USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Past and present of Mercer County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 5
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48
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
building roads and for other purposes. It is soft when first mined, but becomes hard and firm upon exposure to the atmosphere, and is then a valuable building material. Fire clay and potter's clay are found in profitable beds in several portions of the county. A short distance south of Aledo is a bed of potter's clay. This has been mined, marketed and used in the manufacture of earthenware of various kinds.
The greatest source of wealth from the mines of Mercer County are the coal beds. The supply is enormous and will not be exhausted for hundreds of years to come. There seem to be, according to the authorities, three seams of coal in the county. The seam known as No. I Lower supplies the largest part of the coal now used by the county. This bed is from three to five feet in thickness and covers a large part of the county. In fact, its extent is not fully known yet. It has been extensively worked in Greene, Mercer, Preemption, Rich- land Grove and Duncan townships. No. 2 seam likewise covers a large portion of the county and has been mined in North Henderson, Suez, Ohio Grove, Rivoli, Greene, Mercer, Millersburg, Richland Grove, Preemption, Perryton and Duncan. This seam varies in thickness from one and a half to three feet; No. 3 seam has been opened in Greene, Rivoli and North Henderson townships. This bed ranges from three to five feet in thickness. Since the earliest settlement the presence of coal has been known and a few mines were opened at a very early day and others were added as time passed and timber became scarce. The coal beds of the county are im- mensely valuable, which fact is appreciated by the inhabitants. The time will come when much of the coal can be and will be exchanged for cash. William A. Marsh has taken special pains to collect the fossil flora of the Carboniferous seams in this county. He has found over five hundred distinct specimens of fossil fauna and flora. Tyler McWhorter likewise made a similar collection of coal measure fos- sils which he presented to the university at Champaign. In recent years the shell industry has been developed and button factories were put in operation at Keithsburg, New Boston and elsewhere, and a large number of persons were employed. While some gathered the shells from the river, others were employed in cutting them into buttons, etc. A few pearls of great value have been found.
The weather from season to season is an important matter, and in recent years a record has been kept to show the rainfall, minimum and maximum of heat and cold, etc. Destructive floods of the Mis- sissippi have occurred in the years 1828, 1844, 1851, 1858 and 1881.
49
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
Probably the flood of 1851 was higher than any of the others. A description of that flood may be found herein in the chapter on Keiths- burg. The flood of 1881 was extremely sudden and rapid, rising in a few hours and catching and destroying large numbers of live stock. It remained for nearly two months before the river went down. Fields with half-grown corn were covered with it and ducks appeared by the millions. It was estimated that forty thousand ducks were killed and shipped from this county to the cities during the season. The flood of 1858 was one which affected the whole county, and not merely the Mississippi River. In May and June it rained six weeks almost incessantly, and all streams were far above their banks, and a large amount of damage was done. Almost every bridge in the county was washed away.
In March, 1860, a large wolf hunt took place in Millersburg and Mercer townships. The hunt was planned on the 2d and took place on the 17th. Nearly all of the two townships were surrounded and then the march to the center began. Thomas Clifford was chief marshal and the prairie south of Alexander Brown's residence was the central point where the circle converged. So far as known not a wolf was secured. In early times prairie fires were often very destructive. The grass grew high, and when dead and the wind blew, a fire once started would travel almost as fast as a horse. In the early '6os mad dogs appeared in every township of the county east of Aledo. Several persons were bitten and much excitement resulted. Late in the autumn of 1860 and early in January, 1861, there were five weeks of fine, uninterrupted sleighing.
