USA > Illinois > Peoria County > The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc. > Part 45
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 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150
Second District. - Beginning on the bank of Peoria Lake, between townships eight and nine north ; thence west to the west line of the county ; thence south with said line to the Illinois river ; thence up the same to the line be- tween townships twenty-four and twenty-five north, on the east side of the river, strikes the same ; thence east to the third principal meridian ; thence north with said meridian to the north line of township twenty-seven north; thence west to the Illinois river.
John I .. Bogardus was appointed supervisor of the second district.
Third District - All that tract of country lying east of the Illinois river and south of township twenty-four north, shall constitute the third road district ; ane that Thomas Dillon shall be supervisor of said district. At the Decem- ber session, the Court ordered that township twenty-four be included in this district.
At the March session, 1826, these road districts were so divided as to increase the number to eight, and so on from year to year as the settlements extended and population increased.
The Court, at this (September) session, fixed the prices to be paid for labour on the public highways at these figures :
Each man, for one day's "labour " with necessary implements as directed by the Supervisor 75 cents. Each yoke of oxen with necessary log chain. .50
Each plow or cart per day 1212" Each sled per day 614"
Each "waggon" per day 25
Each scraper per day 25
Archibald Claiborne (Clyburn ?) was appointed constable for Peoria connty. Archibald Allen and Charles Collins were " authorized to keep a ' tavern' in the town of Peoria, by giving the bond required by law and paying ten dollars in paper of the State Bank of Illinois, with the clerk's fees, and that they be allowed to charge the same rates allowed to John Barker, and that the clerk be allowed to take their bond and receive the money for the county."
The Court then adjourned until court in course.
At the December session the treasurer was " ordered to pay William Smith one dol- lar in State paper for his services as Judge of the election in March last." Clerk Dixon was allowed seven dollars and eighteen and three-fourth cents, for stationery, which is the first stationery allowance on record.
On Tuesday, the 6th, Isaac Perkins, Hugh Woodrow and Ezekiel Tevener were ordered " to proceed to view a road, agreeable to the prayer of the petitioners for that purpose, from Peoria, passing the ' Trading post ' and the house of Isaac Perkins, to in- tersect the Springfield road at or near Prairie creek."
308
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
ELECTION PRECINCTS.
At this term of their Court the Commissioners divided Peoria county and the country subject to its jurisdiction, into three election precincts.
CHICAGO PRECINCT.
This precinct was defined as follows :
To contain all that part of the country east of the mouth of the LaPage river, where it empties its waters into the Aux Plain ; and it is further ordered that the elections shall be held at the Agency House, or " Cobwebb Hall." And it is further ordered that this precinct shall be known as the Chicago precinct, and that Abner Wolcott. John Kinzie and J. B. Baubien shall be judges of all general and special elections.
PEORIA PRECINCT.
Ordered, That all that tract of country north and west of the Illinois river, and north of township twenty-four and west of the third principal meridian, shall form the Peoria precinct ; that elections shall be held at the Clerk's office, and that Stephen French, Abner Eads and John Phillips shall be judges of elections in said precinct.
MACKINAW PRECINCT.
Ordered, That all the residue of the County shall form the Mackinaw precinct ; that the elections shall be held at the house of Jesse Dillon, and that Isaac Perkins, William Eads and Thomas Dillon be appointed judges of elec- tions in said precinct.
MORE CONSTABLES.
Henry Allen was appointed constable, and Darius Holcomb was recommended to the Governor as a suitable person for Justice of the Peace. William Clack was authorized to keep a ferry across the Illinois river, opposite Mackinaw bluff. Francis Bulbonait, senior, and Francis Bulbonait, junior, were licensed to keep " tavern" at the Trading House, about three miles from the town of Peoria, on the same conditions and subject to the same restrictions as those imposed on other tavern-keepers. A tavern in those days meant more a dram-shop, or a place where liquors were retailed, than lavern or hotel. But no man could keep a tavern at that period in the history of the country unless he kept a bar, and the bar well supplied with liquors.
SQUARING UP THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.
