Cass County, Illinois - Chapter 8: County Government, 1915

Chapter 8: County Government

CONSTITUTION oF 181S - coUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT - FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - NEW CONSTITUTION RATIFIED IN 1848 - GOVERNOR FRENCH FIRST ELECTED IN 1846 SUCCEEDS HIMSELF - CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES - FIRST JUDGES AND ASSOCIATE JUSTICES - COUNTY COMMISSIONERS UNDER CONSTITUTION OF 1S70 - ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE TOWNSHIP SYSTEM - FIRST DEED ON RECORD - ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS' FIRST DEED - PIONEER LIFE IN 1821 IN CASS COUNTY - EGYPT - UNIQUE DEED - COUNTY RECORDERS - CIRCUIT CLERKS - SHERIFFS - CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS SETTLE TERMS OF OFFICE - COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' CLERKS - ASSESSORS AND TREASURERS - JOHN WILKES PRATT - EARLY BUSINESS MEN - MILLS BUILT AT BEARDSTOWN - FIRST PIANO IN THE COUNTY - SHORT BIOGRAPHIES -

ARCHIBALD JOB ONE OF THE EARLIEST SETTLERS - BECAME A MAN OF PROMINENCE - GREAT IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTY By 1850 - INDUSTRIES WELL UNDER WAY - SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES ESTABLISHED - POPULATION GREATLY INCREASED - SUBSTANTIAL PROSPERITY IN SIGHT.

The first constitution of this state was adopted at Kaskaskia, in convention, August 26, 1818. It was not definite in its provisions for county officers, but left it to the legislature to provide for the election and qualification of all except a sheriff and coroner; and by the schedule, it was provided, that three county commissioners should be elected in each county "for the purpose of transacting all county business, whose term of service, power and duties, shall be regulated by law." Pursuant to that authority, the legislature, on March 22, 1819, passed an act establishing the County Commissioners' Court, although it was expressly provided in the act that it should not have jurisdiction of criminal or civil suits, or action wherein the state or any individuals, bodies politic or corporate were parties. It was intended as a body solely for the purpose of transacting the county busihess. The entire business of all the counties of the state was transacted by the county commissioners during the time the first constitution was in force. Those who served as county commissioners in Cass County under the provision of the law were:

Joshua P. Crow, Amos Bonney, and George I'. Miller, elected August 7, 1837; Isaac Spence, elected in 1838; John C. Seott, elected in 1840; Mareus Chandler, elected in 1840; W. J. De- Haren, elected in 1841; Robert Leeper, elected in 1842; Henry McHenry, elected in 1842; Jesse B. Pence, elected in 1848; George B. Thompson, elected in 1844; William McHenry, elected in 1845; George H. Nolte, elected in 1847; and George W. Weaver, elected in 1848. These men were elected for a term of three years each, except where they were elected to fill a vacancy. Some served more than one term.

New Constitution Ratified In 1848

In 1842 there was a general agitation to hold a constitutional convention, in the belief that a new constitution, with such provisions as those more particularly interested in the burdensome state debt thought might be incorporated therein, would enable the people to relieve themselves of that incubus, but on the proposition as to whether a convention should or should not be held being submitted to the people, it was defeated by a narrow margin. Being re-submitted in 1846, it was carried by a large majority. The convention was held at the capital, in 1847, and on August 31, it was adjourned, having completed its labors and adopted the new constitution. Mr. Newton Cloud, a delegate to that convention from the district of which Cass County formed a part, was president. The constitution was submitted to popular vote and ratified by the people March 6, 1848. There were two separate articles submitted, one concerning the immigration and settling in this state of free persons of color, and to prevent owners of slaves from bringing them into this state for the purpose of setting them free. There was an article providing for a two-mill tax, for the purpose of assisting in extinguishing the state debt. Both articles were adopted. The constitution itself was adopted by a vote of about four to one, and the article concerning slaves, and free colored people was adopted by about three to one. In Cass County the vote on the constitution was about unanimous, being 635 for, to thirty-two against, but there were 109 persons who did not like the provision in regard to the colored people. At the general election, held August 7 of the same year, William Thomas of Jacksonville was elected state senator over Newton Cloud of the same place, who had been president of the constitutional convention, by seven votes. August C. French had been elected governor of the state in 1846, and had served but two years of his term when the new constitution went into effect, but he was again nominated by his party and re-elected for a full four-year term, being the first governor of Illinois to succeed himself.

