USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon 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 45
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In 1852 another apportionment was made, and Sangamon county became a part of the Sixth District. Richard Yates, of Jacksonville, was the first elected to represent this new district, and took his seat March, 1853, as a member of the 33d Congress. He was succeeded two years later by Thomas L. Harris, of Petersburg, who served two terms. John A. McClernand, of Springfield, was Mr. Harris's successor, and was
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
in turn succeeded by A. L. Knapp, of Jersey- ville, who served in the 37th Congress.
In 1862, Sangamon county, under the new apportionment act, was made a part of the Eighth Congressional District, and was represented in the 38th Congress by John T. Stuart. In the 39th Congress the county was represented by Shelby M. Cullom, of Springfield, who was re- elected in 1866 and 1868, serving in the 40th and 41st Congress with great ability. Mr. Cul- lom was succeeded by James C. Robinson, who served in the 42d Congress.
Another apportionment was made in 1872, the State then being entitled to nineteen Representa- tives. Under this act Sangamon county became a part of the Twelfth District, and was repre- sented in the 43d Congress by James C. Robin- son, of Springfield. Mr. Robinson was succeeded by William M. Springer, of Springfield, who was first elected in 1874, and re-elected in 1876, 1878 and 1880, serving in the 44th and 45th Congress, and is now serving in the 46th Con- gress.
Shelby M. Cullom, the first and only Governor elected from Sangamon county, Illinois was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, November 22, 1829, whence his father moved to Tazewell county, Illinois, in 1830. Having been reared and schooled in this State he is to "all intents and purposes" a native Illinoisan. Until he was nineteen years of age he worked with his father on the farm, attending the district schools in the winter. When, by superior application and ability he became sufficiently advanced, he assumed the duties for a while of a teacher, and having received a careful preparation by teach- ing and hard study, his collegiate course was completed at Mount Morris University.
In 1854 he came to Springfield, Illinois, and studied law in the office of Stuart and Edwards, and was admitted to the bar in 1855, and shortly after was elected City Attorney of Springfield. In 1856 he took an active part in the Presiden- tial campaign of that year as a supporter of Millard Fillmore for the Presidency. By the American party he was nominated for the lower branch of the legislature, endorsed by the newly organized Republican party, and triumphantly elected. In 1860 he was again elected and made Speaker of the House. In 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln on a commission with Gov- ernor Boutwell and Charles A. Dana to examine into the accounts of Quartermasters and Com- missioners, and pass upon claims allowed by them. In 1864 he was elected to represent the Eighth District of Illinois in the United States
Congress, and was elected for two successive terms. During that time he was chairman of the Committee on Territories, and as such re- ported a bill, of which he was the author, for the suppression of polygamy in the Territory of Utah, which became a law. He also secured the appropriations for the erection of the United States Court House and Postoffice in Springfield, at a cost of $320,000. In 1872 he was again elected to the legislature, and chosen Speaker of the House for the second time. He was also elected in 1874. In 1876 he received the nom- ination of his party-the Republican-for the office of Governor, and was triumphantly elected, having received a larger vote than Presi- dent llayes, or any other man on the State ticket. After serving four years he was re-nomi- nated and elected.
As a member of the legislature he was distin- guished as one of its fairest, most impartial and dignified presiding officers. He won golden opinions from all sides. As a member his action was always on the side of economy, freedom and equal laws for all.
In Congress he was attentive to duty, indus- trious, and highly influential. He took an active part in the advocacy of the reconstruction meas- ures, and in favor of adopting the XIII, XIV and XV amendments of the Constitution.
In the administration of the State Govern- ment as its Chief Executive, Governor Cullom has displayed qualities of the highest statesman- ship. Since he came into office the State debt, which then amounted to $1,500,000, has been liquidated. State taxes have been reduced. Every department of the State Government has been economically administered. In no case have the expenses been allowed to exceed the appropriations. No public moneys have been diverted from their proper uses, and no misap- propriations or defalcations have been commit- ted or even charged upon any public officer.
