Christian County, Illinois - Chapter 9: Civil History, 1880

Chapter 9: Civil History

RIOR to 1839 that portion of Illinois now known as Christian county, was a part of Sangamon, JlontgoHiery, and Shelby counties, and was originally named Dane, which title it held for one year. In 1839 the legislature, iu session at the capital, Vandalia, pas.scd an act entitled " An act creating the county of Dane," and appoiiitiug Commissioners to select a .seat of Justice, whose names appear in the report which is appended.

"An Act to ci<tablhh the coiinti/ of Dane " " Boi'XD.iRiKS OF D.^NE County." " That all that tract of country lying within (he following boundaries, to «v7; Beginning where the tliinl principal meridian crosses the north fork of the Sangamon river: tlicncc.

down said river, to the line between sections nine and ten, in township fifteen north, of range three west; thence south, to the southeast corner of section four, in township fourteen north, range last aforesaid ; thence west, three miles by the surveys ; thence south three miles by the surveys ; thence west three miles by the surveys: thence south, to the southern boundary of township eleven, range last aforesaid ; thence east, with the surveys, to the third principal meridian ; thence north, to the place of beginning, shall constitute the County of Dane.

We append the following report of the Commissioners. - " The undersigned, Benjamin Mitchell, of Tazewell county; John Henry, of Morgan county ; and Newton Walker, of Fulton county, having been appointed commissioners to locate the seat of justice of Dane county,' according to the provisions of the law establishing said county, met at the town of AUonton, in said county of Dane, on Monday, the 20th day of May, A. D , 1839, pursuant to a previous agreement between said commissioners, and after being first duly sworn by Esquire Ketchara, an acting Justice of the Peace, in and for said county, faithfully and impartially to discharge the duties imposed upon us by said law, proceeded to explore said county and to locate the seat of justice thereof, with a view to the present and future population, and having fully examined the same, and being satisfied iu the premises, we fixed and located the seat of Justice of said county of Dane, on the West half of the North-ea.st quarter of section twenty-seven, in township thirteen north, range 2, to west of the third principal meridian, in the most eligible place at or near a stake establisheii by us on said half quarter section ; we also took a bond from M. Eastham, proprietor of said land, with good and sufficient security conditioned for the conveyance of a public square, of not less than two acres of said land to said county, on which to erect a court-house, and also for the payment of three thousand dollars in cash, according to the provisions of said law."

While some of the citizens approved of the location, others were dissatisfied. We quote the following from the Springfield Journal of September 20th, 1839 :

" That the county seat was not located in accordance with the implied wish of nine-tenths of the citizens, is a proposition which has never been denied by any person residing therein, but on the contrary, was located in opposition to their wishes. The citizens held a meeting, (and there was quite a respectable collection of people before the location was made), expressed a desire to have AUenton or Edinburg selected. There was not a dissenting voice in the meeting. Yet the commissioners wholly disregarded this expression of the citizens."

The land on which the location was made was entered in 1835, by Daniel C. Goode, an old pioneer citizen, and by him conveyed on the 23d of May, 1839, to Marvellous Eastham and others fiir that purp isC. Tlic acknowlcdginent of the deed of couve3-ance was before Eli Matthews, J. P., May 24th, 1830. The deed is " witnessed " by the late Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, who made an affidavit to that effect. May 30th, 1839, before Thomas C. Brown, one of the Associate Judges of the Supreme Court of Illinois.

Survey of the County seat. - The law provided that the location of the county seat should not be made on private property, unless the owner thereof convey to the county twenty acres of the land, having the court-house square in the centre, or donate in lieu thereof S3,000, to be used in the erection of Public Buildings. The town was surveyed and platted by T. 51. Ncal, county surveyor of Sangamon county, for a company composed of Dr. Kichard F. Barrett, Hon. John Taylor, Marvellous Eastham, and Robert Allen, citizens of Springfield, Illinois. The company agreed to pay the "bonus of S3,03;) " in pursuance of law, and executed their obligations for said am lunt. They however failed to pay the money at its maturity. A suit was instituted, and the case eventually carried to the Supreme Court; and while pending in that C'>urt the matter was compromised by the company, they conveying to the CO inty the " Public square and 78 town lots iu Taylorville." This arrangement, it was claimed, greatly inured to the interests of the proprietors of the town. These lots were afterward sold at merelj' nominal prices by the county authorities, to persons agreeing to improve them.

Christening the County Seat. - The location of the seat of justice was looked upon by the old settlers as an important event in the history of the county. It was determined to honor the occasion in a suitable manner; therefore a sumptuous dinner was given to the proprietors at the house of Daniel C. Goode, the former owner of the land. The dinner was supplemented with an ample supply of old Monongahela. Some of the guests, feeling its exhilarating etiects, propo.5ed to name the new county seat, and that in so doing it should be in honor of one of the notable guests present. The proposition was received with hearty eclat. In response to a toast it was named Taylorville, in honor of Hon. John Taylor, of Springfield, Illinois, one of its proprietors.

The county was first named Dane, in compliment to Nathan Dane of Massachusetts, who had been a member of Congress, and rendered prominent as the author of that celebrated North-western Ordinance, by which that large territory was forever consecrated to freedom. The act was passed by Congress on the 13th of July, 1787. In a speech at Boston, shortly after the nullificatiou times of 1832, Daniel Wcb.ster, in referring to Hayne's speaking in an ironical manner of "one Nathan Dane," exclaimed scornfully - "Mr. Hayne calls him 'one Nathan Dane?' I tell 3'ou, my fellow-citizens, that Nathan Dane was no Federalist, and, that as author of the North-western Ordinance, his name is as immortal as if it were written on yonder firmament, blazing forever between Orion and Pleiades."

This statement is made, as on it hinged the changing of the name Dane, to that of Chriitian. It was rumored that Dane was a rank old " Federalist," and effectually used by those seeking the change. The county at that time, as now, was democratic, and the term " Federalist ' was distasteful - often used as a term of opprobrium towards their opponents in those partisan days. The name Dane was suggested and first put in the original petition, asking for the new county, by Wm. S. Frink, a prominent " whig" politician at that period, who took an active part in the fjrmation of the county. This fact gave coloring to the charge. At the time he thought little about the political proclivities of the author of the celebrated ordinance, but selected the name from his known national reputation ; and from the fact that in the great north-west there was no county by that name, thus avoiding the too frequent use of names common in counties and towns in this and other states. Since, however, a county in Wisconsin has been called Dane. Daniel C Goode, an old settler and uncompromising Jackson democrat, circulated petitions to have the name changed. In aid of the movement, a mass-meeting of the citizens of the county was held on the open prairie, where the court-house now stands ; Thomas P. Bond addressed the meeting; made the motion, which was adopted, substituting the name Christian for that of Dane. This name was suggested from the fact that many of the inhabitants, at that time, were from Christian county, Kentucky. The change was effected and legalized by an act of the legislature, passed February 1st, 1840. Hon. Thos. J. Nance was the representative of the district in the legi.<lature, and it was through his efiijrts that the prayer of the ])etitioners was granted, and the bill became a law.

