Bureau County, Illinois - Chapter 11: Legislative, 1906

Chapter 11: Legislative

The state of Illinois until the year 1832 constituted one congressional district, and John ilc- Lean was the first representative in congress from the state of Illinois. He took his seat in tlie second session of the fifteenth congi'ess. He was followed by Daniel P. Cook, December, 1819, in the sixteenth congress. Cook continued to represent the state during the sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth congresses, a period "f nearly nine years from December, 1819, to Marcli, 1827. Mis residence was at Kaskaskia. Joseph Duncan was his successor and represented the state from 1827 to 1833 in twentieth, twenty-first and twenty-second congresses. He resided in Jacksonville, Morgan county. In 1831 the state was divided into three congressional districts. We then being a part of Putnam county, were in the third congressional district. John Duncan was elected to the twenty-third congress from that district, but resigned and William L. May filled out the unexpired term, and also served in the twenty-fourth and twentv-fifth congresses from 1835 "to 1839. From 1839 to 1843, during the twenty-sixth and twenty-.wventh congresses John T. Stuart, of Springfield, represented the third district.

In 1843 the state was again divided, giving it seven congressional districts, and Lake, McHenry, Boone, Cook, Kane, DeKalb, DuPage, Kendall, Grundy, LaSalle, Will, Iroquois, Livingston, Mc- Lean, Champaign, Vermilion and Bureau counties were placed in the fourth, and John Wentworth, of Chicago, was elected to the twentyeighth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth and thirty-first congresses, serving from 1843 to 1851. In 1851 Ricliard S. Molony, of Boone county, was elected to the thirty-second congress from the fourth district.

In 1852 the state was again divided and the districts increased to nine. Will, Kendall, Grundy, LaSalle, Putnam, Burean, Livingston, Iroquois, Vermilion, Champaign, McLean and De- Witt formed the third congressional district and was represented in the thirty-third congress by Jesse 0. Norton, of Joliet.

In 1855 Jesse 0. Norton was returned to the thirty-fourth congress from the third congressional district. When congress convened in 1857 Owen Lovejoy took the oath of office as representative of the third congressional district of Illinois.

Lovejoy was re-elected in 1859 and in 1861, .serving in the thirtj-fifth, thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh congresses as representative of the third district. In 1861 the state was again reapportioned. By an error in the apportionment Illinois was given but thirteen districts while she was entitled to fourteen. This error was corrected by electing one member from the state at large. Under this apportionment Peoria, Knox, Stark, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau and Henry counties were placed in the fifth district, and Owen Lovejoy was elected representative. Mr. Lovejoy served in the house until his death, which occurred March 25. 1864. Eben C. Ingersoll, of Peoria, filled out Mr. Lovejoy's unexpired term.

The thirty-ninth congress convened in December, 1865, with Eben C. Ingersoll as representative in the fifth district. He was also returned to the fortieth and forty-first congresses from the fifth district. The fifth district was represented in the forty-second congress by Bradford N. Stevens, of Tiskilwa. In 1872 the state was again apportioned into nineteen districts, and Lee, Bureau. Putnam. Henry and Rock Island were placed in the sixth, which was represented in the forty-third congress by John B. Hawley. of Rock Island. He was followed by Thomas J. Hender- .son, of Bureau county, who represented the sixth district in the forty-fourth, forty-fifth, forty-sixth and forty-seventh congresses.

In April, 1882, an act was passed reapportioning the state into twenty districts, and Bureau county was changed from the sixth to the seventh congressional district, comprising the counties of Lee, Whiteside, Henry, Bureau and Putnam. Thomas J. Henderson was again returned to congress by this new district and represented the same in the forty-eighth, I'orty-uinth, fiftieth, fifty-first, Itfty-second and fifty-third congresses. Thus it will "be seen that Gen. Thomas J. Henderson served in ten successive congresses from 187.5 to 1895. In 1893 a new apportionment was made and the state was divided into twenty-two districts. Bureau, LaSalle, Livingston and Woodford were placed in the eleventh congressional district, ancl were represented in the fifty-fourth, fifty-fifth, fifty-sixth and fifty-seventh congresses by Walter Eeeves, of LaSalle county.