Another big wolf hunt occurred February 20, 1864. The meet- ing for this organization was held February 13th, at Marsh school- house. Richard Kiddoo was made president of the meeting and William A. Marsh, secretary. A chief marshal and two assistants were appointed to organize the line. The men were divided into four bodies to be stationed on four sides of the track to be covered. This track will be understood by the following description: North line-center, Millersburg bridge; east end, Walnut Grove ; west end, Kirk's Mill. West line-center, Universalist church; north end, Church's Farm; south end, Glancey's Mill. South line-center, John Ditto's home; east end, Judge Hays' farm; west end, A. Dod- son's farm. East line-center, McKee's farm; south end, Kimmell's mill; north end, Bartlett's farm. It was ordered that each man should be at his post at 9 o'clock A. M. and must start promptly at IO o'clock. All lines were directed to make their central point on
50
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
the prairie east of John Love's farm. The marshals of the north line were Henry Dool, Thomas Clifford and John Beatty; west line, Jacob Braucht, John T. McGinnis and John Jackson; south line, James Brown, Josiah Willits and Samuel Cabeen; east line, Wesley Volentine, David Braucht and Henry Huffman. The hunt came off duly and was a grand affair, but not a wolf was captured or killed.
By act of February 15, 1865, George Brittenbanner, John H. Wilson, W. S. Streeter and Samuel C. Plummer were incorporated as the Banner Coal and Oil Company, with power to enter into the coal and oil business in Mercer, Henry and Rock Island counties. The capital stock was fixed at $500,000.
About the year 1874 a mastodon tooth was found in a slough on the farm of S. C. Anderson, two and a half miles west of Aledo. It was one of the molars and weighed one and a quarter pounds. A year or two later the tooth of a mastodon was found about a mile northwest of Viola, in Greene Township, and passed to the posses- sion of Dr. J. V. Frazier. It was 61/2x314 inches on the face and weighed two pounds and thirteen ounces.
In June, 1875, the Edwards Valley gopher hunt occurred at Sugar Grove. Several hundred men were engaged in this destructive hunt, with the following result: Striped gophers, 1,178; gray gophers, 346; barn rats, 475 ; rattlesnakes, 17; total, 2,016.
From December 1, 1877, to April 24, 1878, 121 wolf scalps were presented to the county clerk for the bounties due thereon-$10 on each of 8 old animals and $3 on each of 113 young ones. They came from the townships as follows: Richland Grove, 26; Eliza, 15; Rivoli and Perryton, 14 each; Greene, 11; North Henderson, 9; Millersburg and Duncan, 8 each; Mercer, 7; New Boston, 6; Pre- emption, 3. John Watson had killed the largest number-14. Within a week twenty more scalps were presented.
It would be a difficult thing to specify and describe all the coal mines opened and operated in the county in early years. The best that can be done is to note the number at different times with the quantity of coal taken out, the number of men employed, etc. The following is the report of William McLaughlin, inspector of mines for Mercer County in 1878:
Number mines in operation 29 Number operated by shaft. 18
Number operated by slope. 6 Number operated by drift. 5
51
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
Number miners employed 255
Average depth of coal vein. 3 ft. 6 inches
Greatest depth of vein. 4 ft. 6 inches
Smallest depth of vein. 2 ft. 6 inches
Average depth of shaft. 20 ft. 6 inches
Number tons coal mined year ending September 1, 1878. 38,687
Amount of capital employed. $36,360
No lives lost during the year.
For the year ending September 1, 1879, the number of mines operated was 29. Amount of coal mined, 64,232 tons ; number miners employed, 176.
During the year ending September 1, 1880, there were mined in the county 82,953 tons of coal. There were 7 mines in Richland Grove Township; 11 in Greene; + in Preemption; 3 in Mercer; 3 in Duncan, and I in Perryton; total, 29. The number of mines was 231 ; thickest vein, +1/2 feet; thinnest vein, 2 feet.
MERCER COUNTY COAL MINES, 1907
Shipping Mines
Postoffice
Tons Output
Employes
Coal Valley Mining Co., No. 2
Sherrard
210,712
276
Empire Coal Co., No. 3.
Gilchrist
175,086
257
Coal Valley Mining Co., No. 1.