The remainder of this session of the court, excepting some orders relating to the county-seat, was devoted to the examination and allowance of accounts, etc., for the first nine months of the county's existence. Abner Eads was allowed twelve dollars for boarding and guarding No - ma - que, an Indian prisoner charged with murder. Elijah Ilyde was allowed seventeen dollars thirty-seven-and-a-half cents for conveying No - ma - que to the Sangamon county jail. William Clark was paid fifteen dollars and ninety cents for " services rendered as per bill on file." Hugh Montgomery received five dollars and seventy-five cents for guarding No - ma - que : John Griffin, same services, eight dol- lars and fifty cents; Augustus Langworthy, five dollars for medical services rendered No - ma - que ; Samuel Fulton, sheriff, eighteen dollars and seventy-five cents ; Alexander McNaughton, five dollars for viewing road ; Josiah Fulton, eight dollars for guarding No - ma - que ; Stephen French, five dollars and fifty cents for services as road viewer : Isaac Perkins, one dollar as judge of election ; James Barnes, three dollars for services as road viewer; William Clark, three dollars for similar services ; Joseph Ogee, six dollars for use of his house for hokling Circuit Court : John Barker, one dollar eighteen and three- fourths cents for ferryage ; John Sharp, guarding No - ma - que, four dollars : William Clark six dollars for same services ; Norman Hyde, two dollars for book for use of his office as Probate Judge : Archibald Allen for A. Galitin ; William Lee and Elliott Lec. fifteen dollars for guarding No - ma - que ; Aquilla Moffatt, two dollars for guarding No - Inn - que. Total, from March 7th - the day of the election - to December 6th, includ-
309
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
ing allowances previously quoted, $226.15. To this should be added the per diem of the commissioners, which is not entered this year. Supposing it to be fifty dollars, and the total of expenditures amount to $276.15.
SHERIFF'S ACCOUNT.
The Court ordered to be entered on record the following account with Sheriff Ful- ton :
Dr .- To amount of taxes as returned by the Assessor including twenty dollars re- ceived from the clerk for tavern license. $339.15
Cr .- By amount of bad debts
29.90
County orders and percentage on the same 105.04
46.50
State paper " including interest thereon 21.60
$33.45 in specia, being equal, in State paper, to 66.90
State paper 19.21-$289.15
The Court adjourned sine die on the 8th of December.
Besides the County Commissioners, Sheriff, Coroner and County Clerk, the follow- ing officers were sworn into office between the 8th day of March, and 21st day of Decem- ber, 1825 :
Norman Hyde, Probate Judge, June 4th.
Isaac Perkins, Public Administrator, May 28th.
John L. Bogardus, Commissioner to take the Census of the County, September 5th. Norman Hyde, County Surveyor, December 20th.
Justices of the Peace, Stephen French, March 28th ; Jacob Wilson, John Phil- lips, March 30th ; Nathan Dillon, March 31st; John Dixon, July 16th; John Kinzie, July 28th ; John L. Bogardus, December 17th.
In addition, there were a number of constables and minor officers, but no consecutive register of their names or the date when they qualified, was kept.
For justices of the peace there was but little absolute necessity. There was not much marrying in those days, sueing nor being sued, nor many fineable offenses com- mitted. From the time the county machinery was set in motion on the 8th day of March, 1825, until the last session of the court in 1826, which was held in December, the amount of fines collected was only sixteen dollars and fifty cents. The people of the different settlements were a kind of law unto themselves, and generally attended to their own business, and gave no occasion for the interference of officers of the law. The laws of honor prevailed to a much greater extent than in later years, and most of the settlers considered their word as good as their bond. They respected the rights, the situation and necessities of each other, and tried to help their neighbors instead of harassing them by " going to law " with them about trifles. These conditions were the foundations of Peoria's prosperity.
FIRST ASSESSMENT-TAXES AND TAX-PAYERS IN 1825.
As already known, all the country west of Peoria county to the Mississippi river and north to the State line, as well as a part of the country east of the Illinois river, was subject to the jurisdiction of the Commissioners' Court, from the records of which we are quoting. In all that immense territory there were only one hundred and twenty-three tax-payers in 1825, as certified by Assessor Bogardus. His report is here appended :
310
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
NAME AND RESIDENCE .. AMOUNT.
NAME AND KEHIDENCE.
AMOUNT.
Avery, Elias l'., La Salle Prairie.
$200 00
Harlin, Joshua, Farm Creek ..
150 00
Alscombe, Antoine, Trading llouse 50 00
Harlin, George, La Salle l'rairie 150 00
Allen, Archibald, l'eoria
150 00
Hallock, Lewis, La Salle Prairie 50 00
Beaubien, John B .. Chicago.
