The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 22

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr.
Number of Pages: 1092

USA > Illinois > McLean County > The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 22

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).

District No. 5, the inhabitants of Funk's Grove, John Murphy's Grove, and of William Johnson's Grove, to work that part of the road leading from Bloomington to John Funk's, commencing at the northwest corner of Isaac Hougham's farm, thence to Funk's Grove. John Funk appointed Supervisor.

District No. 6, all the inhabitants of that part of the big grove lying west of the Third Principal Meridian, and thence west and south to the county line, to work on a road intended to be opened. Samuel Hoblitt, Supervisor.

Distriet No. 7, to be composed of all of that part of big grove lying east of the Third Principal Meridian, including Town 21 north, Range 1 east. George Isham appointed Supervisor.

District No. 8, commencing at Isaae Harrold's, thence westwardly so as to include all the inhabitants living on the north side of the Vermilion, within the limits of the county as far west as the county line crosses the south fork of the river Vermilion ; thence up said stream. including all the inhabitants to the southeast end of the timber called Epperd's Point, the inhabitants as before mentioned to work on the road now located, running from Frederick Rook's to Bloomington as far as the ten-mile post on said road. Frederick Rook appointed Supervisor.

District No. 9, commencing at the southeast end of Indian Grove, near Martin Darnell's, thenee northeastwardly, following the said grove or creek, so as to include all the inhabitants east of where Isaac Jordan now lives, on the north side of the Vermilion River, and to include all the inhabitants living east of the two mentioned points. Martin Darnell appointed Supervisor.

District No. 10, commencing at the west end of the claim or farm of Isaac Jordan, where he now lives, on the Vermilion River, so as to include all the inhabitants on both sides of the grove of timber on said river as far west as where Isaac Harrold now lives on the said river. Uriah Blue appointed Supervisor.

District No. 11 shall comprehend all the road, and inhabitants to work the same, from the ten-mile post, north of William Evans', southerly to the prairie south of Mr. Young's, extending east to the center of Towns 24, 25 and 26 in Range 4, and east to the junction of Mackinaw and Money Creek Timber. William Young, Supervisor.

District No. 12, comprehending the inhabitants and roads commencing at the edge of the prairie a little south of Mr. Young's, in Mackinaw Timber, thence southerly through the Money Creek Timber to the center of Town 24 north, in Range 2 east, and extending cast so as to include the grove of Mr. Smith, and west to the junction of Mackinaw and Money Creek Timber, thence southerly to the center of Town 24 north, in Range 1 east. Jacob Spawr appointed Supervisor.

District No. 13, comprehending all the inhabitants in Painter Creek Timber and Walnut Grove within the county to work on the roads running through their settle- ments. William MeCord, Supervisor.

221

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

District No. 14. comprehending all that territory in the county west of the follow- ing line, to wit : Beginning at the center of Town 24 north, in Range 1 east, northerly to the junction of Mackinaw and Money Creek Timber. Isaac Allen appointed Super- visor.

District No. 15, comprehending all the inhabitants in Stout's Grove within the connty, to labor on the road from Mackinawtown to Bloomington, from the west line of the county extending to Dry Grove. Robert MeClure, Supervisor.

District No. 16, comprehending all the inhabitants of Dry Grove, Harbert's Grove, Brown's Grove and Mosquito Grove, if in the county, to work the road from the Third Principal Meridian eastwardly through Dry Grove, and on toward Bloomington to the west bank of Sugar Creek. Elijah Dixon appointed Supervisor.

District No. 17, shall comprehend all the inhabitants of Long Point and Short Point, to near Jesse Funk's, to labor on the roads leading south from the north part of Town 21, running southerly to the county line. John P. Glenn appointed Supervisor.

Distriet No. 18, comprehending Town 22 north, Range 2 east, including Jesse Funk, and to labor on roads from north part of Town 21, to the north of Town 22, in Range 2 east. David Noble appointed Supervisor.

District No. 19, shall comprehend the Towns 22 and 23, Range 3 east. Henry Manning appointed Supervisor.

District No. 20, comprehending all the inhabitants in Buckles' Grove on the north and south forks of Salt Creek, in the county, to work the road from Town 22 north, Range 3 east, to the county line near Osburn's Grove. Silas Waters appointed Super- visor.