The constitution of 1848, which went into effect on April 1 of that year. made many changes. It established a county court, and provided for the election of a county judge who should sit with two justices of the peace in each county for the transaction of all business conmitted to that body by law, including the transaction of the business matters of the county, which, under the constitution of 1818, had been transacted by the county commissioners. It provided, however, that the legislature might, by law, direct the election of two justices of the peace by the people of the county at large, to sit with the judge in all sessions. The legislature immediately enacted a law defining all jurisdiction and duties of the county court in addition to the specific jurisdiction given by the constitution, and provided for the election of two justices to sit with the judge. The constitution further provided for the election of a county clerk, and that said clerk should be ex-officio recorder, with a further proviso that the General Assembly might, by law, 'make the clerk of the Circuit court ex-officio recorder in lieu of the county clerk.' A law to that effect was also enacted by the General Assembly, so from that time on no recorder was elected as a distinct and separate official.

First Judges And Associate Justices

In November, 1849, the first election of a county judge and his associates was held. From that time until that court was abolished by the constitution of 1870, the following persons held the position of judges and associate justices: Judges: James Shaw, John A. Arenz, H. C. Havekluft, F. H. Rearick and Alexander Huffman. Associate justices: William Taylor, Thomas Plasters, Jacob Ward, Isaac Epler, Sylvester Paddock, John M. Short, William Me- Henry, G. W. Shawen, Jennings G. Mathis, Samuel Smith, Andrew Struble and Jephthah Plasters.

Commissioners Under Constitution County

By the constitution of 1870, of which more extensive mention will he made under another chapter, this county court was abolished, and a provision made for the selection of three county comniissioners to transact all county business. The law pursuant to that provision of the statute. with subsequent amendments, is still in force and the county affairs have been conducted by that board wholly independent of the county court or county judge. The county commissioners who have served Cass County under that law from its adoption to the present time are: William Campbell, John H. Melone, Robert Fielden, Luke Dunn, Robert Crum, Robert Clark, Thomas Knight, Louis C. Hackman, F. W. Gerdes. George A. Beard, Henry Garm, William Buraker, Pius Neff, Oliver Decker, George W. Stout. F. W. Korsmeyer, Albert Krohe, George W. Chittick, Philip H. Bailey, Robert H. Arm- strong, Henry A. Bridgeman, James R. Sligh, Walter W. Dick, John C. Brech, John L. Martin, George F. Kuhlman, Angus Taylor, Robert Louden and William Roegge. The term of office is three years, but a number of the above named men served for two terms. F. W. Gerdes died while in office, in 1884, and George A. Beard was elected to fill the vacancy. Robert H. Armstrong also died while he was a commissioner, and James R. Sligh was elected in 1903, to fill that vacaney. It therefore will be observed that the business of Cass County has been conducted by county commissioners or official equivaleuts ever since its organization.

The constitution of 1848 provided for the management of county business by a system called "township organization," df the people of any county should by vote adopt the system. The plysical organization consisted of townships laid out and named by commissioners appointed for the purpose, and had no connection with the govyernment townships formed by the government land survey. There is a more or less elaborate system of local government and local officials, for assessing and collecting taxes, and a supervisor for each township, who all meet in a body at stated times fixed by law for the transaction of the general county business. The constitution of 1870 also contains the provision for adopting township organization, with some modifications made by the legislature in laws subsequently enacted. Several attempts have been made to change Cass County from the commission form of government to that of township organization, but always resulted in failure by adverse yote of the people, except upon the first vote taken.

No petition can be found, nor any record of any order by the county commissioners for a vote. but there is a record of the yote as canvassed, appearing under date of December 3, 1849, in the record of the county commissioners' court, which shows the yote to have been 286 for adoption, and 178 against the adoption of township organization. Under date of December 4, 1849, appears the record of the appointment of three commissioners, namely: Francis A. Arenz, James Berry, and Dr. Charles Chandler, to lay out and name the townships of the county. This order of appointment recites that the election was held in November, 1849, but the exact day is not given. On March 6, 1890, Francis A. Arenz, one of the commissioners appointed, reported to the commissioners' court that James Berry, one of the aforesaid appointees had died, and that being in doubt whether, under the law, the remaining two could legally proceed to perform the duties assigned them. they had done nothing. It does not appear from any record that anything further was ever done in the matter, but the records do show that the business of the county was continued under the commissioners' court in the Same manner as before the vote on the question was taken, until 1857, when a petition by Peter Rickard and others was filed praying the board to order an election on the question. The election was ordered and held, and the proposition for township organization was defeated by a decided majority. No further attempt was made for fourteen years, and then on September 12, 1871, Keeling Berry and others filed a petition to again place the question before the people. The election was ordered and held with the same result.

Again, on September 6, 1877, Ernest Jokisch, James Buck and others filed a petition. and pursuant to the law the vote was ordered, and being taken on November 6, the same year, resulted again in defeat of the proposition. This apparently settled the question, and it remained peacefully interred for twenty-four years, when a hew generation having come on, it was resurrected and put before the board of county commissioners in a petition filed by Levi Horton and others. on October 1, 1901, and once more the vote was taken with the result that the proposition to change to township organization Was almost unanimously defeated, and up to 1914, has not reappeared. Thus, having so often registered their verdict one way on the question. it might well be concluded that the people of Cass County prefer the commission form of government for county affairs at least. Nevertheless the township system seems to have become most popular throughout the state for all but eighteen of the 102 counties of the state bave adopted it.

