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 46

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

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 46

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The subject created some little ill-feeling, the attacks of the newspapers south and southwest being directed towards Springfield. An article appeared in the Sangamo Journal favoring Springfield and signed "People." The Alton paper, believing the author of the article to be a citizen of Sangamon county, replied in the fol- lowing strain, the capitals and punctuation marks being as they appear in that paper:

"The GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER has been fairly chased to the moon-VANDALIA has experienced the desolation of Tadmor-ALTON is doomed to utter extinction. Tremble, now, O, JACKSONVILLE! and be thou mightily afraid, O, PEORIA! For ye, too, are soon to be

visited in wrath by these excentrically ' centri- fugal' ' People'-of Sangamon. Then destruc- tion will come upon you like a whirl-wind, and your names be forever blotted from the face of the map."

It being evident the vote of the people would not be considered binding by the next legisla- ture, many places throughout the State refused to vote upon the question. The result of the vote was that Vandalia had a small majority over Springfield, but only one-fifth the votes polled.

The legislature of 1836-7, would be called upon to settle the question of the capital, and accordingly in the selection of Senators and Representatives in the General Assembly from this county, men were chosen whom it was thought would work for the interests of Spring- field. That the selection made was a wise one the results sufficiently testify. They were the mnost remarkable delegation from any one county to the General Assembly, being much taller than the average of human stature. Some of them were less and some more than six feet, but their combined height was exactly fifty-four feet. They were then and are yet spoken of as the "Long Nine." The names of those in the Senate were Archer G. Herndon and Job Fletcher; in the House, Abraham Lincoln, Ninian W. Edwards, John Dawson, Andrew McCormick, Dan Stone, William F. Elkin and Robert L. Wilson. One or two were as tall, but none taller, than Abraham Lincoln, who quoting his own language, was "six feet four inches, nearly." It was known that a movement would be made to re-locate the State Capital. The "Long Nine" were united for securing it, and nothing could turn one of them from their pur- pose. They were ready to yield anything else, but when any other point was yielded, it secured votes for Springfield as the capital. Their opportunities were great. The people of Illi- nois were, at that time, almost insane on the subject of internal improvements. Not one in ten thousand of them had ever seen a railroad, but they had heard of them, and thought the prairies of Illinois the best place in the world to build them. The first movements began in the General Assembly in 1834, but the first charter was: "An act ro incorporate the Chicago and Vincennes Railroad Company, with an authorized capital of $3,500,000 and was ap- proved January 17, 1835. Within a year char- ters were granted for building railroads in the State, of which the combined capital authorized was $18,200,000. Not a mile of railroad was

33-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

ever built under any of these charters. Before the next session, the legislature realized there were no capitalists to build railroads, and a new system was inaugurated. An act was passed and approved February 27, 1837, entitled: "An act to establish and maintain a general system of internal improvement." Two supplementary acts were passed and approved March 4, 1837. The object of these acts was to construct public works at the expense of the State in all parts of the same.

While the internal improvement bill was pending the "Long Nine" were busy. They said little in locating proposed railroads, but would assist other localities, where votes could be secured for locating the Capital at Springfield. The result was the passage of "An act to per- manently locate the seat of government for the State of Illinois," which was approved February 25, 1837. The law provided for a joint session of the two Houses on the 25th of the same month to select a situation. An appropriation of $50,000 was made to commence building the State House. The law also declared that no place should be chosen unless its citizens con- tributed at least $50,000 to aid in the work, and not less than two acres of land as a site for the Capital. When the two houses assembled on the twenty-eighth, the question was decided by the following:

Ballotings.

1st.

2d. 3d. 4th.

Springfield.

Jacksonville

Vandalia .

Peoria.

Alton .

Illiopolis.

Scattering

That settled the question and Springfield was declared to be the future Capital of the State.

