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 6

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 6

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).

"Some sixty years ago, before the first mile of railroad was made, while the Indian still lin- gered in Central Illinois-when the turnpike road from Baltimore and Washington, over the mountains to the Ohio river, was the great nation- al highway from the Eastern to the infant West- ern States, and when four-horse stage-coaches for carrying the United States mails and passengers were the best facilities afforded for travel, was the time the facts we record occurred.

" Mercantile agents, or drummers, at that early day were unknown. Twice a year Western merchants went East to replenish their stock of goods. The stage-coaches were run night and day, traveling about one hundred miles in twenty- four hours. About the time we speak of one of these elegant stages left Baltimore crowded with Western passengers, mostly merchants, for Wheeling, on the Ohio river. Having traveled one day and night, they were crossing the mount- ains slowly, tired and sleepy. Discussions on various topics were often encouraged to enliven the otherwise tedions hours. On this occasion three of the passengers were discussing the claims of several of the States to the Garden Spot of America,' while others listened or slept.

"One of the three presented the claim of Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, in its then highly cultivated condition; its rich limestone soil, its beautiful rolling surface, its never failing har- vests, its immense barns, etc.

"The second, in elegant terms, portrayed the region round about Frankfort, Kentucky, for beauty and climate, and for fertility of soil and elegant improvements, as the 'Garden Spot.'

"And the third gentleman presented and urged the claim of the Shenandoah Valley, of Virginia,

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

surrounded by the mountains and watered by ten thousand never failing springs gushing from the mountains; its golden harvests of grains and luscious fruits, and its blooded flocks upon a thousand hills.

"This interesting discussion was suddenly stopped by a roughly dressed passenger, in a jeans hunting suit, fringed, who had been sleep- ing and snoring for an hour or more. With an expression of terror in his face, he declared that something serious was going to happen the stage. I've had a remarkable dream, and with a serious earnestness commenced telling his dream to the anxious passengers:

'I dreamed that the horses became unman- ageable and plunged over one of these mountain precipices, and we fell and rolled several hun- dred feet. I found myself struggling in a very cold stream of water, but gained the opposite shore. I looked, and behold, I seemed to be in a paradise-the precinets of Heaven-the trees, and flowers and birds, were exceedingly beautiful, and at a little distance there was a high wall, as if built of precious stones or rocks, and a golden door in the wall. The knob of the door seemed to be a very large diamond, glittering as a star. I concluded I was in the spirit world, and that the golden door was the entrance to Heaven. While thus bewildered this gentleman (pointing to one of the trio disputants) appeared and walked to the golden door. He knocked. The door open- ed, and a glorious personage appeared, whom I was impressed to think was St. Peter. 'Whence comest thou?' he said to this gentleman; and yon answered ' from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and he said, 'enter.' Then came this other gentle- man and knocked, St. Peter opened and inquired from whence he came. Hereplied, ' from Frank- fort, Kentucky.' Ile was invited to enter. And, after a long while, this gentleman (pointing to the third of the trio) hastened to the door and rapped. The door was opened again, and St. Peter appeared for the third time, and inquired from what part of the earth he came. Hle said: ' From the Valley of Virginia.' And he was per- mitted to enter.

'"The more I looked about me the more I became enchanted. I heard the sweetest music that ever fell on mortal ears, sounding as if from over the wall, and I passed on to the door and rapped with a small silver mallet, that seemed there for the purpose. St. Peter appeared. When he saw me, he said, in sweetest tones: 'Whence comest thou?' I said, 'from the San- gamo country, Illinois. I shall never forget the candid and kind manner St. Peter said; ‘My

friend, I advise you to go back, as there is no such beautiful land in Heaven as the valley drained by the Sangamo river. By nature it is the Garden Spot of America, and by the art of man is des- tined to become the Paradise of the New World -a land of corn and wine, and though the first several generations of settlers may have to toil, yet before the tenth generation shall appear, this wilderness will be made to blossom as the rose.'

"The early settler of Sangamo was so in- genious in presenting the claim of Illinois as containing the 'Garden Spot,' that it was unani- monsly awarded to it. And at the next stopping place the trio treated to the wine."

FIRST WHITE MEN IN SANGAMON COUNTY.

