USA > Illinois > Pike County > History of Pike County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons and biographies of representative citizens > Part 22
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FERRY LICENSE.
June 6, 1821, a license was granted James McDonald " to keep a ferry upon the east bank of the Mississippi river, opposite to the town of Louisianaville, on condition of his paying a tax of one dol- lar, besides Clerk's fee, and on his entering into bonds according to law, and that the following rates of ferriage be established, to wit : "
For a single person, 25
For a single horse,. 25 cents
Every head of cattle over one year old,. 25
Every hog, sheep or goat,. 614
Every four-wheeled carriage,. 1 00
Every hundred weight of dead lumber,. 614
Every two wheeled carriage, 75
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
MILITIA PRECINCTS.
Among the pioneers "training" or "muster day " was one which was looked forward to with feelings of pleasure. It was nec- essary to have a well organized militia to repel any invasions of the Indians which at that time were numerous through this sec- tion of the country. The Commissioners' Court, in its official capac- ity, took note of this, and accordingly, June 6, they "ordered that the militia of this county be organized into a regiment, and all that part of the county lying south of the township line between townships 8 and 9 compose the first company district; and all north of that line to the base line compose the second company district ; and all north of the base line be and compose the third company district. Baxter Broadwell, Wm. Metz and Rigdon C. Fenton were ap- pointed Judges of election in the first company district; Wm. Keyes, Peter D. Moyer and Clarendon Ross were appointed judges of election in the second company district; Ossian M. Ross, Dr. Davison and Amos Eveland, as judges of election in the third com- pany district. An election was then called for June 30, 1821, to select officers for the various companies. The base line, which runs east and west upon a parallel with Beardstown, was made the divid- ing line between the two militia battalions of the regiment of Pike county. The battalion south of the base line was the first, and the one north the second, battalion.
INDIAN TRAILS.
A sum not to exceed ten dollars was appropriated " to defray the expenses of opening and clearing out the old trace from the head or upper end of Salt Prairie to the lower end of Sni Carte Prairie, and five dollars for opening and cleaning out the old trace from the lower end of Sni Carte Prairie to Ross settlement." Further on in the records we find these orders rescinded, and at the same time Joel Bacon and James Levin were ordered credited with the amount of their road tax for having opened the said "trace." These traces were old Indian trails, but having been deserted for newer ones were unfit for travel.
SUNDRY ACTS.
John Shaw was paid $5.00 for his services as an interpreter at the October term of the Circuit Court during the trial of two Indians for murder. These 'were Shonwennekek and Pemesan, who are spoken of in connection with this trial more fully in the chapter upon the criminal record.
Ossian M. Ross was then recommended to the Governor as a suit- able person for Justice of the Peace in Pike county. Mr. Ross at this time lived where Lewistown, Fulton county, now stands. He was with one exception the first settler of that county, and was the founder of Lewistown.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
There was no jail in the county at this time, and at the October term, 1821, "Nathan Shaw was given $22.50 for guarding Indian prisoners." These, we presume, were the two Indians referred to above, and who were on trial for murder. The same amount, and for the same purpose, was given to Christopher Long.
Jan. 10, 1822, " Abner Eads, of Peoria, made application for license to keep a tavern in the house where he now resides, which is granted on him paying $1.50."
Jan. 12, 1822, the Sheriff was paid $50 for his salary for the year. Mr. Whitney was given $30 for his services as Circuit Clerk, and $30 as Clerk of the Commissioners' Court, and $50 for his salary as Judge of Probate.
Jan. 12, 1822, John Shaw was paid $8 for locating the county- seat, and Levi Roberts $4 for like services.
Abraham Beck, Judge of Probate, died, and Jan. 12, 1822, the administrator of his estate was paid $16.60 as salary while he was Judge.
FIRST INQUEST.
The official papers of the inquest held over the body of James McDonald were ordered filed. McDonald ran a ferry across the Mississippi river at Louisiana. It is supposed he was murdered at his landing during the winter. He was found lying dead upon the ice one day by two men on their way to Louisiana. They went to his ferry, but found him dead, and evidences of a long and severe scuffle all around him, as if he had been struggling for life in a hand-to-hand combat. The tracks of two men led from this place across to Louisiana, and it was generally supposed they were the men who killed McDonald, although nothing in a legal way was ever done with them.