The records and proceedings of the county, for the first year after its organization, appear under the name 'Dane." But on the 2d of March. 1840, on the official records of the county court, the change is thus noted, " Christian (aiiais Dane) county." Who first conceived the idea of the formation of the county is lost in the labyrinths of the past ; prominent in the movement to effect it was C.)l. Thos. P. Bjnd, Judge W. S. Frink, Daniel Jliller, Gabriel R Jernigan, Jesse Murphy, William S. Ricks, Aaron jNIc- Kenzic, A. D. Northcutt, Amos Richardson, William B. Hall ; other petitions were circulated on two different occasions ; the first petition failed to secure all the territory the friends of the movement desired. This caused the circulation of another petition asking the annexation of additional territory. Col. Bond was the bearer of the first petition to the legislature. The Act made the third principal meridian the eastern boundary of the newly formed county. It was expected to extend six miles further eastward, as set forth in the first petition, but for some cause was ignored. The act, therefore, as passed, was not satisfactory ; and more especially to the inhabitants residing on the territorj' bordering along the east side of the meridian line. Seeing the importance of adding a tier of townships from Shelby county. Judge Frink, Wm. B. Hall, and Aaron McKenzie circulated petitions in February, 1839, over Shelby county. The men in charge of the petition pushed the canvass with a will and determination over the territory of Shelby, securing a majority of the legal voters favoring the annexation project. Jesse Oliver, then county clerk of Shelby county, appended his official certificate to that cfl^ect. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and became a law, granting to the county of Dane, townships eleven, twelve, thirteen, and the south half of fourteen north, range one, east, of the 3d principal meridian. In this valuable acquisition the county secured an additional area of 80,640 acres of choice land.

Was held on the first Monday of April, 1839. The conntv was divided into three precincts, north, centre, and south, with voting places at Buckhart Grove, Allenton, and at the hou.se of John Z. Durbin. The judges of election for Buckhart were James Fletcher, George D. Pierson, and John George ; clerks, Samuel Yirden and Gustavus A. Kilbourn. For Allenton - Judges were John Estcs, Joshua Brents, and Isaac Harris ; clerks, Thomas S. Lcaehman and Jesse Murphy. At Durbin's - Judges wore Richard Simpson, Lsaac Logsdon,and Thomas Durbin; clerks, William Durbin and Christ. K. Durbin. The residents of Bear creek voted at the John Z. Durbin poll ; and those of the lower South Fork at Allenton, and all the North Fork country at Buckhart Grove. The law provided that the judges of election phoiihl meet at Allenton, some three miles norlh-cast of Taylorville, compare the vote, and deliver to each officer elected a certificate to that etJect. The judges of eleetiou were further required to retain the poll-books, until the county clerk elect hail been f|ualified, when they were to make returns of the election to the said county clerk. It was made the duty of the clerk to transmit an abstract of the votes, so returned, to the secretary of state ; this was done, and the same mailed at Blue Point, the nearest post-office at that date. Unfortunately this abstract of the vote given, is missing from the files in the Secretary of State's office. The population of the county at that date was small, about 1,400; the total number of votes polled was only 100.

First Officers Elected

Were E S. Young, Clerk of the County Court; Thomas "W. Davis, Probate Justice; AVilliam S. Ricks, Sheriff"; Benjamin "Williams, Coroner; H. M. Yandeveer, Recorder; John S. Stockton, County Surveyor. Thomas P. Chapman,

Jesse Murphy, Collector of Revenue ; Gabriel R. Jernigan, County Treasurer; H. M. Yandeveer, School Commissioner. This was the crowning event in the formation of the new county; the long expectations of frimds realized ; and with its newly elected officers, it was prepared to take position in the ranks of its si.ster counties in the state.

With this tribunal, more than any other, devolved the duty of setting the county machinery in motion. The three commissioners elected, Thomas P. Chapman, Peter Porter, and Gavin Ralston, Sr., constituted what was styled the County Commissioners' Court. It was made their duty to transact all official business pertaining to the interests of the county, the making of roads, bridges, selection of jurors, and a general supervision of the financial operations of the count}'.

The first term of this court was held on the l.'uh of April, 18.39, at a small village called Edinburg, located about two miles northwest of Taylorville, on G. W. Yalentine's farm. The county seat had not yet been located. There were present at this meeting the three commissioners, E. S. Young, county clerk, and Wm.S. Ricks, sheriflT. The court was opened in due form by the proclamation of the sheriff. A herd of deer grazing near by were startled at the anomalous sound, and fled to the wilds of the prairie. The first entry of record reads, " ordered, that county commissioners have met according to appointment for the business of the county of Dane ; that the clerk of this court provide suitable blank books for keeping all records of the county." The county was divided into four a-ssessors' districts, and the appointment of as many as.sessors : John S. Stockton was for the first or North Fork district, and for his services rendered charged the county ten dollars; Daniel C. Goode was selected for the .second, or central district, receiving for his services ten dollars; Thomas P. Bond was appointed for the third. Bear creek, or the south part of the county, charging for like services seven dollars ; Aquilla Council was appointed for the fourth, or lower South Fork ; his chaTge for services rendered was fourteen dollars. Making a total cost of only $il for assessing the entire county.

County Roads

The value of good roads to a nation or county cannot be overestimated ; they are evidences of a high civilization. Savages make nil roads and build no bridges. It is only at the behest of civilizi-d man that the beautiful arch springs across the stream. A great people are road-builders, and the Eternal City retained sway over her conquered and remote provinces by means of the magnificent highways that radiated from her gates. When the first settlers came into the county, it is needless to say that no roads exi.sted. Along the trail which was first marked out by the footsteps of the buffalo, the wily Indian pursued his aimless wanderings. Much has been done since that distant day in providing roads along which products travel to the place of shipment ; yet much remains to be done. One of the great drawbacks of the county, to-day, is the want of good roads. Business languishes and trade is paralyzed during a portion of the year on account of the execrable condition of the public roads. The people seem almost to have given themselves up to the belief that from the level nature of the country, and the character of the soil, excellent roads are impossible, unless they are macadamizeil. Let the roads be improved, and the farm interests - the really important ones to a nation or a community - will grow apace. A better system of road supervision and drainage should be devised.

The County Commissioners, understanding the importance of roads, at their first session formed seven road districts, and appointed supervisors for the same. For the first, Martin Hinkle; second, John G. Fletcher; third, David Simons; fourth, Allen B. Peabody; fifth, Wm. B. Hall ; sixth, Presley Peek, and seventh, Francis Adams. There were two leading eastern routes passing through the county, one of which was the Springfield, Charleston and Terre Haute stage road. On these the supervisors were directed to expend the road labor. The court then directed its attention to the opening of county roads; one of its regulations was, that every petition or application for a new road should be accompanied with ten dollars to defray expenses in making the location and survey, and every person signing the petition should perform a day's work on the same. In those days people were not hasty in signing petitions. On petition, and ten dollars accompanying it, Eli Matthews, Thos. Young, and William Harvey were appointed commissioners to view and locate a road from Taylorville, in a north-western direction, to Elgau's mill, on the lower South Fork. Another petition and ten dollars were laid before the court, asking for a road from Taylorville to Hillsboro, to cross the South Fork at Simpson's Ford, a short distance below the Clarksdale bridge, taking in Bond's Point and the Ricks' farm, on the head-waters of Bear creek. Thos. S. Leach.man, Joshua Brents and Thos. P. Bond were appointed viewers to examine and locate it. These were the first two roads receiving official sanction. James Young, Jes.se Murphy and John Z. Durbin were appointed additional supervisors to look after these and other local roads. All road supervisors were appointed by the court, and compelled to serve without compensation, under a penalty of five dollars. Neglect of duty was made an indictable ofi'ence. Times have changed. Such is not the penalty for non-service at the present.