District No. 21, comprehending all the inhabitants in Old Town Timber, east of Range 3, except south side within a mile of road from Merrifield's to Dawson's, to work the road from Range 3 east, eastward to four miles east of John Dawson's. Jeremiah Greenman, Supervisor.

District No. 22. All the inhabitants in Cheney's Grove to work the road from county line east of Jonathan Cheney's ; thence westerly to within four miles of John Dawson's. Benjamin Thomas, Supervisor.

At the same session, on application, the Court granted license to Greenbury Larison to keep tavern in the town of Bloomington one year, for the sum of $5. The Court granted also the petition for a road round the southwest side of Bloomington ; a petition for a road through Big Grove ; and a petition for the alteration of a road southerly through Randolph Grove. A tax of one-half of one per cent was levied on stock, animals, personal property and distilleries. The Court, acting as overseers of the poor, bound Maryann King, a poor girl of eight years, to Gervis Gaylord, as apprentice in house- wifery until she should be eighteen years of age. This is the first instance of the kind in the county. License was granted to Benjamin Haines to vend goods, wares and mer- chandise.

At the June term, on request of John Recob and others. the Court set off the fol- lowing territory into a separate election precinct, to be called Vermilion Precinct, to wit : Comprehending all the inhabitants and territory north of a line extending from the southeasterly part of Indian Grove, westerly to Epperd's Point on Rook's Creek ; thence northwestwardly, including all the inhabitants on said creek and timber to the county line, shall constitute said precinet ; and the place of holding elections shall be at Uriah

222

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

Blue's, and Martin Darnell, William Popejoy and James C. M. Miller are appointed Judges of Elections.

Edward F. Patrick and Charles Moore made application for the privilege of prov- ing themselves Revolutionary soldiers, in order to obtain pensions. Application granted, and their representations believed to be genuine. At the September term. the Court executed a deed for Lots 13 and 14, to David Trimmer, being town lots in the town of Bloomington. At the December term, William Vincent made application for the priv- ilege of proving himself a Revolutionary soldier. Application granted, and his repre- sentations believed to be genuine.

At the March term, 1834, an application by Charles Maltby for license to keep a grocery in the town of Waynesville, McLean County, for one year, was granted. A petition was presented for the location of a road, beginning at the termination of a road leading from Shelbyville to the south boundary of this county, near Charles McCord's ; thence, by the nearest and best route to the head of Mackinaw Timber ; thence to the Vermilion Timber ; thence to the north boundary of the county, pursuing the nearest and best route from the head of Mackinaw Timber in the direction of Chicago. John W. Dawson, Daniel Crumbaugh and William McDowell, appointed Viewers. William Durley, Esq., presented his report of the sale of Section 16, in Town 24 north, Range 1 west, accompanied by his resignation as School Commissioner of the county; and and the Court thereupon appointed Jesse W. Fell, Esq., School Commissioner in his stead.

A petition signed by M. L. Covell, Jonathan Hodge and others, for a road from Bloomington, on the State road, through Dry Grove ; thence past Ephraim Stout's mill, Jonathan Hodge's, to the county line, to intersect a road laid out in Tazewell County, to the county line near Isaac Williams'. Petition granted, and Viewers ordered to report. William Covell was granted license to keep a grocery in the town of Bloom- ington, one year ; charge for license, $5.

John Toliday applied for the privilege of proving himself a Revolutionary soldier. Application granted, and his proofs admitted as good and true.

A petition was received, signed by Moses Baldwin and others, for a road, beginning at a point in the prairie north of Randolph's Grove; thence through said grove, by way of Gardner Randolph's, to Frederick Barnard's, in Short Point; thence to Baker's mill, on Kickapoo; thence to Waynesville; thence to meet a county road that is laid out from Decatur, in Macon County, at the south line of MeLean County. The Court granted the petition, and appointed Jesse Sutton, Gardner Randolph and F. Barnard to view and locate the road to Jesse Sutton's, where it may intersect a road to Waynes- ville, and southwesterly to the county line, and established the road at forty feet in width. Isaac Baker, Clerk of the Court, reports that the amount of sales of lots in the town of Bloomington was $963.923. A petition, signed by James Weed and others, for a road to be located from Bloomington to F. Trimmer's, Coonrod Flesher's, to Epperd's Point, to Uriah Blue's, on the Vermilion; thence to the county line in the direction to Chicago. Petition granted, and Viewers appointed.