A supplemental act was passed on the third of March authorizing the Commissioners of San- gamon county to convey the land to the State as a site for the new edifice. It also named A. G. Henry, of Sangamon; Archibald Job, of Cass, and William Herndon, of Sangamon, as Com- missioners, who were authorized and empowered to superintend the work of erection. It was expected the new capital would be completed in time for the first meeting of the legislature in Springfield, which was fixed for the special ses- sion of 1839-40. Finding that the building

could not be sufficiently advanced, the Second Presbyterian Church, on Fourth street, was secured as Representatives' Hall. The building was then quite new, and was by far the largest church edifice in the central and whole northern part of the State. It was built of brick, stood a few feet north of the site of the present mag- nificent Second Presbyterian Church, until the latter was erected. The old building was torn down in the summer of 1875. The Methodist Church was used for the Senate Chamber, and the Episcopal Church for the Supreme Court, both wooden buildings. The legislature first convened in special session December 9, 1839.

It was thought by many to be unreasonable, to require a little town of eleven hundred in- habitants, struggling with the disadvantages of a new country, to pay the $50,000 pledged. During that special session, Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, then a member from Morgan county, proposed to bring in a bill releasing Springfield from the payment of the same. The sterling honesty of Abraham Lincoln manifested itself on this, as on all other proper occasions. He interposed his objections, although he fully ap- preciated the kindly feelings that prompted the proposal,-but he insisted that the money should be paid. Arrangements were entered into for paying it in three installments. The two first payments were made without any great diffi- culty, but the third pressed more heavily, as the financial crash that swept over the whole United States while the new State House was in course of construction impoverished many. Under these circumstances, it became necessary to bor- row the money to make the last payment, from the State Bank of Illinois. A note for the amount was signed by one hundred and one citizens, and deposited with the Bank; the money drawn, with which Internal Improvement scrip, or stock, was purchased and paid into the State Treasury; thus paying the last installment in the State's own evidence of indebtedness. From that time, it was a matter between the State Bank and the citizens who signed the note. Soon after the note was given the bank failed, and some of the payments were made in the depreciated paper of the bank, for which it had received par value when it was paid out. The original note is pre- served in the Ridgely National Bank, but the following is a copy of the same:

"$16,666.67. SPRINGFIELD, March 22, 1830.

"One year after date, we, the undersigned, or either of us, promise to pay to the President, Directors and Company of the State Bank of

2×7

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Illinois, sixteen thousand, six hundred and sixty- six dollars and sixty-seven cents, for value re- ceived, negotiable and payable at the bank, in Springfield, with interest until paid, at the rate of six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually." John Hay, L. Higby,

Joseph Thayer,

William Thornton,

M. O. Reeves,

W. P. Grimsley,

William Wallace,

John B. Watson,

C. H. Ormsby,

Thomas Mather,

Tho. Houghan,

D. Prickett,

J. Calhoun,

Josiah Francis,

Washington Iles,

Joel Johnson,

C. B. Francis,

Wm. S. Burch,

C. R. Matheny,

William Butler,

P. C. Canedy,

Jos. Klein,

P. C. Latham,

A. G. Henry,

Ninian W. Edwards,

John T. Stuart,

Jonas Whitney,

Moses Coffinan,

George Pasfield, S. M. Tinsley,

Ephriam Darling, Ira Sanford,

Jona. Merriam,

Charles Arnold,

John L. Turner,

Sullivan Conant,

Alexander Shields,

C. C. Phelps,

William Hall,

R. B. Zimmerman, James L. Lamb,

M. L. Knapp,

B. Ferguson,

Jesse Cormack,

Thomas Moffatt, Simeon Francis, Robert Irwin,

George Trotter,

Robert Allen,

J. Adams,

W. B. Powell,

F. C. Thompson,

E. M. Henkle,

Wm. Porter,

W. Ransdell,

John G. Bergen,

Erastus Wright,

E. D. Baker, Garrett Elkin, Alexr. Garrett, T. M. Neale,

John Capps,

Gershom Jayne,

William G. Abrams,

M. Mobley,

Abner Y. Ellis, S. H. Treat,

HIenry F. Luckett,

Henry Cassequin,

James Maxcy,

E. G. Johns,

Thos. J. Goforth, W. M. Cowgill.

From a footing up of the principal and inter- est on one side of the note, the final settlement appears to have been made February 19, 1846. The principal and interest to that time was $17,918.

Soon after the legislature adjourned at Van- dalia, in March, 1837, and the members returned to their homes, a public festival was given in Springfield in honor of the new legislation for the removal of the capital. Among the toasts and speeches that followed the dinner, were the two following:

By Abraham Lincoln, Esq .: "All our friends- they are too numerous to mention now, individ- ually, while there is no one of them who is not too dear to be forgotten or neglected."