C'able
30,734
77
Alden Coal Co., No. 4.
Gilchrist
16.612
91
Totals
433,144
701
LOCAL MINES
Docherty Brothers
Preemption
4.350
12
Liefendorfer & Kasenburg
Preemption
3,953
J. B. Martin.
Aledo
3,030
5
Arthur Jones
Viola
2.377
S
G. W. Martin
Viola
2,200
5
W. H. Riddell.
Aledo
2,000
6
B. B. Peterson.
. Cable
2,000
4
W. P. Williams
Aledo
1.440
+
W. J. Young
New Windsor
1,200
5
D. W. Essley
Aledo
1,000
2
Robert Salkeld
Cable
600
2
B. F. Miller
Viola
600
1
M. A. Beers.
Cable
516
2
Edward Grady
Viola
80
2
Total
25.328
52
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
TABLES OF MEAN TEMPERATURES FROM 1896 TO 1910 AND PRECIPITATION FROM 1901 TO 1910 AS RECORDED AT THE WEATHER BUREAU STATION AT ALEDO, ILLINOIS.
Mean Temperatures from 1896 to 1910.
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
AAug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nor.
Dec.
Ann'1
1896
23.3
26.9
33.5
57.6
70.0
71.3
74.5
72.6
61.6
49.0
36.0
32.9
50.8
1897
20.0
28.3
35.7
18.4
39.3
69.1
77.6
71.7
72.0
37.1
36.7
21.9
49.8
1898.
26.4
23.8
39.3
47.0
61.0
74.0
74.6
72.9
67.8
49.1
34.0
22.2
49.5
1899
21.0
15.0
29.0
48.0
63.0
73.0
75.0
76.0
64.0
59.0
46.0
23.0
49.5
1900
27.0
23.6
30.0
52.0
64.0
71.0
TG.0
80.0
67.0
61.0
37.0
28.4
51.4
1901
27.4
17.2
36.9
50.2
60.8
73.6
82.8
74.0
65.8
55.7
37.4
23.0
50.4
1902
24.0
17.4
40.4
49.6
63.0
$5.8
73.8
69.9
61.0
57.0
46.4
04.4
49.3
1903.
24.3
03.8
13.4
32.5
63.2
66.0
74.0
71,0
63.6
53.8
36.1
21.0
49.4
1904.
17.2
18.7
36.4
45.8
61.0
67.8
71.6
68.5
63.0
53.5
41.9
26.2
47.5
1905
16.5
15.1
49.7
49.9
68.8
70.8
79.9
74.8
68.6
32.1
39.8
29.1
49.9
190G.
28.0
26.0
28.9
53.4
62.3
69.2
72.3
74.5
69.4
52.2
37.0
29.6
50.3
1907
25.4
27.6
11.9
44.6
33.3
67.2
74.2
71.2
63.8
51.1
38.2
32.0
49.6
1908
26.0
26.4
11.5
51.6
60.8
68.1
73.6
70.9
62.2
52.8
42.1
30.0
50.5
1909
24.8
31.1
36.2
45.8
58.6
69.8
71.8
75.8
62.9
49.4
47.6
18.4
49.5
191 ₽
23.6
23.0
34.0
50.0
62.0
69.0
74.5
73.0
63.2
53.9
39.3
26.0
49.8
Mean temperature for the state for 70 years from 1840 to 1910 was 51.05.
Precipitation from 1901 to 1910.
Year
Jad.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oet.
Nov. 1.00
Dec.
Total
1901.
1.41
1.88
2.79
1.28
1.93
9.28
2.16
.41
2.36
.87
3,51
2.10
1.90
48.89
1903.
.73
1.53
1.86
3.60
6.20
3.84
1.89
6.53
6,35
3.09
.98
.66
49.32
1904
1.84
.37
2.78
1.95
3.93
2.03
4.49
7.58
3.62
.62
.15
1.75
30.51
1905.
