Douglas County, Illinois - The whole text, 1876 (part 1 of 2)

Respectfully Dedicated

In the hope that they may be reminded of the responsibility they are aDout to asume in taking charge of the destinies of little Douglas, i May they emulate the noblest deeds of their fathers, so that the blessings, which they secured, may descend through them, to posterity. In opening out the resources of the country, converting the rude land into cultivated fields, building cities where none existed before, and making possible the civilizing influences of Churches, Schools and Railroads, their fathers have borne the brunt of the battle, and are now resigning into their bands the result of their labors, for they are passing away.

Preface

In the preparation of a history of any minor subdivision of a State, allusion is necessarily made to various events of the past which are well known to many old residents, and many things of the present are recorded which are not strange to the intelligent citizen. Nevertheless all no not know all of the past, nor is any one thoroughly posted on the present. Hence the hope that this compilation amounts at least to an interchange of knowledge, which being "collected and refreshed" puts all on an equal footing for a fresh start.

It would be as well, perhaps, for us who are familiar with both the past and present of our little Utica, to bear in mind that a history of the past, for the use of the present, is not of more importance than that of the present for its successors.

In regard to the times of elections, terms of office, and the emoluments of the different classes of the county public service, the obligations of the county to railroads, population, etc., etc., it is believed that much useful information has been given in, as it were, a pocket form, the matter of which is not claimed as original, but, it is supposed, will be found correct, and convenient.

Much of an anecdotical nature might have been added, and many things touched upon could readily have been amplified, but the matter in bulk, and consequently in labor, has far transcended the original design for this occasion".

If, being found correct, as far as it goes, this proves to be, at least, a good beginning for a history of Douglas county, the author will be satisfied, for he believes, that under the circumstances, he has done what he could, and it is expected that citizens will be inclined, to an extent, to commend the work as a step in the right direction, and that they will, from time to time, give some willing assistance in keeping up the chronicles of Douglas county, for

The Compiler

The Congress of the United States, March 13, 1S76, passed a resolution recommending that the people of the several States assemble in their several towns on the "Centennial Anniversary" of our National Independence, and have read a Historical Sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress, as well as in the Clerk's office of said county.

April 25, 1S76, this is followed by the proclamation of John L. Beveridge, the Governor of the State of Illinois, to the same effect, urging a general observance of the recommendation.

In May, 1S76, and at a Special Term of the Board of Supervisors, not, however, specially held for this purjDose, the following resolution was adopted which had been offered by the .Supervisor from Garrett, Mr. Wm. Howe:

Resolved, That Henry C. Niles be employed to prepare a Statistical and Biographical History of Douglas County, from its origin to the present time, and to have the same ready by the 4th of July next, provided the said work shall not cost to exceed one hundred dollars.

By the treaty of peace between the French and English in 1763, the Illinois Country was ceded to the latter. It remained in their hands until 1 77S in which year Virginia troops under General Clark conquered the country. A county called Illinois was then organized, and had been considered hitherto a part of the territory included in the charter of Virginia. Virginia ceded it to the United States in 1 7S7, and it was called the "Northwest Territory." In 1S00 it received a separate organization and 1 territorial government in conjunction with, and under the name of Indiana. Another division took place in 1S09 when the distinct territories of Indiana and Illinois were formed.

When Illinois Territory was a part of Indiana, the seat of Government was at Vincennes, and when the Territory was set off from Indiana in 1809 the whole State was made into two counties, St. Clair and Randolph. From St. Clair Madison was made; from Madison, Crawford, the State then had about, fifteen counties. In 1S19 Clark was set off from Crawford, and extended to the northward indefinitely. Coles county was organized in 1830-31; Cumberland parted from it in 1842, and Douglas in 1S59.

Coles county, from the area of which Douglas was taken, once comprised within its bounds all of Cumberland countv as well, and was named in honor of Edward Coles the second Governor of the State, elected in 1823.

Amongst the smallest counties in the State, though not the least by some seven or eight, Douglas county is geographically in the east centre of the State, and lies below the 40th parallel of latitude. Tuscola, the county seat, being in latitude 39 degrees 45 minutes, North. The county is bounded on the north by Champaign county, on the east bv Edgar, upon the south by Coles, and on the west by Moultrie and Piatt.

The election for and against the new county was held in Coles county on the first Monday in March, 1S59, and the Clerk was ordered to make his returns to Coleman Bright and Joseph B. McCown, of Camargo.