By S. A. Douglas, Esq .: "The last winter's legislation-May its results prove no less bene- ficial to the whole State than they have to our town."

A tradition still lingers here that something stronger than water was used in drinking the toasts on that occasion, as there was not a man to be found after the festival that could tell who made the last speech, and that important fact is lost to history.

The Commissioners appointed to superintend the building at once entered upon the discharge of their duties, and on the fourth of July, 1837, the corner-stone of the State House was laid with grand civic and military demonstrations. After it had been lowered to its place in the wall, E. D. Baker delivered an eloquent address appropriate to the occasion. It was estimated that the building would cost $130,000, but $240,000 was expended before it was completed according to the original design. When at last completed it was looked upon with wonder and admiration by the people. It was thought to be so large that it would answer all the purposes of the State for all time to come.

BUILDING OF A NEW STATE HOUSE.

The growth of the State, between the years 1840 and 1865, was remarkable, and long before this time it became apparent that a new State House was demanded for the accommodation of the officers and public, and for the preservation of the public records. There began to be intima- tions thrown out, that when the question of a new building came up for legislation, other impor- tant towns would endeavor to bring an influence to bear in favor of a re-location and removal of the capital. The citizens of Springfield and San- gamon county fully realized the difficulties and dangers of the agitation of the question of a

James W. Keyes, Wm. H. Marsh, Joshua S. Hobbs, B. S. Clement, John Todd, A. Lincoln,

Dewey Whitney,

Foley Vaughn,

N. A. Rankin,

Elijah Iles, James P. Langford, J. M. Cabaniss,

Z. P. Cabaniss, Amos Camp,

Benj. F. Jewett,

B. C. Webster,

Joshua F. Amos, And. MeClellan, A. Trailor,

J. M. Shackleford, Benjamin Talbott, B. C. Johnson, John F. Rague, Nathaniel Hay,

Virgil Hickox, Stephen T. Logan, James R. Gray, J. S. Britton,

288

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

new building; and although the use of the old was felt to be an obstacle to the growth of the city, yet many felt disposed to put off the evil day as long as possible. From a pamphlet his- tory of Springfield, by J. C. Power, published in 1871, the following is extracted:

" During the summer of 1866, Hon. James C. Conkling became a candidate for a seat in the lower branch of the General Assembly, with the view of making the subject of building a new State Ilouse a prominent question before the legislature, if elected. Mr. Conkling went be- fore the people upon this question and the pol- ities of the day, and was elected,-although his opponent was friendly to the move for a new State House, also. The election was held in No- vember, 1866.

" Hon. John S. Bradford was Mayor of Spring- field, at the time, and in consequence of the gen- eral feeling on the State House question, he, soon after the State election, sent out private in- vitations to some forty or fifty of the most prom- inent business men, to meet him on a certain evening, in a hall named in the invitation. When they were assembled, Mayor Bradford was called on to preside, and state the object of the meeting. He informed them that it was, to hold a consnl- tation with reference to bringing the subject of building a new capitol for the State before the General Assembly, for its action at the approach- ing session. After the delivery of a brief ad- dress by the Mayor, a general interchange of views followed, when it was found that the feel- ing was almost unanimous in favor of action. By subsequent meetings, and consultations with the Board of Supervisors for Sangamon county, and the city authorities of Springfield, those two organizations were ready to purchase the old State House for the use of the county and city, in the event of the General Assembly deciding to erect a new one.

LAW PROVIDING FOR BUILDING A NEW CAPITOL.

Accordingly, when the legislature assembled, Mr. Conkling presented a bill providing for the erection of a new State Capitol at Springfield, and laid it before the House of Representatives early in the session. It was referred to the Committee on Public Buildings; and, after re- maining in their hands several weeks, during which time some changes were made, the prin- cipal one being an increase of the amount to be paid for the old State lIonse, it was reported back to the House, with the unanimous recom- mendation that it be adopted. It passed both Honses, and was approved by Governor R. J.

Oglesby, February 25, 1867, with a supplement- ary act two days later.