History and tradition are both silent as to who was the first white man to visit this country. The early French explorers came within a few miles of its border, but it is doubtful if they set foot within it. Following only the courses of the great rivers, and penetrating inland but a short distance, the beautiful Sangamo country was unperceived by them. From the time of their visit to the Mississippi in 1673, a century and a half passed before Robert Pulliam in his wanderings came upon the scene, followed closely by Henry Funderburk, William Dren- nan, Joseph Dodds, James McCoy and others.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

In 1858, on the organization of the Old Set- tlers' Society, it was determined to have the first annual celebration on or near the site of the first cabin erected in the county. To this end, a committee was appointed to investigate the claims of all parties to the honor of being the first settler. After much investigation that committee decided, on the evidence of the fam- ily and some others, that Robert Pulliam erected a cabin in the fall of 1816, which, with- out doubt, was the first built in the county. Accordingly, the celebration was here held. So far as is known, no one at that time disputed the claim.

It is now elaimed by the descendants of Henry Funderburk that he was the first settler in the county; that he arrived in the spring of 1817, and raised that year a small quantity of corn, and that Pulliam was not then here. Their claim is supported by Jacob Hinkle, of Pawnee, who says that he was six years old when his father arrived in the county in the spring of 1818; that he well remembers seeing shocks of corn on Mr. Funderburk's place which must have been raised the year previous,

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Sixty-four years have now passed since the first settlement was made, and there is not liv- ing in all Sangamon county one who came dur- ing the years 1817 or 1818 who was a man or woman grown at that time. Evidence must now be taken second-hand, or from those who were very small when brought by their parents to this county. It cannot, then, be wondered at that there is a disagreement upon this and many other points. In the history of the town- ship of Ball will be found all the evidence now attainable with reference to the claims of Pul- liam, and in the history of Cotton Hill town- ship the Funderburk claim is set forth. The attention of the reader is called to these chap- ters.

OTHER EARLY SETTLERS.

In the spring of 1818, William Drennan, Jo- seph Drennan, Joseph Dodds, Mr. Vancil and George Cox settled in township 14, north of range 5, west, in what is now Ball township.

James McCoy and Levi W. Goodin, in the fall of 1818, settled in township 14, range 4, but moved to township 15, range 4, what is now known as Rochester township. Mr. McCoy and Mr. Goodin brought their wives, who were the first white women to come to the county for the purpose of making it their home. It is said that but six women came that year, the other four being wives of William and Joseph Dren- nan, Mr. Vancil and Joseph Dodds.

In what is now Auburn township, Jacob Ellis, James Black, Samnel Vancil, and John Wallace settled in 1818. In other parts of the county were Zachariah Peter, Justice Hinkle, William Nelson, Mason Fowler, Joseph Dixon, Joseph Neeley, and others.

AREA AND POSITION OF TIIE COUNTY.

Sangamon county is centrally situated, north and south, in the State and is bounded on the north by Menard and Logan counties, on the south by Macoupin, Montgomery and Christian counties, on the east by Macon county and on the west by Morgan county. It contains an area of 875 square miles, or 550,000 acres of land.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

Sangamon county was created by an act of the legislature, approved January 30, 1821. The following is the act in question:

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That all that tract of country within the follow- ing boundaries, to-wit: Beginning at the north-

east corner of township twelve north, on the third principal meridian, thence north with said meridian to the Illinois river, thence down the middle of said river to the mouth of Balance or Negro creek, thence up said creek to its head, thence through the middle of the prairie which divides the waters of the Sangamon and Mauves Terre to the northwest corner of township twelve north, range seven west, of the third principal meridian, thence east along the north boundary of township twelve to the place of begin- ning, shall constitute a separate county to be called Sangamon.

SECTION 2. Be it further enacted, That so soon as the county commissioners of said county shall be elected and duly qualified into office, they shall meet at some convenient place in said county as circum- stances will admit, and such place where selected by said county commissioners, shall be the temporary seat of justice for said county, until otherwise provided by law: Provided, however, that if any settler or set- tlers, owner or owners, of the place so selected as afore- said, shall refuse to have the temporary seat of justice fixed on his or her or their improvements, then the said commissioners may determine on such other place contiguous thereto as they may deem proper.

SECTION 3. Be it further enacted, That said county commissioners shall be allowed the same compensa- tion for the time necessarily employed in fixing the temporary seat of justice as in other cases.

