The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 44

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 848


USA > Illinois > Mason County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 44
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 44


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106


SEC. 3. No point shall be voted for unless its proprietors, or some of them, shall, at least ten days previous to said election, execute a bond, with good and sufficient security, to the Judges of the County Court of Mason County, for the payment of the sum of $1,000, payable to said County Judges, or their successors in office, for the use of the county, to be applied to the erection of public buildings-one-half of said sum of money to be paid when the public buildings. are commenced, and the other half when said buildings are completed : Provided, however, that said bond or bonds shall be void and of no effect as to the proprietors of all places except. that where the county seat shall be located by a majority of the votes polled. %


SEC. 4. Should it be found that a majority of the voters of said county of Mason, voting at such election, have voted for the removal of the county seat as aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the County Court of said county, as soon as practicable after such election, to cause all the public offices of said county (required to be kept at the county seat) to be removed to the county seat located under this act ; and it shall be the further duty of the County Court, after such relocation of the county seat, to convey to Kean Mahony and Benjamin H. Gatton the block of lots donated by the original proprietors of the town of Bath, under an act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, entitled " An act to locate the county seat of Mason County," approved January 14, 1843, together with all and singular the tenements and appur- tenances thereon and thereto belonging, unto them, the said Kean Mahony and Benjamin H. Gatton, their heirs and assigns forever, in trust for the benefit of the original proprietors of the said town of Bath, under such declaration of trust as may be equitably and justly declared by the said County Court, according to the respective interests of said original proprietors of the town of Bath ; and it shall be the further duty of the County Court of Mason County, in the event of such relocation of the county seat thereof, to make such remuneration to the original proprietors of the town of Bath, for moneys expended in erecting the Court House in said town, as they may deem advisable, and as shall be proven according to law.


SEC. 5. This act to be in force from and after its passage. Approved, February 8, 1851.


In the spring of 1850, when the county seat question was running high, John Pemberton was attending court, as one of the associates, in Bath, and, whilst there, some rowdy boys took out his buggy and anointed it all over, cushions and all,


428


HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.


with an unsavory lot of human excrement. This dirty deed produced considerable excitement, and was denounced by all decent people in town ; still, Pemberton was greatly alarmed, fearing that he might be doped with the same horrible stuff, and he had no rest of body or mind until he was safely out of town. This vile act of the dirty boys rankled in the nostrils of the upper-enders, and they took up the martyr, Jack Pemberton, and made him their representative in the Legislature that year, where he avenged himself upon the Bathites by getting in his vote for the bill to remove the county seat, showing how precarious is the public life of a man who may be elevated so high out of a circumstance so low !


After the passage of the act above recited, the friends of Bath, knowing that the heavy increase of population in the Havana interest greatly endangered their cause, resorted to a piece of strategy to defeat Havana, but were unsue- cessful. They bought eighty acres of land of Dr. Mastic, in Section 10, in Kilbourne Township, laid it off into town lots, called it Cuba, and went for it as the most central and best place for the county seat, intending to make Cuba swallow up Havana, Matanzas and Bath, and become the seat of government of Mason County.


A campaign was opened, meetings were held at Matanzas and other places, in which eloquent speeches were made for and against Havana. Smith Turner trotted out old Demosthenes, Cicero, Galileo, and several other of his ancient friends, to help him in the fight against Havana. Powell, of Havana, pitched into old Galileo, and gave him an unmerciful trouncing, just because he was brought into the meeting as a friend to help Turner. One speaker said : " Rather than have the county seat at Havana, he would vote it into the middle of Bull's Eye Prairie, where the waters of Noah's flood had not yet subsided, and where the frogs and tadpoles were the only inhabitants !" A Havana Ger- · man orator said in reply that he was perfectly. willing the people of Bath should "go out and live mit the toads and the tadpoles in Bull Eye, for such neighbors vere good enough for them !"


The day of election came, and Havana gave the final blow that knocked Bath out of time and Cuba out of existence. The people of Bath gave up all hopes of again becoming the county seat, and turned their attention to other enterprises, although some of them suffered largely in their fortunes by the result. The vote stood : For removal, 894 votes : against removal, 479 votes.


PRECINCT HISTORY.


At the time of the organization of the county, in 1841, there were but three precincts in the territory out of which the county was formed. The date of the formation of these three precincts is unknown to us, and, as the record of them belongs to other counties, it is not given.