This law provided, first, for the conveyance by the Governor of the public square, contain- ing two and a half acres of land, with the State House upon it, to Sangamon county and the city of Springfield, in consideration of $200,000, to be paid to the State of Illinois, and for the further consideration that the city and county cause to be conveyed to the State a certain piece of land, described by metes and bound, in the bill, and containing between eight and nine acres, upon which to erect the new State House. This bill also provides that the State shall have the use of the old State House until the new one is com- pleted. The land was seenred at a cost to the city of $70,000, and conveyed to the State: the $200,000 was paid by the county, and that amount, with $250,000 more to be drawn from the State treasury, making $450,000, was appro- priated to commence the work.

It is proper here to state that the $200,000, paid nominally for the old State House, was really in consideration that a new one was to be built. The people of Sangamon county would now much prefer to re-convey it to the State, if they could have refunded the $200,000 with the $80.000 interest, that the money has been worth during that time; then they could build a Court House much more to their liking, for a much smaller amount of money.

It is a matter in which the people have a right to feel an honest pride, that while other towns and cities in different parts of the State have made liberal offers to secure the location of some State institution, only to evade its provisions, and in the end leave the State to make up their deficiencies, Springfield and Sangamon county have redeemed every pledge they have made to the people of the State. Upon this subject they invite the closest scrutiny.

In the law, seven men were named as Com- missioners, to superintend the erection of the new State House, and disburse the funds appro- priated for that purpose. They were instructed to advertise for plans and specifications, for thirty days, in two daily papers cach, in Spring- field and Chicago, and one each, in Philadelphia and New York. After waiting three months they were to notify the Committees on l'ublic Buildings as provided by law, who were to unite with the Commissioners in adopting a design. The Commissioners were to be gov- erned by the plan so adopted, and the total cost of the building was not to exceed $3,000,000. March 5, 1867, they advertised "Notice to

289

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Architects," offering $3,000 to the architect whose design should be adopted for the new State House, and asking for plans and specifica- tions to be submitted for their inspection.

EFFORTS TO NULLIFY THE LAW AND THEIR FAILURE.

A writ of quo warranto-or an inquiry as to their right or authority to act-was issued against the Commissioners, from the Superior Court of Chicago, May 13, 1867, on the relation of Mathew Laflin, and judgment of ouster was entered. The Commissioners appealed to the Supreme Court, and the decision was reversed at Ottawa, in September of that year. The Commissioners having advertised for proposals before the commencement of the suit, and hav- ing named the 15th of July as the time for in- speeting the designs, and being deprived of the power to act by the decision of the Superior Court of Chicago, placed both themselves and architects in an awkward position. The Su- preme Court, however, came to their relief by giving special permission to the Commissioners to call to their assistance the Committees on Public Buildings, as provided by law, and the inspection took place as previously intended, on the 15th of July, in the Senate Chamber at Springfield. A large number of designs were submitted to their inspection, and, after mature deliberation, that presented by J. C. Cochrane, of Chicago, was adopted.

The Commissioners, being compelled to re- main inactive until after the meeting of the Su- preme Court in September, it was too late in the season to do anything more than prepare for active business the next year. Their first act after the decision of the Supreme Court re-in- stating them was on the 8th of November, when they issued an advertisement for sealed proposals to do the excavating, and furnish cer- tain descriptions of stone.

January 14, 1868, John C. Cochrane was ap- pointed architect and superintendent, and a con- tract entered into for that purpose. January 18, a contract was made with N. Strott, of Spring- field, for the excavation; and January 20th, with R. W. McClaughry & Co., of Hancock county, for stone to build the foundations. Broken stone, for concrete, was purchased, ready deliv- ered, of J. J. & W. H. Mitchell, of Alton. March 25th, a contract was made with Barnard & Gowen, of Chicago, to do the mason work.

MAGNITUDE OF THE WORK.

The magnitude of the enterprise may be in- ferred from the fact that the parties who fur-

nished the foundation stone gave security in the penal sum of $550,000 for the performance of contract, and those who do the mason work a penal sum of $200,000. Excavating was com- menced early in the spring, but owing to the excessive rains the ground was not in a proper condition to commence laying stone until June 11, 1868. From that time until cold weather put a stop to it, the work was prosecuted vigor- ously, and a part of the foundation was brought to a level with the surface during the month of September.

LAYING CORNER STONE.