2.57
2.28
2.42
2.40
4.37
4.91
1.18
3.20
3.63
1.57
3.12
1.67
33.32
1907
4.10
.26
2.87
2.27
5.13
2.66
6.74
5.60
2.02
.62
1.40
.54
34.21
1908
.47
2.58
1.85
2.20
6.88
4.93
3.98
5.73
1.92
1.40
2.63
35.29
1909
1.32
2.34
1.61
4.00
4.19
3.36
4.10
.44
3,04
9.23
4.79
3.60
35.08
1910
1.79
.98
.7 0
3.69
Mean .
1,54
1.46
0.14
2.84
4.51
3.92
3.79
4.13
3.47
1.91
1.87
1.46
32.98
The mean precipitation for the state for 10 years from 1901 to 1910 was 36,74 inches.
TEMPERATURE.
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mark
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct. 50.8
Nov.
Dec.
Ann'l
1911
26.3
30.2
40.5
47.9
66.7
75.6
75.
71.1
67.9
31.9
29.40
1912.
. ..
9.7
20.5
27.S
51.8
64.5
68.3
74.0
71.2
GG.0
55.2
12.3
33.1
....
1913.
26.7
24.2
35.1
32.6
51.2
20 3
T8.0
78.1
66.4
50.8
47.2
35.7
.82
2.37
3.39
5.50
7.81
8.79
6.89
5.11
1.70
9.33
2.05
1.29
27.61
1906.
1.52
3.72
3.44
4.59
0.46
2.14
64.4
56.4
33.0
25.4
49.8
Meani .
50.1
52.5
56.2
69.7
74.8
2.15
2.73
9.95
.87
.80
24.26
The shipping coal mines operated in 1911 were 3, the number men employed, 436; and the coal mined, 239,740 tons. Total mined, 318,070 tons, much being sold for local consumption. In 1912 there were 3 mines, 471 men, and 318,070 tons. The Alden Coal Company operated at Mathersville and shipped 100,653 tons. The Coal Val- ley Mining Company was located at Sherrard and shipped 111,800 tons. In 1912 there were 2 mines at Aledo, employing 16 men and turning out 7,848 tons. At Cable there were 2 mines, 7 men and 1,400 tons output. At Mathersville were 2 mines, 296 men and 206,270 tons output. At New Windsor was I mine, 7 men and 1,644 tons output; at Preemption was I mine, 8 men and 3,500 tons out- put; at Sherrard was I mine, 175 men and 111,800 tons output; at Viola were 3 mines, 12 men and 2,200 tons output; Thomas Hudson was mine inspector in 1911. In 1912 there were 12 mines operated in the county, with 521 men and a total output of 334,662 tons. The
.91
19.33
1902
71.6
53
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
twelve companies were as follows: At Sherrard, Coal Valley Min- ing Company; at Mathersville, Coal Valley Mining Company and Alden Coal Company; at Aledo, W. H. Riddell and W. P. Wil- liams; at Preemption, Docherty Brothers; at New Windsor, R. W. Peterson; at Viola, C. W. Essley, T. C. Dodds & Son and James Blain; at Cable, B. B. Peterson and A. H. Wahlberg. Total, 18 mines; 458,472 tons output; and 769 men employed.
Vol. 1-4
CHAPTER V MERCER COUNTY SCIENTIFIC AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ETC.
Tyler McWhorter and James H. Connell furnished the data for the following in 1882: This society was organized in Aledo, Feb- ruary 19, 1878, under the name of Mercer County Scientific Associa- tion. At this meeting were present Tyler Mcwhorter, W. J. Pepper, J. H. Connell, I. N. Bassett, J. V. Frazier and W. A. Marsh. Mr. McWhorter presided, and Mr. Connell served as secretary. A con- stitution and by-laws were adopted; a number of invitations issued to others to attend the next meeting, and adjourned to March 5, 1878, to which time election of officers was postponed.