Coles was a large county of some twenty-four Congressional ' Townships, and containing about 8S0 Square miles. New towns demanded by the rapidlv increasing population of the north part were springing into existence, the principal of which, Tuscola and Okaw, (for so Areola was originally called), upon the line uf the Illinois Central Railroad, had been laid out, the latter by the railroad, upon its own lands, and the former upon railroad lands by private enterprise

The tedious trip, over the prairie of 20 or 25 miles, to Charleston the county seat, laid out in 1831, and the almost universal disposition of the people towards concentration, carried still farther, eventually, bv Township Organization, were amongst the inducements that brought about the division.

The first bill before the legislature, and which was drawn up by A. G. Wallace, assisted by Dr. McKinney, Martin Rice, Coleman Bright, J. B. McCown, \V. H. Lamb, Jas R. Hammct and many others, which bill passed, left out all of Township 14 of Range 10, 14 Range 11 and 14 Range 14, as if a change had accidentally been made in the Senate. But it was shown that the new county would not contain the required area "of not less than 400 square miles,1'' a requirement of law, whereupon the addition was made which raised the area to the proper standard, and a supplementary act was passed to cover the deficiency.

The act forming the new county went into effect Fehruary 8, 18^9, the first and erroneous bill had been passed by both Houses before the discovery of the discrepancy or change, only three days of the session remained, and Dr. J. W. McKinney, of Camargo, repaired at once to Springfield, wrote out the supplementary bill, adding 18 sections of land. This was between 10 and 12 o'clock in the morning and after a deal of hard work the bill was considered in the House, under a suspension of the rules, and read a second time and passed, reported to the Senate and again passed, under a suspension of the rules; the bill was signed by the Governor at 4 o'clock, and the Doctor, with a copy of it in his possession, v\ as on his way home by six o'clock p. m. the same day.

In fixing the county lines an area of some 15 square miles was left out of the southeast corner to accommodate the citizens of Oakland and vicinity, who preferred to remain in Coles county, and by this concession the managers of the partition secured the co-operation of that locality.

There was considerable opposition to the division, as is usual in such cases, but public-spirited men all over the territory held meetings and contributed liberally of their means and time, and finally on the first Monday in March, 1859, Douglas county sprang into existence and was baptised in honor of Stephen A. Douglas. In connection with the name of the county it may not be amiss to recall a little of the history of its christening:

W. D. Watson, ot'Camargo Township, was in the Senate, and a Republican. The proposed county was of that faith, and the petition for the new county asked for the name of "Richman," that of the first inhabitant; others again were determined to call it "Watson," and the subject was introduced repeatedly at the meetings, often under considerable excitement, which finally yielded when the advocates of the various other names became convinced that the bill could not pass under any other name than that of Douglas.

Dr. Pearce, of Camargo, and others, strongly opposed the name and only gave up on the solemn promise of the opposition to assist in having the name changed after the institution of the county.

In regard to the spelling of the name, it is notable that we use only one final s, which was the mode of spelling adopted by Senator Dougkis, and consequently proper. Strangers to this fact invariably use the double s, which is the original mode.

The partition left the county with 40S sections of land, the aiea being just about 409 square miles, so-called sections of land hereabout, being of various areas, the smallest being as low as 230 acres and many running considerably over 1,000.

The new county was now born and christened, and being admitted, the next thing in this case was to see that she was properly clothed, and to this end the first nominating convention for the selec- tion of county officers was held in a board shanty on the McCV.rty farm, 2^ miles east of Tuscola. The men put in nomination were selected without regard to party, and the officers who were then elected were:

County Judge - James Ewing, still living in Areola, and the associates were John D. Murdock, now a large land owner in Camargo Township, who was again elected in 1S61. He filled the position for six years, and had been active in the formation of the new county. And Robert Hopkins, one of the pioneers of Newman Township, who was, at the birth of the new county, an associate justice of Coles. Mr. Hopkins died in the spring of 1S63, leaving a large unincumbered estate.

The first County Clerk was John Chandler, now living on his form east of Tuscola. He was re-elected in 1S61, serving in all about six years. Mr. Chandler was one of the most active in the partition, and by reason of a large experience in public business was altogether depended upon for statistics in the interests of the new count}-. He served in the war with Mexico.

The Circuit Clerk and Recorder, elected at this time, was Andrew G. Wallace, who was re-elected in i860, iS64and 186S, holding the office by re-election for over 12 years.

Mr. Wallace is one of" the first settlers, having arrived in Coles county in 1834 and was one of the first in Tuscola, where he still lives, conducting a large abstract and loan office.

Mr. Logan is now a resident of Bourbon Township where he is a huge land owner. He was a captain in the 54th Regt. Ills. Vols, in the war of 1S61.

Mr. Hancock is now engaged in banking in the city of Newman, and a large farmer in Sargent Township, lie came to this vicinity in November, 1S39.