SECTION 4. Be it further enacted, That the citizens of Sangamon county are hereby declared in all res- pects entitled to the same rights and privileges as are allowed in general to other counties in this State.

Provided, always, That in all cases where freehold- ers only are capable of performing any duty, or are en- titled to any privilege ; housekeepers shall for all such purposes, be considered as freeholders in the said San- gamon county, and shall and may do all duties ap- pertaining to the different offices in the county.

SECTION 5. Be it further enacted, That the county of Sangamon shall compose a part of the first judicial circuit of the State.

The following is the original boundary of the county as thus created : Commencing at the northeast corner of Locust township, in Christ- ian county, thence north to a point on the Illi- nois river about two miles west of the city of Peru, thence down the middle of said river to what is now the boundary line between Cass and Morgan counties, thence west to the north- east corner of Morgan county, thence south on the line between Morgan and Sangamon counties to the northwest corner of Otter town- ship in Macoupin county; thence east to the place of beginning. It will be seen that the boundaries between this county and Morgan, Macoupin and Montgomery, are unchanged. The original metes and bounds of Sangamon county, as given, embraced the following conn- ties and parts of counties as at present constitu- ted : Part of Christian, a small part of Macon all of Logan part of McLean, all of Tazewell, part of Woodford, part of Marshall, part of Putuam, all of Mason, all of Menard and all of Cass.

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

The territory then constituting the county was thus set apart by law. An election for county officers was held Monday, April 2, 1821. At this election William Drennan, Zachariah Peter and Rivers Cormack were elected County Com- missioners, met the next day and took the oath of office.

ACTS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

The first meeting of the County Commission- er's Court was held at the house of John Kelley, on Tuesday, April 3, 1821 ; there being present all the members elect-William Drennan, Zach- ariah Peter and Rivers Cormack. After taking the oath of office prescribed by law, the first business was the appointment of a clerk, Charles R. Matheny being honored with the position. Mr. Matheny took the oath of office and entered into bond with James Latham as security for the faithful performance of his duties. No further business was transacted at this time and the court adjourned.

The second special term was held at the same place, on the 10th day of April, 1821, Zachariah Peter and William Drennan being present

John Spillers was allowed the sum of ten dol- lars for carrying the election returns to Vanda- lia, then the capital of the State.

John Linsey, Stephen Stillman and John Robinson were nominated to the Governor as proper persons to fill the office of Justices of the Peace.

James Simms was appointed County Treas- urer.

The Commissioners who were appointed by the act creating the county to select a temporary county-seat, reported as follows :

"WHEREAS, The act of the General Assembly, en- titled, 'an act establishing the County of Sangano' requires of the County Commissioners when elected and qualified into office, to fix a temporary seat of jus- tice for said county ; therefore, we, the undersigned, County Commissioners of said county, do certify that we, after full examination of the situation of the popu- lation of said county, have fixed and designated a cer- tain point in the prairie near John Kelley's field on the waters of Spring creek, at a stake marked Z. D., as the temporary seat of justice for said county, and do further agree that the said county-seat be called and known by the name of Springfield.

" Given under our hand this 10th day of April, 1821. ZACHARIAH PETER, WILLIAM DRENNAN."

The next meeting of the board of County Commissioners was held at the court house in Springfield, June 4, 1821, all the members being present, with Charles R. Matheny, Clerk, and John Taylor, Sheriff.

From the records the following is extracted:

"The court, pursuant to publie notice given, proceeded to let ont the building of a jail to the lowest bidder, which was cryed off to Robert llambleton, at $84.75, who thereupon entered into an agreement with the aforesaid Commis- sioners to have the same completed by the first Monday in September next.

"Ordered, that William Drennan be appointed guardian for George Cox, an infant under the age of fourteen years, and that he enter into bond in one hundred dollars, with Rivers Cor- mack as security."

Several public roads were ordered laid out at this session, and John Hamblin and David Black were appointed constables.

James Simms refusing to qualify for the office of treasurer, George Haworth was appointed, and was duly qualified, presenting Zachariah Peter and Robert Pulliam as security.

In order to defray the necessary expenses of the county, it was ordered by the County Com- missioners that "the Assessor, in assessing the taxable property, assess the following property, to-wit: Horses, neat cattle, wheel-carriages, stock in trade and distillery.