1,000 00
Hunter, Jacob M., l'eoria. 50 00
Beauchamp, Noah, Sr., Peoria
200 00
Ish, George, Farm Creek
250 00
Beauchamp, Noah, Jr., l'eoria
100 00
Kinzie, John, Chicago
500 00
Barker, John, Peoria.
400 00
Love, Charles, Peoria
150 00
Bourbonne, Francis, Trading House
200 00
Love, George N., Little Detroit.
350 00
Blanchard, Wm., Ten Mile
150 00
Langworthy, Augustus, Peoria
200 00
Bethard, Elza, Ten Mile.
275 00
Latham, J., l'eoria
300 00
Bratton, Reuben, Ten Mile
135 00
Latham, Philip, Peoria
100 00
Banks, Thomas, Ten Mile
50 00
Like, Daniel, Peoria .. 50 00
50 00
Brierly, Thos. N., Little Detroit
160 00
La Framboise, C., Chicago.
100 00
Bogardus, John L., Peoria
500 00
Latta, James, Illinois l'rairie.
200 00
Bryant, Joseph, Peoria.
300 00
Montgomery, llugh, Mackinaw Point.
200 00
Beabor, Louis, Trading House
700 00
McNaughton, Alexander, Mackinaw Point .. 150 00
60 00
Brown, Cornelius, l'eoria
150 00
Mather, David, Ten Mile
200 00
Clybourne. Jonas, Chicago,
625 00
McCormick, Levi, Illinois l'rairie
50 00
Clark, John K., Chicago
250 00
McKee, David, Chicago.
100 00
Crafts. John, Chicago.
5,000 00
McLaree, Jessee, Peoria
25 00
Carroll, Stephen, La Salle Prairie
150 00
Neeley, Henry, l'eoria.
150 00
Cline, George, Illinois Prairie
70 00
Ogee, Joseph, Illinois l'rairie
200 00
Cline, John, Illinois Prairie
264 00
Perkins, Isaac, Illinois Prairie.
400 00
Cromwell, Nathan, Illinois Prairie
300 00
Phillips, John and W'm., Ten Mile
400 00
Curry, Hiram M., Ten Mile .
225 00
Patterson, John, Prince's Grove
20 00
Cooper, Abner N., Little Detroit.
120 00
Prince, Daniel, Prince's Grove
200 00
Crocker, Austin, Farm Creek.
200 00
Porter, Martin, l'eoria
100 00
Camlin, Thomas, Farm Creek
300 00
Piche, Peter, Chicago.
100 00
Clermont, Jerry, Chicago
100 00
Redman, Eh, Mackinaw l'oint.
35 00
Contra, Louis, Chicago.
50 00
Redman, llenry, Mackinaw l'oint
35 00
Countraman, Fred, Fox River
50 00
Ridgeway, John, La Salle Prairie ..
100 00
Dou ;herty, Allen S., Mackinaw Point
100 00
Robinson, Alexander, Chicago
200 00
Dillon, Walter, Mackinaw Point.
250 00
Ransom, Amherst C., Peoria
100 00
Dillon, Nathan, Mackinaw Point
400 00
Ramsey. John L., Fox River ..
200 00
Dillon, Absalom, Mackinaw Point
200 00
Sommers, John, Illinois l'rairie
300 00
Dillon, Thomas, Mackinaw Point
300 00
Scott, Peter, Mackinaw Point
50 00
Dillon, Jesse, Mackinaw Point
727 00
Smith, Joseph, Farm Creek
550 00
Dillon, John, Mackinaw Point
93 00
Sharp, George, Peoria
608 00
Davis, William, Mackinaw Point.
200 00
Stephenson, John, Ten Mile
40 00
Dixon, John, l'eoria.
350 00
Stout, Ephraim, Sr. and Jr., Illinois Prairie ..
500 00
Du Mont. Peter, Little Detroit
50 00
Walker, Jesse, Fox River.
50 00
Donahoue, Major, Ten Mile
200 00
Thorp. Jonathan, Illinois Prairie
100 00
Egman, Jessie, Illinois Prairie
100 00
Turner, Ezekiel, Ilhnon Prairie
150 00
Eads, William, l'eoria
350 00
Van Scoyk, Joseph, Peoria
50 00
Eads, Abner, Peoria
Soo 00
Walker, Hugh, La Salle Prairie.
