success. In addition to these enterprises he has purchased and is operating a vast ranche in the State of Colorado, upon which his im- mense herds of native and Texas cattle are fattened for market. These vast enterprises, besides many smaller ones, he manages and super- vises himself, showing himself a veritable Napoleon in his line of business. In all his various and extended enterprises and his large transactions, he has so conducted his business as to gain the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has been surrounded. His integrity is never called in question, and his employes find him a kind hearted and just employer.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 85

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co. Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1424