The county was divided into two battalion districts of four companies each, and an elec- tion ordered for militia officers in each district.

A special term was next held July 16, 1821, the members of the court all being present. The only business transacted being the levying of one-half of one per cent. upon all taxable property "for the purpose of procuring public buildings and other necessary expenses for the year 1821."

On the first Monday in September, 1821, the Commissioners again met for the transaction of business.

Jacob Ellis was allowed the sum of $4.50 for a judge's seat and bar in the court-house.

Andrew Orr, Matthew Higgins, Norris A. Thomas, Jacob A. Miller and Robert Hamilton were appointed constables, each of whom quali- fied in open court.

John Taylor was allowed $30.75 for book and stationery furnished the clerk of the court.

At a term held December 3, 1821, Robert Hamilton was allowed the sum of $84.75 for the jail built by him for the use of the county. J hn Taylor, sheriff of the county, protested against receiving the jail as not suitable; but his protest was not heeded.

Charles R. Matheny was allowed $87.50 for salary as elerk o' the Circuit Court, and for sta- tionery furnished for the year 1821; Rivers Cor-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

mack was allowed $25 for services as Commis- sioner; William Drennan and Zachariah Peter each $30 for services as Commissioners; John Taylor was allowed $50 as salary for the year 1821.

The first tavern license granted by the board was at this term, Robert Pulliam being permitted to engage in the business for the sum of $3 per year. He was permitted to charge the following rates:

Meal victuals 25 cents.

Bed, per night. 123

Feed for horse. 123

Keeping horse over night. 373 66

Whisky, per half-pint. 123

On the first Monday in March, 1822, the court licensed Elijah Slater to " keep a tavern or pub- lie house of entertainment in the town of Spring- field." Whether provisions were scarce, or whatever the cause, he was permitted to charge a higher rate than Mr. Pulliam, the court fixing the following prices:

Meal victuals. 374 cents .

Lodging

123

Brandy, per half-pint.

Wine,

Rum,

25 66

Gin,

18%

Horse, per night.

Horse feed ..

121

Whisky, per half-pint.

Tuesday, March 5, 1822, the board was again in session, at which time it was "ordered by the court that the treasurer, in assessing the prop- erty for taxation for the year 1822, take and include all personal property, goods and chattels of whatsoever kind or nature the same may be, including all the personal estate, in addition to the real estate made taxable by law."

Charles R. Matheny was instructed to con- tract for county seals, weights and measures for the use of the county.

Erastus Wright was authorized to keep a ferry on the Illinois river at Fort Clark (Peoria), and was permitted to charge the following rates:

For man and horse. or single person or horse, 25 cents. For man or other person. . 12}

For each ox, bull, cow, steer or heifer. 123

For each calf, sheep or hog. 61

For each wagon cart, sleigh, sled or vehicle

drawn by two horses or two oxen.

For each additional span or yoke of horses or oxen. 25

All other less or greater number of persons or yokes or parts thereof, in the same proportion as above allowed.

Thomas Price was authorized to keep tavern with rates as already given.

Robert Hamilton was appointed treasurer and

entered into bond with John Scott and George Hayworth as securities, which bond was ap- proved.

At the June term, 1822, Aaron and Gideon Hawley were authorized to keep a ferry across the south fork of the Sangamo river, at what was known as Jarvis' Ford. The following rates were established:

Each man or other person. 6} cents.

For man and horse. 123

Lead horse or gelding. til

Bull, cow or steer. 61

Calf, sheep or hog. 6ł

Wagon and two horses or oxen 373

Vehicle drawn by one horse .. 25

Extra teams charged in proportion to the foregoing rates.

The sum of $12 was allowed Thomas Smith for a stray found in Springfield, for the use of the county, and Andrew Orr was appointed to take charge of the same.

In July the Commissioners were again in session.

The treasurer was authorized and ordered to extend a tax of 373 cents on the $100 on all taxable property.

At the annual election held in 1822, William Morgan and Samuel Lee were elected members of the board rice William Drennan and Rivers Cormack.

The first session of the new board was held on the second day of September, 1822. No business of any special importance was tran- sacted, and the court adjourned till court in course.

The next meeting of the court was held in December, at which time Charles R. Matheny was allowed $94 for stationery furnished the county.

Jacob Ellis was allowed $1 for hinges and hanging the court house door.