Election Precincts

The court, at its first term, divided the county into four justices or election precincts: North, East, West and Central. The North embraced all that territory lying north of a line running from Campbellsburg, due east, to the county line, taking in one tier of sections south of the line dividing townships 14 and 15. It contained an area of 107 square miles. Place of voting, at Fargo jrilligan's. The first judges of election were James Fletcher, Geo. D. Piersoii and George Dickerson. The East comprised the territory lying east of a line beginning at the north-west corner of section 10, township 14 - 1 west, running thence south, through old Stonington to the county line, containing an area of 195 square miles. Place of voting. Old Stonington. Judges of election were, Elijah Palmer, David 8inions and Peter R. Ketcham. The West embraced the territory lying west of a line beginning at the northwest corner of section 7, township 14, - 2 and running thence south, on the dividing line between townships 2 and 3, to the county line, containing an area of 207 square miles. Place of voting, at Francis Adams'. Judges of election were, Robert Richardson, Thomas Anderson, of Bear creelv, and Francis Adams. The Central comprised all that territory lying between the East and West precincts. It contained an area of 207 square miles. Place of voting, the old village of Edinburg. Thomas Young, Jesse Murphy and Isaac Harris were the judges of election.

First Bridge

"Ordered, and it is hereby decreed that 825 be, and is hereby appropriated for the use and purpose of erecting and completing a bridge across the Flat Branch, at the place where the county road from Blue Point to the Brushy Branch crosses said stream, and that the Supervisor of Roads in District No. 5, shall have an order issued on the treasury for said sum, to be expended by said supervisor for the use and purpose above named."

Second Session

Assessment of Property. - At a count}' commissioners' court, begun and held in June, 1839, a tax of seventy cents on every one hundred dollars' worth of property, was ordered levied for State and county purposes. Amongst the propert}' specified as taxable, were slaves and indentured negroes or mulatto servants, watches and their appendages, and all other personal pioperty, except " the lawful fire-arms of each individual." This tax when it was collected amounted to 8700.41 1. But little of the land was then taxable, as they were exempt for five years after entr\'. This very much reduced the revenue of the county.

The first election for justices and constables, two in each of the four precincts, with one additional in the Central, was held at the regular annual election, August 5th, 1839. This election came off only four months after the organization of the county, and, as the abstract of the votes cast at the April election is lost, this one will give the reader a very fair idea of the voting force in the county on its organization. As each voter had the privilege of casting two votes for the two justices to be elected in each precinct, it will reduce the apparent vote of the county nearly one-half. There were thirteen candidates for the offices of justice of the peace, nine of whom were elected. The following is an abstract of the votes given at the election held in Dane couuty, August -Jth, 1839:

Vote

Bdiw Counti/," \ " I, Ezekiel S. Young, Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court of Dane County, having taken to my assistance Richard Simpson aud Peter R. Ketcham, Justices of the Peace of said county, and proceed to open the poll books of the above Election, and we hereby certify the foregoing to be a true and correct abstract of the votes polled, Aug. 5, 1839."

Richard Simpson and Peter R. Ketcham were old justices holding over, elected before the organization of the couuty, and whilst the territory was under the jurisdiction of other counties. The county clerk makes a further certificate in transmitting officially the votes to the secretary of state at Springfield.

Bane Count;/," )' ' I, Ezekiel S. Young, Clerk of the County Court in aud for said county, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true and correct abstract of the poll books of said Election, now on file in my office.

The county clerk's certificate appended above shows that Edinburg was the temporary county seat at that date. As a matter of interest, an abstract of votes cast at several subsequent electious, as well as the persons voted for is given. It exhibits the strength of the parties in popular elections forty years ago. The annual eleclions then were held in the month of August, instead of November, as at present. The sovereigns voted viva voce, and not by ballot.

Election, August Od, 1840

John C. Goode was elected county clerk to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of E. S. Young; Aquilla Council elected county commi.ssioner in place of Gavin Ralston, Sr., whose term of office had expired ; Gabriel R. Jernigan elected county treasurer (previous to thi.s he had held the office by appointment of the cjuuty court) ; E. 8. Young, county clerk, assisted by Eli Matthews, J. P., and Presley Peek, J. P., opened the election returns, August 4, 1840, at Taylorville, the new county seat. Mailed the returns at Blue Point, at that time there being no po^t-office at Taylorville.

Special Election, Oct. S, 1842

At tile election, August 7, 1848, Wm. S. Frink was elected Probate Justice ; Phil. C. Ferguson, County Clerk ; Thos. B. Dougherty, County Recorder; Jesse Elgan, County Commissioner; Wra. A. Goodrich, County Surveyor; Thomas S. Leachman, School Commissioner; Jes.se Murphy, Assessor and Treasurer; Thomas E. V. Farris was appointed by the Court, Collector, for 1843-4.

Heury Hardin was elected sheriff; George Dickerson, Jesse Elgan, and John H. Biiyeau, county commissioners; Green B. Ketcham, coroner. The following was the vote for Congressmen - for Orlando B. Fickliu, democrat, 251 ; U. F. Linder, whig, 181 votes; democrat majority, 70. Democrat majority on representative, 59. From the above excerpts from the records, the student of the political history of the earlier years of the county can gather mucli valuable information, showing the political complexion of the county at that period.

Believing that it will be of interest to our numerous readers to know who administered justice to the citizens prior to the organization of the county, we give the names of the justices of the peace elected at the election in 1835. The territory now embraced in Christian county was formed into three election precincts, two in Sangamon and one in Montgomery county. At the regular election in August, 1885, the following were elected justices of the peace for Buckhart precinct, Peter R. Ketoham and John L. Thompson ; in Cotton Hill precinct, a part of which was in this count}', John Rape and Samuel Btites ; in Bear creek precinct, a part of Montgomery county, Joseph P. Durbin and Richard Simpson.

Finance-S Of The County In The Early Times

The records for the December term, 1839, of the county court, show some interesting exhibits. The court at all times exercised the most rigid economy ; the bill for all the necessary record books for opening up the several departments of the county was exceedingly moderate. H. IM. Vandeveer, clerk of the circuit court, was authorized to make the purchases. The bill rendered was as follows :

It cost $2 50. This economical outfit lasted for several )-ears. In contrast, the annual expenses of the county, at present, for books, bhmks and stationery, approximate Sl,0(iO. The court appropriated at the rate of four dollars per month, to pay office rent for use of tlie circuit and county clerks. Tiie "Ealstou building," was the first one in Taylorville, used for that purpose, after its location as the county seat. It was moved from Edinburg. The house now stands on the corner south of the jail. A part of the same building was occupied by Ralston and Gilbert's store. Tlie court meant promptitude as well as economy in business ; they directed the treasurer to pay 8'21.37 to Messrs Berchall & Co., of Springfield, immediately. They seemed not only in earnest in paying tlie obligations of the county with dispatch, but made a further commendable move in the direction of economy, by ordaining that " the officers and members of this court charge nothing for services rendered this term." This act of disinterested patriotism on the part of the early officers and fjuuders of the county is worthy of commendation.

Below we give the first deed filed for record ; it was made by David C Hall to John Skeedy, for a tract of land in township l.j, 2, containing four hundred acres, the consideratiou being five liundred dollars.

David C Hall I *'''* ^'^^^ '^^y °^' ^^'^y ''^ ''^^ year of our I Lord One thousand eight hundred and TO I petb. r thirty-nine, by and between David C. Hall John Skeedy. | of the Couutyof Dane and State of Illinois, J of the first part and John Skeedy of the County of Sangamon and State of Illinois of the second part WITNESSETH that the said party of the first for and in consideration of the sum of Five hundred dollars of lawful money of the United States to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, assigned, enfeoffed and conveyed, and by these presents do give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, assign, enfeoff' and convey unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns certain lots, or piece of ground lying and baing situated in the County of Dane and State of Illinois, known and described as follows, (viz) 1st the west half of the south-west quarter of section number eight, township number thirteen, No. 2. The east half of the south-east quarter of section number seven, Xo. 3. The south-west quarter of the south-east quarter of section number seven, No 4. The north-west quarter of the north-west quarter section number seventeen. No. 5. The west half of the south-west quarter of section number nine, all of which being in township No. 13 north of the base line in range No. I west of the third principal meridian. Containing in all four hundred acres. Entered at Yandalia.