50 00
Ellis, Levi, Illinois Prairie
25 00
Wolcott, Alexander, Chicago
572 00
Clark, Wilham, Illinois Prairie
250 00
Willmette, Antoine, Chicago
400 00
Field, Gilbert, La Salle Prairie.
150 00
Weed, Edmond, Ten Mile
174 00
French, Stephen, Farm Creek
200 00
Fulton, Samuel, Peoria.
300 00
Fulton, James, Farm Creek
12 50
Fulton, Josiah, Farm Creek
150 00
Fulton, Seth, Ten Mile
100 00
Fish, Elisha, Farm Creek 200 00
500 00
Funk, Isaac, l'coria 200 00
Griffin, John, La Salle l'rairie 50 00
Gilbert, Levi, Illinois Prairie 25 00
llarrison, Jesse, Peoria 50 00
Hamlin, John, l'eoria 400 00
Holland, William, Peonia. Soo 00
Ilyde, E. & N., Peoria
700 00
Hawley, Aaron, Fox River
200 00
Hawley, Pierce, Fox River
300 00
Woodrow, Ilugh, Illinois Prairie 250 00
Waters, Isaac, Peoria.
10) 60
Total $30,455 50
Smith, Wilham. I called on hum for the amount of personal property. lle refused to render the same. A> near as I can ascertain, it amounts to $150.
1. John 1. Bogardus, do hereby cerufy that the above is the assessment for the year 1825. JOHN I. BOGARDUS, Assessor.
To Jous 1 .. DIXON, EsQ., Clerk of County Commissioners' Cours.
l'. S .- Amount received for lavern license, $20.
The places designated us Farm Creek, Mackinaw, Illinois Prairie, Ten Mile Creek, Trading House ( Wesley City), etc., were within the present limits of Tazewell county.
Bourbonne, Francis, Jr. Trading House
100 00
Moffatt, Alva, Peoria
Moffatt, Aquilla, Peoria
40 00
Barker, Andrew, Farm Creek
100 00
Baresford, Robt., Fox River
50 00
La Framboise, Joseph, Chicago.
Wilson, Seth, Illinois Prairie
200 00
Wilson, Jacob, Ten Mile ..
300 00
Woodrow, Samuel, Ilinois Pranie 150 00
Funk, Jacob, Farm Creek
311
IIISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
CHAPTER IX.
POLITICAL ECONOMY CONTINUED.
1826: Thanks of the County Court to President John Quincy Adams- Fox River Precinct - Rev. Jesse Walker - Fever River Precinct - August Election - The Candidates - Peter Williams- Second Financial Exhibit - County Revenue - Tavern and Ferry Rates - Delinquent Taxes - Mining Excitement. CHICAGO : First Ferry and Tavern License - Turnpike and Election Accounts - Marriage Records- Justices of the Peace - Billy Caldwell -Shabonee - An Old Document.
March 6, the Court being in session the clerk was directed to transmit to the Presi- dent of the United States the thanks of the Court for his prompt compliance with the prayer of their petition for leave to enter the fractional quarter section of land on which to locate their county seat ; and also that he (the Clerk) be directed to inform the Pres- ident that his kind interference in their behalf did not produce the result desired.
FOX RIVER PRECINCT.
At this session, the Conrt ordered that an election precinct be established by the following boundaries : "All that district of country north of Senatchwine creek, and the River Dupage, within the bounds of this State, to be known and distinguished as the Fox River Precinct, and that all general and special elections shall be held at the house of Jesse Walker, near the Junction of the lllinois and Fox rivers (Ottawa) and that Aaron Hawley, Henry Allen and James Walker be appointed judges thereof."
REV. JESSE WALKER.
The Jesse Walker here mentioned was a Methodist preacher and missionary, and of the first to break the bread of life on the waters of the Illinois river. He was a good man, and his soul full of the milk of kindness. At one time what was known as the Green River settlement, on Fox river, run short of provisions, and the people were on the verge of starvation. Jesse Walker heard of their destitute and suffering condition and sent them word from the Sangamon settlement, near Springfield, that if they would send a keel-boat down the Illinois and up the Sangamon to within six miles of Springfield, the settlers there would load it with needful provisions. Jesse Walker undertook the relief expedition in person, obtained a keel-boat at Peru, and, securing Josiah Fulton as pilot, proceeded to the point named, where the boat was loaded as the pioneers to San- gamon had promised. They returned to Peru, and from there, through the importunity of Walker, they went on up the river as far as Starved Rock, where the cargo was land- ed. It arrived just in time to "do the most good." Josiah Fulton, the pilot, returned to Peoria by canoe.