Havana Precinct included all the territory belonging to Tazewell County, extending from the north line of the county as far south as the north line of Town 20. The first election in the precinct of which we have any record was on


429


HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.


the 7th of August, 1837, when there were but twelve votes cast. David Adams and Isaac Parkhurst were, at the time, Justices of the Peace. Eli Fisk and A. W. Kemp were also Justices of the Peace before the county was organized, and as early as 1838.


Salt Creek Precinct contained what is now the townships of Mason City, Salt Creek and Crane Creek, except that part of Mason City that lies north of Town 20. The only Justice known to us before the organization of the county, in the precinct, was Ira Patterson, who was serving as a Justice of the Peace at that time.


Texas. Precinct included the territory lying west of Salt Creek and extending to the Illinois and Sangamon Rivers, of which Kilbourne, Bath and Lynchburg Townships are now composed. Albert J. Field and Arthur Morrow were elected Justices of the Peace in this precinct in 1838. These three constitute the orig- inal precincts of Mason City, and the remaining precincts were organized by the County Court in the order and date here given.


Lynchburg Precinct was formed out of that portion of Texas Precinct lying west of the range line running between 9 and 10, in the month of June, 1841.


Crane Creek Precinct was set off from the west side of Salt Creek Precinct in March, 1843.


Quiver Precinct was next in the order of formation, and was, at the same terin of court, set off from Havana, and contained the territory lying north of the Quiver River to the county line.


At this same term of court, Texas Precinct had its name changed to Bath.


Sangamon Precinct was formed out of Bath and Crane Creek on the 8th of June, 1847, and was abolished in the year 1850. There was a general change and adjustment of precinct lines at the time Sangamon Precinct was organized.


Matanzas Precinct was organized out of Bath and Havana Precincts, on the 7th of September, 1847, and continued to the time of the adoption of township organization, in 1861, when it was left out of the new order or arrangement.


Allen's Grove Precinct was organized on the 2d day of September, 1851, out of territory belonging to Havana, Salt Creek and Quiver Precincts.


Egypt Precinct was organized out of territory taken from Allen's Grove and Quiver, on the 11th of March, 1853, and the name was changed to Manito on the 8th of September, 1858.


Prairie Creek Precinct was organized out of territory taken from the east side of Salt Creek, on the 8th of December, 1857. The name was changed to Mason City in September, 1858.


Mason Plains Precinct was organized out of the territory that now consti- tutes Forest City Township, on the 8th of December, 1857.


Pennsylvania Precinct was organized on the 8th of December, 1857, and was the last precinct organized in Mason County, making an even dozen, which number continued to the date of the abolishment of the precinct system, in 1861.


1


430


HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.


TOWNSHIP HISTORY.


At the November election, in 1861, the question of the adoption of township organization was submitted to a vote of Mason County, and carried in its favor, by a vote of 1,030 for, and 860 against.


On the 4th of December, 1861, the County Court appointed B. H. Gatton, Lyman Lacy and Matthew Langston, Commissioners to divide the county into townships according to law, and make a report to the March term of court.


On the 3d day of March, 1862, the court met, received and adopted the report of the Commissioners, concluded its business on the 5th of March, and adjourned, never to meet again for the transaction of county business !


The commissioners divided the county into eleven townships, as follows : 1. Mason City ; 2. Allen's Grove; 3. Salt Creek; 4. Pennsylvania ; 5. Mason Plains; 6. Manito; 7. Quiver; 8. Havana; 9. Crane Creek ; 10. Bath ; 11. Lynchburg.


The commissioners fixed the boundaries of these several townships, which we do not think it necessary to give, as they are the same as now, except the forma- tion of Sherman out of Havana and Pennsylvania, and Kilbourne out of Bath and Crane Creek, and some slight changes in township lines, that have since been made.


On the 12th of May, 1862, the newly elected Board of Supervisors met and organized for business, assuming the official control of the affairs of the people of Mason County.


The new system seems to give general satisfaction, especially to those who aspire to be Supervisors, and other township officials. There can be no doubt that the system has added vastly to the county expenses, as may be seen by a comparison of the cost of county assessments under the old and the new order.