In his office and athis home, Governor Cullom is a model gentleman. Always accessible, he is courteous and kind to every visitor. He is no lover of red tape, neither does he affect the ways of the aristocrat. In all the years of his public service his life has been pure and upright. His integrity and honesty stand before the world untarnished and unimpeachable.
Shelby M. Cullom has been twice married; first to Hannah M. Fisher, December 12, 1855, who died March 17, 1861; second, to Julia Fisher, a sister of his first wife, May 5, 1863. By his first wife he had two daughters-Ella and Carrie.
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
STATE REPRESENTATION.
Governor.
Shelby M. Cullom was the first and only Gov- ernor elected from Sangamon county. Mr. Cul- lom was elected November, 1876, and was in- augurated January 8, 1877; he was re-elected in 1880, and inaugurated January 10, 1881. He has made a popular and efficient Governor. See sketch.
Secretary of State.
George Forquer was appointed to this office by Governor Cole, January 17, 1825, and served until December 1, 1828.
Stute Auditor.
Orlin H. Miner, elected in November, 1864, and qualified December 12, 1864, served the full term of four years.
State Treasurer.
William Butler, appointed September 3, 1859, to fill vacancy cansed by the resignation of James Miller, of McLean county; elected Novem- ber, 1860, and qualified January 14, 1861, served until January, 1862.
Alexander Starne, elected November, 1862, and qualified January 12, 1863, serving till the end of his term.
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
On the adoption of the present school system, Ninian W. Edwards was appointed as the first Superintendent of Public Instruction. He quali- fied and commenced the discharge of the duties of the office March 24, 1854. Mr. Edwards served with remarkable ability until January 12, 1857, when he was succeeded by William H. Powell.
John P. Brooks was elected in the fall of 1862, and qualified January 12, 1863, and served two years.
Newton Bateman was elected to succeed Mr. Brooks in the fall of 1864. He was qualified January 10, 1865. Re-elected in 1866 and 1870, serving until the expiration of his term, January 11, 1875. Mr. Bateman was one of the most popular and efficient Superintendents in the State. He is now President of the Knox College, at Galesburg, Illinois.
Attorney Generals.
Ninian W. Edwards was appointed to this office September 1, 1834. Hle was then elected by the people, but resigned February 7, 1835.
David B. Campbell was elected in the fall of 1846, qualified December 21, of the same year.
State Geologist.
The first to fill this office was Joseph G. Nor- wood, of Sangamon county, who was appointed July 21, 1851.
William Billington was appointed April 26, 1864.
Adjutant General.
Moses K. Anderson received the appointment of Adjutant General, December 16, 1839, and served until April 31, 1857, a period of nearly eighteen years.
Thomas S. Mather was appointed October 28, 1858, vice Kinney, deceased, and served until November 11, 1861.
IIubert Dilger was the next appointed from Sangamon county, his commission bearing date March 24, 1869.
Edwin L. Higgins succeeded General Dilger, January 24, 1873, and served until July 2, 1875, when he was succeeded by Hiram Hilliard, of Cook county.
Senatorial und Representative.
On the organization of the county, it was given one State Senator and one Representa- tive in the General Assembly. Stephen Still- man was elected State Senator, and James Sims Representative.
Fourth General Assembly .- Senator, Stephen Stillman; Representative, William S. Hamilton.
Fifth General Assembly .- The representation of this county was now fixed at one Senator and three Representatives. The following named were elected: Senator, Elijah Iles; Representa- tives, Job Fletcher, Mordecai Mobley, Jonathan H. Pugh.
Sixth General Assembly .- Senator, Elijah Iles; Representatives, Peter Cartwright, Wil- liam F. Elkin, Jonathan H. Pugh.
Seventh General Assembly .- Senator, Elijah Iles; Representatives, John Dawson, Jonathan H. Pugh, Edmund D. Taylor.
Eighth General Assembly .- The county was now entitled to two Senators and four Repre- sentatives, and were represented as follows: Senators, George Forquer, Elijah lles; Repre- sentatives, Peter Cartwright, Achilles Morris, John T. Stuart, Edmund D. Taylor.
