The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 23

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 23

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That the county revenue for 1842 amounted to only $1,029.01 is a most conclu- sive evidence of the fearful condition of the material interests of the people. City lots in Bloomington were scarcely quotable at $5, and many of them were abandoned by East- eru owners, rather than to pay the taxes on them.

As the territory of the county had been much reduced by the creation of sur- rounding counties, the Court, at its March term (1843), reconstructed the county into the following precincts :

Bloomington Precinet to be composed of and include the territory within the fol- lowing limits, to wit : Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 24, Township 24 north, Range 3 east, thence west to the northwest corner of Section 22, Township 24 north, Range 1 east ; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 15, Town- ship 23 north, Range 1 east; thence cast one mile; thence south to the town line dividing 22 and 23 north; thence east to range line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 east ; thence north to town line dividing Towns 23 and 24 north ; thence cast to range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 cast; thence north to the place of beginning; and that elections are to be held at the town of Bloomington.

Middle Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the southeast corner of Section 9, Township 21 north, Kange 3 east ; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 21, Township 22 north, Range 3 east; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 east ; thence north to the town line dividing 22 and 23 north ; thence west to the northwest corner of Section 2, Township 22 north, Range I east ; thence south to the county line ; thence east to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct be at the town of Lytleville, until otherwise altered by the Court.

Mackinaw Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the fol- lowing limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Township 24 north. Range 4 east ; thence north to the north side of Money Creck ; thence down said Money Creek to Mackinaw Creek ; thenee north to the middle of Township 26 north ;

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

thence west to the county line of Woodford County ; thence along the county line of Woodford County to the northwest corner of Livingston County ; thence east to the northeast corner of Township 26 north, Range 5 east ; thence south nine miles; thenee east six miles to the county line ; thence south three miles to the southeast corner of Township 25 north, 6 east; thence west to the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of Section 32, Township 25 north, Range 4 east ; thence south to the town line dividing Towns 23 and 24 north; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 cast ; thence north to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be in the town of Lexington, until otherwise altered by the Court.

St. Clairville Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of the northeast quar- ter of Section 8, Township 22 north, Range + east ; thence east to the county line ; thence north to the northeast corner of Township 24 north, Range 6 east ; thence west along the town line dividing Towns 24 and 25 north, to the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of Section 5, Township 24 north, Range 4 east ; thence south to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections shall be in the town of St. Clairville for said precinct, until otherwise altered by the Court.

Salt Creek Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the follow- ing limits, to wit : Commencing on the county line at the southwest corner of Seetion 10, Township 21 north, Range 3 east ; thence east on the county line to the southeast corner of Section 12, Township 21 north, Range 6 east ; thence north to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of Section 12, Township 22 north, Range 6 east ; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 east ; thence south to the south- west corner of Section 18, Township 22 north, Range + east; thence west to the north- west corner of Section 22, Township 22 north, Range 3 east; thence south to the place of beginning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at Le Roy, until otherwise altered by the Court.

Price's Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 18, Township 22 north. Range 3 east ; thence east to the range line dividing Ranges 3 and 4 east ; thence north to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of Section 12, Township 22 north, Range 3 cast ; thence east to the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 8, Township 22 north, Range + east; thence north to the township line dividing 23 and 24 north ; thence west to the range line dividing Ranges 2 and 3 east ; thence south to the place of beginning; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at Price's Schoolhouse until otherwise altered by the Court.

Hudson Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the following limits, to wit: Commencing at the southeast corner of Section 13, Township 24 north, Range 2 east ; thence north to Money Creek ; thence down said creek to Mackinaw Creek ; thence north to the middle of Town 26 north ; thence west to the county line of Woodford County ; thence in a southwesterly direction along the county line of Woodford County to the southwest corner of Section 20, Township 25 north, Range 1 east; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 21, Township 25 north, Range 1 east ; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 15, Township 23 north, Range 1 cast ; thence cast to the place of beginning ; and the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at Hudson, until altered by the Court.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

Concord Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the follow- ing limits to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 18, Township 23 north, Range 1 west; thence north to county line of Woodford County ; thence east on the county line to the northwest corner of Section 29, Township 25 north, Range 1 east ; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 28, Township 25 north, Range 1 east; thence south to the southeast corner of Section 16, Township 23 north, Range 1 east ; thence west to the place of beginning; and the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be in Coucord, until otherwise altered by the Court.

