The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 43

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254

USA > Illinois > Adams County > The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 43

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The board of supervisors appointed a committee to confer with the Quincy board of education, for the purchase of Jefferson Square, and they held a meeting, February 15, 1875, and discussed various plans and pro- posals. It was resolved to accept $35,000 for the Jefferson Square property, which was carried by a vote of 4 to 3, in the Board. Along in the Fall, the excitement began to manifest itself, concerning a removal of the county seat to Coatsburg. A petition, according to law, was made and filed with the county clerk. He issued a notice of election, to be held on Tuesday, November 9th. At this election, the ballots were required to be prepared, " For removal " or "Against removal," The entire vote polled and amounted to 7,281, and the majority against removal was 4,172. Quincy gave 5,343 votes against removal and 4 votes in favor of removal. The town of Burton gave 116 votes on each side of the question. The vote of Honey Creek township, in which Coatsburg was located, furnished a supple- ment to the Quincy vote, in one way-they gave exactly four votes against removal, and Quincy had given only four votes in favor of removal. Pre- vious to this election, there was a strong exhibition of feeling, and meet- ings were held at Quincy, where speeches were made by leading men of the city. Col. Wm. A. Richardson, Hon. O. H. Browning, Dr. Sturgiss, Dr. Robbins and Judge Sibley all held the crowd in front of the court-house for hours, on the night preceding the election. Their arguments were strongly for Quincy and against Coatsburg. Mr. John Hendrickson was the only man that lifted his voice for Coatsburg, on this occasion, and

324

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

honesty compels us to say he was somewhat ill-treated. Meetings were also held throughout the different parts of the county, by the friends of Quincy, which were addressed by the gentlemen already named, prominent among whom, Hon J. W. Carter, the present member of the Legislature from Quincy, and ex-State Senator J. H. Richardson. The chief argument by the friends of Coatsburg, which they used in a thor- ough canvass of the county, in favor of the removal, was the central loca- tion of that place, and probably the saving of expense in the building of the court-house, and the very large number of voters who had petitioned for the election. The contest, we believe, was conducted notably free from personal animosity of any sort, on the part of either side, and between the elements which were then antagonistic, the best of harmony and fellowship now exists.

LEGISLATION.

At the December term, 1868, the board appointed a committee to attend the Legislature and secure legislation that would enable the county to build a court-house and jail. The committee were Perry Alexander, Silas Bailey, A. W. Blakesly, Benjamin Berrian and James H. Hendrickson.

In February, 1869, at a special term, a resolution was offered, approving the bill which had been passed by the Legislature, but the ayes and nays were called and resulted in five affirmative and seven negative votes.

At the May special meeting, 1875, a communication from the City Council was received, declaring that the City Council was ready to make a deed of Jefferson Square to the county, in case an agreement was made by said committee, and the Board to build the court-house thereon.

Whereupon a resolution was read and ordered to be filed, setting forth the fact that the court-house having been destroyed by fire, Jefferson Square was in their view the best place to locate the new building.

An offer was also made and recorded, from John Wheeler, to sell certain lands owned by him, on the corner of Spring and Fourth streets, in Quincy, for a court-house and jail. At this meeting, also, a petition was offered in favor of Jefferson Square, but by a resolution, Washington Square was designated, by a vote of seventeen to thirteen, and a committee appointed by ballot to advertise for plans and specifications. They were, Thomas Bailey, B. F. Berrian, Maurice Kelly, Thomas Tripp and J. Parkhurst.

At the July meeting of the board, still further proceedings were held regarding the court-house. Hon. W. A. Richardson, being a member and taking an active part, considerable dissension appeared in the Board, and the subject was postponed to the September meeting, and from the records of that date we copy as follows:

E. H. Turner called up the resolution of July meeting, and moved to amend the same by striking out the preamble and the words "old site," and substituting therefor Jefferson Square, on the terms and conditions as proposed by the City Council of the City of Quincy. Upon a call of ayes and nays, the amendment was adopted, as follows:

325

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

AYES-17.

John Altmix, W. W. Avise, Henry C. Craig, Chas. M. Grammar, Wm. Huddleston, Jas. H. Hendrickson,

Michael Kelly,

Maurice Kelly,

Wm. A. Richardson,

John W. Ruddell,

John T. Turner,

Chas. J. Tenkolft,

E. H. Turner, Thomas Tripp, J. W. Vickers. Wm. Winkleman, Samuel Woods.

NAYS-14.