In 1901 another division was made and the state was divided into twenty-five districts, and Bureau, Marshall, Peoria. Putnam, Stark and Tazewell counties were placed in the sixteenth, and Joseph V. Graff, of Peoria, was elected representative to the forty-eighth congress, was reelected in 1904. and is our present member of congress.

"The number of senators and representatives shall, at the first session of the general assembly holden after the returns herein provided for are made, be fixed by the general assembly and apportioned among the several counties or districts to be established by law, according to the number of white inhabitants. The number of representatives shall not be less than twenty-seven nor more than thirty-six. until the number of inhabitants within this state shall amount to one hundred thousand : and the number of senators shall never be less than one-third or more than one-half of the number of representatives."

"Section 8. Until ihe lirst census shall be taken as directed by the constitution, the county of Madison shall be entitled to one senator and three representatives ; the county of St. Clair to one senator and three representatives ; the county of Boone to one senator and one representative : the county of Washington to one senator and one representative : the cotmty of ^Monroe to one senator and one representative : the county of Randolph to one senator and two representatives: the county of Jackson to one senator and one representative ; the counties of Johnson and Franklin to form one senatorial district and to be entitled to one senator, and each county one representative : the county of Union to one senator and two representatives; the county of Pope to one senator and two representatives ; the county of Gallatin to one senator and three representatives; the cmintv of White to one senator and three representatives; the county of Edwards to one senator and three representatives; and the county of Crawford to one senator and two representatives."

Apportionments were made under the constitution of 1818 as follows: Feb. 14, 1821, senate 18, liouse 36; Feb. 7, 1831, senate 26, house 55; Jan. 14, 1836, the ratio for a senator was fixed at 7,000 white inhabitants and for a representative 3,000. By this law the state was entitled to forty senators and ninety-one representatives. Feb. 26, 1841, the ratio for a senator was fixed at 12,000 and for a representative at 4,000. The senate then consisted of forty-one members and the house of representatives of one hundred and twenty-one members. Under the last two apportionments made the membersliip does not conform strictly to the different acts of the legislature - probably owing to the variation in the population by the incoming settlers. The ratio of 1841 remained practically unchanged until the new constitution was adopted in 1848.

1848. Section 6, Article III, of the constitution of 1848. provided that: "The senate shall consist of twentyfive members and the house of rep:esentatives shall consist of seventy-five members until the population of the state shall amount to one million of souls, when five members may be added to the house and five additional members for every five himdred thousand inhabitants thereafter, until the whole number of representatives shall amount to one hundred; after which the number shall neither be increased nor diminished ; to be apportioned among the several counties according to the number of white inhabitants. In all future apportionments, where more than one county shall be thrown into a representative district, all the representatives to which said counties may be entitled shall be elected by the entire district."

By section 8 of the same article, an apportionment was required to be made in the year 1855, and every tenth year thereafter. Section 40, same article, apportioned the representation in the general assembly at twenty-five senators and seventyfive representatives, and divided the state into districts. It will be seen that up to the adoption of the new contsitution of 1848 the state was not divided into legislative districts. In compliance with the terms of the constitution the first legislature convened at Kaskaskia, October 5, 1818, and numbered fourteen senators and twenty-nine representatives. The second general assembly met at Yandalia on December 4, 1820, with the same number. The third convened at Vandalia on December 3. 1822, with eighteen senators and thirty-seven representatives. The fourth convened at Yandalia, November 1.5, 1824, with nineteen senators and forty representatives; the fifth convened at Vandalia December 4, 1826, with eighteen senators and thirty-six representatives; the sixth convened at Vandalia, December 1, 1S28, witli eighteen senators and tliirtv-six representatives; the seventh convened at \andalia, December t), 1830, with eighteen senators and thirtyseven representatives; the eighth convened at \^audalia, December 3, 1833. with tvveutj-six senators and tii't^-live representatives; the ninth cou- \ened at Vandalia, December 3, 1834, with thirtytwo senators and sixty-three representatives; the tenth convened at \'andalia. December ."), 183(j, with I'orly-one senators and one hundred and three representatives; the eleventh convened at Vandalia, December 3, 1838, with I'orty-four senators and one hundred and one representatives; the twelfth convened at Springfield, November 23, 1840, with forty senators and ninety-one represe.."tatives; the thirteenth convened at Springfield, December 5, 1842, with forty-six semitors and one lniiidrc:l and twcuty-one representatives ; the fourteenth convened at Springfield, December 2, 1844, with forty-cue senators and one hundred and seventeen representatives; the fifteenth convened at Springfield with forty senators and one hundred and twenty-four representatives. Up to this time the representation both in the senate and the house was governed by the organization of new counties and the new grouping of the same. The new constitution of 1848, as before stated, divided the state into districts, but the senatorial did not conform to the representative districts. There were twenty-five senatorial districts, and Bureau county was in the twentieth, which was composed of the counties of LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam, Marshall, Woodford, Livingston and Grundy; and William Reddick, of LaSalle county, was senator in the sixteenth general assembly. There were also fifty-four representative districts, and Bureau county was in the forty-ninth, which was composed of the counties of LaSalle, Bureau, Grundy, and Livingston. This district was entitled to two representative's, and George W. Wilson, of La- Salle county, and llelancthon K. La.sher, of Bureau county, were accordingly elected.