TREASURER'S FIRST REPORT.
The first report made by a County Treasurer of Pike county was made March 5, 1822. We give it in full:
Cash received into the Treasury. $765
Cash paid out under order of Court. $701.281/2. 38.25
Treasurer's compensation.
$739.531/2
Balance in Treasury
$25.47
ROSS' TAVERN.
Ossian M. Ross was then granted a license to keep a tavern at his house. He lived where the city of Lewistown now is. The same schedule which regulated other "Public Inns" or "Tavern-Keep- ers " were adopted to regulate him.
David W. Barnes, O. M. Ross and Daniel Sweetland were ap- pointed trustees of the school section, tp. 5 north, R. 3 east, which
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
is Lewistown tp., Fulton Co. These gentlemen lived in Lewis- town, and were its first settlers.
ELECTION PRECINCTS.
June 5, 1822, the county was divided into three election precincts. All that part of the county lying north of the township lines, between towns 4 and 5 south and west of the Illinois bluffs, and all north of the base line, was the first precinct. Election was ordered in this precinct at the house of O. M. Ross, and that gentleman was ap- pointed judge of election. All that part of the county lying north of township lines between towns 9 and 10 south, and west of Illi- nois bluffs and north of the base line, was made another precinct, and the " polls ordered opened at the house of Rufus Brown and Daniel Whipple, Leonard Ross and Wm. Ross, judges." "The re- mainder of the county was made another precinct, and election held at county-seat, and John Shaw, Stephen Dewey and Amos Ban- croft, judges."
DAVENPORT'S TAVERN.
June 6, 1822, it was ordered that a license to keep a tavern at or near Fort Armstrong, be granted to George Davenport for $3.00. This place was on the lower end of Rock Island. Mr. Davenport was the man who kept the trading post at Fort Armstrong, and in honor of him Davenport, Iowa, was named. The generous Com- missioners permitted Davenport to charge higher rates for "enter- tainment " than they did those nearer to the borders of civilization.
NEW COMMISSIONERS.
An election was held in August, 1822, for selecting three new Commissioners. Those chosen were David Dutton, James M. Seeley and Ossian M. Ross. Much trouble appears to have grown out of this election, as we find the election of the three honorable gentle- men was contested, and evidently very strongly, too. The con- testants were Ebenezer Smith, James Nixon and William Metz. The case was appealed to the Circuit Court, Judge John Reynolds presiding. He decided in favor of the contestants. We cannot tell upon what grounds they contested the rights of Dutton, Seeley and Ross to take their seats as Commissioners, but from what we can glean from the indefinite records they did not comply with the law in taking the oath of office, as the contestants claimed. These were merely technical grounds, but the law must be com- plied with to the letter. Smith, Nixon and Metz held a term of Court Sept. 3 and 4, 1822, but transacted no business of import- ance. The other gentlemen called Court for Oct. 10, but no quorum was present. Another session was held Oct. 24. Commissioners Dutton and Seeley being present. We find recorded upon the fol- lowing day " a certificate of the Hon. John Reynolds setting forth
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
the result of the contested election." This decision was the result of a second hearing of the case by the Judge, and is as follows:
"State of Illinois, ss :- Upon a second and full examination of the documents transmitted to me in relation to the contested elec- tion of the Sheriff, Coroner and County Commissioners for the county of Pike; and being satisfied that the certificates heretoforce given by me of the election of Rigdon C. Fenton as Sheriff, Joel Bacon as Coro- ner and Ebenezer Smith, William Metz and James Nixon as County Commissioners, was given without sufficient consideration, I do hereby revoke the said certificates. and do now certify that Leonard Ross was duly elected Sheriff, Daniel Whipple, Coroner, and James M. Seeley, David Dutton and Ossian M. Ross County Commis- sioners for Pike county in said State.
"Given under my hand and seal this 4th day of September, 1822. " JOHN REYNOLDS,
" Justice of the Supreme Court of said State, and presiding in the first Judicial Circuit."
Thus, after a long and hotly contested trial, the Judge reversed his former decision and reinstated Seeley, Dutton and Ross, as well as the Sheriff and Coroner, whom he had decided were not legally and rightfully entitled to hold the positions to which they claimed they had been elected.