Johnston's Precinct to be composed of and include the territory within the follow- ing limits, to wit : Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 7, Township 21 north, Range 1 west ; thence east on the county line to the southeast corner of Section 10, Township 21 north, Range 1 east ; thence north to the northeast corner of Section 22 north, Range 1 east ; thence west to the county line; thence south to the place of begin- ning ; and that the place of holding elections in said precinct shall be at the house of Lee Daniel, Esq., until otherwise altered by the Conrt.

The Court then appointed the following-named persons to serve as Judges of Elec- tions in the several precincts, as follows: In Bloomington Precinct, James B. Price, Benjamin Depew and James Miller ; in Johnston's Precinct, James Murphy, Daniel Proctor and William Hougham ; in Concord Precinct, William Gilson, Jeremiah S. Hall and Israel D. Janes ; in Hudson Precinct, James T. Gildersleeve, Samuel P. Cox and Isaac Hinthorn ; in Mackinaw Precinct, James Vandolah, James R. Dawson and Will- iam Popejoy ; in St. Clairsville Precinct, Jeremiah Greenman, Thomas D. Gilmore and Ezekiel Arrowsmith ; in LeRoy Precinct, William Conaway, Silas Waters and Malan Bishop ; in Price's Precinct, William Bishop, Elias H. Wall and Jesse Adams ; in Mid- dle Precinct, Samuel Turman, Thomas O. Rutledge and Charles Leeper.

At the June term, 1843, the Court paid on the interest due to the bondholders of the Court House indebtedness, through Messrs. Davis & Colton, Agents, $1,100. A portion of it was in State Bank of Illinois bills, at 40 per cent discount. The Court levied for the current year a tax for county purposes of one-fifth of one per cent on the taxable property of the county. The county revenue for 1843 was $2,440.95.

At the March term of the County Commissioners' Court, 1844, a bounty ordered to be paid for each wolf killed in the county, known as the big wolf, was $2, and $1 for each prairie wolf, of six months old. This was the first similar bounty offered in the county. At the June term, the Court ordered the County Treasurer to pay $400 on the interest due on the Court House bonds. For the current year, the Court levied a tax of two-fifths of one per cent, for county purposes, on the taxable property in the county. The Court let out to the best bidders, the building of a bridge across Mackinaw Creek, near Lexington; one across Kickapoo Creek, on the road from Bloomington to Le Roy ; and one over Big Kickapoo Creek, in Randolph Grove, on the road from Bloomington to the south line of the county-the three bridges to cost $527.

At the March term, 1846, the Court awarded $50 to be paid to any person who should pursue and apprehend any person guilty of stealing a horse within MeLean County, if apprehended outside of the county, upon his conviction. The Court levied a tax of three-tenths per cent for county revenue ; also, that every able-bodied man from twenty-one to fifty years of age, should work two days on the public roads for the year 1846. The Court contracted with Mr. William F. Flagg, to build a bridge

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

according to specifications, across Sugar Creek, on the road leading from Bloomington to l'eoria, for the sum of $250, to be completed in June of the current year.

The county revenue, for the year 1844, amounted to $4,966.60. At the June term, the Court ordered the Treasurer to pay the interest on the Court House bonds then due, to the amount of $1,641.34. At the special July term, the Court contracted with B. E. Dodson to build a bridge across Salt Creek, two miles east of Le Roy, on the road leading from Bloomington to Danville, for $240. The county revenue, for the year 1845, amounted to $3,766.56.