The seventeenth general assembly convened at Springfield, January 6, 1851, with William Reddick senator from the twentieth district, and Abram Phillips, of Bureau, and Jnhn TTise, of La- Salle, representatives of the forty-ninth, as the district remained unchanged. The eighteenth legislature met on January 3, 18.")3, the districts remaining tlie same, being represented by Burton C. Cook, of LaSalle county, in the senate, and bv C. R. Potter, of LaSalle county, and C. L. Starbuck in the liouse.

In 18.54 the state was reapportioned. The senatorial district remained at twenty-five in niiinher, tlie same as before, but eJiangcd in the grouping. Bureau county was changed from the twentieth to the seventh senatorial district, which included LaSalle, Grundy. Livingston and Bureau, and Burton C. Cook, of LaSalle county, was still senator. The representative districts were changed from fifty-four to fifty-eight, and iiureau county constituted the forty-seventh, and Owen Lovejoy was the representative. This was the nineteenth general assembly.

The twentieth general assembly convened on January 5, 185?, and this district was represented by Burton C. Cook, of La Salle county, in the senate, and George W. Radclitt", of Bureau, in the house. The twenty-first meeting of the legislature occurred on January 3, 1859. Our district was represented by Burton C. Cook, of La Salle county, in the senate, and by John H. Bryant in the house. The twenty-second general assembly met on the 7th day of January, 18G1, with Washington Bushnell, of La Salle county, as senator for this district, and Joseph W. Harris, of Bureau, as representative.

The state was again apportioned in 1861. The senatorial districts still remained at twenty-five, and the representatives numbered sixty-one, but Bureau county was grouped with Henry and Rock Island and made up the twenty-first senatorial tlistrict : and Bureau, Putnam, Marshall and Woodford formed the forty-fifth representative district, entitled to three members. When the legislature met January 5, 1862, Thomas J. Pickett, of Rock Island, was our senator, and George Dent of Putnam, Jefferson A. Davis of Woodford, and Daniel H. Howe of Bureau were our representatives. This was the twenty-third general assembly.

The twenty-fourth assembly convened on January 2. 1865. Alfred Webster, of Rock Island, was seiuitor, and Henry D. Cook of Woodford. George D. Henderson of Putnam, and William C. Stacy of Bureau, representatives.

The twentv-fifth general assembly convened January 7. 1867, with Alfred Webster, of Rock Island ((luiity. as senator, and William C. Stacy, of Bureau, Robert T. Cassell of Woodford, and Alanson P. Weber of Marshall as representatives.

The twx'nty-sixth general assembly met on Januai-y 1, 1869, with Andrew Crawf(U'd. of Henry county, as senator, and Lorenzo D. Whiting ot' Bureau, Charles G. Reed of Bureau, and Joel W. Hopkins, of Putnam as representatives.