A petition, signed by Mathew Robb and others, was presented for a view of a road from the ford on the Mackinaw where the old Fort Clark trail crosses, known by the name of Hugh's Ford ; thence to Samuel McClure's ; thence to intersect the State road leading from Dry Grove to Mackinawtown. Petition granted, and Samuel McClure, Samuel MeDaniel and Levi Danley appointed Viewers.

I flag

lagy

BLOOMINGTON

2:25

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

A petition signed by Alexander W. Breckenridge and others, praying for the alteration of a county road from William Young's, on the road from Rook's Creek, to Bloomington, by way of Benjamin Ogden's and Isaac Strowd's; thence, along the main leading road until intersecting the State road near Sugar Creek. Petition granted, and George W. Wallis, Benjamin Ogden and Levi Strowd appointed Viewers, to make report next term.

At the March term, 1835, Harrison Noble and others petition for an election precinct, composed of Towns 21 and 22 north, Range 2 east. The Court grant the petition, organize the precinct under the name of Middle Precinct, order the elections to be held at the house of Hiram Buck, and appoint David Noble, John P. Glenn and George Hand Judges of Elections. Amount of revenue for the year 1833, besides incidentals, reported to be $712.03.

The Court granted to George W. Wallis permission to erect, under proper restrictions, a mill-dam and mills on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 11, in Town 25 north, Range 3 east ; and to Tebulan G. Cantrill, and to Matthew McElhiney, each to build a dam and mill, at different points, on the waters of the Kickapoo. The Court authorize the Sheriff to rent the Court House, under specified restrictions, as a schoolhouse, for $3 per month.

The duplicate for tax of the county for 1835 is reported at $1,241.423.

A novelty appears on the records of the Court at the October term, 1835, to the effect that the " Court directs that notice be given in the Illinois Republican that pro- posals will be received by said Court on the first Monday in December next for build- ing a Court House in Bloomington, McLean County, forty feet square, of brick, and two stories high ; and order the expense to be paid out of the County Treasury for said notice." This is the first official recognition of the press in McLean County as a medium of communication between the people and their public servants ; and it con- tains the very sensible provision for paying therefor.

At the December term, 1835, the Court accepted the report of the Reviewers, and . established the road that lies between Little Kickapoo Creek and Blooming Grove, intersecting the road leading from Blooming Grove to Randolph Grove, near James B. Price's, at forty feet in width.

On the same day, Messrs. James Allen and Timothy B. Hoblitt presented the plat of the town of New Castle, which was approved and certified by the County Con- missioners. Also, Messrs. A. Gridley and M. L. Covell presented a plat of the town of Le Roy, which the Commissioners approved and certified.

The appearance of a public newspaper in Bloomington, and the enterprise of lay- ing out new towns in different portions of the county on the part of its citizens, mark a new era in the material development of the county, as well as of mental development. A great influx of immigrants, about those times, had an important influence in inspiring the . former settlers with the idea that, to secure fortunes, all they had to do was to go in.

At the same session, Mr. John W. Baddely applied for license to sell goods, wares and merchandise at the town of Le Roy (to be), and also to keep a tavern at the same place ; also, Mr. David Duncan and Mr. R. Post make application to vend goods, wares and merchandise in the town of Waynesville. Messrs. Allen Withers & Co., and Messrs. Asahel Gridley, Ortagal Covell and Calvin Carpenter make application for license to vend goods, wares and merchandise in the county of McLean.

226

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

All these indications of very rapid development. at that time, are unmistakable. There was no lack of enterprise among early settlers in this county, whatever one may be disposed to say of their discretion.

At the same term, the Court appointed Thomas H. Haines their attorney, to effect a loan of $5,000, for a term of years, at a rate of interest not to exceed 8 per cent per annum. This was done preparatory to making arrangements to build a Court House.

At a special term of the County Commissioners' Court, January 20, 1836, the Court proceeded to make arrangements for contracting with Leander Munsell, of Edgar County, in said State, for building a Court House for the county of MeLean; when, after taking the subject into careful examination, and hearing the proposition of the said Leander Munsell, a written contract was agreed upon for a brick building, 40x45 feet square, two stories high, finished in five rooms, the court-room on the lower floor, with a gallery and all other conveniences, particularly specified in said agreement, for the sum of $6,375, with interest on $5,375, after the completion of said job, at 8 per cent, until paid, and to be paid on or before the expiration of twenty years ; and other particulars specified in said article of agreement, reference thereto being had. On the next day, the articles of agreement were signed by the contracting parties.