B. F. Berrian, Thos. Bailey, Joel Benton, L. G. Carr, S. G. Earl,

Peter G. Horn,

M. Heiderich, Dr. L. Hair, J. Parkhurst, Vincent Ridgely,

David Sheer, Louis Strickler, Joseph B. Weaver, Geo. F. Waldhaus.

This amendment having been adopted, the original resolution was, by the same vote, carried, locating the new court-house on Jefferson Square.

A further resolution was adopted, requesting the City Council of Quincy to make the deeds conveying Jefferson Square and have them approved by the county attorney, and finally resolved that these deeds be deposited in the hands of a third party, and in the event of the removal of the county seat to Coatsburg or any other point outside of the city of Quincy, said deed shall be returned to the party making the same.

In considering the plans for the building of the court-house, the com- mittee of the whole reported in favor of the plan submitted by John S. McKean, as the first choice, and George Bunting's plan as second choice, and H. L. Gay's plan as third choice.

A resolution was also passed, referring the plan of J. S. Mckean to the decision of Captain Eads, and also to President Linville, of Keystone Bridge Co., because of some doubt expressed in regard to the strength of the supports, etc., etc. The answer from Captain Eads sustained the plan of Mr. McKean, and the final resolution upon the location of the building and the order for purchase of the title from the city and school board, came up on the 16th of September, 1875.

V. S. Penfield was the custodian of the papers, to be retained by him until November 20th, in case of a vote of the county to make Coatsburg the county seat.

Not less than five thousand dollars was the price demanded for Market square, by the county.

When the vote cast at the election, held November 9th, 1875, on the question of removal of the county seat, was canvassed, it showed that three thousand one hundred and nine votes were given for removal, and seven thousand two hundred and eighty-three votes were cast against removal to Coatsburg.

The deed to the north half of Jefferson square was executed October 1st, 1875, by Robert S. Benneson, president of the board of education, and Albert Demaree, clerk, and received and entered of record on the county clerk's books at the December special meeting, 1875.

326

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

There was evidently a lack of unanimity in feeling concerning the location of the court-house yet, and a resolution was offered and supported by nine ont of twenty-nine votes, to call an election on the Jefferson square proposition. This was at the special December meeting of the board, and upon a subsequent vote, at the same meeting, the votes were twenty-two to nine for Jefferson square, and the clerk was instructed to advertise for sealed proposals for building the court-house.

Then again came the question before the board upon the propriety of putting cells in the basement, for prisoners. This matter was referred to a committee.

On the meeting of the board December 9th, 1875, a resolution passed by fifteen votes to fourteen, to abolish the dome provided for on the new court-house, and substitute towers, "if thought necessary to relieve the general appearance."

At a special meeting, on the 3d day of January, 1876, the following report was made and accepted :

The committee appointed at your December meeting, 1875, to prepare detailed plan, specifications and description of the proposed new court-house, also to enquire into the practicability and probable cost of building a jail in the basement of said court-house, beg leave to report the following detailed plans, specifications and description of said proposed court-house and jail. Said plans and specifications are herewith submitted as part of the report, as prepared by John S. McKean, architect. Your committee further report that in their opinion the building of said jail is practicable; that in their opinion the cost of said jail will be about $20,000, which will probably make the entire cost of court-house and jail $215,000 or $220,000. Your committee therefore recommend the building of said jail in the basement of said court-house. All of which is respectfully submitted.

IRA TYLER, J. M. RUDDELL, E. H. TURNER, WM. WINKELMAN, J. H. HENDRICKSON.

Majority of Committee.

Pending the consideration of the above report, the board was notified of the death of Wm. A. Richardson, a member of the board. Thus passed away from life, while following its humbler paths, one who had proved his manhood on the battle field, in the halls of Congress and the Senate of the United States.

At the February meeting, in 1876, a communication was received from the mayor of Quiney concerning the laying of the corner stone of the court-honse, and suggesting the 4th of July, 1876, as an appropriate day for the ceremony; and it was at this meeting the bond and contract of John S. McKean, as architect and superintendent, was received. The bond was in the sum of ten thousand dollars, and was signed as securities by Edwin Cleveland, Herman Hirsch, David G. Williams, Wm. M. Avise.