The Grand Master of Masons for the State of Illinois was invited by the Commissioners to assemble the craft for the purpose of laying the corner stone of the new State House with the imposing ceremonials of the order. The invita- tion was accepted, and October 5 set apart as the time at which it was to take place. A stone was prepared, eight feet long, four feet wide and three feet deep, with a recess for receiving such articles as it was thought desirable to de- posit. A catalogue of them would fill one of these pages.

The day was bright and cheerful, and the pro- cession the largest that had ever been seen at the Capital of the State, except at the obsequies of President Lincoln in May, 1865. Masons were present from all parts of the State, of all degrees, from Master Mason to Knight Templar. After the corner stone had been tested by the implements of the order, and pronounced well formed, true and trusty, it was placed in its proper position at the northeast corner of the building. An eloquent oration was then deliv- ered by Hon. John D. Caton, of Ottawa. The ceremonials having closed, the craft and others present were called from labor to refreshment, and all repaired to the " Rink" to partake of a sumptuous collation prepared by the Lelands. After dinner the multitude dispersed to their homes, to treasure up the memories of the day as one of the most pleasant waymarks of their lives.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW STATE HOUSE.

Without regard to such technicalities as would be pleasing to architects, I shall endeavor to describe the edifice, in such language as will be most easily understood by the common reader. The ground plan is in the form of a great cross, and the superstructure is in the style called the classic order of architecture. It so blends the ancient and modern art of building as to secure the greatest strength and solidity and yet pre-

290

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

serve an exterior appearance so light and airy as to be pleasant to the eye. The grand cut- lines are, total length from north to south, three hundred and fifty-nine feet, exclusive of the porticos, which adds twenty feet to each end. From east to west it is two hundred and sixty- six feet, with twenty feet additional in the grand portico at the east end, which is the prin- cipal front. There is an excavation underground of ten feet depth, throughout entire area. It is designed by the architect for the heating apparatus, the storage of fuel and other heavy articles. So much of the floor as is used, is to be covered with concrete.

The next above this is the first story; it is nineteen feet high, and entirely above ground. The floor of this story is supported by brick arches; and in the halls the arches are double, one being two feet below the other, to form via- ducts to supply the rooms with fresh air. A layer of concrete covers the entire anca of the arches, and upon this, imbedded in cement, is laid the marble floors throughout.

On this floor we find private rooms for the Judges of the Supreme Court, and committee rooms. The largest portion of this floor is de- voted to the storage of stationery, printing paper, and all articles connected with or used in any other part of the building. One of these rooms is for the storage of geological specimens, and another for geological artists. One or more is for the Adjutant-General's office and museum. This story, in addition to the windows on all sides, is lighted by a glass ceiling in the centre, which forms the floor of the rotunda above.

Above this is the principal story, which is twenty-two feet and a half from floor to ceiling. On this floor is the main corridor, running the entire length of the building from north to south, and the grand corridor crossing it at right angles under the dome, and extending across the building from east to west. The main corridor is 359 feet long, twenty-four feet wide and twenty-two and a half feet high.

'The sides of the main corridor will be finished with marble pilasters projecting from the walls, thus forming panels. The entire walls on both sides, consisting of pilasters with their caps and bases, panels and their borders, and door finish, are all to be of variagated marble, and the ceil- ing to be frescoed. The grand corridor, entend- ing from the east portico to the grand stairway in the western wing, isso called in consideration of its great width-thirty-two feet-and because the pilasters are more massive and the finish more elaborate than in the main corridor.

The rooms on the floor described are to be used as follows: Governor's reception and pri- vate rooms; office of the Secretary of State; of the Treasurer of State, and of the Auditor of Public Accounts; Superintendent of Public In- struction; Superintendent of Public Instruction's library; law library; State document library; At- torney General's office; Supreme Court 10cm; Supreme Court Clerk's office; four massive stone fire-proof vaults, and the State Treasurer's bur- glar-proof safe. The State Geologist's muscum is just over the State Geologist's store-room, in the first story, with which it is connected by a private stairway; State Geologist's office. With all these, there are the necessary water closets, wash rooms, private offices, and the grand stair- way, which leads to the story above. This flight is to be made of Tennessee marble, the steps each sixteen feet long.

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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 46

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084