Ninth General Assembly .- The county now had four Senators and four Representatives, as follows: Senators, Job Fletcher, George For- quer, Archer G. Herndon, Edmund D. Taylor; Representatives, William Carpenter, John Daw- son, Abraham Lincoln, John T. Stuart.
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
Tenth General Assembly .- Sangamon county was now entitled to two Senators and seven Rep- resentatives, and elected a body of men that was then and has since been known as the "Long Nine," the combined height being fifty-four feet. The following are the names of the "Long Nine:" Senators, Job Fletcher, Archer G. Hern- don; Representatives, John Dawson, Ninian W. Edwards, William F. Elkin, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew McCormack, Daniel Stone", Robert L. Wilson. When Vandalia was selected as the State Capital there was a provision in the law that it could not be removed for twenty years. Before the expiration of that time, it was gen- erally conceded that it must be moved farther north. Springfield was a candidate for the capi- tal, and the members of the legislature from Sangamon county were chosen with direct refer- ence to this subject. The subject of internal improvements was now being vigorously agi- ated, and the legislature of 1836-7 was largely devoted to business of that kind. In order to accomplish this legislation, a good deal of "log- rolling" was done; that is, a member having a pet project would agree with another that if he would vote for some bill in which he was partic- nlarly interested that he would return the favor. The "Long Nine" did not ask much for their section in the way of internal improvements, but they never lost an opportunity to make a vote for the removal of the capital to Springfield. As is well known, they were successful in their efforts, and Springfield was selected as the capital. .
Eleventh General Assembly .- Senators, Job Fletcher, Archer G. Herndon; Representatives, Edward D. Baker, John Calhoun, John Dawson, Ninian W. Edwards, William F. Elkin, Abra- ham Lincoln, Andrew McCormack.
Twelfth General Assembly .- Sangamon, Me nard, Logan and Christian were now made one Senatorial District, with two Senators, and San- gamon county was continued a Representative District, with five Representatives. The follow- ing were elected: Senators, Edward D. Baker, Archer G. Herndon; Representatives, James M. Bradford, James N. Brown, John Darneille, Josiah Francis, Abraham Lincoln.
Thirteenth General Assembly .- Senators, Ed- ward D. Baker, Reuben Harrison; Representa- tives, James N. Brown, William Caldwell, William Hickman, Stephen T. Logan.
*Resigned and Thomas J. Nance elected to fill the vacancy.
+Resigned and Edward D. Baker elected to fill vacancy.
Fourteenth General Assembly .- Senator, Nin- ian W. Edwards; Representatives, Job Fletcher, William D. Herndon, Stephen T. Logan, Joseph Smith.
Fifteenth General Assembly .- Senator, Nin- ian W. Edwards; Representatives, James N. Brown, Rezin H. Constant, Stephen T. Logan, Benjamin West.
Sixteenth General Assembly .- Under the Con- stitution of 1848, the State was divided into Senatorial and Representative Districts, each district having a number assigned it. There were twenty-five Senatorial and fifty-four Rep- resentative Districts, Sangamon county, with Mason and Menard, was made the Twelfth Sena- torial and Twenty-sixth Representative Districts, and was entitled to one Senator and two Repre- sentatives. 'The following named served in this Assembly: Senator, John T. Stuart; Repre- sentatives, Ninian W. Edwards, John W. Smith.
Seventeenth General Assembly .- Senator, John T. Stuart; Representatives, Preston Brecken- ridge, James C. Conkling.
Eighteenth General Assembly .- Senator, Jas. M. Ruggles, of Mason county; Representatives, Pascal P. Enos, James M. Brown.
Nineteenth General Assembly .- Under the apportionment act of February 27, 1854, the representation in the General Assembly were twenty-five Senators and seventy-five Represen- tatives. Sangamon and Morgan counties were made the Fifteenth Senatorial, and entitled to one Senator; Sangamon alone constituted the Twenty-sixth Representative District. with two Representatives. In this Assembly the county was represented as follows: Senator, Joseph Morton, of Morgan county; Representatives, Stephen T. Logan, Jonathan McDaniel.
Twentieth General Assembly. - Senator, Cy- rus W. VanDeren; Representatives, James J. Megredy, Shelby M. Cullom.