At the September meeting, 1876, General Singleton offered a resolu- tion, which was adopted, authorizing the investigation of the manner of constructing the new court-house, and materials employed. This move was originated in the previous board, by Supervisor Parkhurst. Also, at the same time, and by the same person, an order was secured for the issuing

John Tillson

QUINCY

327

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

of two hundred thousand dollars in bonds by the county, which was to be submitted to vote, at the general Fall election. The vote was taken, and the issue of eight per cent. bonds ordered, at a special November term, 1876. At this November term a memorial page was ruled in mourning, and set apart for John W. Vickers, who was a member of the board, and also democratic candidate for sheriff, who departed this life Oct. 26th, 1876.

At July meeting, 1877, on motion of Supervisor Bailey, it was ordered that $100,000 of court-house bonds be destroyed, that were printed but not issued, and that an equal amount of $1,000 bonds be issued, and made payable one-half in March, 1881, and one-half in March, 1882. At this session Messrs. Larkworthy and Burge tendered to the board the use of the court-house for their session, with the proviso, on part of the board, that this should not be construed as an acceptance of the building at their hands.

We copy below part of a communication spread upon records of Feb- ruary, 1878:

RICHFIELD, ILL., Feb. 25, 1878.

TO THE HON. BOARD, &C., &C .:

Gentlemen :- I regret that my health is such that I will not be able to meet with you

during the present term, having been confined to my room nearly three weeks. * *

* For the last two years your duties have been very arduous and difficult. Within that period you have constructed a court-house and jail, which is one of the most substantial, beautiful and economically constructed buildings in the West, and at so small a cost, for that class of a building, that scarcely a tax-payer in the county is dissatisfied. So low have been the bids that it is believed that no contractor has made a fair profit, while * some have lost money.

Your most obedient servant, IRA TYLER,

Chairman of Board of Supervisors.

First meeting held in the new court-house was convened on the 9th day of July, 1877.

On the 12th of this month, the committee of the whole inspected the building, having received from the contractors a bill of $219,644.15, with balance due of $69,975.40.

On the 13th, Supervisor Avise offered a resolution that the board now express full and entire satisfaction with the new court-house, and direct the building committee to accept it. This was declared the sense of the meeting.

At the September term we find that the building committee, consist- ing of George Boughman, Ira Tyler and Thomas Bailey were still engaged in making reports and recommendations concerning the new court-house.

May 8th, 1878, a resolution was adopted that the court-house should not be used for political meetings. July 10th, 1878, the committee reported the cost of the iron fence around the court-honse at $6,450.00; the pavements inside the square, $1,227.03, and the sodding, $648.10. At this term a communication from the pastors of Quincy was received, alleg- ing an unhealthy and unwholesome condition of the county jail. This matter for a time attracted considerable attention from the public, and was

328

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

discoursed by the clergy and others through the press of Quincy, with a marked degree of warmth and interest, which directed the attention of the board of supervisors to the subject matter, and led to the appointment by them of a committee to fully investigate the matter, which the committee did, and reported that in their opinion there was no substantial reasons for the complaints, which opinion we believe has been confirmed by subsequent history of the building's sanitary advantages.

COURT-HOUSE BUILDING.

The following is a description of the new court-house from the plans furnished by the architect, J. S. Mckean:

The building is one hundred and five by one hundred and seventy feet; two stories and a basement. The basement is eleven feet high, and the west part of it is duly fitted up for the retention of those members of soci- ety who are found guilty of crimes. In this story is also the heating appa- ratus, consisting of two low-pressure steam boilers for heating the building and other purposes. In the center of each of the four fronts is a spacious double portico, the first story of which is supported by piers three feet six inches square, each alternate course of stone cross-pointed. The second story columns are twenty-two feet six inches high, in Corinthian style.

These porticos are approached by easy flights of stairs of the full width of the portico. There are four entrances to the first story, each door being eight feet wide, and a hall ten feet wide running through from north to south and from east to west. Upon this floor, which has a sixteen-foot ceil- ing, is located the circuit clerk's office, consisting of three rooms, one 27 by 46.6 feet, with six large windows, one vault and work-room 15 feet by 30 with two double windows; also another vault 17.8 by 17.8, with four windows; this last named room or vault is detached in such a way that in case of fire only one corner would be exposed. The walls enclosing these rooms as well as all others on this floor are hollow, with a four-inch air space, all the windows being provided with double corrugated sliding shut- ters made to slide in the hollow space of wall. The county clerks' offices are the same size as those described for the circuit clerk. The recorder has two rooms, one of which is a vault 17.S square. The county treasurer and col- lector have three rooms and a small vanlt; one, 27 by 28 feet; one, 17.6 by 27; one, 17.8 square, and the vault is 6.10 by 9.S. The sheriff's room is 15.6 by 31, with a vanlt 9.8 by 14.8. The county surveyor's room is 15.6 by 31, with a vault 6.10 by 9.8. The county court-room is 38 feet by 47, with the proper appointments of a jury and judge's room. It is warmed and ventilated after the same manner as the circuit court-room.