To have and to hold the above described lot or parcel of ground, together with all and singular the privileges or appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, to the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, to and for their own proper use, behoof and benefit forever. And the said party of the first part for themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators, do hereby covenant and agree to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever to warrant and defend the title to the above described premises, against the claim or claims of any and all persons whatsoever, and that they, the said party of the first part, are the ouh' true and lawful owners of the said premise-, and that they are free from all and all manner of incumbrances.

In testimony whereof the said party of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals, the day and year first above written." In presence of /^ - "^

Sangamon Counlij,)"' Be it remembered tliat on tlie day of the date hereof came befure the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said county, D. E. Hall, who is personally known by .said Justice to be the identical person whose name is subscribed to tlie forgoing deed of conveyance, and who then acknowledged his voluntary execution of the same for the purposes therein exercised.

I, Joel Wadkins, being weak in body, but of p-^rf^;et mind and memory, make this my last will and testament. In the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine and the sixth day of December - first that all my just debts be paid - and my funeral expenses be paid out of my personal estate ; the balance of my personal estate I give and bequeath to my beloved wife as her own, for her benefit and use, to do with as she may think fit or see proper for her own benefit and use ; my real estate I also give to my wife, the interest benefit of it during her natural life for her benefit and use to do with as she may think best during her life terra; except an improvement made on my land by my son-in-law, John Morgan. I grant him the privilege of living on that part he has improved on my lands as long as he may think proper or see fit to do ; when he leaves, then my wife to have the use and benefit of the same. The balance of my lands during her natural life-time ; after the death of my wife I give and bequeath to my sou Nathan forty acres of mv land. I also give to my youngest sou Joel sixty acres of my land. I also give and bequeath to my youngest daughter Jane twenty acres of my land, this land to be laid off" so as to give each a portion of timber and prairie according to the quantity here allotted to those having done this. - Agreeable to my mind I now close this will by saying Amen to the things of time. Signed by his own hand and seal this day and date above written."

First License

At the September term, 1840, the County Commissioners' court issued the first license to keep a grocery in Taylorville; the record reads as follows:

"Ordered that John Sampson be licensed to keep a grocery in the town of Taylorville for the term of three months from this date, the said John Sampson, first paying into the county treasury the sum of six dollars and twenty-five cents for the privilege herebv granted."

First Circuit Court

The c luntv of Dane, now Christian, was attached to the eighth judicial circuit ; it embraced the counties of Sangamon, Tazewell, McLean, Livingston, JIacon, Dane, Logan and Menard. The first term was held at Tavlorville, November 4th, 1839. In the ab- sence of a coui-t-hnusc, its sessions were held in a small frame lumse, 12x14 ieet, owned by II. :\r. Vandeveer, and situated (in the north >ide of the |iul.lie s(iuare. The town having;- lieen so recently located, there were l)iit f.-w tenements in the plaee. This' small honse had to serve the i,ur|io>e of a hotel, stage otliee, and court room. In jury eases that body had to retire, for its deliberation, out of doors, under a blaek-jaek tree, where now stands the calaboo.se, where deputy W, L. Hammer said he attended its deliberations. This improvised court-room will be remembered, bv many of the older citizens, as Dr. Chapman's office. The old landmark has given place to a large brick building.

The officers of the court were Hon. Samuel H. Treat, judge; H. ^I. Vandeveer, clerk; William S. Eicks, Sheritf;* David P. Campbell, stales attorney: Djnjamin AVdliam-. coroner. II. M. Vandeveer was appointed clerk of the circuit couit on the tir>t of June, 1839, two months alt r the organization of the county; Wm. S. Ricks, quililied as sheritf, June 24th, 18:JiJ. lienjamin Williams qualified as coroner, August 6th, 1839. The only attorney from abroad attending at this term was Hon. Jas. C. Conkling, of Springfield. Tiie ]ianel of grand and petit jurors, made at the first term of the county court, seemed to be based upon an assumed census of one huudreil persons, that is, single men ami heads of families. These, with the county officials added, comprised nearly all the names in the county, excepting oidy some half d izeii wlioju it was the intention to indict.

John Young, fn-emau; Berry Kose, Thomas P. Pxnid, George D. Pierson, Jdhn IMartin, David Cagle, James Weeden, Thomas Young, Kiibert Riehar.lson, John Fniley, Jacob Wydick, Emanuel J. Leigh, Allen 1!. Peabo.ly, ('hristopher Ketcham, Jo.-hua Brents, Alfred C'urrie, and Louis H. Jernigau, who were sworn in pursuance of law, and (barged by States Attorni'y Campbell. TIIIC FIi;ST FF.TIT jui;i)i;s.

Ordered that the f illowing pers(jns be selected to serve as petit jurors at the next term of the circuit court fu- the coui]ty of Dane: Henry C. Dickerson, George Oiler. Obcrton Williams, Simeon Brents, William Sheldon, Ezekiel S. Young, Robert P. Langley, AVeslcy Westbrook, Henry Judy, Wm. Wallis, Isaac Richardson, and Wiley Blount.

Thus was completed the organization of the circuit court. At the first term business was limited ; a few cases were compromised. The first on the docket being a suit instituted by Smith r.s. Durbin for slander. The said Durbin charged Smith with having drowned a horse-thief in the waters of Bear creek. This, with a few other cases, was continued, and finall}' dismissed at defendant's cost. The second case was the People vs. Thomas E. V. Farris, indicted by the grand jury for sending a challenge to Thomas W. Davis, the newly elected probate judge, to fight a duel with deadly weapons, on the first day of October, 1839. The following is a copy of the original challenge, assent, verbadm ct liteniliiii :

This case w:\s tried at the fall term of the court, 1840. The people were greatly enlightened on the laws governing the code of honor, and bv the disphiy of legal lore and eloipicnce of counsel. The verdict of the jury was " Not Guilty."

Another case was Peter R. Ketcham vs. Gabriel McKenzie - action for slander ; damages laid at S2,000. J. C. Conkling, Attorney fir Plaintitf. In the declaration, it was alleged that the defendant had used words to this import: "Old Pete Ketcham is county, and elicited a great deal of interest. It was known by many as the Methodist preacher against the lioman Catholic. Attorney B S. Edwards conducted the defence. The jury found for the plaintirt', 847.08. In making up their verdict, the jury seemed to have entertained a very nice estimate of a man's character, so as to take into consideration the fractional part of a dime. Juries occasionally returned to the court-room for further instructions from the judge. In one case, the jury failing to agree as to the facts in the premises, returned for instructions. The judge iniptired as to the difficulty. The foreman responded with apparent honesty and simplicity : " Why, judge, this 'ere is the difficulty : s line of the jury want to know whether that ar wdiat you told us, when we first wetit out, was raley the law, or whether it was only just your notion." The judge having informed the jury that such was the law in the premises, a verdict was reached accordingly. In the early history of the county some persons entertained crude notions of the w(U'kings of justice. In a case being tried before the court, when the jury, on retiring, was going up the partially open stairwav, in the old court-house, to the jury-room for deliberation, one of their number was overheard to say: 'Now is my chance to give the old cu.ss h - 11" In the case of Shumway, adni'r of Daniel Miller, deeea.sed, vs John Cheney, Lincoln and Vaudeveer appeared for the plaintirt" and Judge Robbins of Springfield for the defendant. In reply to a point made, the latter said: " Jf that is so, I 11 agree to eat this desk." Lincoln jocosely replied: " Well, judge, if you do eat that desk, I hope it will come out a bran newly manufactured wagon!"