As noted previously the recorder's office was changed by the constitution of 1848 from an elective office to an ex-officio one, and the legislature, pursuant to the authority granted, made the elective circuit clerk ex-officio recorder. Whether elective or otherwise, the recorder's office is always an important and interesting

First Deed On Record

The first deed that appears of record, after the organization of Cass County in 1837, is from Benjamin H. Gatton and Lucy M. Gatton, his wife, to Pinckney C. Mills, dated September 7, 1837, stating that for a consideration of $1,500, it conveys "twenty feet off of the north side of Lot five (5), Block one (1) including twenty feet on Main Street and running back to low water mark on the Illinois River, in the town of Beardstown, county of Cass and state of Illinois."

The first deed from March and Beard, the original proprietors of the town of Beardstown, to any of the lands within the limits of the original town, was made the year before the town was laid out. It bears the date of August 21, 1828, and conveys to Charles Robertson, of the city of New Orleans, for and in consideration of $100, a tract of land, ''being a fractional part of the northwest quarter of section 15, township 18, range 12, beginning at a forked birch tree on the Illinois River bank, marked as a corner, running thence down the river with the meanders thereof, so as to make 200 yards on a straight line, and from thence running out from the river at both ends of the above lines by two parallel lines, until they strike the north line of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 15, township -18, range 12, supposed to contain twelve acres."

"T having this day bought from Enoch C. March and Thomas Beard and his wife Sarah, a piece of land on the river below the ferry of the abore Beard, and having this day received from them a deed for the same; I hereby declare that it is my intention to do a public business on said land between this date and the first day of October of next year, and if I have not upon the place by that date, persons and property to effect the same, or actually upon the way to do so, I will return the above deed, and transfer back the land upon receiving the consideration

Charles Robertson, the party to those deeds, lived for many years on an excellent farm about three miles east of the village of Arenzville. He is now deceased. In February, 1872, he wrote a letter to the Chicago Journal, which contained the following in reference to conditions at an early date in this part of Lllinois.

"Fifty years ago, or in the summer of 1821, there was not a bushel of corn to be had in central [llinois. My father settled in that year twenty-three miles west of Springfield. We had to live for a time on venison, blackberries and milk, while the men were gone to Egypt, to harvest and procure breadstuffs. The land we improved was surveyed that summer, and afterwards bought from the government, the money being raised by sending beeswax down the Illinois River to St. Louis, in an Indian canoe. Dressed deer skins and tanned hides were then in use, and we made one piece of cloth out of nettles instead of flax. Cotton matured weil for a decade, until the deep snow of 1830."

The Egypt mentioned in the above letter is the southern part of Illinois. Its low lying lands, so frequently overflowed by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and the fact that there were often good crops of both corn and wheat raised there when scarcely anything was grown in the central and northern part of Illinois, and the further fact that many people were obliged to. and did go down there for their breadstuffs and assisted in harvesting the crops. came to be known as Egypt. The pseudonym was thus fastened upon southern [llinois for all time when a town, which was called Cairo, was laid out at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

In 1881, J. Henry Shaw of Beardstown sold his residence to Charles E. Wyman, and conyered it with the following very unique deed, which is recorded in the deed records of this county. (Deed Record 40, Page 257.)

Where Illinois River flows placidly down, And warrant the title forever and aye, Waiving honestead and mansion to both a good-bye, And pledging this deed is valid in law, I add here my signature, J. HENRY SHAW. (Seal) Dated July 25, 1881."

One J. Henry Shaw to me did make known That the deed above and name were his own, And he stated he sealed and delivered the same Voluntarily, freely, and never would claim, His homestead therein, but left all alone, Turned his face to the street and his back to

The above is regarded as a perfectly good deed of converance under the laws of Illinois. The grantee, Charles E. Wyman, who was a lawyer in practice in Beardstown, accepted it as a good warranty deed. The grantor, J. Henry Shaw, was also a well known lawyer, as was also the justice of the peace, Sylvester Emmons, who took the acknowledgment. The wife of the grantor made a separate deed to convey ler homestead and dower.

County Recorders

The following named persons have been elected to and occupied the office of recorder: Nathaniel B. Thompson, 1837 to 1843, when Dr. Mahlon H. L. Schooley was elected. When the county seat was removed from Virginia to Beardstown, in 1845, Dr. Schooley resigned, and Levi L. Wood succeeded him and retained the office until the constitution abolished it as an elective office and provided as heretofore stated, that the clerk of the county court, or if the legislature so directed by law, the circuit clerk, should be ex-officio recorder.