We come now to the apportionment of 1870 under the new constitution, which is still in force, and the apportionment clause provides as follows:

Section 13 of the schedule, constitution of 1870, l)rovided that upon the adoption of the new constitution the governor and secretary of state should immediately thereafter proceed to fix the apportionment of members of the house of r?pre.sentatives: the api)ortionment U) lie based u,Hin the United States census of 1870, if the same should be ascertained in thne therefor; if not, then to be based upon the state census of 1865. The ratio of representation in the house was to be ascertained by dividing the population ol' the state l)y 153 - the quotient to 1((> the ratio: every county or district, when its pojiulation amounted to three-fifths of the ratio, to be entitled to one representative; each county or district having a population equal to a ratio and three-fifths to be entitled to two representatives, and for each additional number of inhabitants equal to the ratio, one representative.

Section 14 of the schedule directed that the districts should be regularly uundjered, commencing with Alexander county, proceeding northwardly, and terminating with Cook.

Section 15 of the schedule provided that the senate at its first session under the new constitution of 1870 should consist of fifty members, being two for each district under the constitution of 1848.

The general assembly shall apportion the state every ten years, beginning with the year 1871, by dividing the population of the state by 51, and the quotient shall be the ratio for representation in the senate. The state shall be divided into fifty-one senatorial districts, each of which shall elect one senator, whose term of office shall be four years. The senators are elected every two years, in odd and even numbered districts alternately, beginning with the even numbered districts in 1872.

The house of representatives consists of three times the number of members of the senate, and the term of office is two years. Three representatives are elected in each senatorial district at each general election for members of the general assembly; the election occurring in each even numbered year, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in the month of November. Each qualified voter may cast as many votes for one candidate as there are representatives to be elected, or may distribute same, or equal parts thereof, among the candidates as he may see fit ; and the candidates highest in votes shall be declared elected.

The twenty-seventh general assembly, which convened January 4, 1871, being the first under the constitution of 1870, as apportioned by the governor and secretary of state, consisted of fifty senators and one hundred and seventy-seven representatives, and the state was divided into twentyfive senatorial and ninety-seven representative districts. Bureau, Henry and Stark were grouped in the twenty-first senatorial district, and Andrew Crawford, of Henry county, and Lorenzo D. Whiting, of Bureau county, were senators. Bureau county constituted the seventy-si.xth representative district, entitled to two members, and elected Eobert Hunter, of Wheatland, and Perry F. Remsberg, of Ohio.

The legislature passed an act March 1, 1872. dividing the state, as the constitution provided, into fifty-one districts, each district being entitled to one senator and three representatives, Bureau and Stark counties forming the nineteenth .senatorial and representative district. Lorenzo D. Whiting was elected senator; Jacob E. Munevam and Mark E. Dewey, of Bureau county, and Cyrus Bocock, of Stark county, were elected representatives at the twenty-eighth general assembly. As no change was made. Bureau remained a part of the nineteenth district until 1882.

The twenty-ninth general assembly convened January 6, 1875, with Lorenzo D. Whiting as senator and A. G. Hammond of Stark county, J. H. Moore and J. J. Herron of Bureau county as representatives.

When the thirtieth legislature convened on January 3, 1877, we were represented by Lorenzo D. Whiting in the senate and Charles Baldwin and J. J. Herron of Bureau county and Daniel J. Hurd of Stark.

The thirtj'-first general assembly convened at Springfield, January 8, 1879. We were again represented by L. D. Whiting in the senate and by Sylvester F. Ottman, of Stark, and A. 6. Scott and Simon Elliott in the house.

The thirty-second legislature of Illinois convened January 5, 1881, with L. D. Whiting senator, and Sylvester F. Ottman, of Stark, and J. H. Welsh and Charles Baldwin, of Bureau, representatives. This legislature stood: Eepublican, senate 32, house 82 ; democratic, senate 18, house 71; socialist, senate 0, house 1.

The apportionment of 1882 grouped Bureau, Stark and Putnam together and placed them in the twenty-fifth district. L. D. Whiting was again elected senator and James T. Thornton of Putnam, John Lackie of Stark, and J. H. Welsh of Bureau were elected representatives. This t.hirt3'-third general assembly stood politically: Republican, senate 31, house 77; democratic, senate 20, house 75 ; independent, senate 0, house 1.