At the March term, 1847, the Court levied a tax, for county revenue, of three- tenths per cent. The Court appropriated $50 for the building of a bridge on the road leading from Bloomington to John Bishop's old place.

At a special term of the Commissioners' Court. April 29, 1848, the Court con- tracted with Mr. William F. Flagg to build, according to specifications, a County Jail in Bloomington, for $2.065, with a dwelling for Sheriff included, said building to be completed by the 1st of December of the current year. The county revenue for the year 1846, amounted to $3,897.96; and for the year 1847, the county revenue amounted to $4,077.12.

At the March term, 1849, the Court made appropriations for building bridges in. Mclean County, as follows : $150 for the building of a bridge across the Mackinaw at John Thompson's; $125 for repairing the bridge near Lexington across the Mack- inaw : $500 for building a bridge across the Mackinaw, on the road leading from Bloomington to Hennepin and Ottawa; $100 for a bridge across Money Creek, on the State road leading from Bloomington to Chicago; $150 for building a bridge across Sugar Creek, on the road leading from Bloomington to Hennepin ; $150 for building a bridge across the Kickapoo, on the road leading from Bloomington to Cheney's Grove ; $150 for building a bridge across Sugar Creek, on the State road leading from Bloom- ington to Springfield ; $150 for building a bridge across Sugar Creek, in Johnston's Precinct ; and $150 for building a bridge across Little Kickapoo, on the road leading from Bloomington to Le Roy.

The Court ordered that every able-bodied man. from twenty-one to fifty years of age inclusive, shall work three days on the public roads in Mclean County-the said men being residents thereof-for the year 1849; and appropriated $75 for the building of a bridge across the slough on the Waynesville road, near Martin L. Bishop's and Harri- son Noble's. The records show that the actual cost of building the bridges above men- tioned, owing to changes of conditions, plans, and other causes, to much more than the appropriations stated-from 25 to 100 per cent more.

At the December term, 1849, the County Commissioners' Court was succeeded by the County Court, consisting of one Presiding Judge and two Associate Justices. At the same term, the new Jail was accepted as far as finished, and $1,000 ordered to be paid to Messrs. Flagg & Ewing on their contract to build the said Jail and dwelling. The county revenue for the year 1849 amounted to $4,613.95. The county revenue for the year 1850 and 1851 was $9,270.28. In 1852, the revenue was $5,993.07.

In 1849, the California gold excitement was sufficiently strong to induce quite a number of the citizens of MeLean County to seek the favors of fickle Fortune in that distant and wild country. The adventure was full of chances ; the journey was of

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

great length, beset with many difficulties, and not a few dangers ; and the prospect of suddenly acquiring large amounts of the precious metal was very uncertain. But the recent Mexican war, and the spirit of adventure natural in a new and vast country, together with the recent several years of hard times, were sufficient to outweigh all doubts and difficulties. Among the large number who went from this county, we remember Messrs. G. B. Larison, Seth H. Adams, Maj. W. Packard, Daniel Robinson, Dr. William Elder, Lyman Ferre, John H. Wickizer, John M. Lov- ing and William H. Evans. Our recollection in the matter is, that our fellow-citizens brought back with them more experiences than they did gold ; and that none of them made fortunes. Be this as it may, the influence of the golden stream that soon began to flow East was sensibly felt, and helped to lift the gloom that pervaded the country.

But the railroad enterprise that had begun to revive among the active and energetic public men of the times contributed very largely to restore confidence among the citi- zens of Illinois ; and in no county in the State more than in McLean. There was a tradition among us that the Central Railroad, which had already an existence on paper, if revived, would pass through this county ; so, that when the new charter was obtained in 1850, and a strong company took hold of it, the feeling of coming prosperity and a general appreciation of the great inducements to capital and emigrants to locate in Illinois were no where more active than in McLean County. Within three years, the cars were running through Bloomington on the Central and on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroads. Real estate rose rapidly, building went on actively, business revived, markets were brought within reach, lumber was plenty, immigration set in again, and farmers began to venture out upon the ocean of fertile lands that everywhere sur- rounded the island-like groves.