Circuit Clerks

The legislature having followed the suggestion in the constitution, immediately after the constitution of 1°18 went into effect, made the circuit clerk ex-officio recorder, and since that time the following named persons have been elected circuit clerk and ex-officio recorder: Thomas R. Sanders, elected in 1848; Sylvester Emunons, elected in 1852; James Taylor, elected in 1856; Henry Phillips, elected in 1860; C. F. Diffenbacher, elected in 1868; Albert F. Arenz, elected in 1872; Thomas Y. Finney, elected in 1876; Finis E. Downing, elected in 1880; Henry F. Kors, elected in 1892; Adolph F. Sielschott, elected in 190U; and Levi D. Springer, elected in 1908, who is the present incumbent. Mr. Springer is serving in his second term, and is a grandson of Levi Springer, a very early pioneer farmer and preacher so often mentioned by writers of early Illinois history.

The men who have served Cass County as sheriffs since its organization are as follows: Lemon [lasters, elected August 7, 1887; John Savage, elected in 1841; Joseph M. McClean, elected in 1848; J. B. Fulks. elected in November, 1850; William Pitner, elected in November, 1852; James Taylor, elected in 1854; James A. Dick, elected in 1856; ITrancis H. Rearick, elected in 1858; James Taylor, elected in 1860; Charles E. Yeck, elected in 182; James A. Dick, elected in 1864; Charles E. Yeck, elected in 1866; Thomas Chapman, elected in 1SGS; Horace Cowan, elected in 1870; George Valkmar, elected in 1872; William Epler, elected in 1874; Adolph H. Sielschott. elected in 1878; John Direen, elected in 1886; John J. Beatty, elected in 1890; Louis W. Pilger, elected in 1894: Ernest P. Widmeyer, elected in 1898; Fred E. Schweer, elected in 1902; James R. Sligh, elected in 1906; and Ernest P. Widmeyer, elected in 1910.

An amendment to the constitution of 1S70, adopted in November, 1880, by a vote of the people, changed the term of sheriff from two years to four years, and made the sheriff and treasurer ineligible to re-election for a period of four years after the term for which he was elected expired. This amendinent to the constitution modified Section 8 of Article 10, and by providing for an election for county judge, county clerk, sheriff and treasurer on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, A. D. 1882, operated to extend the terms of those officers one year; thus what appears as a discrepancy in the time or term of office of certain officers mnmentioned in these pages is accounted for by reason of the extension of time given them by this provision of the constitution as amended. The sheriff in counties not under township organization are also ex-officio collector of taxes. The constitution of 1870 provided for the election of a clerk of the county court, and also a county clerk; and the legislature provided by law that the county clerk should also be the clerk of the county court, and while the two offices are held by one and the same person, the offices and duties thereof are entirely distinct. Since the organization of Illinois territory into a state in 1818, there has been elected in each county a county clerk who has had charge of the official bookkeeping, and acted as clerk to the county commissioners.

The following is a list of persons who have served the county in that capacity: John W. Pratt. elected in 18387; M. H. H. Carpenter, elected in 1845; Lewis IF. Sanders, elected in 1847, and re-elected in 1849; Allen J. Hill, elected in 1857; James B. Black, elected in 1873; J. F. Robinson, elected in 1882; A. M. Pendleton, elected in 1898S; James Meade, elected in 1906: and Louis O. Skiles, elected in 1910. From the time the constitution of 1848 went into effect the term of office was four years, and it will be observed that several of the above named persons served more than one term, being re-elected at the expiration of the time of the official term.

Assessors And Treasurers

Thomas W. Wilbourn was elected at the first election held in the county on August 7, 1837, but did not care to hold it after being honored hy election to it. and soon thereafter resigned. On December 16. 1837, Isane W. Overall was elected to fill the vacancy. and entered upon the duties of the office. but William W. Babb contested his election and was declared elected. and held the office until the regular election in 1S8BS. when William H. Nelms was elected his successor. Robert Gaines. who was elected in 1839.- served until 1847, and was succeeded hy John Craig who served until 1851. Martin F. Higgins was elected in 1851. but died soon after his re-election in 1853, and Phineas T. Underwood was elected to fill the vacancy and served until 1857, when Frank A. Hammer was elected and served until 1859. Those who followed him were: David C. Dilley, elected in 1859, who served until 1871; Philip H. Bailey, elected in 1871, who served until 1873; John L. Cire, elected in 1873, died in 1881, while serving his second term, and the county commissioners appointed John Rahn to fill the vacancy. Mr. Rahn was elected in November, 1881, to fill out the constitutional interim of one year. Under the constitution of 1870 a treasurer cannot succeed himself. Henry Quigg served from 1882 until 1886; Adolph F. Sielschott served from 1886 until 1890; Henry Garm served from 1890 until 1894; John J. Beatty served from 1894 until 1898; Albert S. Coil served from 1898 until 1902; E. P. Widmeyer served from 1902 until 1906; I. E. Schweer served from 1906 until 1910; and J. R. Sligh served from 1910 until 1914.