In 1841, the amount paid for the entire assessments of the property of Mason County, by Ira Patterson, was $24.50. The amount paid J. R. Teney, the last Assessor under the old system, for the year 1861, was $565, more than double the amount paid for any other year's assessment up to that time. That, how- ever, was the last chance, which made it a "ground-hog case!" It may be that Patterson was looking ahead to the time when he might be Governor of some State, and Teney was not ! which makes a difference.


The total cost of county assessments in Mason County, for the twenty-one years under the old system, was only $3,948.81, and the average yearly expense, $188.04!


Under township organization, the amount paid for the first year's assessment in all the towns, was $195, a very favorable contrast with the cost of the year before. The business was a growing one, however, for it ran up gradually and rapidly, until the year 1871, when it reached the sum of $1,224.50. The amount paid out by the people of the county for the assessment of property, from the year 1862, to the year 1872, both inclusive, was $7,915.25, making an


1


431


HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.


. average yearly expense to the people of $719.57, for the first eleven years, under township organization. Since the year 1872, the law requires each township to pay its own Assessor, and we have not any information as to the cost of assess- ments in the several townships since that date. The presumption is that it has- not been materially diminished.


The following is a list of the Supervisors that have been elected and served in the several townships, and also of the Justices of the Peace that are now in office.


The townships are given in the order of their creation as precincts or town- ships : Havana-1862, Alfred Biggs ; 1863, Alfred Biggs ; 1864, John D. Cory ; 1865, Thomas A. Dixon ; 1866, George A. Blanchard; 1867, George A. Blanchard ; 1868, Robert S. Moore; 1869, John L. Mowder; 1870, James H. Hole ; 1871, William Waugh ; 1872, Judson R. Foster; 1873, Richard R. Simmons; 1874, Robert Schofield; 1875, James F. Kelsey ; 1876, J. F. Kel -- sey ; 1877, Marcellus Dearborn; 1878, J. F. Kelsey; 1879, J. F. Kelsey. Present Justices of the Peace, Jacob Prettyman and A. D. Hopping. Police Magistrate of Havana, John S. Kirk.


Bath-1862, James H. Allen ; 1863, J. H. Allen ; 1864, B. H. Gatton ; 1865, Charles S. Thompson ; 1866, C. S. Thompson; 1867, John H. Schulte ; 1868, B. H. Gatton ; 1869, B. H. Gatton ; 1870, B. H. Gatton ; 1871, B. H. Gatton ; 1872, B. H. Gatton ; 1873, Gerard H. Havinghorst; 1874, Robert Pierson; 1875, Robert Pierson ; 1876, Robert Pierson ; 1877, John H. Dierker; 1878, J. H. Dierker, and 1879, J. H. Dierker. The only Justice of the Peace now in office in the township is Leland Carpenter, who has served continuously since 1854.


Salt Creek-1862, Selah Wheaden, Chairman; 1863, Selah Wheaden, Chairman ; 1864, Jacob Benscoter; 1865, A. H. Fisher; 1866, Joseph A. Phelps ; 1867, C. L. Montgomery ; 1868, J. A. Phelps ; 1869, C. L. Montgom- ery ; 1870, J. S. Black ; 1871, A. Thompson; 1872, A. Thompson; 1873, Aaron A. Blunt ; 1874, A. A. Blunt ; 1875, A. A. Blunt; 1876, Abner Thompson; 1877, H. C. Burnham; 1878, L. C. Agnew; 1879, H. C. Burnhamn. The Justices of the Peace now in office are H. C. Burnham and Joseph Silvey.


Lynchburg-1862, Isaac Sarf, elected and resigned, and Henry Abbott, appointed and served in his place ; 1863, John J. Fletcher ; 1864, J. J. Fletcher ; 1865, Isaac Sarf; 1866, Isaac Sarf; 1867, Isaac Sarf; 1868, R. J. Phelps ; 1869, William Ainsworth ; 1870, William Ainsworth ; 1871, William Ainsworth ; 1872, William Ainsworth ; 1873, J. H. Layman ; 1874, William Ainsworth ; 1875, William Ainsworth ; 1876, William Ainsworth, Chairman ; 1877, William Ainsworth ; 1878, J. H. Layman, and 1879, J. H. Layman. The only Justice of the Peace now in office is John J. Fletcher. Amos Smith was the first Jus- tice elected in the precinct, in 1841, and he served until his death, in 1851.