Though the prices of agricultural products were not high, they would, at least, bring something, and that readily. When the farms on the prairies were comparatively new, and the soil light and fresh from the recently-decayed turf, fine crops of excellent wheat were raised, even white wheat of the best quality was quite common.

In procuring the charter of the Central Railroad-the father of several other roads in the State-the people of Illinois are greatly and lastingly under obligations to the able efforts of Senator Stephen A. Douglas, as well as in assisting to set it on its feet and put it in motion. So, in reference to locating the route of the road so as to pass through Bloomington, our citizens owe much to the efforts of Judge Davis, Gen. Gridley and Jesse W. Fell, Esq. There was a disposition to run the road through this county some seven or eight miles east of Bloomington, and to build up a rival business point to com- pete with Bloomington, and possibly, in time, to change the location of the county seat. But the efforts of the above-named gentlemen, assisted by others, prevented it. In fact, it would have required a pretty strong leaning in that direction to have resisted the ability and influence of Judge Davis, the ready talents and quick perception of Gen. Gridley, and the shrewdness and indefatigable efforts of Jesse W. Fell, Esq., who seems to have a universal genius for aiding all commendable enterprises. This latter gentle- man took also a very active interest in the Chicago & Alton Railroad, which was not very far behind the Central in penetrating the territory of the county. Any county is fortunate in having among its citizens men of such abilities to labor in developing its natural capabilities and securing its rights.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

A pretty good idea of the rapid improvement in the development of the material resources of McLean County may be formed from the great increase in the county revenue, and in the population. In 1852, the county revenue amounted to $5,993.07 ; but, in 1853, it amounted to $15,299.38. In 1840, the population of the county amounted to 6,565; in 1850, it was 10,163, an increase of something more than one- half, while the people were staggering under and recovering from the financial storm and crash of the time. In 1860, the population of the county was 28,772, an increase of something more than twice and two-thirds times that of 1850. This was the era of railroad construction and of immigration consequent thereupon.

It may not be without interest to glance hastily at the different parts of the county in former times. In 1850, the population of Brooks' Grove was 135; of Blooming- ton, 2,560 ; of Buckles' Grove, 755; of Cheney's Grove, 251 ; of Harley's Grove, 42 ; of Twin Grove, 252; of Stout's Grove, 839; of Diamond Grove, 42; of Dry Grove, 294; of Le Roy, 210; of Funk's Grove, 210; of Hudson, 336; of Money Creek, 377; of Randolph Grove, 1,176; of White Oak Grove, 252. Several of these places, and others not then in existence, have now grown to considerable towns, with churches, schools, stores, offices and shops.

The county revenue for 1854 amounted to $17,486.22. The county revenue for 1855 amounted to $24,221.65.

NORMAL SCHOOL.

At the March term of the County Court, 1857, the following statement was put upon the records :

In the matter of Appropriation for Normal University :

WHEREAS, By acts of Congress approved March the 2d, 1849, and September 28, 1850, and the various other acts amendatory thereto, the " Swamp and Overflowed Lands" belonging to the Government of the United States were granted to the several States in which they were respect ively situated, under certain restrictions therein imposed, or, in lieu thereof, the proceeds aris- ing from the sales of the same : and

WHEREAS, By a further act of Congress, approved March 3, 1857, said swamp and over- flowed lands selected under the acts aforesaid, so far as the same remain vacant and unappro- priated, are confirmed to the several States in which they are situated ; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois has surrendered said lands or the pro- ceeds arising from their sale to the counties, respectively, in which the same are situated, to be applied, under the direction of the County Courts or Supervisors' Courts, to educational or such other objects as they may deem proper : and

WHEREAS, ALSO, In pursuance of an act of the General Assembly of said State, a State Normal University, endowed by a grant of the interest arising from the College and Seminary funds, is about to be located at some suitable point that may offer inducements thereto :

Therefore, Ordered, The County Court of McLean County, do hereby appropriate $50,000 of the first moneys received by this Court, under or by operation of the various acts above referred to, in aid of said University ; said appropriation to be made upon the following restrictions only :

First-That the whole of said fund thus appropriated by said Court be expended in erect- ing the necessary building or buildings for said " Normal University," and to be paid over only as needed for the object before specified, to the "' Board of Education of the State of Illinois," by orders signed by A. J. Merriman, or such other person or persons as this Court may there- after designate.