Many, in fact the majority, of the officers of the county named in the foregoing pages were the pioneers or their direct descendants, who devoted their best efforts to building up the new county. They were universally men of exceptional worth and integrity, oftentimes differing in national policies, but always kind and neighborly towards one another, and ever hospitable to the strangers who were daily coming in from the older states and foreign countries.

John Wilkes Pratt

John Wilkes Pratt. who has been mentioned in connection with his very efficient efforts in securing to Cass County the three mile strip. was the first county clerk of Cass County. Mr. Pratt was born December 3, 1806, in Alleghany County, Md.. a son of Thomas G. and Christiana Pratt. Uis mother was a cousin of Jahn Tyler, President of the United States in 1844. who succeeded to office after the death of President William UWenry Harrison. he then being vice president. Thomas G. Pratt was in affluent circulustances, and a highly respected and influential citizen of his native state. He gave to his son. John W. Pratt. every opportunity for securing an education in the best schools of the day. The son Leing possessed of a strong intellect and an appreciative nature, readily acquired a very liberal education. He subsequently was eraduated in a law course and was admitted to the har in the state of Maryland. Entering with enerzy upon the practice of his chosen profes- sion, he was rapidly rising to distinction, when, in 1823, he contracted a severe cold which soon apparently developed into pulmonary consumption. His activity in his profession, and frequent public speaking, in which line he was becoming quite famous, aggravated the incipient disease, and the symptoms became alarming. In the hope that a change to a more fayorable climate might be beneficial and arrest the progress of the disease, he removed to Florida, but finding that he was not improving, he returned to his native state.

While Mr. Pratt had heen struggling with the theories of property rights as elucidated by Mr. Blackstone, some of his neighbors had emigrated to the then far off Illinois country in the hope of securing some tangible property in that land from which had come fabulous accounts of its surpassing beauty and fertility. In 1826, Louden L. Case had gone to Illinois, and entered land in township 17, range 11, in what was then the northern part of Morgan County. He had written back favorable accounts of the country. and induced a relative to take the journey westward. Mr. Pratt. despairing of regaining his health in his native place, and believing that a trip overland to the West would be of great benefit to him physically if not financially, bid farewell to the scenes of his early successes and ambitions, his family and friends, and in company with Mr. Case, started on a long and tedious journey on horseback, in the year 1835, when he was but twenty-nine years old.

After an uneventful journey of some weeks, the party come to Morgan County, and made their way to Beardstown on the Illinois River. In July of the same year, Mr. Pratt purchased of Loudon L. Case a 40-acre tract of land in township 17, range 11, in sections 14 and 23. This land was near the farm of John Savage who had come from the state of New York and entered land in the same township in 1830, and had become a prosperous farmer and leading citizen of Morgan County. On November 26, 1836, Mr. Pratt was married to Emily, the eldest child of John Savage. His health had greatly improved, and after having spent a year of quiet life on a pioneer farm, he moved to Beardstown, where, on September 6, 1837, his first child was born, whom he named after the child's paternal grandfather, Thomas G. Pratt.

been very active in securing the result, and when the first election for county officers occurred, which was in August, 1837, he was elected county clerk. By successive elections he continued in that office until 1842, when, intending to become a candidate for member of the General Assembly, he resigned the office, and was appointed clerk pro tem until the next election which would occur in August of the same year. At that election, William H. H. Carpenter was elected his successor as county clerk, and Mr. Pratt was elected to the legislature over his opponent, Joshua P. Crow, an able man, and an excellent citizen and prominent farmer then living on the farm, now and for many years past, known as the William Campbell farm, on the State Road, west of Virginia. At that election Thomas Ford was elected governor. He had been placed on the Democratic ticket in place of Colonel Adam VW. Snyder, who was the regular nominee of the party, but had died in May previous. Ex-Governor Joseph L. Duncan, who, as governor, had signed the bill creating Cass County, was the opponent of Mr. Ford, on the Whig ticket. The total vote in the county was but 689, a gain of only 193 votes in five years. The Whigs had been in the majority in the county since its organization, and although Mr. Ford was elected governor, Cass County gave his opponent, the ex-goyernor, a majority. The legislature convened at Springfield, December 5, 1842, and Mr. Pratt took his seat along with Newton Cloud, David Epler and William Weatherford, representatives from Morgan County. David Epler lived in the three mile strip, and was favorable towards Cass County. Then began the effort to have this strip detached from Morgan County and added to Cass County, an account of which, together with the successful activities of Mr. Pratt in that connection, are given elsewhere. Mr. Pratt was re-elected to the legislature in 1844, and success crowned his efforts in his long fight for the possession by Cass County of the hotly contested three mile strip.