Quiver-1862, Aaron Little; 1863, A. Little ; 1864, A. Little ; 1865, A. Lit- tle, Chairman ; 1866, A. Little ; 1867, A. Little ; 1868, A. Little ; 1869, A. Lit- tle; 1870, John McReynolds; 1871, A. Little; 1872, Pollard S. Anno; 1873, John


432


HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.


McReynolds ; 1874, James W. Kelly ; 1875, J. W. Kelly ; 1876, J. W. Kelly ; 1877, J. W. Kelly ; 1878, J. W. Kelly ; 1879, J. W. Kelly. Philip Brown is the present Justice of the Peace, and John W. Downey is a Police Magistrate in Topeka.


Crane Creek-1862, James L. Hawks ; 1863, James L. Hawks; 1864, J. L. Hawks ; 1865, J. L. Hawks; 1866, Harvey O'Neal; 1867, J. H. Baker ; 1868, H. O'Neal; 1869, J. L. Hawks; 1870, J. L. Hawks; 1871, C. L. Agnew ; 1872, C. L. Agnew; 1873, N. R. Murdock ; 1874, J. L. Hawks ; 1875, J. L. Hawks; 1876, J. L. Hawks; 1877, J. L. Hawks; 1878, W. J. Estep ; 1879, J. L. Hawks. The Justices of the Peace now in office are John Yardly and John T. Tomlin.


Allen's Grove-1862, James Legg; 1863, James Legg; 1864, Jonathan Corey ; 1865, Isaac Reed ; 1866, Isaac Reed ; 1867, James Legg ; 1869, James Legg ; 1870, James Legg ; 1871, William M. Duffey ; 1872, William M. Duffey ; 1873, W. M. Duffey ; 1874, William Smith; 1875, William Smith ; 1876, E. W. Nelson ; 1877, E. W. Nelson ; 1878, E. W. Nelson ; 1879, B. W. Taylor. Justices of the Peace, Albert McCallister and Jolin M. Cathcart ; C. J. Dillon, Police Magistrate in San Jose.


Manito-1862, Matthew Langston; 1863, M. Langston; 1864, M. Lang- ston ; 1865, M. Langston ; 1866, William M. Ganson ; 1867, William M. Ganson ; 1868, William M. Ganson; 1869, J. G. Spates ; 1870, J. G. Spates ; 1871, William Rodgers ; 1872, M. W. Rodgers; 1873, M. W. Rodgers; 1874, H. F. Briggs; 1875, H. F. Briggs, Chairman ; 1876, M. Langston ; 1877, M. Langston ; 1878, M. Langston ; 1879, J. C. Perkins. The only Justice of the Peace now in office is William B. Robinson. Ruloff S. Aiken is Police Magis- trate in Manito.


Mason City-1862, R. A. Hart ; 1863, B. A. Rosebrough ; 1864, John S. Wilbourn, Chairman ; 1865, J. S. Wilbourn, Chairman ; 1866, J. L. Hastings, resigned, and C. Hume appointed in his place, January 28, 1867; 1867, C. Hume ; 1868, J. S. Baner ; 1869, Israel Hibbard ; 1870, D. E. Lesourd ; 1871, D. E. Lesourd; 1872, William H. Mitchel; 1873, D. E. Lesourd; 1874, Augustus Green, Chairman ; 1875, Patrick Norton ; 1876, B. A. Rosebrough ; 1877, B. A. Rosebrough ; 1878, B. A. Rosebrough, Chairman; 1879, B. A. Rosebrough, Chairman. Justices, of the Peace, John P. Hudson and Israel Hibbard. Joseph C. Johnson is the Police Magistrate for Mason City.


Forest City-which was named "Mason Plains" until 1874-1862, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1863, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1864, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1865, S. H. Inger- soll ; 1866, W. A. McHarry ; 1867, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1868, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1869, D. C. White; 1870, D. C. White; 1871, S. H. Ingersoll; 1872, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1873, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1874, S. H. Ingersoll; 1875, S. H. Inger- soll : 1876, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1877, S. H. Ingersoll-Mr. Ingersoll died Novem- ber 30, 1877, and S. T. Walker was appointed to fill the vacancy-1878, S. T.


433


HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.