From the hall a spacious stairway conducts to the dome, which is, in its entire height, 90 feet above the roof. The style of architecture adopted is an adaptation of the Corinthian order, or what may be termed the Ren-

329

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

naissance. The building is of brick faced with cut stone, has four towers at the extreme angles, and four small turrets or ventilating shafts.

The roof is slate, with a deck on top covered with tin; the dome is covered with iron and plaster; the first story of the dome is 33 feet in diameter, and the lantern at the shaft of the dome five feet six inches in diameter.

The halls and clerks' offices, also recorder's rooms, are floored with tile on brick arches. On the second story are the law courts. The circuit court room is 64 by 67 feet square, with 30 feet ceiling; the seats are arranged in circular form. There are two jury rooms 17.8 square, with all modern conveniences. Back of the judge's stand is a screen 12 feet high; in the center is a door leading to the judge's retiring room, 15.6 by 15. Near the judge's retiring room is a witness room, so arranged that it may serve for grand jury room with which it communicates. This room has four large windows on the south, five on the east and four on the north; the heating of the room is by means of hot air flues arranged on the most approved plan.

The first day of holding circuit court in the new building was October 22d, 1877. At that time Mr. Brophy was on hand with books and records in nis new office as clerk of the court. He says that he felt very uneasy for a while lest he should not be on time, but by perseverance he got himself into position in his office.

Mr. S. G. Earl was the first occupant of the treasurer's office, and hardly got it in running order before he turned it over to Mr. Anton Brink- ert, his successor, on 2d December, 1877.

Mr. Haselwood, the county clerk, has no record of business done in the new building previous to November 10th, 1877, in his part of the county work.

The splendid structure that now contains the records, the laws and even the criminals of the county, is a worthy object of regard to every citizen of Adams county. Its proportions charm the eye, its solidity attracts the com- mon mind, and its cost was such as to satisfy the most economical.

The children of those who built it and their descendants will pace its corridors or gambol in its porticos for another century and never blame the men who voted money for its erection. The city and the county may well feel proud of their temple of justice.

330

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

CHAPTER IX.

THE CIVIL WAR -- CAIRO EXPEDITION --- COL. B. M. PRENTISS TAKES COM- MAND-TEN REGIMENTS OF INFANTRY AND CAVALRY-CAVALRY-INDE- PENDENT REGIMENTS-NEW CALL-GENERAL CALL-RECRUITING AGAIN STOPPED-RECRUITING FOR OLD REGIMENTS-EXCITEMENT IN MAY- LAST CALLS-APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS.

THE CIVIL WAR.

In 1795, Congress provided that whenever the laws of the United States should be opposed by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, &c., &c., that the President should call forth the militia of such State, or any other State or States, to suppress such combinations, and cause the laws to be executed. It was further provided that the militia should be subjected to the same rules and articles of war as the troops of the United States, and that no officer or pri- vate should be compelled to serve more than three months after his araival at the place of rendezvous, in any one year, nor more than his due rotation with every other able bodied man of the same rank, in the battalion to which he belongs.

On the evening of April 15, 1861, the following dispatch was received at Springfield, Illinois:

WASHINGTON, April 15, 1861

HIS EXCELLENCY, RICHARD YATES : Call made on you by to-night's mail, for six regiments of militia, for immediate service.

SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.

On the same day, President Lincoln issued his proclamation and called for seventy-five thousand militia, which made the quota of Illinois to be 4,683, being 225 officers and 4,458 men, to be " detached from the militia." This pre-supposed the existence of an organized militia, effectual for imme- diate service. Such, however, was not the condition in Illinois. The Adjutant General, Allen C. Fuller, from whose reports we have made extracts and compilations, says that the papers of his office showed only twenty-five bonds for return of arms, issued to militia companies in 1857, '58, '59 and '60, and, during the same time, but thirty-seven certificates of the election of company officers.