"Tt has been impossible to ascertain with any certainty how Mr. Pratt employed his leisure time from 1842 to 1847. He was in ill health much of the time, and not able to lead an active life. He served the people as postmaster; he assisted Governor Ford in his troubles with the Mormon people; he took an active part in all public affairs and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. During these years he resided with his family in the house purchased for his wife by her father, John Savage, on lots 94 and 95, on the east side of the old square (Virginia) now owned by John Wilkes. In this house his three younger children were born. In the summer of 1847 he became a candidate for the office of county clerk; his opponent was Charles B. Epler of Princeton, who was a Democrat, and a young man of ability. Such was the prestige of Mr. Pratt that at the election held August 2. 1847, he carried every precinct in the county, receiving 620 votes out of 1,017 cast at the polls. While making his preparations to remove his family to Beardstown, the seat of justice of the county. he became worse, took to his bed and expired on the 7th day of October, 1847, aged forty years ten months and four days, leaving him surviving his faithful wife and four children, the eldest ten years of age and the youngest but two. It must have been a sad sight to witness the death of this useful citizen so early in life, leaving his family of helpless little ones to grow up without a father's help and protection. The family was made welcome at the home of the good father of the young widow, who erected a dwelling for her and his grandchildren, very near his own homestead, where they grew to manhood and womanhood. His two sons. inheriting the public spirit of thoir father, enlisted in the Union army of 1861-65, and became brave and faithful soldiers. and are now honored citizens of this community. "Thomas G. Pratt, the eldest child, was born September 6, 1837, in Beardstown, Ill. Ellen Pratt was born in Virginia, Ill., July 15, 1839. Mary Pratt was born in Virginia, Ill., December 25, 1842; and Henry C. Pratt was born in Virginia, IJl., June 18, 1845. Ellen Pratt was married to Francis M. Treadway who was a soldier in the Civil war, and died at his residence in Virginia, Ill., in the year 1893. Mary E. married Jacob Yaple, Jr. She removed to Maryville, Mo., many years ago. Emily

(Savage) Pratt died on the 7th day of December, 1873, at the home of her son, Henry C. Pratt. She and her husband were buried on the Savage farm; afterwards their remains were remored to the Monroe burial ground, located on the farm of Henry C. Pratt.

"The name of John Wilkes Pratt should ever be held in grateful remembrance for his distinguished services rendered the publie in the early history of Cass County."

Early Business Men

It is impossible to find sufficient reliable data from which to record much biographical information regarding the early residents and business men of Cass County. Many came to Beardstown in its early flourishing times, prior to the building of the railroads, when the river traffic was at its height. Beardstown was until about 1856, the point on the Illinois River where all shipments of goods of every description were made for Virginia, Springfield, Petersburg and Rushville, as well as for individuals living at various isolated places throughout Sangamon, Cass, Menard and Morgan counties. .A number believing Beardstown an excellent point for commercial enterprise and that it was destined to become a great city, located there, flourishing With the town for a time, and then removed to other fields, leaving little or no trace of their ancestry or themselves. Among those who were thus located were Knapp & Pogue, at one time leading merchants of Beardstown, but the firm failed, and Mr. Pogue became a justice of the peace, which office he held until his death. Mr. Knapp, his partner, returned to New Orleans, his former home. This firm had built several business houses, among them the spacious warehouse known as "The Great Western." This was a large building extending from Main street to the river. and having forty foot frontage on Main street. It was two stories in height, with a roomy attic. Knapp & Pogue also built the first flouring mill, which was erected in 1830-1.

Thomas and John Wilbourn were two other prominent early residents of whom little can now be learned. They both held official positions in the early organization of the county. Thomas Wilbourn was elected the first treasurer of the county, but soon resigned. He evidently had no taste for official life, as it does not appear from the records that he ever subsequently held an office in Cass County. His brother, John S. Wilbourn, was elected the first probate justice of the county, which place he held for two years, when he too, disappeared from public life. They together built a large flouring mill at Beardstown, which after being in use and sup- plying the community with flour and other products of the mill for several years, burned down. Several years later Baujan & Co. erected a new mill on the same premises, and hare eularged the plant until they have under the fir name of Schultz, Baujan & Co., one of the largest and progressively prosperous milling concerns in central Illinois.