As the county-seat had been so recently located in the wild prairie, hotel and boarding-house accommodations were limited. Attorney C , at the first term of the court, had to go into the countiy for lodgings. In connection with this, he related the following amusing incident. Not wishing to be left out to the mercy of the wolves, he gladly accepted an invitation from one of the jurors to go home with him, and partake of his ho.=pitality. On reaching the cabin of his friend, he found a tidy, nice woman, with everything clean and neatly arranged. But they were new beginners, and had only one bed. How that part of the difficulty would be arranged was a problem running through his brain all the evening. But it was easily solved. The woman slept on one side of the bed, he on the other, and the husband in the middle. Hardly had the last "peg" been driven in the location of the county seat, when James Harris commenced preparations for the erection of a two-story frame hotel - now a part of the Globe House, on the north side of the Public Square. The want of acciimmodations compelled the use of it at first in an unfinished condition. A ladder was used to reach the upper story, with its loose boards for a floor. Its accommodations were necessarily limited. The landlord was under the necessity of dividing his guests into squads or divisions ; some retiring early, only to be aroused to give place to another division, as time crowded on to midnight. About the latter hour the stentorian voice of the landlord could be heard, calling the first lot to "get up," and give place to others; "that Judge Treat and other noted lawyers wished to turn in." Judge Edwards, of Springfield, relates that he preferred the luxury^of wrapping himself in the folds of his cloak and taking the courthouse floor fir it, where he could have the whole night to himself. In the days of the early courts, Abraham Lincoln was a regular attendant on the courts of this county, and occasionally Stephen A. Douglas. A good anecdote is related of them, as having occurred in this circuit: - In the pioneer-times, saloons or groceries, as they were familiarly called, were great places of resort. A large percentage of those coming to town would visit and loaf at them, and drink in the gossip retailed at such places. Tlion tlie grocerykeeper was looked upon as one of the especially honored members of society. It is .said that Abraham Lincoln once suld liipKir at retail, when he iirst came to Illinois. Some years aft.Mwani. when Lincoln and Douglas took the stump, the latter alluded to the former's calling in early times. But Linc;iln retorted by saying " that while he officiated on one side of the bar, Judge Douglas ofBciated in the other capacity on the other side."

Apropos to the above maybe related the following incident: Many years ago there was a noted land ca>e in court which attracted much attention at the time, the case was that of Vandcveer vs. Whitecraft. Lincoln was attorney for the plaintiff, and able counsel represented the defendant. The parties to the ,-uit wire prominent citizens of the county. The case occupied tin' time of the court for most of the term. Never, sceraingl}- did Lincoln appear to better advantage, and by good management and able argument secured a verdict for his client. The last day the case was protracted into the evening. There were poor accommodations for light; no chandeliers were suspended from the ceiling, or kerosene lamps graced the grim walls of the courtroom ; the old-foshioued "tallow dip" was all the dependence. Sherifl'

One was fastened to the wall back of tiie judge's stand, and the other handed to Attorney Lincoln. It was as amusing as ridiculous to see the great advocate holding the tallow dip in one hand and the law-book in the otiier. As he warmed np in his theme the light began to pale and the candle disappear, in a li(juiil fio-ni, I between his fingers, greatly to the amusement of the Cnurt and the

The old Court-house stood on stone pillars some two feet above the ground, and as the spaces betweou the pillars were not boarded up, it was a great resort for hogs. On one occasion, when Lincoln was arguing a case before the Court, the hogs opened up a chorus, in porcine language, greatly annoying the celebrated barrister, when he suggested to the Court the propriety of issuing a writ of quietus to the Sheriff. A traveling correspondent of an eastern journal, related the following in an article entitled, "Our tour through Egypt:" "Being water bound at the capital of Christian county, Illinois, we whiled away a portion of our time in the Court-room. The Judge was holding the spring term of the Circuit Court in Taylorville. He appeared to be of a nervous teniperament, and much disturbed by the surroundings. Putting on a littlejudicial dignity, he called up oneof the constables and informed him that the Court had created a new office and had selected him to fill the responsible station. The duties are onerous. The officer seemed delighted with the prospective honor, but with a bashful diffidence stood in silence. The Court directed him to be sworn, but recollecting that he was already a sworn officer, that part of the cercmon}' was dispensed with. He was then directed to repair to the adjacent timber, cut a half dozen batons, raise a posse, and keep the frogs besieging this town, silent during the sessions of this Court to the end that the proceedings thereof may not be interrupted. Silence reigned after that in the Court-room."

The lawyers who rode the circuit in early times were noted for the many jokes they practiced on each other. A laughable incident occurred at the hotel in Taylorville, based on the custom of some in changing their linen before retiring for the night. Several number and noted for hi j extreme gentility; his custom was to shave every morning and put on clean linen. He carried a nightshirt to sleep in. The State's Attorney was a great wag, and took looked on his tavern as second to none in the West. There might be better tables in St. Louis, but as for beds his could not be excelled, even liy the great Planters' House, for he himself had been there, and had not sat down at the table a minute before they presented a bill, and an impudent waiter asked him if he would have tea or cott'ee ; and when he told him he would take tea, he asked what kind of tea? Says he, "Store tea, to be sure." A single word against the tavern, table or beds was taken by the landlord as a great iusult, and he would resent it without regard to you will not mention my name I will tell you." "So be it, whatdid he say '!" " Why he said your beds were so dirty that he had to take off his clean shirt and put on a dirty one every night to sleep iu." " Possible. I'll watch him this night." Bed-time came. Lawyer

The Second Petit Jiinir.< were Josiah Langley, Levi W. Goodan, Abi-am Peters, Henry Blount, Daniel Miller, Job B. Davis, Joshua Brents, Louis H. Jeruigan, James R. Lucas, Isaac Denton and Thomas Langley, for June term, 1840.

At the October term of Court a. d. 1840, Joseph Bugg made his written application to be naturalized, filed his declaration and took the oath prescribed by law, iu open Court, which was ordered to be filed. We appenil a copy of the original paper.

"Joseph Bugg, an alien born, presented to the Court his report and declaration of intention to become a naturalized citizen, which follows in these words and figures:

I, Joseph Bugg, an alien born, free white person, of the age of thirty years and upwards, do hereby in conformity with the first condition specified in the first section of the act of Congress entitled "An act to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and to repeal the acts heretofore passed upon that subject "approved the 14th day of April, 1802. Declare and make known to the said Circuit Court, now .sitting in and for the countv and state aforesaid, that my true and proper name is Joseph Bugg ; that I was born in the town of Leven, in the county of Yorkshire, and in the kingdom of England, on the twelfth day of June, a. d. 1810; that I am about thirty years of age ; that I belonged to the Engli.sh nation, and owed allegiance to the King of England; that I migrated from the port of Hull, in tlic said kingdom of England, on the r2th day of Juno, A. J). 1.S'14, and landed at the city of Buffalo, in the State of New York, in the United States of America, on the 4th day of May 183."> ; that I have, ever since my first arrival, remained within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the said United States, and that it is bona-fide my intention to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatever, and more particularly such allegiance and fidelity as I may in any way owe to the said King of England, either as a citizen or a subject, to become a citizen of the United States, and to locate myself for the present in the County of Christian, and State of Illinois. Whereof, I am now an inhabitant; that I do not now enjoy or possess, nor am I in any wise entitled to any order of distinction or title of nobility, by virtue of the laws, customs or regulations of the said kingdom of England, or any other country, and that I am sincerely attached to the principles contained in the constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order, well being and happiness of the same, and desire that this, my declaration and report, may be accepted, filed and recorded. Preparatory to my intended application to bo admitted a naturalized citizen of the United States, in conformity with the several acts of Congress heretofore passed on that subject.