CLERK'S OFFICE.
We find the following quaint item on record, which is in refer- ence to renting an office for the County and Circuit clerks . "John Shaw, having proposed to lease the county the building in Coles' Grove, adjoining the one now occupied by Rigdon C. Fenton, for the term of one year, to be occupied as a Clerk's office, for the sum of 61 cents, and to be repaired by the county, under the direction of said Shaw, and to suit his convenience."
COUNTY-SEAT MOVED TO ATLAS.
Evidently a little rivalry had sprung up between the settlements at Atlas and Coles' Grove, the latter of which had been the county- seat up to this time (1823). Atlas was the most important town in the county, and it became ambitious to have the county build- ings located there, which it finally secured. Pursuant to an act of the Legislature, approved Dec. 30, 1822, "to fix upon and locate the permanent seat of justice for Pike county," the commission ap- pointed made their report at the March term of the Commissioners' Court, 1823, and presented a deed from William Ross and Rufus Brown for one acre of land, which was given as an inducement for the county to locate its seat of justice there. The report reads as follows :
" The Commissioners appointed to fix upon and locate the per- manent seat of justice of Pike county have attended to the services assigned them, and do report that they have fixed the permanent
" James Wwilliams
GRIGGSVILLE
263
HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
seat of justice of said county upon section 27, town 6 south, range 5 west, and have taken a deed of the proprietor of one acre of land on which to erect the public buildings, which is particularly de- scribed in said deed, and that they have named the seat of justice Atlas.
" JOHN M. SMITH, " DANIEL MOORE, " DANIEL SHINN."
NEW COMMISSIONER.
An election was held March 18, 1823, to select a County Com- missioner to fill vacancy occasioned by O. M. Ross, resigning. The county of Fulton, where Mr. Ross lived, having just been formed, and he chosen Sheriff, Amos Bancroft was elected to fill the va- cancy.
DIFFICULTY IN. SELECTING COUNTY-SEAT.
It appears that some dissatisfaction arose from the selection made by the Commissioners for a county-seat. We presume that the feeling was then as now in this and all other counties. More than one place, settlement or town, think it is the most suitable and proper place for the county-seat. In relation to the difficulty at this time we find the following statement on record : "Nicholas Hanson and Leonard Ross presented a report of certain persons appointed by an act of the Legislature as Commissioners to locate the permanent seat of justice for Pike county, and moved to have said report filed and recorded, which said motion for the reasons following : 1st, The authority given by the act aforesaid was a special joint authority and should have been strictly pursued ; 2d, It happens that but three out of five Commissioners acted in the location of the county-seat, when the law gave no power to a ma- jority to act ; 3d, That said Commissioners did not. return and present their report at or before the time prescribed by law for the return of said report ; 4th, That the legal and qualified County Commissioners were in session at the time prescribed by law for the return of said report. And for the reasons aforesaid this Court does adjudge and decide that the proceedings of said Commission- ers to locate the permanent county-seat of Pike county are void, and that the temporary seat of justice of said county still remains at Coles' Grove."
This decision was finally reversed, as seen from the following or- der made at the June term of the Court in 1824: "The doings of this Court at a special term held on 26, 27 and 28 of January last, and also doings of this Court at last March term be, and the same are hereby, confirmed and established, except a contract entered into with John Shaw for the purpose of leasing a house, the rent of which was 64 cents, in Coles' Grove, which contract is by mutual consent released and dissolved; and also an order of adjudication respecting the county-seat, which order is revoked and rescinded."
17
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Thus, according to the selection made by the commission ap- pointed for that purpose, the county-seat was moved from Coles' Grove, now in Calhoun county, to Atlas.
COUNTY DIVIDED INTO TOWNSHIPS.