Abner and Henry T. Foster were early settlers and merchants of the county. Henry T. Foster was born in Lincoln County, Maine, February 3, 1815. His brother, Abner, was born in the same place two years later, August 2, 1817. Thes both came to Illinois in 1835, and engaged in merchandising. In 1836 they opened a store on Sangamon Bottom, in Richmond Precinct, about six miles east of the present site of Chandlerville, on land subsequently owned by Johu VL. Dick. They conducted the business for two years, then sold out and returned to Beardstown, where they embarked in a milling business and merchandising for a time. Later they moved from the town and farmed. Abner Foster becoming tired of the monotony of an agricultural life, returned to Beardstown, where he died August 23, 1894, having been for many years engaged in a lumber business and merchandising. In 1876 he was elected president of the Cass County Bank. Henry T. Foster died at Beardstown, April 27, 1894.

Thomas Graham was an early merchant at Beardstown, coming from Philadelphia, Pa., his native city, about 1834. He had married before coming to Cass County, and his wife brought with her a piano, said to be the first brought to this part of the country.

There were many merchants and tradesmen, mechanics and artisans, and professional men as well as farmers, who came in a very early day just preceding and soon after the organization of Cass County. They remained steadfast in the determination to make Cass County their permanent home, and gave to the community the benefit of their energy, honesty, and integrity, exerting an uplifting influence. While all of them are worthy of special mention space forbids more than a naming of those of more or less prominence in business and public affairs.

There were: Ernest Arnoldi, a farmer; Mendall Aaron, a merchant; John J. Beatty, a hardware dealer. The latter served a term as assessor and treasurer, as well as sheriff of Cass County. James Buck was a gardener and farmer; Charles E. Burns, a carpenter; C. A.

Bussman, a contractor and builder; Samuel L. Calif, a farmer; Thomas Clark, a farmer; William Duval, a farmer; Luke Dunn, a farmer. He also served two different terms as county commissioner of this county. George and Willian1 Duchardt were butchers and cattle dealers ; John Dunn was a farmer; John R. Dutch, a grain dealer and merchant, was a son of Captain E. J. Dutch who came to Cass County in 1837. A sea captain, he had followed his calling for many years aS a commander of different vessels. Henry DeSoller was a manufacturer of carriages and wagons at Beardstown for many years. Oliver Decker, a farmer, served one term as county commissioner. James.A. Dick, a farmer, was elected and served one term as sheriff of the county from 1856 to 1858, and again elected in 1864, served until 1866. Jobn Decker, a farmer, came from Germany in 1835. David C. Dilley, a harnessmaker by trade, was elected treasurer of the county in 1859, and held the place by subsequent elections until 1871. J. H. C. Eberwein, a merchant, came from Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. in 1837. Frederick W. Ehrhardt, a manufacturer of extracts, baking powder, etc.; Antone Greve, a cigar manufacturer; and Henry Garm, proprietor of a saw mill and lumber business, a merchant tailor, and later an ice and grain dealer, were also representative men of the early period. The last named was elected and served as county comiissioner for two terms, and also served for one term as county treasurer. Others were: Lyman Hager, a farmer; John H. Hagener, a stone cutter by trade, later engaged in a lumber and grain business; John H. Harris, a banker, helped to organize the Peoples Bank, and was elected its first president. Franklin A. Hammer, a school teacher in early life, later became a farmer, and was elected treasurer of the county in 1857, and served one term, and in 1878 was merchant: William Jockisch, a farmer and large landowner: Gothalf Jockisch and Charles Jockisch. both farmers; John Wnight, farmer and banker; Jacob Lebkecher, a farmer; Alexander Lammers, a merchant; and George Kuhl, baker and grocer, and later a dry goods merchant, were also prominent in Cass County. Others belonging to this class were: Henry and William Kuhlman, farmers; Lycurgus Lee. a farmer; Christian T. Launer, a farmer; Henry Menke, a druggist; William C. Nelte, who learned the cooper trade, but afterwards became a farmer; John F, Papmier, a jeweler; Norman Parsons, who learned and worked at the tanner trade for many years, but became a wagonmaker and blacksmith; Christian Pilger, a tailor; Anton Rink, a brewer; Henry Ruppel, a boot and shoe dealer; W. H. Rhineberger, a carpenter and builder; W. C. Raw, a merchant of Bluff Springs; Lewis F. Sanders, a merchant, who was elected county clerk in 1847 and served by successive elections until 1857, was also police magistrate of Beardstown; Samuel Shaw, a farmer, later a director in the Cass County Bank, and United States Revenue inspector for the Ninth District; Herman Philippi, a farmer; William Paschall. a farmer; Werner Steuernagal, a merchant and banker; Robert Schmoldt, a lumber dealer and proprietor of saw mills; Field Sample, a farmer, who later kept a hotel at Beardstown; Richard Tink, a farmer; David P. Treadway, a farmer; Lewis Treadway, born in Monroe Precinct, March 3, 1837, which was the day the law making the new county of Cass passed the legislature; Edward N. Treadway, a farmer; John W. Thompson, a farmer; Henry G. Unland, a merchant; John Unland. a farmer ; Joseph Weaver, a contractor and builder and