The thirty-fourth general assembly convened January 7, 1885, with L. D. Whiting as senator and Albert W. Boyden of Bureau, James H. Miller of Stark and Eli V. Raley of Putnam county were elected representatives. This was the general assembly that was noted for its prolonged struggle in electing General John A. Logan to the L'nited States senatorship. This legislature stood politically : Eepublican, senate 26, house 76 ; democratic, senate 25, house 76 ; independent, senate 0, house 1.

The thirty-fifth general assembly met in Springfield. January 5, 1887, with E. A. Washburn, of Bureau county, as senator, and James H. MiHer, of Stark county, and Stirling Pomeroy and Anthony Morrisy, of Bureau county, as representatives. The legislature stood : Eepublican, senate 32, house 80; democratic, senate 18, house 64; labor, senate 1, house 8; prohibition, senate 0, house 1.

The thirty-sixth treneral assembly convened on January !), "]S8n: Edward A. Washburn, of Bureau county, being senator, and James H. Miller of Stark, Peter McCall and .\nthony Morrisv of

Bureau county were representatives. This legislature was divided politically as follows: Republican, senate 35, house T9; democratic, senate 15, house 73: labor, senate 1, house 0; independent, senate 0, house 1.

The thirty-seventh legislature met at Springheld .lanuary 7, 1891, with Louis Zearing of Bureau county as senator and Michael Burton, of Bureau, Samuel White, of Stark, and Archibald W. Hopkins, of Putnam county, representatives. This legislature stood as follows: Republican, twentyseven, senate : seventy-three, house. Democratic, twenty-four, senate; seventy-seven, house. Farmers alliance, none in the senate; tbroe, hou.se.

The thirty-eighth general assembly convened on January 4, 1893. We were represented in the senate by Louis Zearing, of Bureau county, in the house by Michael Burton, of Bureau, Archibald W. Hopkins, of Putnam, and George Murray, of Stark county. The political complexion was as follows: Repul)lican, senate, twenty-two; house, seventy-five. Democratic, senate, twenty-nine; house, seventy-eight. By the act of June 15. 1893, the state was di\aded into senatorial districts as follows, each district as before being entitled to one senator and three representatives: Whiteside. Bureau, I'utnani and Stark counties were placed in district thirty-one. J. W. Templeton. of Bureau, wa.s elected senator, and J. W. White, of Whiteside, William M. Pilgrim and George Murray, of Stark county, were elected representatives to the thirty-ninth general assembly. The legislature was divided politically as follows: Republican, senate, twenty-four; house, ninety-two. Democratic, senate, seventeen; house, sixty-one.

Tbe fortieth general assembly convened at Springfield on January 6, 1897. James W. Templeton of Bureau county was senator, and George Murray of Stark, and Jerry W. Dineen and Caleb C. Johnson of Whiteside county were representatives. Politically the legislature was divided as follows: Republican, senate, thirty-eight; house, eighty-eight. Democratic, senate, twelve; house, sixty-three. People's, senate, one; house, two.

The forty-first general assemblv convened January 4, 1899, to which James W. Templeton had been returned as senator and Alfred X. Abbott of Whiteside, Archibald W. Hopkins of Putnam and Michael Kennedy of Bureau county were elected representatives. "The political division was as follows: Republican, senate, thirty-four: house, eighty-one. Democratic, senate, sixteen; house, spv^r.ty-one. People's, senate, one; house, one.

The forty-second legislature met on January 9, 1901, with James W. Templeton of Bureau county a.s senator; Alfred N. Abbott and Edward Devine of Whiteside, and Allen P. :Miller of Stark county, representatives. The political division was as follows: Republican, senate, thirty-two; house, eighty-one. Democratic, senate, nineteen; house, seventy-two. By an act of the legislature on May 10, 1901, the state was again divided and Henrv,

The forty-third general assembly convened January 7, 1903. James W. Templeton of Bureau county was again returned to the senate, and Nathaniel W. Tibbitts, Henry county, James E. Noyes, of Stark county, and James K. Blish, of Henry county, were elected representatives. The legislature stood politically as follows: Republican, senate, thirty-six; house, eighty-eight. Democratic, senate, fifteen; house, sixty-two. Public ownership, senate, none; house, two. Prohibition, senate, none ; house, one.