The first meeting of the County Court, as it was called, was held in Camargo, so that the minds of the people might not be prejudiced as between Areola and Tuscola.

The selection of the county seat, as was to have been expected, was the occasion of much excitement. The cities of Tuscola and Areola, from their comparatively central position, and both being situated on the only railroad in the county, were the leading contesting points. The village of Camargo had claims to the honor which were strongly advocated, and the well known Hackett's Grove, not far north of the geographical centre of the county, was also talked of. The aspiring embryo cities of Tuscola and Areola, at the first election, polled probably ten times their legal vote, and the count in these two places, being so glaringly preposterous, neither was considered at this time, and the unwritten history of this canvass for county seat will probibly remain unwritten during the present generation. At this first meeting of the County Court - a Special Term - April 28, 1859, it was ordered that a special election be held May 30, 1S59, to choose a county seat as between the two rival towns, which election resulted in the ehoice of Tuscola.

Camargo was made county seat pro tern and Mr. W. H. Lamb was appointed commissioner to transfer from Coles county records those necessarily belonging to Douglas.

Mr. Lamb had arrived in Camargo in 1S53; was a merchant there until 1862 when he became Adjutant of the 79th Ills. Vols, in the war of the Rebellion. He was elected County Clerk, or Clerk of the County Court, in 1865, and at the expiration of his term accepted the Cashiership of the First National Bank of Tuscola, a position he still retains.

County organization lasted until 1S67. The last County Court was composed of Thos. S. Sluss, of Tuscola, Judge, with Calvin Jones, of Areola, and John Brown, of Camargo Township, as associates. Judge Sluss was also the first County Judge after Township organization. The associates are vet large farmers in the county.

The people having, at an election held in November, 1867, decided to adopt Township organization, Lucius McAllister, of Areola; Jos. B. McCown, of Camargo, and Henry B. Evans, of Tuscola, were appointed Commissioners to divide the county into Townships, which duty they performed by making the sub divisions as they now stand.

Jos. B. McCown served honorably in the war with Mexico, as also in the civil war of 1S61, when he was Colonel of the 63d 111. Infantry. Col. McCown stood high in the estimation of the people and consequently exercised considerable influence in politics and public business generally. He possessed all the attributes of good citizenship, and his death, November 21, 1S69, was much lamented.

Bistort Of

H. B. Evans was elected Assessor and Treasurer in 1865 and re-elected in 1S67; as Assistant U. S. Marshal in 1870 he procured the Douglas county data for the 9th Census, and has been Post Master of Tuscola for a number of years.

The first meeting, under Township organization, of the Board of Supervisors, was held in Tuscola, on Monday, May 11, 1S6S, and the Supervisors were :

Benjamin Bovvdre, of "Deer Creek," but upon being informed by the State Auditor that there was a "Deer Creek" Township in Tazewell County, the name was changed to "Bowdre" in honor of its first representative.

In September, the same year, a petition to the Board of Supervisors was circulated, to which a great many signatures had been obtained, wherein the petitioners endeavored to show their belief that a majority of the voters of the county desired the abolition of Township organization.

Camargo Township was formerly called Albany Precinct, Newman was once Brushy Fork, Garrett Township was a part of Bourbon, Bourbon was once North Okaw, Bowdre, once called Deer Creek, was part of Collins Precinct, and Sargent belonged to Oakland Precinct.

Douglas county, once the 7th, now belongs to the 14th Congressional District, comprising the counties of Vermillion, Douglas, Coles, Piatt, Macon and Champaign, and is represented in the House of Representatives by Joseph G. Cannon.

Mr. Cannon came to Tuscola in 1859, the year of the new county; was elected State's Attorney in 1S61 and again in 1864. He was elected to Congress in 1872 and re-elected in 1874.

It is in the 32c! Senatorial District, the counties of which, at present, are Coles, Douglas, Moultrie, and has, of its citizens, been represented by Col. John Cofer, W. T. Sylvester and Joseph H. Ewing, of Areola; Jas. E. Callaway, of Tuscola, and by Maiden Jones, of Bourbon.

The counties of Vermillion, Coles, Douglas, Edgar and Clark make the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of the Second Grand Division, and has been presided over by Judges Harlan, Steele, and David Davis. The present Judge is O. L. Davis; the State's Attorney is R. B. Macpherson.

The first session of the Circuit Court was held in the then just finished depot building of the Illinois Central Railroad, and the first civil case on the Docket was Button vs. K. B. Johnson, default of defendant and judgment for three dollars and twenty cents. This was an appeal from Dr. J. T.Johnson, a magistrate in the village of Bourbon.