At the March term, 1836, of the Commissioners' Court, there were numerous applications for license to carry on business by various parties, and petitions for new roads and amendments to old ones-all showing great activity. There were also several applications for writs of ad quod damnum, in reference to how much dum each applicant might employ in order sufficiently to raise the water to run a mill. Another unmistaka- ble evidence of rapid improvement.

On settling with the County Treasurer, the amount coming into his hands during the previous current year was found to be $1,303.SS. The Court levied the usual rate, one-half of one per cent tax on town lots, except in Bloomington, on cattle, carriages and other personal property.

At the June session of the Court, a plat of the town of Versailles, in MeLean County, was presented, approved and certified. A. and I. M. Richardson make appli- eation for license to keep a grocery in said town of Versailles, and Hopkins & Beatty apply for license to sell goods, wares and merchandise in the said town. James O. Barnard presented the plat of the town of Wilkesborough, as laid out by him, together with the certificate accompanying the same, which was approved and certified by the Court.

The town of Lexington was laid off by Messrs. Gridley and Brown, and the town of Concord by Messrs. Isaac W. Hall and Mathew Robb. The town of Hudson was laid out the same year by a company in which Mr. John Magoun and Mr. S. P. Cox were interested. Mount Hope Colony, consisting of Rhode Island immigrants, entered lands and commenced, the following year, to make settlements. The Hudson company entered 12,600 acres, and the Mount Hope company 8,000 acres. Several additions were made to the town of Bloomington, and the immigration showed that the town and the surrounding country were appreciated.

It is believed by those who have reflected upon the subject that the population of the county, in the spring of 1832, was fully two thousand. From the incidental men- tion of names in the distrieting of the county as just given, it will be seen that

227

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

settlements had been commenced in the near vicinity of most of the groves, and some of them were pretty well surrounded by farms. The county seemed now to be fairly set upon its feet, and to have nothing in its way to prevent its entering upon a course of prosperity. Though there was really no market for the agricultural productions of the farmers outside of the county, yet the people could raise plenty to eat, and their plain and simple manner of life did not subject them to much expense; and the rapid ingress of immigrants consumed a portion of their surplus productions. When an excess of animal propensities, for the time being, ruled individuals or collections of persons, they had now places where they could get on a bender, plenty of room to fight, and no police to interfere; but they had Justices to assess fines upon them, when they chose to indulge in such little pastimes, and Constables to collect them, and a Commissioners' Court, through which such fines, if they should happen to be paid, would reach the county treasury, where they would do the most good. But most persons were then too busy, and had too much good sense to indulge in such luxuries.

In 1836, the population of Bloomington had increased from 150, in 1833, to 450 ; and that of the county had increased, in the same time, from 2,000 to 5,000. The town of Lytleville came into existence, also, this year, and an addition was made to it the fol- lowing March, by Mr. John Baldwin. Like several of its kin, born in those days, it is still a littleville, though it has mills, churches, schools and worthy citizens.

The people came into the country on steamboats, flatboats, on horse-back, on wagons drawn by horses, mules, oxen and even cows; and not a few patronized the foot and walker line.

In December, 1836, after a warm spell of weather, with occasional rain, turning the snow to slush, there came one evening the most sudden and severe change of weather ever known in this country. All at once. the icy breath of a northwestern storm, mov- ing with fearful rapidity, swept over the country and almost instantly turned to ice the falling, the running and the standing water exposed to its touch. Its force and severity were irresistible; and tradition tells of great and intolerable suffering to man and beast from its fearful visitation.

About these times, several men settled in Bloomington, some of them afterward removing into the country, who, with their hands as well as with their heads and their means, greatly helped to develop the capabilities of this county. Hon. John Moore, after- ward in the State Legislature, Lieutenant Governor and State Treasurer, was, in those early times, the " wagon-maker " of Bloomington, and subsequently a successful farmer. Messrs. David Trimmer, Lewis Bunn, Joshua Fell and others plied the blacksmith art. Thomas Williams, Thomas Fell and William F. Flagg built generally, and Abraham Brokaw, then as now, incessantly built the plow.