The objects and purposes of this organization may be briefly stated as follows: Different individuals of our county were more or less interested in scientific investigation, but were isolated from each other, and had few opportunities for interviews, or to profit by each other's study, or line of thought. The native flora and fauna of our county ; the carboniferous fossils in connection with our seams of coal; the implements and relics found in connection with the numerous ancient mounds in various parts of the county; these and other kindred subjects had elicited the attention of many of our citizens. Already many private collections of scientific interest had been made by different individuals of the county, and it was thought that persons whose minds are directed to scientific investigation should associate themselves together, so as to have an interchange of ideas, and enjoy the advantages of each other's research. It was believed that with such an organization, a more general interest might be elicited to investigate and attain to a higher comprehension of nature.
While we have social organizations, with large expenditures, in support of our various churches, it would seem that we should also have some organizations to encourage thought and stimulate investi- gation in those important questions of science that are so directly related to the progress of the present age. It was for these reasons that many of our citizens felt that many advantages might be enjoyed by banding themselves together in such a society. Another purpose
55
56
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
of the society was to make up a cabinet, or scientific collection, of such specimens relating to the natural sciences as might be con- tributed by its members, or others.
The meetings of the society were held quarterly, on the first Tuesday of March, June, September and December of each year. On March 5, 1878, the adjourned meeting was held, and ten names were added to the roll of members. Organization was completed by the election of the following officers : President, Dr. J. V. Frazier, of Viola; vice president, I. N. Bassett, of Aledo; secretary, J. H. Connell, of Aledo; treasurer, W. J. Pepper, of Keithsburg; trustees, six years, Tyler McWhorter, Aledo; four years, W. J. Pepper, Keithsburg; two years, J. C. Pepper, Aledo.
The presidents of the society to date, each holding one year, are as follows: Dr. J. V. Frazier, Viola; I. N. Bassett, Aledo; E. L. Larkin, New Windsor; Tyler McWhorter, Aledo, and John Geiger, now serving in that capacity. James H. Connell was elected secre- tary at the first meeting and was reelected annually until March, 1882, when Alexander McArthur was elected.
The cabinet of the society was very interesting and included sev- eral specimens-geological, fossil, mineral, etc. The largest dona- tions were made by the following persons: Geological, etc., by Tyler McWhorter; shells, by W. A. Marsh; mineral, etc., by J. H. Con- nell; miscellaneous, by J. C. Pepper and W. J. Pepper; birds, by W. P. Crapnell.
The following papers have been read before the association : "Climatic Changes and Their Resultant Periods," Dr. J. V. Frazier; "Metric System of Weights and Measures," J. R. Wylie; "The Do- main of Scientific Investigation and Thought," I. N. Bassett; "The Mississippi River: Its Geological History," Tyler McWhorter; "Future Punishment from Ethnical Scripture," E. L. Larkin; "Prob- able Origin of Life on the Globe," John Geiger; "Shall We Im- poverish the Fertility of the Earth," T. McWhorter; "Utility of the Stars," W. J. Pepper; "Antiquity of Man," T. McWhorter; "Crystallography," J. R. Wylie; "Electricity," R. H. Spicer, Sr .; "Conchology," W. A. Marsh; "Inclination of the Earth's Axis," T. McWhorter; "Force," E. L. Larkin; "Flesh Eating," John Gei- ger; "Flesh Eating," Joseph McCoy; "Population and Its Distribu- tion." C. V. Shove; "Motion," E. L. Larkin; "The Birds and Ani- mals We Are Losing and Gaining," W. B. Crapnell; "Hygiene of Soil Waters," Dr. J. V. Frazier; "Embryology," J. R. Wylie; "Axial Rotation," John Geiger; "People of North America," E. L. Larkin; "Biology," T. McWhorter; "The Surface or Economic Strata of Our
57
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
Prairies," Graham Lee; "Imperfections of Human Knowledge," Tyler McWhorter; "The Planet Venus," J. C. Pepper; "The Com- ing Man," Tyler McWhorter; "Conscience Man's True Guide," J. Geiger; "Progress in Science," I. N. Bassett; "Some Observa- tions on the Rocky Mountains," J. H. Connell; "Silver Coinage," John Geiger; "Protoplasm and Life," I. N. Bassett; "Scientific In- struments," E. L. Larkin; "Improved Socialism," John Geiger; "Changes of Organic Life with the Advance of Civilization," Tyler McWhorter.