Upon the 28th of January, 1824, the county of Pike was divided into three townships by the Court, as follows: That part commenc- ing at the mouth of the Illinois river, thence up the said river to the north line of the first tier of sections above the north line of town S sonth, thence running on said line west to the Mississippi river, thence down said river to place of beginning, constituted Coles' Grove township. That part embraced within the boundary beginning at the northeast corner of section 36 of township 7 south, on range line between ranges 4 and 5 west, thence along said range line north to the north line of the county, thenee west to the Mississippi river, thenee down said river to a point directly west of the place of beginning, thence to the place of beginning, which composed Atlas township. That part of the county within the fol- lowing limits was known as Franklin township: Commeneing on the Illinois river one mile north of the north line of township 8 south, thence up the said river to the base line, thence along said line to the range line between ranges 4 and 5 west, thence sonth running on the said range line to the northwest corner of sec- tion 31, of town 7 south, and range 4 west, thence along the north line of said section 31, and said first tier of sections north of town 8 south, to the place of beginning, together with all of the attached part of Pike county lying north of the aforesaid bonnda- ries.
Thus it will be seen that these were exceedingly large townships. They embraced several counties, and extended over one of the fair- est portions of this great State. These divisions were made for the convenience of the settlers in voting, making roads, ete., yet from the extended size of each township we can see that many of the early voters had to travel many miles to east his ballot.
FEARLESS COMMISSIONERS.
During the year the Commissioners pursued the even tenor of their way, granting petitions for roads, ferries, tavern licenses and election precinets; appointing and removing officers with an in- flexibility of purpose that is really amusing. When they investi- gated a matter there were no palliating circumstances to screen the delinquent, but the judicial guillotine ent off official heads with a refreshing impartiality. Negligent officers feared the power of the " triple C" more than Damocles feared the hair-suspended sword. They simply and plainly said " Go," and the official hesitated not but went at once, and that was the end of it.
In reference to this subject we find the following quaint docu- ment on record under date of July 29, 1824:
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
" It appearing to this Court that the Clerk for some time past has not resided at the county-seat, nor kept the records and papers be- longing to the county at this place; and the Court having consid- ered the facts and the law arising upon the case, does adjudge and determine that the said office of Clerk is now vacant, and that for the aforesaid canse James W. Whitney, the Clerk, be and is hereby removed from office."
We suppose that Whitney remained at Coles' Grove after the' county-seat had been removed to Atlas, and the inconveniences of having the county offices and officials scattered over the country in that wise would not be endured longer by the strict, law-abiding Court.
The Court assembled upon the following day, and not yet having selected a clerk, appointed Mr. Whitney Clerk pro tem. It appears that the Commissioners had nothing personally against Mr. Whit- ney, for the very next act of the Court was to recommend him to the Governor as a fit and proper person to be appointed County Sur- veyor, to fill the vacancy having occurred by the removal of Stephen Dewey out of the county. This man Dewey, the first Surveyor of Pike county, laid out the town of Lewistown, Fulton county, where he shortly afterward removed and served for many years as Circuit and County Clerk, and did efficient work in the organization and establishment of that county.
It appears that the Court could find no suitable person to take charge of the Clerk's office, for upon July 30, two days after Mr. Whitney was so summarily removed from office, he was re-instated. Perhaps a compromise was made between the Court and Mr. Whit- ney. It is more than likely that he was compelled to move to the county-seat in order to receive again the patronage of the Court. He served until April 27, 1825, when he resigned and George W. Britton was appointed in his stead. Whitney was indicted for mal- feasance in office, and the suit was withdrawn on condition he would resign.
NEW JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
At the September term, 1824, in compliance with a petition from the citizens on and near Fever river (now Galena) and the lead mines, John Connelly, Moses Meeker and John S. Miller were recommended as proper persons for the Governor to commission Jus- tices of the Peace of Pike county. These men were the very earli- est settlers in northern Illinois, and of whom we speak more fully in a former chapter. April 27 of the following year Chas. D. St. Traine was recommended for the same office.
COURT-HOUSE.
The little temporary log court-house first built in Atlas soon be- came too small to accommodate the Court and county officers, so the
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
building of a new court-house was discussed and determined upon by the honorable Court, as is evinced by the following order :
" Notice is hereby given that on the 25th day of June instant, at the court-house in Atlas, Pike county, Illinois, at 2 o'clock, P. M., will be let to the lowest bidder the building of a court-house so far as is hereinafter expressed: To be 40x30 feet on the floor and 20 feet high, two stories; to be built of brick, the two side walls below to be one and a half brick thick, the other walls to be onc brick thick. The outside to be finished complete with doors and windows; the lower floor to be laid with brick or tile, fire-places and partitions, except the partition of the grand jury room, to be done with a plain wooden cornice. The Commissioners reserve one bid for the county. ¿ Plans to be shown and further particulars made known at time and place of sale.