The forty-fourth general assembly convened January 4. 1905, with James W. Templeton as senator and James E. Xoyes, of Stark county, Nathaniel W. Tibbitts. of Henry county, and James E. Dabler, of Bureau county, were elected reiireseiitativcs. The legislature was divided politically as follows: Reoublican, senate, forty-two: house, ninety-one. Democratic, senate, nine ; house, fifty-.seven. Prohibition, senate, none; house, three. Socialists, senate none; house, two.

For Bureau Couxty, Illinois

The total number of foreign born people in Bureau county in 1900 was 8,900. The different countries were represented as follows: .\sia, 12; Australia, 4; .Vustria, 86; Belgium, 328; Bohemia, 2<) : Canada, 163 : Denmark, 361 : England, 844; Finland, 1: France, 124; Germany, 1,639;

In the election of 1851 Homer Eellows was elected county surveyor and re-elected in 1853 and in 1855. In 1*57 Frank W. Winship was elected surveyor and held the olHce one term. In 1859 AlirMham Lash was eleitcd and in 18G1 Frank W. Win.'ihip was again elected and held the office until 18G7, when II. G. Taddock was elected and held the position until 1884. From 1884 to 1888 B. Hodgeman. From 1888 to 1892, Edward Mc- Neil. From 1892 to 1908, J. M. VanDervort.

The iiii'ilicid |ir(jression in Bureau county stands in great l'av(n- with our citizens. We have none of the physicians who can cure ever}' form of disea.se whether it is curable or not, but we do have some very able, well qualified and conscientious iiiiii and women in the practice of medicine in 1)11 reau county. Tlic jirofession is alive to all of the changes in Ihc diagnosis and prognosis of disease, so that they are ai)le to give intelligent and up to date service in lu'aling the sick. The fraternity of ])Iiysiciaiis in this county are organized into a medical society that meets regularly to discuss the different phases of their work. We give below the constitution, by-laws, officers and the names of the members:

'L'he preliminary convention of physicians that met at Princeton, Illinois, October i9, 1893, resolved itself into the "Bureau County Medical Society,'" and a])i)ointi'd a coiiunittee on constituti(m and by-laws.

Coxstiti'Tion

Section 1. - .\.ny ])hysiciau residing in Bureau or adjoining counties ma}-, if a graduate of a recognized and reputable medical college, be eligible to membership.

Sec. 2. - Every apijlication for membership should be in writing, and give a brief histoi7 of the candidate and his medical qualifications and be accorapanii'd by a fee of one dollar (-$1.00).

See. 3. - Ivich application shall be submitted to a vote of tiu> nicnibers jiresent, and the applicant shall be declared elected unless receiving three or more adverse votes. In case of rejection the fee shall be returned.

Sec. 5. - Membership nuiy bo terminated by written resignation, provided no charges of unprofessional conduct or delinquent dues appear against the member.

Officer

Sec. 2. - The officers shall be elected by ballot at the November meeting in each year, to serve for one year, and shall enter upon their duties at the close of the meeting electing them.

The regular meetings shall be held on the, second Thursday of May and November, at such place as shall have been chosen by vote of ilu' nu'mbors at the previous meeting.

Income

When necessary to meet actual obligations and contingent expenses of the society, the members present at any regular meeting may vote an equal assessment in amount to satisfy surh demand. Article VIL

.\nunilnieTits may be made to this constitution or the by-laws or rides of order of this society at any regular meeting if submitted in writing and approved by a two-thirds vote.

Section 1. - The president, vice-presideut aucl secretary shall be ex-officio an executive committee. They shall have power to change the time and place of meeting for cause; to call special meetings, and to act for the society in any emergency that may arise.

Sec. 2. - There shall be the following standing committees of three members each : Program, delegates to other societies, publication, necrology.

Sec. 3. - Special and temporary committees may be appointed by the president or otherwise as directed by motion, as occasion may necessitate.

Rules Of Order

Sec. 3. - In discussions each speaker shall be limited to five minutes, and no one shall speak twice on the same subject without the consent of the society, except that the member presenting the topic or paper shall be allowed five minutes to close discussion.

Sec. 4. - Notice of each meeting shall be issued by the secretary to the members ten days jjrior to the day of meeting, stating the date, place of meeting and hour of holding the same, naming all committees appointed and such members as will be expected to make special reports or read volunteer papers at such meeting.