Twenty-first General Assembly. - Senator, Cyrus W. VanDeren; Representatives, James W. Barrett, Daniel Short.
Tirenty-second General Assembly. - Senator, William Jayne; Representatives, Shelby M. Cullom, Norman M. Broadwell.
Twenty-third General Assembly .- By act of January 31, 1861, the representation was fixed at twenty-five Senators and eighty-five Repre- sentatives, with twenty-five Senatorial and sixty- one Representative Districts. Sangamon, Logan and Tazewell formed the Eleventh Senatorial, and Sangamon and Logan the Twenty-fifth Rep- resentative District, with two Representatives.
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
In this assembly it was represented as follows: Senator, Colby Knapp, of Logan; Representa- tives, Ambrose M. Miller, of Logan; Charles A. Keyes, of Sangamon.
Twenty-fourth General Assembly .- Senators, John B. Cohrs, of Tazewell; Ambrose M. Miller, of Logan; James W. Patton, Sangamon.
Twenty-fifth General Assembly .- Senator, John B. Cohrs, of Tazewell; Representatives, James C. Conkling, of Sangamon; William Mc- Galliard, of Logan.
Twenty-sixth General Assembly .- Senator, Aaron B. Nicholson, of Logan; Representatives, John Cook, of Sangamon; Silas Beason, of Logan.
Twenty-seventh General Assembly .- Senators, Aaron B. Nicholson, of Logan; Alex. Starne, of Sangamon; Representatives, Charles Il. Rice, William M. Springer, Ninian R. Taylor. This representation was under the apportionment made under Constitution of 1870, which pro- vided that at its first session under that Consti- tution the Senate should consist of fifty mem- bers, being two from each district under the Constitution of 1848. Sangamon was therefore continued as a part of the Eleventh Senatorial District, but was made the Forty-third Repre- sentative District, with three Representatives elected under the minority representative plan.
Twenty-eighth General Assembly .- Senator, Alexander Starne; Representatives, Alfred Oren- dorf, Milton Hay, Shelby M. Cullom. This rep- presentation was under the apportionment of 1872, which divided the State into fifty one Sen- atorial Districts, each of which was entitled to one Senator and three Representatives, the latter elected under the plan of the minority represen- tation. Sangamon county was made the Thirty- First Senatorial Distriet.
Twenty-ninth General Assembly .- Senator, William E. Shutt; Representatives, Joseph L. Wilcox, Fred. Gehring, Shelby M. Cullom.
Thirtieth General Assembly .- Senator Wil- liam E. Shutt; Representatives, John Foutch, John Mayo Palmer, De Witt W. Smith.
Thirty-first General Assembly .- Senator, Wil- liam E. Shutt; Representatives, William L. Gross, John C. Snigg, Carter Traey.
Thirty-second General Assembly .- Senator William E. Shutt; Representatives, A. N. J. Crook, D. W. Smith, James M. Garland.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
The following embraces a complete list of County Officers from 1821 to 1881 inclusive. As sketches of the greater number of the men
appear elsewhere in this work, it is needless to say more in this connection than that the list embraces the names of some of the most honor- able men that have lived in Sangamon county, men who have honored the office as well as being honored by the office. The year follow- ing the name is that in which the party was commissioned, the time of service being until his successor qualified.
County Clerk.
Charles R. Matheny, 1821.
Noah W. Matheny, 1839. John J. Hardin, 1873. Louis II. Ticknor, 1877.
Circuit Clerk.
Charles R. Matheny, 1821.
William Butler, -.
John C. Calhoun, -.
Benjamin Talbott, 1848 .*
James H. Matheny, 1852.
Presco Wright, 1856.
Stephen S. Whitehurst, 1860.
Charles II. Lanphier, 1864.
James A. Winston, 1872.
Edward R. Roberts, 1880.
Recorder.
Charles R. Matheny, 1821.
Edward Mitchell, 1827.
Benjamin Talbott, 1835.
Probate Judge.
James Latham, 1821.
Zachariah Peter, 1821. Charles R. Matheny, 1822.
James Adams, 1825.