This is not the only instance of Jesse Walker's interest in suffering, hungering pioneers, that is mentioned. His name and good deeds were enshrined in the hearts of the pioneers and transmitted to their posterity. Blessed be the name and the memory of Jesse Walker.
FEVER RIVER PRECINCT.
At their June session (June 2, 1826), the Commissioners " ordered that an election precinct, No. 5, comprise the following boundaries : All of Mercer and Warren counties,
312
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
and the attached parts thereof." This precinct included the Fever river lead mines, Jo Daviess county, and the returns of the election of the 7th of August, 1826, were made as from the " Fever River Mines Precinct." At the same session the Court revised a former order relating to judges for the August election, and appointed the following :
Chicago, Alexander Wolcott, John Kinzie, J. B. Beaubien.
Fox River, James Walker, Pierce Hawley, Robert Berrisford. Peoria, Abner Eads, Stephen French, John Phillips.
Mackinaw, Isaac Perkins, William Eads, Thomas Dillon.
AUGUST ELECTION.
As already noted the first election in Peoria county was held on the 7th day of March, 1825. The second election was held on the 7th day of August, 1826, the day on which general elections were held in the olden times. The vote in each of the four precincts where polls were held, was as follows :
Peoria. 81
Mackinaw
51
Chicago 31
Fever River 202
Total 369
The following were the candidates voted for, and the number of votes cast for each candidate :
Governor-Ninian Edwards, 239; Thomas Sloo, Jr., 106 ; Adolphus Hubbard, 6-351.
Lieutenant Governor - Samuel H. Thomas, 247 ; William Kennedy, 47 - 284.
Congressman - Daniel P. Cook (after whom Cook county was named), 250 ; Joseph Duncan, 83 ; James Turney, 7 - 340.
State Senator - James Harris, 174; Lewis Kinney, 87 ; Peter Journey, 51 ; Archi- bald Job, 36 ; Peter Williams, 2; George Cadwell, 1 - 351.
Representative - John L. Bogardus, 96 ; Jesse Harrison, 154 ; Ossian M. Ross, 39 ; Henry J. Ross, 40 -329.
Sheriff - Samuel Fulton, 106 ; George Harlin, 61 ; Joshua Walker, 46 .- 213.
Coroner - Henry Neely, 79 ; Allen C. Dougherty, 67 ; Resolved Cleveland, 35-181. County Commissioners - William Holland, 105 ; Nathan Dillon, 106 ; John Hamlin, 172 ; Stephen C. French, 101 ; Rivers Cormack, 81 ; Hiram M. Curry, 46; Gideon Hawley, 18. Hollin, Dillon and Hamlin were elected.
No election returns were reported from Fox River precinct until August, 1830.
PETER WILLIAMS.
In 1832, before the eastern slope of Iowa was opened to white settlement, Peter Williams went over to that side of the Mississippi river and built a cabin - the first - on the site of Fort Madison. The Indians complained against the innovation, and some soldiers were sent down from Fort Armstrong, Rock Island, who demolished Peter's cabin and set him across the River in Illinois. In June, 1833, when the Indian limit of possession expired, he returned to Fort Madison and re-occupied his claim. He did not remain there long, however, until he pushed on to the Des Moines river, where he died in 1835.
SECOND FINANCIAL EXHIBIT.
At the December session of 1826 the Court "ordered that the Sheriff be debited and credited with the following amounts, to wit :
313
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
DEBIT.
To amount returned by Assessor's tax book
$855.93
in State paper, equal to ..
641.93
" Balance in the treasury, December, 1825
54.1534
Overcharged for collecting the above.
10.25
Order on State Treasurer, 1825
100.00
.. Amount of fines collected
16.50
.. .. " tavern licenses
3.00
from sale of town lots
21.00
44
" State Treasurer, 1826.
168.75
" collected from list of bad debts, 1825
6.8212-$1,022.4314
CREDIT.
By amount of delinquent tax list for which the Sheriff is allowed until the March term to collect, it being in State paper $416.6912, equal to ...
$312.52
" Amount lost by collecting at Chicago at 50 per cent .
27.05
" County orders amounting to.
358.65
" Per centage for collecting the above except $64.4012 on which com- mission has been paid
22.08
" Per centage the above orders.