Second-That said " Normal University" be located within the limits of the county of McLean.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

At a special term of said Court, held May 1, 1857, this further action was taken : In the matter of an Appropriation for Normal University :

WHEREAS, Many citizens of the county having made application to the Court for a further appropriation ont of the "Swamp-Lands Fund," for the purpose of aiding in erecting suitable buildings for said " Normal University ; "

Therefore, Ordered, That we, the County Court of McLean County, do hereby appropriate $20,000 out of the first moneys received by this county from said Swamp-Lands Fund, in aid of said University ; said appropriation to be made upon the following restrictions only :

First-That the whole of said fund thus appropriated by said county be expended in erect - ing the necessary building or buildings for said " Normal University," and to be paid over only as needed for the object before specified, to the " Board of Education of the State of Illinois," by orders signed by A. J. Merriman, or such other person or persons as this Court may hereafter designate.

Second-That said Normal University be located within the limits of the county of McLean.

The county revenue for the year 1856 amounted to $25,110.39. At the Decem- ber term of the County Court, the report to the Court of the result of the vote on township organization, at the previous November election, was, that the majority in favor of such organization was 1,323 votes. At the same term, Messrs. James Gil- more, Sr., Hadley J. Short and Silas Waters were appointed a committee to divide the county into townships, according to law.

Exactly how MeLean County came to get the " Normal University," at the last moment, was known, at the time, to very few persons, and it is probably not known at present to many. At the meeting held in Peoria in May, 1857, at which the bids were to be opened, and the University was to be located where the largest and best induce- ments were offered, Peoria was the most formidable rival of Bloomington. As may be seen above, McLean County had offered, in addition to individual subscriptions, $50,000 toward the erection of the buildings. It seems that Peoria had prepared about equal inducements ; and, by an ungentlemanly betrayal of confidence, the Peoria committee had found out the amount of inducements proposed by the Bloomington committee, and forthwith there was a stir among the Peoria men to raise additional amounts; and they intended to do so at any rate, even by putting in supposititious subscriptions. One of the Bloomington men, learning the game, telegraphed the case to the writer of this reminiscence. The circumstances were immediately communicated to A. J. Merriman, Esq., County Judge, and, as the time would not admit of calling together the Asso- ciate Justices of the county to take action, Judge Merriman, at his own personal risk, had himself called to hold a special term of the County Court. He assembled himself together, accordingly, and subscribed the additional $20,000. Meantime, the Bloom- ington men managed to have the decision put off, at Peoria, until afternoon ; and, when the proposals were finally announced from the different localities, the solid $70,000 of Mc Lean County came down upon the astonished conspirators and carried off the prize.

Of course, the transaction would have involved Judge Merriman in severe financial embarrassment had his Associates repudiated his action ; but no such unpleasant con- sequences resulted. This will do for an illustration of the spirit of the citizens of' McLean County, and of their confidence in each other ; and it will help to explain why McLean County has not allowed itself to be 'rivaled, in private and in public enterprises, by its sister-counties.

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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY.

DIVISION OF COUNTY.

At the March term of the Court, the Committee on Division of the County into Townships reported, and their report, afterward slightly changed as to names, was sub- stantially abopted by the Supervisors' Court, and is as follows, to wit :

Town No. 1. Sections from 1 to 12 inclusive, in Township 21, and all of Town- ship 22 north, of Range 1 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and named Mount Hope.

Town No. 2. All of Township 23 north, of Range 1 west of the Third Prin- cipal Meridian, and named Allen.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 23

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