Thomas Moffett, 1843.
County Judge.
Thomas Moffett, 1849.
J. Wiek. Taylor, 1853.
William D. Power, 1857.
Norman M. Broadwell, 1863, vice Power, de- ceased. William Prescott, 1865. A. N. J. Crook, 1869. James II. Matheny, 1873. Sheriff. John Taylor, 1821. James D. Henry, 1828.
Garrett Elkin, 1834.
May.
do. 1834. Aug. William F. Elkin, 1840.
* From this time the Circuit Clerk is made ex-officio Recorder, the latter office being abolished.
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
William Harvey, 1844. Charles Arnold, 1848. Josiah Francis, 1850. John B. Weber, 1854. John Cook, 1856. Joseph B. Perkins, 1858. John W. Smith, 1860. Milton Hicks, 1862. William P. Crafton, 1864. Samuel Shoup, 1866. Dwight Brown, 1868. Andrew B. McConnell, 1870.
Louis H. Ticknor, 1874. Temp. Elliott, 1876. Samuel N. Shoup, 1878. Hampton Gibson, 1880.
Coroner.
Joseph Dickson, 1821. Matthias Eads, 1822. James C. McNabb, 1824. John Howard, 1827. Resigned. Joseph Thomas, 1827. Philip Fowler, 1828. James Walters, 1828. James Shepherd, 1830. Andrew Orr, 1834. J. Langston, 1835. James W. Neale, 1844. James Walker, 1852. Thos. W. S. Kidd, 1858. John Hopper, 1860. J. T. Underwood, 1862. Francis M. Hudson, 1864. George W. Graham, 1866. Andrew J. Ross, 1868. Edward B. Bierce, 1870. Garrett Elkin, 1578. Edward B. Bierce, 1880.
Surveyors.
James C. Stephenson, 1821. John Calhoun, 1833. Thomas M. Neal, 1835. John B. Watson, 1840. Joseph Ledlie, 1849. Zimri A. Enos, 1854. Joseph Ledlie, 1857. William M. Warren, 1859. Ira Merchant, 1863. Jacob W. Paulen, 1865. Samuel A. Graham, 1867. C. W. Herman, 1869.
Joseph Ledlie, 1871, Will. A. Connelly, 1875. Samuel A. Graham, 1879.
School Commissioners.
J. S. Britton, 1853.
Francis Springer, 1857. John S. Bradford, 1859. N. W. Miner, 1863.
Superintendent of Schools.
O. S. Webster, 1865.
W. Burgett, 1869. Patrick J. Rourke, 1873. Prosecuting Attorneys.
Samuel D. Lockwood, 1821.
James Turney, 1823.
George Forquer, 1829.
John J. Hardin, 1833.
Stephen A. Douglas, 1835.
David Prickett, 1837.
David W. Woodson, 1838.
David B. Campbell, 1839. A. Mc Williams, 1855.
Ward H. Lamon, 1856.
James B. White, 1857.
Cincinnatus M. Morrison, 1864.
Lloyd F. Hamilton, 1872.
Robert H. Hazlett, 1876.
Treasurers.
William Hayworth, 1821.
Adam Hamilton, 1822.
Adam Hamilton, 1823.
William S. Hamilton, 1824.
Andrew Orr, 1824.
John Taylor, 1825.
James Collins, 1827. Benjamin Talbott.
J. R. Young. James M. Bradford. David Dickerson. John Constant.
A. Y. Ellis. William T. Barrett, 1857.
Isaac A. Hawley, 1863. John G. Ives, 1865. Richard C. Keily, 1867.
O. R. Baker, 1869. John M. Nuckolls, 1875. Debold Paulen, 1877.
284
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XV.
REMOVAL OF THE STATE CAPITAL.