First Divorce C.Vse

This day came the parties, ami the tlefendant files lier answer to the complainant'* bill, denying the allegations thereof, and thereupon came a jury, to wit, Samuel Garvin, John P. Fletcher, James Porter, Horace Morgan, Elijah Furrows, James Baker, John George, Wiley Blount, James Hutchens, C. F. Leigh, Joshua Brents, James Richardson, wdio being sworn well and truly to try the issue joined herein, for verdict say : "We the jury find the defendant guilty of wilful desertion for more than two years without reasonable cause, and on motion of the defendant a new trial is granted and the cause is continued."

This day came the complainant by Roundtrce, her attorney, and the defendant being called came not but made defiiult, and proof satisfactory to the Court being made of notice of the pendency of this suit, by publication thereof, in the Illinois State Register, as required by the Statute in such cases made, and the evidence on the part of the complainant being heard and considered by the Court, it is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed by the Court that the marriage contract heretofore e.'iisting between the said Mary Ann Sharrock and James Sharrock be annulled, dissolved, and held for naught, and it is further adjudged, ordered and decreed, that the care and custody of the child of the said Mary and James be committed to the said Mary.

Crime

AYe give below a brief account of one of the first murder cases which claimed the attention of the Court after the organization of the county. Though the crime was a heinous one and the culprit deserving of death, yet as is too frequently the case he escaped unpunished.

The most atrocious case of killing which ever occurred in this county, was perpetrated in the winter of 18.54, and is known as the Wcstfall-Hinkle murder. The murderer and his victim were near neighbors, living in Johnson township, and about si.x miles south of Taylorville. Jesse Ilinkle, the murdered man, was a brother of the mother of William Westfall, the man who slew him. Both were known as fearless, desperate men, and although relatives, there had long existed " bad blood " between them, wdiich developed into an open quarrel and fight upon the public highway, in the autumn of 1853. Upon this occasion. Hinkle is said to have used a pole or club, and Westfall came out of the encounter badly beaten. In the following winter, and upon the morning of the murder, Westfall passed Hinkle's house ; the snow lay thick upon the ground, and the latter was busily engaged making a sled. Westfall accused his uncle of killing his (Westfall's) dog, and wanted to know if he intended paying for it, adding "if not, he would have to take the fate of the dog." Hinkle with strong language told him if he "ever paid for the dog it would be when the law compelled him to." At this Westfall went home, and in the presence of his wife and two sisters, took down his rifle, loaded it with powder and ball, remarking in their hearing that " it should suck the blood of a scoundrel before noon ; " he then leisurely went out, and walking cautiously through the brush, without, however, making any attempt to conceal his tracks in the snow, arrived within a short distance, less than a hundred yards, of where Ilinkle was still working upon his sled, placed one knee upon the ground, rested his rifle upon a convenient bush, and taking deliberate aim, fired; his victim fell, mortally wounded, his intestines pierced with a ball, and died in great agony after lingering about thirty hours. Instead of attempting to escape as soon as he discovered the full extent of his deed, Westfall immediately proceeded to Taylorville to consult with Judge H. M. Yandeveer, who had upon former occasions professionally helped him out of his squabbles, without however fully stating the nature of his crime to his lawyer; he was advised by him to absent himself for a time until the first excitement had subsided, but it was characteristic of the man not to be intimidate<l. He refused to leave, and was arrested. He had an examination before a Justice of the Peace who fully committed him for trial, the principal witnesses against him being his own near relations - who testified to the above facts; there were also proofs of the prints in the snow. His lawyer succeeded in continuing his case one or two terms, and finall}' obtained a change of venue to the adjoining county of Shelby. The order of the Court reads as follows : -

And now at this day came the people by the States Attorney, and the prisoner having been furnished with a copy of the Indictment, a list of the Jurors and witnesses, and the prisoner being arraigned at the bar, and for plea saith he is ' not guilty ' and thereupon the prisoner files his petition and affidavit for a change of venue. It is therefore considered and adjudged by the Court, that a change of venue be granted in this cause to the county of Shelby, and that the Clerk of this Court make a complete transcript of the proceedings had, make known, and transmit the same to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Shelby county, together with all the papers appertaining to said cause. Certified under his hand and the seal of this court, and, it is furtlier ordered and adjudged by the Court, that the recognizance of the witnesses to wit, Daniel JMissenlMimmer, Nancy Missenhammer and Elizabeth Brannon be forfeited, and that a Scire Facias issue thereon returnable to the next term of this Court. And thereupon came Job B. Davis, Joseph Painter, John D. A. Bond, William A. Goodrich, Dr. E. T. Chapman, John Bowman, Milton Pike, John Hinton, John Durbin, W, B. Keller, John Goode, Matthew Durbiii and Joshua Bowman, witnesses on behalf of the people, and acknowledged themselves to owe and be indebted to the people of the State of Illinois, in the sum of One Hundred dollars each, to be levied of their goods and chattels, lands and tenements respectively, void however on this condition, that they shall severally be and appear before the Circuit Court of Shelby County, on the first day of the next terra thereof, to be holden at the Court-house, in Shelbyville, on the first Monday in the month of October next, to testify and the truth to say in a matter of an indictment for murder, pending in said Court against William Westfoll, and abide the order of the Court and not depart without leave."

The evidence was so conclusive in this case that it is presumable he would have received there the just punishment of his crime, but in the meantime, with the aid of a case knife, he succeeded in cutting his way out of the Taylorville Jail, wherein he was confined, and escaping to the brush, search was made for him in vain ; but it has since become known that he was secreted not far from the county seat for a week or two afterwards, his wife stealthily conveying to him the means of existence ; he ultimately succeeded in escaping altogether from the county, since which time he has never been seen or heard of by any one.

The first terra of the Probate Court was held in Taylorville, December 2d, 1839; Thomas W. Davis, elected at the first election in April, 1839, presided as judge. His court was held in the days when simplicity and economy prevailed. No sheriff was in attendance to answer his commands ; no clerk to note his mandates ; and even his fire, if it needed attention, he had only to descend from the judicial tribunal and replenish it with wood.

The first business presented for the court's consideration was the estate of Aaron McKenzie, deceased, late of township 13 - 1 east.* He died November 3d, 1839. Samuel McKenzie, his brother, was appointed administrator. The deceased, it will be remembered, was one of the active participants in the formation of the county, but did not live long to enjoy his new civil relation. Judge Davis' term of pffice extended over a period of four years, during which time twelve cases came before him for probate adjustment. This does not exhibit a very great degree of mortality for the new county. Judge Davis' residence was in the northern part of the county. William S. Frink was elected as his successor in August, 1843, and held the office for a term of four years. The terms of his court were held on the first Monday of each month, at which time the " Sage of Allenton " could be seen eutering the town with a basket on his arm containing the archives of the Probate office. The judge received no per diem allowance fur his time while on the bench. The small salary received was from fees for recording and filing papers, amounting to about S2.50 per annum, - and this mostly chargeable to the estates. The avenues to the county treasury were closed to the recipients of this office, and remained so until after the adoption of the state constitution of 1848 ; then a more expensive system was entered upon, and the tax-payers were called upon to support it from the county treasury, the fees of the former system being diverted from the pocket of the judge to that of the county clerk. There was a per diem allowed to the judge, clerk, and sheriff. As a further evidence of the parsimonious spirit practiced in those early days, Calvin Goudy, who was elected probate justice in 1847, not liking the " basket arrangement " for keeping the papers of the office, procured a pine box and had it converted into a de.sk, with pigeon holes and shutters, costing some six dollars. It was with extreme difficulty that the county court were induced to grant an order to pay for the .same. It is still in the court-house, and serves as a souvenir of the economy practiced at that da}'. (The succeeding judges are given in the list of county officers on another page.)