Among those who came to Cass County and settled in or about Virginia were the following: William Campbell. a farmer and extensive land owner, served one term as county commissioner of this county; Edward Direen, a farmer, one of whose sons, John Direen, served one term as sheriff, and several terms as deputy sheriff of the county: Abraham Epler, who settled near Cass County line in Morgan County, had several sons who became residents of Cass County, at a very early day. David Epler was a member of the legislature from Morgan County at the time the three mile strip was taken from Morgan County and attached to Cass County. He resided on the strip and aided materially in effecting the change. William Epler, a son of John Epler, and grandson of Abraham Epler, was sheriff of Cass County from 1874 to /1876. Morison Graves was a farmer, and his brother, James M. Graves, was also a farmer, and they were the sons of Richard Graves whose name appears among those who entered land in 1828. Thomas Gatton, a farmer and merchant; Henderson I". Massey, a farmer; William Moore, a farmer; Lachlan McNeill, a farmer; William T. Melone, a farmer; Samuel H. Petefish, a farmer and later a banker; John A. Petefish, a farmer and banker; Jacob Petefish, a farmer; Henry Quigg, a farmer and director in the Centennial Bank, served one term as county treasurer; Oswell and Ignatius Skiles, farmers and later members of the Petefish, Skiles & Co. Bank; I. M. Stribling, an extensive farmer; Edward W. Turner, a farmer; Thomas Wilson, a farmer; Andrew W. Cunningham, a farmer and owner and operator of the first tan yard in Cass County; George Cunningham, a farmer; N. B. Thompson. a merchant, served from 1837 until 1842, as recorder; Charles H. Oliver, a mer: chant; George W. Weaver, a farmer and brick mason; James M. Beadles, a farmer; M. H. Beadles, a carpenter; Silas and Littleberry Freeman, farmers; Levi Springer, a farmer and pioneer preacher; Jacob Ward, a farmer and stock dealer; Amos West; Reddick Horn, a preacher, served as clerk of the Circuit court one term; Joshua P. Crow, a farmer, was one of the first three county commissioners, and also probate justice of the peace in 1839; Jonathan and Jacob Bergen, farmers and merchants; Halsey Smith, a farmer and first coroner of the county; Captain Jacob Yaple, a farmer; Levi and Peter Conover, farmers, all of whom are worthy a place in this history. Those who came at an earlier date and settled in other parts of the county have already been given elsewhere.

Archibald Job

Archibald Job, one of the earliest settlers in Cass County, came to the northern part of Morgan County in 1819, and located in Sylvan Grove, in the present Cass County, near Virginia. He was born in Maryland, in 1784. In 1821 Greene County was organized from the northern part of Madison County, with its present boundary lines. It is frequently stated in historical writings that Morgan County was formed from the northern part of Greene County, but this statement is not accurate. When Greene County was formed. an act creating it attached the unorganized territory of Madison north of Greene to that county for judicial purposes and for that of representation in the general assembly. This fact accounts for the error, but in fact Cass County and Morgan County were never a part of Greene County.

Mr. Job was elected to represent Greene County in the legislature in 1822, and again in 1824, after Morgan County had been organized, he was elected to represent both Greene and Morgan counties. In 1826, he was elected to the state senate from the district composed of the present counties of Calhoun, Pike, Adams, Brown, Schuyler, Fulton, Morgan, Scott, Cass, Mason, Tazewell and Peoria. In 1887 the legislature had voted to remove the capital from Vandalia to Springfield, and provided for the appointment of three commissioners to build the new state house at that place. Mr. Job was appointed one of these commissioners in 1839, and with the other two supervised the construction of the state house, which has since been converted into one of the handsomest court houses in Illinois. The building was raised sufficiently to admit of the construction of a substantial basement below, but the exterior of the structure was retained in its original form. Mr. Job later in life removed from his farm to Ashland, in this county, where he lived to the ripe age of ninety years. He died in that village in 1874.

By 1850 many improvements had been made in Cass County. Agriculture and farming industries had taken a great stride forward. Beardstown had grown wonderfully, large packing houses had been built there and thousands of hogs were driven on foot across the country from very remote points, there to be butchered and the products packed and shipped by river transportation to St. Louis and other points even as far away as New Orleans. Many churches, both rural and urban, had been erected; and rural and town schools were furnished substantial buildings for the comfort and convenience of the pupils. A census had been taken in 1840 and 1845, and again in 1850. The figures for 1845 are not available, but the population in 1840, which was before the three mile strip was added, was 2,981. In 1850 it was 7,253. Altogether Cass County was fast taking its place as one of the progressive, substantial and influential counties of the state.