I
The first capital of the Territory of Illinois was the old French village of Kaskaskia, the oldest permanent settlement of the Mississippi valley. On the occasion of laying the corner- stone of the present magnificent State House, Judge Caton described the building used as the capitol when the Territorial Government was organized, in the following manner: "It was a rough building in the center of a square in the village of Kaskaskia, the ancient seat of the Western Empire for more than one hundred and fifty years. The body of the building was of uncut limestone, the gable and roof of the gam- brel style of unpainted boards and shingles, with dormer windows. The lower floor, a long, cheer- less room, was fitted up for the House, while the Council sat in the small chamber above. This venerable building was, during the French oeeu- paney of the country, prior to 1763, the head- quarters of the military commandant. Thirty years ago, the house was a mass of ruins, and to- day, probably, there is not a stone left to desig- nate the spot where it stood." That building was the capitol during the territorial existence of Illinois, and the State Government was also organized in it.
The Constitution of 1818, on the formation of the State, made it obligatory upon the Gen- eral Assembly to petition Congress for a grant of land upon which to locate the seat of gov- ernment for the State. In the event of the prayer of the petitioners being granted, a town was to be laid out on said land, which town should be the seat of government of the State for twenty years. The land was granted. "At the session of 1819, in Kaskaskia, five Commis- sioners were appointed to select the land appro- priated by Congress for the State Capital." The Commissioners made their selections fur- ther up the Kaskaskia river. Ilaving selected the site, the Commissioners were sorely puzzled
in their efforts to select a name that should be so euphonious as to attract the attention of the whole world. Governor Ford, in his history of Illinois, gives the following humorous account of the way it was done: "Tradition says that a wag, who was present, suggested to the Com- missioners that the ' Vandals' were a powerful nation of Indians, who onee inhabited the banks of the Kaskaskia river, and that ' Van- dalia,' derived from the name, would perpetuate the memory of that extinet but renowned peo- ple. The suggestion pleased the Commission- ers, the name was adopted, and they thus proved that the cognomen of their new city-if they were fit representatives of their constituents- would better illustrate the character of the modern, than the ancient inhabitants of the country."
Ilaving located and named their town, it was at onee laid out, and the dense growth of tim- ber cut away, and a two-story frame building erected on the square set apart for the State Capitol. The building was placed on a rough stone foundation in the center of the square, and was of very rude workmanship. The lower floor was for the House of Representatives, and the upper divided into two rooms, the largest one for the Senate, and the smaller one for the office of Secretary of State. The State Auditor and Treasurer occupied detached buildings. The archives of the State were removed from Kas- kaskia to Vandalia in December, 1820. That wooden State House was burned a few years later, and a much larger one built of briek on the same ground. The rapidity with which emigration filled up the northern portion of the State made it apparent, long before the twenty years it was to remain at Vandalia expired, that it would be necessary to remove the capital fur- ther north, and as early as 1832 the question began to be agitated in the General Assembly.
285
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.
At the session of 1832-38, an act was passed submitting the question to the people, naming six places which could be voted for as the seat of Government-Springfield, Jacksonville, the Centre, Alton, Vandalia, and Peoria. It will be seen that four of the places named lie in the centre, or north of the centre, of the State. The northern and central people voting each the object of their choice, would thus be di- vided.
A meeting was held at the Court House, in Springfield, January 4, 1834, presided over by Dan Stone, with Edward Jones as Secretary. The object of the meeting, which was composed of citizens of the entire county, was to have a concert of action among citizens north of Van- dalia and north and east of Alton, in reference to the removal of the State Capital. The act authorizing a vote upon the subject only required plurality of the vote cast instead of a majority, for any one of the six places named in order to elect. This would permit a minority of a little over one-sixth of the voters of the State to select the capital. Resolutions were passed at this meeting recommending that the north, northeast and northwest counties in the State hold a gen- eral convention at Rushville, Schuyler county, on the first Monday in April, 1834, for the pur- pose of agreeing upon one of the four places named in the northern part of the State, to be voted for as the seat of Government. John T. Stuart, Stephen T. Logan, Peter Cartwright, George Forquer, E. D. Taylor, and Samuel Mor- ris were appointed to represent Sangamon county in the convention, provided one should be called. Simeon Francis, Dan Stone, George Forquer, John T. Stuart, Stephen T. Logan, and C. R. Matheny were appointed a committee on corres- pondence, and were directed to prepare an ad- dress to the citizens of the counties specified in the call.
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