County Buildings The First Court House

At the June term of the Commissioners' Court, in 1839, it was already found necessary for the proper transaction of official business, that some suitable building be erected, as the rooms then rented for tlie purpose were very inconvenient. The court, therefore, ordered a court-house to be erected. The contract to be made with the lowest bidder. The contractor being required to give bonds, with satisfiictory security that the structure and workmanship should be faithfully executed. The only apparent stipulation made at this time, with regard to details, was that the building should be thirtysix feet long by thirty-two feet wide, and twenty-one feet high ; subsequently a contract was made with Messrs. Elgan and Eastham, which read as follows :

" We, the undersigned, Jesse Elgan, of Dane county, and Marvelous Eastham of Sangamon county, both of the State of Illinois, doth agree with the county court of Dane county, and the successors in office of said county, to build a court-hou.se of such materials according to draft laid in, and in a workmanlike manner herein described."

" The sills to be eight by ten inches square, the posts to be ten inches square ; all the frame to be of good sound white oak lumber, the weather-boarding to be of walnut timber, and dressed with solid cornice or eave trough, according to draft laid in, with a shingle roof, with windows and doors according to draft; with Venetian blinds, also doors according to draft, with painel shutters. With plank partition running through said house, according to draft laid in. The body of the house to have two coats of white paint ; the doors and windows to be ])ainted green. The doors and windows to be hung in good workmanlike manner, with locks for the doors, and bolts for the windows, to be moulded on the inside. The lower floor to be laid rough, with a square joint. The upper floor to be tongued and grooved. The house to be ceiled inside throughout, of good material. House to sit on twelve pillars of stone, to be let in the ground eighteen inches, and raised above the ground 18 inches. The second floor to be supported from the lower floor by turned columns, according to draft. We bind ourselves to build said house for twenty-three hundred and fifty dollars, by the said commissioners paying said undertakers one thousand dollars by the 10th day of September next, and one-half of the rest when the house is half finished, and the balance when the house is completed. We jointly undertake this house aird agree to complete the building in sixteen months ; as there is a great deal of thick lumber to be seasoned, we think it can't be done in a shorter time. Given under our hands and seals August 12th, 1839."

In September of the same year the contractors gave bond for three thousand dollars to build and erect a court-houso on the public square, at Taylorville, according to the foregoing plans and specifications.

The first installment due the contractors \Yas jiaid in promissory notes, collected at the order of court, by the treasurer, from the proprietors of the town of Taylorville. In September of the following year (1840) the court-house building was completed and received by the County Commissioners, and certified to be in accordance with the wording of the contract ; the funds in the treasury, however, would not permit of a full settlement with the contractors ; the court therefore ordered that Jesse Elgan be allowed twelve per cent, interest upon thirteen hundred and twenty dollars from date until paid.

At the March term of court, 1841, 'It was this day ordered by tli3 court that Wm. S. Ricks and Jssse Elgan ba and they are herebv appointed commissioners or agents, on behalf of Christian county, to inquire and ascertain on what terms a loan of a sum of money can be negotiated suflicient to liquidate the debt of this county, incurred for the building of a new court-house in said county, and report the result of their inquiries in the premises to this court on the first Monday in April." Ujion the first Monday in April the two commissioners so appointed appeared before the commissioners' court and stated, in answer to the question, " that they had not yet ascertained that a loan of money, in favor of the county, could be negotiated upon any terms, whereupon they were dismissed from further inquiries upon the subject."

The Present Court

At the January term of court, 1854, the letting of a contract for the erection of a new court-house building was taken into cmsideration, and on the 3d of February of the same year the county made an agreement with James Overholt and David F. Squier to build upon the site of the old building in the centre of the public square, at Taylorville. The new structure was to be built of brick, and cost fifteen thousand dollars, and to be completed and delivered to the county by the 1st day of December, 1855. Specifications were drawn, duly signed and bonds given by the contractors foi- carrying out the work in a proper manner.

In the meantime the old building was advertised for sale by notices placed in four of the most public places in the county, and was sold by public auction upon the 24th of June, 1854, H. ]\r. Vandeveer becoming the purchaser for the sum of S276, the said sale being approved by the court.

The original agreement for the new building, however, fell through ; it was found that the contractors were not carrying out the work in accordance with the specifications; the)' were prevented from proceeding with it, and brought action again.st the county for amount expended and damages. The case was tried at Decatur, Macon County, and decided in favor of tlie contractors. It was at once appealed to the Supreme Court of the state, who sustained the verdict of the lower court.

On the 18th January, 1850, the County entered into a second contract~for the completion of the building, this time with J. Dennis and John C. Beam, of Springfield, Illinois, who undertook to complete the work by the 1st of December, 185fi, for the sum of thirteen thousand, five hundred and twenty-six dollars. The present substantial edifice is the result.

The first jail erected in Taylorville was a log building, constructed by James C. Morrison, and located about one block southeast of the Public Square ; it took a little over four months in its consiruction. The following is a description of the building, taken from a record of the [iroceedings of the Commissioners' Court at that time:

April -itlt, 1846. Ordered that a contract be made on ^londay the first day of June next, to erect a jail in this County, and the Clerk of the Court is hereby required to advertise in the State Begider on the following plans, to wit ;

Sealed proposals will be received addressed to the Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, of Christian County (postage paid), until 12 o'clock noon, on Monday, the first day of June next, to erect a Jail on the following plan, to wit :

The house to be twenty feet long and sixteen feet wide, two stories high, with two rooms on the first floor and one on the second, to be seven feet high each ; the lower wall to be made of hewn timbers ten inches thick, and the walls to be built eight inches apart, and the spaces between the walls to lie filled with timber eight inches thick, set on end loosely, to be placed on a wall of stone eighteen inches high and thirty inches wide, the wall to be let in the ground one foot ; the second story to be two walls of hewn timber, each ten inches thick and closely laid ; the floors on the first story to be laid with timbers ten inches thick, and on the second story with timbers eight inches thick, and on the timbers, plank one inch thick, jointed and well laid down, and over the, second story timbers eight inches thick, closely placed together, with a substantial roof, the timbers to be firm, white or burr-cak. There shall be two doors to the lower story and one to the second. The shutters will be made of inch plank, three double, and lined with sheet iron, stnmgly riveted on the inside, and filled with nails half an inch apart on the outside, to be hung on strong iron hinges, one window in each room on the first floor, twelve by eighteen inches in size, with grates made of iron bars one inch square, and placed one inch apart in a strong frame, strongly confined to the timbers, with iron bolts. There will be two windows in the second story twenty-four by thirty-six inches in size, with grates made of iron bars, one inch square, placed four inches apart in a strong iron frame, and strongly confined to the timbers with iron bolts. The partition walls will be hewn timbers ten inches thick, and extend through the middle wall."

Subsequently Daniel Miller was instructed to ascertain what kind of locks were u.sed in the jails of the adjoining counties, and authorized to contract for the same, and properly affix them to the jail building. A platform was afterwards added to the door in the upper story, with steps leading to it,

The present County Jail is a substantial two-story brick building, and situated a short distance west of the public square, Taylorville. In June, 1870, the County, through its officers, made a contract with Messrs. Dennis & Beam, the builders of the present Courthouse, for a sum of five thousand three hundred and sixty dollars, to erect the building, specifications for the same being duly drawn and approved. The jail contains ten cells, each of which will comfortably hold two prisoners, and the hallway, which is seven feet wide, could be made to accommodate as many more in a case of necessity. There is altogether ample room for forty or fifty prisoners.

Poor Farm

Until the year 1S70 the poor of the County were housed and fed bv unofficial authorities, who were reimbursed by order of the County Court or Board of Supervisors, from the public treasury. At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors held at the Court house in December, 18G9, they appointed a committee consisting of James

H. Hill, John W, Hunter and M. P. Simpson, for the purpose of having a draft drawn for the poor-house, to be submitted to the Board at their next meeting. In the meantime thoy were instructed to rent a house if practicable, and hire a man to take charge of the same, for the relief of paupers.