"It will further appear," he says, "from the report of the Quarter- master General, who, until about the 1st of April, 1862, had charge of the Ordnance Department, there were but three hundred and sixty-two United

Wenny /

SHERIFF ADAMS COUNTY QUINCY

331

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

States altered muskets, one hundred and five Harper's Ferry and Diniger's rifles; but one hundred and thirty-three musketoons and two hundred and ninety-seven horse-pistols in the arsenel.

"A few hundred unserviceable arms and accoutrements were scattered throughout the State, principally in the possession of these militia companies. In fact, there were no available, efficient arined and organized militia com- panies the State, and it is doubted whether there were thirty companies with any regular organizations. It is trne there were in our principal cities and towns, several independent militia companies, composed principally of active and enterprising young men, whose occasional meetings for drill were held more for exercise and amusement than from any sense of duty to the State. Many of these companies formed the nuclens of splendid companies, which came promptly forward and have rendered excellent service to their State and country."

On the 15th of April, 1861, also, Governor Yates issued a proclamation, convening the Legislature on the 23d, to make some provision for organ- izing and equipping the militia of the State, and kindred objects. A gen- eral order from the Adjutant General was also issued at that time, to all commandants of divisions, brigades, regiments and companies, to hold themselves ready for service, and General Order No. 2, for the immediate organization of six regiments.

The reception of the proclamation and orders above alluded to occa- sioned intense excitement in all the communities of the State, accessible by telegraph and daily mails.

The entire population of the State, by the census of 1860, and the total number of able-bodied men, between the ages of eighteen and forty- five, the number then in service and those liable to military duty, as enrolled in 1862, was as follows:

COUNTIES.

TOTAL ENROLLMENT.

NUMBER IN SERVICE.

LIABLE TO SERVICE.

Adams.

41,144

9251

2293

6958

Alexander

4652

935

201

734

Bond.

9767

2279

861

1418

Boone.

11,670

2460

737

1723

Brown.

9919

2152

686

1466

Bureau

26,415

6123

1994

4129

Calhoun.

5143

1364

331

1033

Carroll.

11,718

2968

645

2393

Cass.

11,313

2459

690

1769

Champaign.

14,581

3901

1533

2368

Christian.

10,475

2795

642

2153

Clark.

14,948

3006

916

2090

Clay.

9309

2031

793

1238

Clinton

10,729

2709

665

2044

Coles

14,174

3146

171

2975

Cook.

143,947

33,214

3677

29,537

Crawford.

11,529

2614

644

1970

Cumberland.

8309

1520

713

807

DeKalb.

19,079

4823

1588

3235

DeWitt.

10,814

2815

1334

1481

Douglas.

7109

2079

836

1243

DuPage

14,696

2874

870

2004

Population in 1860.

332

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Edgar

16,888

4697

1330

3367

Edwards.

5379

1217

524

693

Effingham.

7805

1479

498

981

Fayette.

11,146

2716

857

1859

Ford ..

1979

512

144

368

Franklin.

9367

1978

921

1057

Fulton.

33,289

6460

2329

4131

Gallatin.

7629

1714

773

941

Greene

16,067

3547

1123

2424

Grundy

10,372

2583

826

1757

Hamilton.

9849

1897

917

990

Hancock.

29,041

5857

1845

4012

Hardin.

3704

791

332

459

Henderson

9499

1991

536

1455

Henry

20,658

7178

2130

5048

Iroquois.

12,285

3339

1198

2141

Jackson.

9560

2281

996

1285

Jasper

8350

1640

618

1022

Jefferson

12,931

2527

808

1719

Jersey.

11,942

2722

738

1984

Joe Daviess

27,147

4816

1279

3537

Johnson

9306

1983

865

1118

Kane.

30,024

6090

1987

4103

Kankakee

15,393

3420

1069

2351

Kendall.

13,073

2846

1025

1821

Knox.

28,512

7704

2719

4985

Lake

18,248

3542

1004

2538

LaSalle ..

48,272

12,304

2177

10,127

Lawrence.

8976

1935

624

1311

Lee.

17,643

4214

1476

2738

Livingston

11,632

3089

1010

2079

Logan.

14,247

3554

1218

2326

Macon.

13,655

4013

1716

2297

Macoupin

24,504

5973

1761

4212

Madison

30,689

7105

1164

5941

Marion . :

12,730

3056

1118

1938

Marshall

13,437

2947

786

2161

Mason.

10,929

2816

1133

1683

Massac ..

6101

1245

505

,40

Mc Donough

20,061

4880

1260

3620

MeHenry

22,085

4605

1570

3035

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The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 43

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps Number of Pages: 1254

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254