In December, 1879, the name was changed to the Mercer County Scientific and Historical Society, the object being to gather up notes on the history of Mercer County. John Geiger, I. N. Bassett, Gra- ham Lee and C. S. Richey were appointed a committee to receive all that had been prepared. May 1, 1880, the committee reported that they had received a considerable amount of historic matter from different sources, which was given into the custody of the society. In 1882 the society turned all papers in their hands over to Prof. H. H. Hill, to be embodied in a history of this county.
The membership roll contained the following names: Tyler Mc- Whorter, Aledo; J. V. Frazier, Viola; W. A. Marsh, Millersburg Township; I. N. Bassett, Aledo; W. J. Pepper, Millersburg Town- ship; J. H. Connell, now of Pueblo, Colorado; J. C. Pepper, J. R. Wylie, Aledo; E. L. Larkin, New Windsor; W. B. Crapnell, New Boston Township (died 1881) ; C. A. Ballard, New Boston; W. C. Galloway, Joseph McCoy and John Geiger, Aledo; John B. Hol- land, Keithsburg; Thomas Shaver, Tennessee Rolling Mills, Ken- tucky; George P. Graham, Paola, Kansas; F. D. Rathbun, New Windsor; R. H. Spicer, Sr., Viola; C. F. Durston, J. M. Wilson, W. A. Lorimer, B. F. Brock, Alexander Stephens, D. T. Hindman, Horace Bigelow, L. B. Morey, Alexander McArthur, Aledo; C. S. Orth, William Griffin (died 1882), E. L. Marshall, Keithsburg; C. V. Shove, E. L. McKinnie, G. L. F. Robinson, Viola; L. C. Gilmore, E. B. David, Miss A. E. Frazier, B. C. Taliaferro, D. R. Johnston, Aledo; P. F. Warner, Havana, Illinois; Graham Lee, Hamlet; C. H. Gran, Alpha, Henry County; J. F. Mccutcheon, Norwood ; A. P. Willits, T. B. Cabeen, Keithsburg. Honorary mem- ber: Lieut. F. S. Bassett, United States Navy.
The association continued for a few years later, but the records are not to be found, and then the society turned over its library to the Mercer County Library Association, and subsequently that asso- ciation gave the library to the directors of the public schools in Aledo. One other member of the Scientific and Historical Society
58
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
who should have been mentioned was John Brady. He became a member some time after 1882, and had made quite a collection of scientific specimens of insects, but we are unable to ascertain what became of them, and Mr. Brady is dead now.
During the winter of 1871-2 Tyler McWhorter wrote twenty- three articles on geology for the Aledo Weekly Record. Those articles were elaborate and masterly and showed a profound knowl- edge of the subject. He reviewed Darwin's work on "The Origin of Species" and, with other scientists, accepted the evolution theory as the best explanation thus far advanced to account for the universe and the earth's crust and the forms of life thereon. He showed an intimate knowledge of the writings of Huxley and Heckel. This whole subject was duly considered and debated by the scientific so- ciety. Mr. McWhorter, in the course of his articles on geology, called in question the position taken by many orthodox ministers and church members, that the world was created by a special act of God and not by evolution under fixed and unchangeable law. He was answered by Rev. J. H. Moore, and their articles appeared for sev- eral months in the Aledo Record in 1872. Both sides were ably conducted, but as usual in such discussions, there was no revolution in thought on the subject in this county.