Walker ; 1879, S. T. Walker. The present Justices of the Peace are Thomas H. Gibson and Mayfield Gordon.


Pennsylvania-1862, Jolın Mathers ; 1863, D. V. Benscoter; 1864, D. V. Benscoter ; 1865; D. V. Benscoter ; 1866, D. L. Ray ; 1867, J. H. Mathews ; 1868, John W. Pugh; 1869, J. W. Pugh; 1870, J. W. Pugh, Chairman ; 1871, John W. Pugh, Chairman ; 1872, J. W. Pugh, Chairman : 1873, J. W. Pugh, Chairman ; 1874, W. E. Dolcater; 1875, G. W. Benscoter; 1876, J. W. Pugh, 1877, Jolın .W. Pugh ; Chairman ; 1878, J. W. Pugh; 1879, J. W. Pugh. The present Justices of the Peace are James M. Harris and Andrew J. Cates.


Sherman was organized September 12, 1866, with the name of "Jackson Township," which was changed to Sherman on the 28thi of January, 1867. Supervisors-1867, M. H. Lewis, Chairman ; 1868, M. H. Lewis, Chairman ; 1869, M. H. Lewis, Chairman; 1870, M. A. Kisler ; 1871, Thomas Lucas ; 1872, Thomas Lucas ; 1873, T. Lucas ; 1874, Alfred Athey ; 1875, Alfred Athey ; 1876, Alfred Athey ; 1877, A. Athey; 1878, Alfred Athey; 1879, Alfred Athey. The only Justice of the Peace now in office is Isaac W. Depue.


Kilbourne, the youngest of the thirteen townships, was organized in 1873. Her first Supervisor was, in 1873, A. S. Blakely ; 1874, A. S. Blakely ; 1875, A. S. Blakely ; 1876, A. S. Blakely : 1877, William Dwyer; 1878, James M. Hardin ; 1879, J. M. Hardin. The Justices of the Peace now serving are J. S. Bingham and C. L. Newell.


COUNTY OFFICERS.


At the time of the organization of the county, in 1841, to the time of the adoption of the constitution, in 1848, the county business was transacted by three County Commissioners, one of whom was elected annually on the first Monday of August, at which time all county and State elections were held. The probate business was transacted by a " Probate Justice of the Peace," elec- ted once in four years. The real estate records were kept by a County Recorder, elected once in four years, until after the adoption of the constitution, in 1848, when the Circuit Clerk became an ex officio County Recorder. Sheriff's were also ex officio County Collectors of taxes, and continued to be until the adoption of township organization, in 1862. Assessments for taxes were made by County Assessors, elected every two years, who were also ex officio County Treasurers, to the time township organization was adopted.


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.


The following is a list of the County Commissioners of Mason County, giv- ing the dates of their election and time they served, viz .: April 5, 1841, George T. Virgin, three years; April 5, 1841, Robert Faulkner, two years ; April 5, 1841, Albert J. Field, one year ; August, 1841, Amos Smith, three years ; August, 1842, John R. Chaney, three years ; August, 1843, Abner Baxter, three years ; August, 1844, Amos Smith, three years ; August, 1845, Robert McReynolds, three years ; August, 1846, Henry Norris, three years ; August,


.


434


HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.


1847, Amos Smith, three years ; August, 1848, Robert McReynolds, three years ; August, 1849, Henry Norris, three years. The County Commissioners' Court was abolished in 1849, and County Court established, consisting of a County Judge and two Associate Justices of the Peace.


COUNTY COURT JUDGES AND ASSOCIATES.


November, 1849, Smith Turner was elected County Judge, and John Pem- berton and Robert McReynolds, Associate Justices of the Peace; 1853, N. J. Rockwell was elected County Judge, David Corey and John H. Daniels, Asso- ciates. Mr. Corey died in February, 1853, and H. C. Burnham was elected in April to fill the vacancy ; 1857, George H. Campbell was elected County Judge, John D. Corey and Joseph A. Phelps, Associates. Judge Campbell resigned September 1, 1858, and Robert McReynolds was elected to fill the vacancy ; 1861, Joseph A. Phelps was elected County Judge, John D. Corey and B. A. Rosebrough, Associates. This terminated the County Court as then organized, being superseded by township organization in 1862.


COUNTY JUDGES.