" N. B .- County orders to be given to undertakers on interest until paid. It is proposed to give the job of procuring the stone and mortar for building separate from the other part or parts, all of which is to be completed by the first day of January, A. D. 1827. Sufficient securities will be required."
The contract for furnishing stone and mortar was struck off to Daniel Shinn and Joseph Petty for $200. The main contract was given to Leonard and William Ross at $1,260.
It appears, however, that the building of this fine structure was never carried to completion. The building rose in its magnificent proportions only in the visions of the honorable Commissioners. It was evidently too fine and expensive for the times. They rented an office for the County and Circuit Clerks, which in the winter of 1830-'31 burned down.
Nothing further was done, according to the records, toward the building of a new court-house until April 7, 1829, when the sub- ject was again before the Court for its consideration. The Court then ordered the contract for the erection of a building of the fol- lowing dimensions and description to be let: "Said house to be 30 feet long by 18 feet wide, to be two stories high,-the lower one nine feet and the upper one eight feet high. To be covered and enclosed in a good, workmanlike manner. To leave and case two outside doors in the lower story, and also six windows in the same, and six windows in the upper story. To put in joists and sleepers for the upper and lower floors. putting them down loose so as to serve as floors. To be underpinned with six pillars, to be substan- tially made of stone, placing one at each corner of the house and one under each side in the middle; all to be done in a good, work- manlike manner. The undertaker to give bond with good and sufficient security in double the sum at which the same shall be stricken off for prompt and faithful performance of his contract. The contractor shall receive his pay out of the first moneys which shall come into the treasury not otherwise appropriated."
The records continue as follows: "The court next proceeded to sell the building of said court-house to the lowest bidder, and after sufficient notice was given thereof, and the same for a long time exposed, it was stricken off to James Rice for the sum of $493, that being the lowest sum bid therefor."
James Rice failed to furnish the required security for the faithful
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
performance of his contract, and accordingly June 1, 1829, the Sheriff was ordered to again "put up at public auction and sell the building of the same to the lowest bidder, with the addition to the former plan of six feet in length and six feet in breadth." They further altered the plans upon the 6th of June, upon which day they met for the purpose of letting the contract for building it. They made the following alterations: "There shall be ten stone pillars, 18 inches above the surface of the ground, six windows in the lower story with 16 lights in each window, S by 10, and 8 win- dows in upper story with 12 lights in each window, S by 10."
The contract was "struck off" to Elisha Petty for $600. Wil- liam Ross went upon his bond for $1,200. Mr. Petty was subse- quently allowed $42.28 for extra work.
The court-house was accepted by the Court Sept. 7, 1829.
COUNTY-SEAT RE-LOCATED.
It appears that the location of the county-seat at Atlas was not en- tirely satisfactory to every person, as we find an election was held in March, 1827, to select commissioners to re-locate the county-seat. David Dutton, Joel Meacham and William Meredith were chosen for this work. That any definite move was made by these gentlemen toward selecting another site for the county-seat we are not aware; the records are silent as to anything done by these gentlemen. By the year 1832 the subject of changing the county-seat from Atlas, however, was freely discussed. It was desired to have it more cen- trally located. The Legislature of 1832-'3 appointed a commis- sion to re-locate the county-seat. These gentlemen made their. report in April 13, 1833, which is as follows:
"We, the undersigned, having been appointed commissioners to change and re- locate the seat of justice of the county of Pike by the Legislature of the State of Illinois, by an act approved Feb. 22, 1833, beg leave to report to your honorable body now in session, that after being duly sworn in conformity with said act, did, on the 9th day of April, 1833, enter upon the duties assigned us by said act, by ex- amination of said county of Pike, having a due regard to the present as well as the future settlement and prospective growth of said county, have selected and lo- cated the southeast quarter of section 24, in township 5 south, and range 4 west of the fourth principal meridian, as the county-seat of the county of Pike, said coun- ty-seat to be known and designated by the name of Pittsfield.
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