In 1879, when Isaac N. Bassett succeeded Dr. J. V. Frazier as president, the latter in his retiring address spoke particularly of the great work done by Darwin, Huxley and others. At this time the membership was about thirty-five and the society had possession of the Marsh collection of specimens on archaeology, conchology, paleontology, mineralogy, fossil fauna, fossil flora, etc. E. L. Larkin, of New Windsor, was a member of the society. He took great interest in astronomy and secured a telescope at a cost of about one thousand dollars, which he placed in a revolving tower constructed by himself in that town in 1879. In June, 1881, he announced that he had just discovered a new comet, but I. N. Edwards, of Philadel- phia, preceded him by a few hours and secured the prize of $200 that had been offered. Upon his invitation at this time the County Teachers' Institute visited his observatory and were permitted to look at the moon and stars through the telescope.
The scientific investigations of William A. Marsh were largely confined to a knowledge of the earth's crust and the remains of organic formations connected therewith. His research was life-long. He began at the age of ten years, first taking interest in the shells along the creek banks near his Ohio home. At the age of twelve years, or in 1845, he commenced to keep a private journal, in which
59
PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
was recorded each shell he had collected. The studies eventually expanded to the branches of science given below and in time the collection became one of the largest and most valuable in the United States. Its value is now estimated at $30,000.
This collection is in scientifically arranged groups, properly labeled with its true name. For many years Mr. Marsh was an active member of the American Association of Conchology at Phila- delphia, and donated largely to the vast collection in that city, which is headquarters of the United States and Canada of that branch of study. He collected from all quarters of the world by purchase and exchange and made donations to many educational concerns, including the Smithsonian Institution at Washington.
Minerals and geological specimens.
1,000
Fossils
1,500
Marine shells
985
Land and fresh shells
2,141
Botanical specimens
900
Archaeological
3,000
Numismatic
500
Miscellaneous
1,000
Total
II,026
CHAPTER VI
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY BOARD
The act of organizing the county passed the Legislature Janu- ary 31, 1835, and by it an election was ordered for the first Monday in April, 1835, in the Town of New Boston, at the house of Eli Reynolds, and at the house of George Miller. New Boston was designated as the temporary county seat. The act of organization was completed April 6th by the election of the officers prescribed by law. At the election in New Boston precinct there were 35 votes cast for Edward Willits for coroner; 25 and 12 votes, respectively, for Silas Drury and John Long for sheriff ; 24, 33, 16 and 30 votes, respectively, for Isaac Drury, Abraham Miller, Joseph Noble and Erastus Denison for county commissioners. At the Miller precinct Edward Willits received 13 votes for coroner; Isaac Drury, Joseph Noble, Erastus Denison and Abraham Miller received 5, 9, 13 and 12 votes respectively for commissioners. John Long received 6 and Silas Drury 7 for sheriff. The men who voted at this election were as follows: Jesse Willits, Samuel Piper, Benjamin Vannatta, Ham- ilton Christie, Newton Willits, John Long, Silas Drury, Lewis Noble, William Drury, George Fisher, Joseph Leonard, William Jackson, William Willits, John Hall, Elias Fisher, William Wilson, John Kester, James H. Barnes, William J. Nevius, Joseph Denison, Wil- liam Poll, Adam W. Richie, John Richardson, W. Denison, John Reynolds, Edward Willits, William Denison, Joseph Noble, Joseph Glancey, Isaac Drury, MI. Leeper, Jesse Kester, Robert Reynolds, E. S. Denison, Ephraim Gilmore, William Townsend. Second precinct-John W. Denison, David Shaunce, Eli Reynolds, Isaac Dawson, John Farlow, John Shaunce, George Miller, Ebenezer Creswell, Abraham Miller, Sr., John Miller, A. Miller, Jr., Har- rison W. Riggs, George Miller, Jr.
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