Under township organization, the County Judges have been as follows: 1862, Joseph A. Phelps, balance of term for which he was elected; 1865, Matthew Langston, elected and served four years ; 1869, Henry Warner, elected and served four years ; 1873, John A. Mallory, elected and served four years ; 1877, John A. Mallory, elected and still holding the office.


PROBATE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.


John Camp was first elected to the office, and served from 1841 to 1842. In 1842, Hoag Sherman was elected Probate Justice of the Peace. In 1843, John Camp was elected and served until 1847. In 1847, Smith Turner was elected and served until the office was abolished, in 1849.


COUNTY CLERKS


Joseph A. Phelps was the first County Clerk elected, April 5, 1841, and was removed by the County Commissioners' Court in September. George W. Fielding was appointed County Clerk in September, 1841, and served until August, 1842. J. A. Phelps was again elected in 1842, and served one year. In 1843, J. A. Phelps was elected the third time, and served until 1847. In 1847, Adolphı Krebaum was elected, and served two years. In 1849, Adolph Krebaum was again elected, under the Constitution of 1848, and served four years. In 1853, I. N. Onstott was elected, and served until his death, Novem- ber 7, 1856. November 7, 1856, Adolph Krebaum was appointed. County Clerk by Judge Rockwell, to serve until December, when he was elected for the balance of the term. 1857, Adolph Krebaum was again elected, and served four years as County Clerk. 1861, Adolph Krebaum was again elected, for the fifth time, and served four years more. 1865, William W. Stout was elected and served until his death, September 4, 1869; Samuel Elliott was appointed by Judge Warner to fill out the vacancy. 1869, Isaac Newton Mitchell was


435


HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.


elected Clerk, and served four years. 1873, William M. Ganson was elected Clerk, and served four years. 1877, William M. Ganson was again elected Clerk, without opposition ; still in office.


CIRCUIT CLERKS.


Joseph A. Phelps was appointed the first Circuit Clerk, by Judge S. H. Treat, in December, 1841, and served until his successor was appointed, in 1845.Franklin S. D. Marshall was appointed Circuit Clerk by Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, May 24, 1845, and served until his successor was elected, in 1848. John S. Wilbourn was elected Circuit Clerk and ex officio Recorder in 1848, and served four years. J. S. Wilbourn was again elected Circuit Clerk in 1852, and served four years longer. 1856, Richard Ritter was elected Cir- cuit Clerk, and served four years. 1860, Orlando H. Wright was elected Circuit Clerk, and served four years. 1864, John H. Havighorst was elected Circuit Clerk, and served four years. 1868, George A. Blanchard was elected Circuit Clerk, and served four years. 1872, Leonard Schwenk was elected Circuit Clerk, and served four years. 1876, Leonard Schwenk was again elected Circuit Clerk, and is still in that office.


COUNTY RECORDERS.


Smith Turner was elected at the first election, in 1841, and served until September 7, 1843. Leroy S. Jones was elected in August, 1843, and served until the office was abolished, in 1848.


SHERIFFS.


Francis Low was the first Sheriff elected at the organization of the county, in 1841. 1842, Francis Low was again elected, and served two years longer. 1844, Isaac H. Hodge was elected by one vote over Kean Mahoney, and the race was run over again, when Hodge won the second heat by one vote. 1846, Isaac H. Hodge was again elected, and, at the end of his term, proved to be a defaulter. 1848, John H. Havighorst was elected, and served two years. 1850, Robert Elkins was elected, and served two years. 1852, Robert H. Walker was elected, and served two years. 1854, James H. Hole was elected, and served two years. 1856, J. Price West was elected, and served two years, and ended a defaulter. 1858, John H. Havighorst was again elected for two years. 1860, Joseph Y. Hanthorn was elected, and served two years. 1862, John H. Havighorst was elected for the third time, and served two years. 1864, James L. Hastings was elected, and served two years. 1866, Lambert M. Hillyer was elected for two years. 1868, David B. Phelps was elected, and served two years. 1870, John H. Cleveland was elected, and served two years. 1872, Lambert M. Hillyer was again elected for two years. 1874, Lambert M. Hillyer was elected the third time, and served two years. 1876, Joseph Hart- zell was 'elected, and served two years. 1878, Joseph Hartzell was again elected and is still in office.




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.