7,1712-$728.0712
$294.3534
COUNTY REVENUE.
Lands in Peoria were opened to sale in 18 - and became taxable in 18 -. Before the lands were subject to taxation, revenue for county purposes was raised by taxes assessed against personal property, and rated from one-half of one per cent. to one per cent. on the value of the property or article taxed. Ferries were licensed by the County Commissioners, and paid from ten to twenty dollars a year, for the use of the county. Taverns were licensed in the same way, and charged at about the same rates. Mer- chants, grocers and dealers were also licensed by the County Court, and paid from five to twenty dollars a year to the county treasury. These were the only sources of revenue and required careful management and strict economy to meet the current expenses.
The political economy of Peoria county as commenced and practiced by the County Commissioners has been introduced for the purpose of preserving the modus operandi of per- fectiug county organizations. The old journals have been carefully overhauled, and voluminous extracts made from their well-written and carefully preserved pages. These extracts will preserve the names of the representative men and public officials of the years which they cover, to generations yet to come. While a few of the old pioneers still remain among the useful, honored and respected citizens of the county and earth, the most of them have been gathered to their home. "Peace to their memory. "
The general details of county management are here dismissed to write of other in- cidents and events that will be of more interest to the majority of readers.
The statement below shows the condition of the county in June, 1827, when at a special session of the Court it was ordered that the sheriff be debited and credited as follows :
DEBTOR.
To balance in the treasury at the last settling day, December term, 1826, $294 3534 " delinquent list from assessor's tax book 312 52 $606 88
CREDIT.
By county orders amounting to $245 621/2
" per centage for collecting the above 18 41
.. for paying the foregoing. 4 9112
" overcharge on the tax book on the following persons, to-wit : Joseph
Smith, Abner Eads, Martin Meyers, and Casper Reece 3 50
" error in percentage on collection at Chicago 4 1412
" delinquent tax list for which the sheriff is allowed until the June term of this Court. 267 09 63 6912 $607 38
" balance in the treasury
21
314
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
UNIFORMITY OF " TAVERN" AND FERRY RATES.
At this session of the Court it was also ordered that each and every tavern keeper in the county of Peoria, be authorized to charge the following rates :
For each one-half pint of wine, rum or brandy
25 cents.
.. pint
3712
.. one-half pint of gin
.. pını 31 1
.. gill of whiskey
.. one-half pint "
1212
pint IS 34 ..
breakfast, dinner or supper 25
..
night's lodging
1212
For keeping horse one night to grain and hay
25
..
For each horse fed
1215
For keeping horse twenty-four hours.
3712 .4
For the different ferries across the Illinois river the following rates were established :
For each fool passenger
64 cents.
man and horse.
1212 ..
Dearhorn sulky or chaise with springs 50
.. one-horse wagon .. . 25
four-wheeled carriage, drawn by two oxen or horses 37%
.. cart with two oxen 3712
For every head of neat cattle, horses or mules .. 10
..
For each hog, sheep or goat.
3
For every hundred weight of goods, wares or merchandise
For each bushel of grain, or other article sold by the bushel.
3
And all other articles in equal and just proportion.
When the river was over its banks, and the landing difficult. certain ferries were allowed to charge double the above rates.
DELINQUENT TAXES.
Delinquent taxes were not easily collected, for there were tax-fighters in those days as well as in the present. In 1826, two hundred and four persons in the Fever River set- tlement -Jo Daviess county -were returned delinquent in the payment of taxes assessed against them. Most, if not all of them, were miners. Samuel Fulton was sheriff and collector of Peoria county, and Josiah Fulton was his deputy. In the discharge of his duty the sheriff sent his deputy up among the miners with tax warrants to make collections. Josiah says, first one miner would take a warrant, read it, or get some one to read it for him, and then hand it to another one, till it had passed from one to another of all who happened to be present, and then remarked : " You come up here to collect tax money, did you ? And you are going to scize property if we don't pay, are you ? Well, we aren't going to pay, and we aren't going to let you take any of our property, either. Mind that, will you? And the best thing you can do is to get out of here as a tax collector just as quick as you can. But if you want to share our bed and board as a private citizen and visitor, you shall have the best in our cabins, but you can't have a eent on your d-d old tax warrants, nor you shan't touch a bit of property to make it." And Josiah Fulton enme home with little or nothing to show for his trip or to add to the wealth of the county treasury.
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.