At the March term, 1824, the first allowance for paupers was made. John Orendorff was allowed $51.50 for keeping two panpers for six months, and Nathan Hussey $20 for keeping one pauper six months.

In 1825, specie must have been scarce, judg- ing from the fact that at the June term of that voar all allowances were made "in specie or its equivalent."

At the July term, 1825, the board met to let the building of a new brick court house, but the records are silent as to any action on the sub- ject.

At the September term, same year, Thomas Clark was appointed to superintend the opening and improvment of the navigation of the San-

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

gamon river, a subscription being raised for that purpose. Subscribers to the fund were allowed to pay their subscription in labor at the rate of $1 per day.

The last meeting of the County Commis- sioners' Court was held November 5, 1849. But little business was transacted. Their term of office was about at an end, being succeeded by the board of justices.

The following named served as County Com- missioners for the years named, and is a com- plete list from the organization of the county :

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

1821-William Drennan, Zachariah Peter and Rivers Cormack.

1822-William Morgan, Zachariah Peter and Samuel Lee.

1823-Same as above.

1824-William Morgan, Harry Riggin and Zachariah Peter.

1825-Same.

1826-Samuel Lee, William Strawbridge and Bowling Green

1827-Same.

1828-Asa S. Shaw, Zachariah Peter and Josiah B. Smith.

1829-Same.

1830-Same. Asa A. Shaw resigning, Garret Elkin was elected to fill vacancy.

1831-Same.

1832-Josiah B. Smith, Thomas Moffett and Reuben Harrison.

1833-Same.

1834-Thomas Moffett, Bartlett Haley and Samuel Berry .

1835-Thomas Moffett, Samuel Berry and William G. Cantrall.

1836-Zachariah Peter, William G. Cantrall and William Hickman.

1837-Same.

1838-John Cooper, Thomas Sackett and Thomas Simpson.

1839-Same.

1840-Thomas Simpson, John Cooper and Zachariah Peter.

1841-John Cooper, Zachariah Peter and Samuel Wyckoff.

1842-Zachariah Peter, Samuel Wyckoff and Willis H. Groves.

1843-Same.

1844-Zachariah Peter, Abram Foutch and John Dawson.

1845-Same.

1 46-Abram Foutch, Thomas Shepherd and John Dawson.

1847-Same.

1848-William F. Elkin, Thomas Shepherd and Abram Foutch.

1849-Same.

BOARD OF JUSTICES.

In 1849, the county government was vested in a Board of Justices, consisting of a county judge and two asssociate justices, all the powers previously held by the County Commissioners

being transferred to them. The first meeting of the Board of Justices was held at the court house in Springfield, Monday, December 3, 1849. There were present, Thomas Moffett, county judge ; Cyrus W. Vanderen and William F. El- kin, associate justices. The unfinished business of the County Commissioners' court was first taken up, and then the new board proceeded to the transaction of all business brought before them.

In 1861 the county adopted the township or- ganization law, and the last meeting of the Board of Justices was held Thursday, March 14, 1861.

The following named composed the Board of Justices, each serving the term of four years.

1849-Thomas Moffett, County Judge; William F. Elkin, Cyrus W. Vanderen, Associate Justices.

1853-John W. Taylor, County Judge; Samuel K. Swingley, William Armstrong, Associate Justices.

1857-William D. Power, County Judge ; Moses K. Anderson, J. A. Bell, Associate Justices.

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

A petition was presented to the Board of Jus- tices June 5, 1860, praying the board to submit the question to a vote of the people for the adoption of township organization. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and the subject was ordered submitted to the people at the next general election, held Tuesday, November 6, 1860. The vote was canvassed by the board in December following, when it was ascertained there was a majority of 859 votes in its favor, ont of a total vote of 7,241. The board there- upon appointed John S. Bradford, John Gard- ner, Sen., and Joseph Campbell, commissioners to divide the county into towns, in accordance with the general law relating to township organ- izations. At a meeting of the Board, held March 1, 1861, the commissioners submitted their report, by which the county was divided into twenty-two townships under the following names:

Auburn,

Island Grove,

Ball,

Loami,

Buffalo Hart,

Mechaniesburg,

Campbell, Power,

Cartwright,

Pawnee,

Clear Lake,

Rochester,

Cooper,

Sackett,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 6

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