The Court agreed with Leander Munsell to amend a former contract for his build- ing a Court House, so that instead of a building 40x45 feet and 26 feet high, it shall be 423 feet square and 32 feet high, with other alterations; and for the said alterations, the Court promised to pay the said Leander Munsell the further sum of $1,680.

Jesse W. Fell, Esq., resigned the School Commissionership of the county and the Court appointed Cheney Thomas, Esq., his successor.

The Court appropriated $500 out of the county funds as part of the first payment to L. Munsell on Court House contract.

228

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

At the September term, 1836, the Court accepted the Court House as finished according to contract with Mr. Leander Munsell, and paid him the balance of the first payment, $1,000.

The Court established the tariff for license to vend goods, wares and merchandise in Bloomington, the ensuing year, at $15; to keep tavern, the same, and to keep a grocery, $12. In Waynesville, for similar license, $12 and $10; in all other towns in the county, 89 and $8, and at other places in the county, $6, irrespectively.

The closing terms of the Court for 1836, were marked by many applications for licenses to do business of various kinds, by petitions for new roads and alterations in former ones, and for permission to construct dams and mills in all directions, in the county, all showing great activity and enterprise.

At the first term of the Court, for 1837, a tax of one-half of one per cent was levied on town lots, excepting Bloomington, and on cattle and other stoek, wagons, carriages and personal property.

Mr. M. Scott, Sheriff and Collector, reported the available revenue of the county for 1836 to be $1,425.95.

At the December term, the Court examined the condition of the County Jail, and finding it unfit for use or repair, ordered the Clerk to have notice given in the Blooming- ton Observer that proposals will be received at the March term, for the erection of a jail for the county.

At the June term, 1838, the Court settled with the County Collector, M. Scott, for the revenue for 1837, amounting to $1,863.82. During this year, there continued to be many applications for licenses to do business, petitions for roads, and for permission to construct dams and erect mills.

The amount of the tax, one-half per cent, for the year 1838, on lands and personal property, was $1,983.34.

The tax levied by the Court in 1839 was one-fourth of one per cent. At the December term, 1839, the Jail which Dr. Isaac Baker had contracted to build for $290, to be completed by September, 1840, was so near completion, and such disposition shown to finish it up as soon as possible, that the Court accepted the same for immediate use.

At the June term, 1840, the Court appointed Jacob Spawr Commissioner to take the enumeration of the inhabitants of McLean County, for 1840. The taxes for the year 1839, amounted to $2,442.75. The amount of the taxes for the year 1840, for the county, was $3,492.78. The amount of the taxes in the county for the year 1841 was $4,657.10.

At the December term, 1842, the Court appointed Davis and Colton to act as agents on behalf of the county of McLean, to demand from and receive of the County Commissioners' Court of Woodford County the sum of $190, their portion of interest now due from said county of Woodford to the county of McLean on the debt of the MeLean County Court House. It will be borne in mind that Woodford County was created in 1841, and took a portion of the territory formerly belonging to MeLean County off the northwest corner thereof; hence, the ground for this demand. It may as well be mentioned here, perhaps, as in any other place, that the report formerly in circulation in reference to the peculiar form of the piece of territory in question. that it was so shaped for political purposes, is erroneous ; and the reason for the peculiarity

229

HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

must be sought in the provision that, in forming new counties, no county line shall be within twelve miles of the Court House of any county seat.

The development of the material resources of the county was, during these years, very slow ; in some respects it stood still, and even went backward. Violent changes in financial policy, with temporary and silly expedients, and general and rash speculative operations in real estate, had produced their inevitable results, and almost universal pros- tration was experienced in all parts of the country, beginning carlier in the East, and now falling upon the West with fearful effects. Credit was gone; of money there was little or none. No market for agricultural productions, manufactures at ruinous prices, no adequate wages could be paid for labor, and continuous failures of business men, from the impossibility of collections, turned to folly the wisdom of the wise, greatly weakened the confidence of man in his fellow-men, and threatened the dissolution of the social relations of society. Compared with those times, the present gloomy times are as comparative prosperity. Although the state of affairs was improving in the East, and something like cheerfulness and moderate prosperity returning, so great were the diffi- culties and the expenses of getting the productions of the West into market, that there was very little or nothing left to the producer, and as immigration had come nearly to a stand-still, there was no home market.

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.

The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 22

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr. Number of Pages: 1092

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr.
Number of Pages: 1092