At a special session of the Board held in June, 18T0, the conirailtee appointed reported that " in February last and on the day appointed received and opened 8 bids, the highest bid 84,545, the lowest 83,534, which was awarded to one Levi Hall, on his giving bond and security to complete .said building b}- the 15th June, 1870, which he has failed to do."

In the meantime, January 1st, 1870, the County had purchased 160 acres of land for a poor farm at a cost of S6400, situated in the north-west quarter of section 3, township 11, range 1, west, ( Roseniond township ), and at the above special term, June, 1879, " On motion the Chair appointed Messrs. Birce, Porter and Morrison a committee to confer with Levi Hall in regard to building poor-house, who reported as follows :

" We, your special Committee, to whom was referred the matter in relation to the contract with Levi Hall for the building of a farmhouse on the Poor Farm, would respectfully report that the contractor through wilful neglect or by an inaccurate ignorance of the condition of his undertaking, and an unwarranted expectation of a pre-issue of bonds to enable him to perform the same, has failed to comply with the conditions of his bond, and has thereby forfeited the same." The committee however recommended the Board to permit Levi Hall to finish the building upon his entering into a bond to do so within sixty days, with the former sureties.

In September, 1870, the committee made the following report: " That we have received the building of the Poor Farm and settled with the contractor, Mr. Hall, and had the bonds issued to him for the same, also, that the house is ready for the County poor." Subsequently a substantial barn has been added at a cost of 8900, and in 1871 an addition for the refractory inmates of the house, costing S536. The Poor-house is a large two story frame building, and its jiresent able Superintendent or Warden, as he is called, succeeds in making a profit out of the farm, for the Count}', beyond the cost of keeping its unfortunate occupants. There have been three different superintendents since the erection of the poor-house. The first to whom the contract was given was Thomas P. Wilkins, in 1870 who received S900 per year. The amount received by Mr. Murray for the same in 1874 was S650. Mr. Wilson received the contract in 1877. The house will conveniently shelter forty or fifty inmates.

The growth of the county in wealth can in no way be so clear'y exhibited as by giving the assessment rolls at different periods. We select three, which are here appended, viz. those of 1847, 1856, and 1879.

Assets

A LIST OF PERSONS WHO HAVE REPRESENTED THE COUNTY OF CHRISTIAN (AND OTHER COUNTIES DISTRICTED THEREWITH ) SINCE ITS ORGANIZATION IN 1839 TO THE PRESENT TIME IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ST.ITE OP ILLINOIS.*

County Commissioners Couxty Recorders

Horatio M. Vandevcer, elected in 18.'59; Benjamin Yates, a pp.jinted (pro tem.) in 1842; Thomas Dougherty, elected 1843 and served until 1848, at which time the law directed the Circuit Clerk _ to a-ssume the duties of Recorder.

Clerks Of Circuit Court

Horatio ]M. Vandeveer, appointed in 1839 and resigned in 1842 ; David C. Goodan, appointed (pro tein.) in 1842; Horatio M. Vandeveer, re-elected in 1843 and served until 1848; W. S. Moore, elected in 1848 and served until 18-52; W. S. Jloore, re-elected in 1856, again elected in 1860 and re-elected in 1864; John B. Ricks, elected in IS6S and re-elected in 1872; Josiah A. Hill, elected in 1S7G, and is the present incumbent.

Ezekiel Young, appointed in 1839, served until 1813; Philip C. Ferguson, elected in 1843; Daniel JMiller, electeil in 1847 (died in office); Thomas P. Lond, appointed (pro tem.) 1848, and served by re-election in 1H49 until 1853; John Hunter, elected in 1853 and served until 1856, (died in office); W. A. Goodrich, appointed (pro tem.) in 1856, elected in 1857, re-ehcted in 1861, was again elected in 1865 and re-elected in 1839; Wm. H. Kirkwood, elected in 1873; Chas. Whitmer, elected in 1877, and is the present incumbent.

Masters In Chancery

J. M. Vandeveer, 1850; J. R. Garin, 1850; Ben. Mason, 1853, and 18.54; D. D. Shumway, 1857, who served until his death. May 9th, 1870; and at the special terra of Court in May, the business was given to special commissioners, and between that time and the November term 1870, when John B. Jones was appointed ; he served until Dec. 31st, 1878, and on the 1st of January, 1879, John G. Drennan was appointed, and is the present incumbent.

County Treasurers County Governments

Since the organization of this county as many as three different courts for the transaction of the county's business have existed. First. - The County Comraissoners' Court, of three members, for ten years. Second. - The County Court, comprised of a County Judge and two Associate Justices, for seventeen vears. Third. - The

Before its iliial aduiitioii it was Mdiiiiitt((l to the ehrtors of the county, on no h-ss than three dilhrent oeeasions. Tiie first was at the Noveniher eleetion in LSO'.I. The vote llien stood for towii>hi|i organization 78U ; apiinst it 'i>i~t, - a majority of two in favor of tlie measure, but still it was defeated, for the law ncjuind a niajojity, taking tlie lniihe>t vote ea>t as a eiiterioii. The hinhe.vt vote east previously was for ( 'onL:ressn}an, 17H! - the total vote on townslii|) organization was loTti. So tlio measure was defeated hy the striet interpretation of the law by a majority of (iO votes.

The second efiiirtwas made at the election held Xovendier 4, l.s(i2. Tiie vote stood 733 for it, and 12U1 against it - majority against 4 U.S.

At the thiid effort made Kovember 7, 18(10, it eanied. There was a decided majojity favorable to town^hil) organization. At the Deeembei- tei-ni of the county-eourt follow ing : - A. ( i. Xeal, of Pana, Dial Davis, of Mt. Auburn, and ,J. Hamilton Vandeveer, of Tavlorville, Were appointed eommis.^ioners to divide the county into suitable towushi|s. Tiiey reported March l.-t, 1860, to the court " That thev had perfirmed the duty by dividing the county into seventeen districts, named as fiiUows : - Mostpiito, ]\It. Aubuiii, Buckhart, Htonington, Prairieton, Assumption, JNIay, Taylorville, South Fork, Bear Creek, Johnson, Locust, Pana, Koseinond, Greenwood, Hicks and King. The old county-court - Andrew Simpson, county Judge, with John White and David Henshie, Associate Justices - held it< last meeting on the 10th of March, 1866 ; after ordering an election for one .Supervisor frojn each of said townships as fjrmed. The old court then adjourned.

The first .special meeting of the newly elected Board of Supervisors was held at the court-house. May 1st, IStiO. The names of the members elect were as tidlows : - Tdiilnrn'/ti- - William W. Anderson ; - Tavner Ander.on ; J!,",)- r,T,/. - James II. Hill; A'ici-s - James H. Cisna ; A7/,.r/ - William S. Potts; South FoiL - Gavin Ralstou; i>'iic7.7e(W - J ihn Sharp ; Mt. Aiilnint - [ohu M. Hill; 3Iijsqitito - James David.son ; I'i:iirieto}i - W. JM. Iviton ; Stoningtoii - Asa Bowman ; Maij - John S. Fraley ; Locust - B. C. Cocheran ; Ansiiinptinn - Jacob Overholt; Piiiia - W. B. Little: Eosonund - James L. Simpson ; (Ircriniv^id - George AV. Tayloi-. William W. Anderson was elected C'hairnuui of the Board.

The supervisors are cin).-eu annually on the lir.-t Tue>day in A]uil. The system seems well adapted to the wants of the jieople. It certainly has one merit of nii>re e(iually representing the diffirent interests of the county. It is in the nature cjf a small Icgi.^lative bodv, deriving its power direct iidm the governed.