Afterwards Court was held over J. M. Maris1 present store, on northeast corner of Parke and Sale streets, in which building Mr. Wallace had his office as Recorder; at that time "this was the largest available room in Tuscola, and after that, until the present permanent Court House was built, in the large two-story wooden building which stands opposite the Court House on the north. Judge Harlan presided and heard all cases, whilst busily engaged in carving curious toys from soft wood, a habit he rarely laid aside during business hours.

For a while the County Clerk's office was in the east end of the hotel, burnt in 1864, which occupied the site of the present "Stanley House.1'*

The Court House was begun under the administration, as a County Court, in 1S64, of Judge Francis C. Mullen, of Garrett Township, assisted by John D. Murdock, of Camargo, and Caleb Bales, of Bourbon, as associates.

Judge Mullen was the second County Judge of Douglas county; was born in Delaware and came to his present location in Garrett Township in 1850.

original hotel was built by the Town Company, and there seems to be good authority for the statement that the Illinois Central Railroad Company had agreed to put the depot about opposite the site of the Court House, say Houghton street, but under a mistake of the person in charge, it got its present location.

The Court House is a large brick building of two-stories and basement which contains the jail and living rooms for the Sheriff or Jailer. It is situated in Block "C," a roomy enough plat of ground, 216x320, in about the centre of Tuscola. The plat was deeded to the county by the original Town Company for the consideration "that a Court House of a substantial character should be erected upon it within four years from March 17, 1S64. The grounds to be used exclusively for county buildings, and also conditioned that when it ceased to be used for such purposes it should revert to the grantors."

The architect of the building was O. L. Kinney, of Chicago. The original accepted bid for the masonry was $15,000, and the carpenter work was offered for $7,700. The contractors for the masonry lailed to perform their agreement, even after two or three extensions of time, and an advance of 20 per cent, on their contract, which advance was also made to the carpenter.

The County Board finally took charge of the work and in conjunction with Mr. J. M. Smith, of Tuscola, employed the same builders and others, and brought the work to a conclusion.

The entire original cost of the building find furniture was $42,000, the painting, glazing and iron not having been included in any of the bids.

The Deed Records have now accumulated to the number of 33 five hundred page volumes, and the vault of the office contains 130 books of record, including the records transferred from Coles county at the time of the partition which are called Transcripts. The Abstract Books, which are a complete synopsis of all the transfers of real estate, whether in trust or actual, were made for his own use by R. B. Macpherson, and were purchased of him in 1S69, under the law permitting the purchase of such books, and a resolution of the Board of Supervisors, for $1,075 m installments. These books were perfect to date, and the special care given them in the last few years, make them absolutely reliable, and for convenience of reference, second to none in the State.

The Illinois Central Railroad

The matter was engineered by Stephen A. Douglas, at that time United States Senator, in which enterprise he had the task of reconciling and combining in favor of the measure the influence of both Benton and Clay, who were strongly opposed to each other in everything else. Mr. Clay said in a speech that he "had traveled these prairies for days at a time and never saw a tree as large as a walking stick."

Douglas turned to Benton and said: "He never was on a prairie in his life, and on our prairies you are never out of sight of timber a' minute.

This road was granted every alternate section of land, designated by even numbers, for six miles on either side of the track, afterward increased by a further grant of the alternate sections within 1 =5 miles of the track on eacli side of the road and its branches, all even numbered sections, except section 16, which was reserved for schools and also excepting lands occupied by actual settlers.

The United States Lands had been selling for $1.25 per acre and the price of the remaining lands was immediately doubled, and some are said to have been sold as high as five and six dollars per acre.

and a condition was, that the road should be completed in ten years, and the company, by act of Assembly, to pay into the State Treasury five per cent, of the gross earnings of the road for all future time, and also, three-fourths of one per cent, of stock and assets, or enough to make at least seven per cent, of the gross earnings, a perpetual revenue to the State; and the lands were to be free from taxation until they had been sold and conveyed. By the charter the road is free from local and municipal taxation.

This makes Areola 18.4 feet higher than Tuscola, on the line of the road. The north line of the county is the highest point, but one, hetween Centralia and Champaign, the highest point being two miles north of Tolono.

It is notable, however, in connection with these facts that Tuscola is conspicuous, from the surrounding country, which is not the fact in the case of Areola, and may be owing to some extent to the elevation of seme buildings, as the Court House, Baptist Church tower and Seminary. These figures apply to this railroad only, It will not do to compare them as they stand with comparative elevations upon other roads in the county.

The Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Railway

Traverses the county from east to west, north of the middle, in Township 16 and near the middle of Newman, Camargo, Tuscola and Garrett Townships, intersecting the Illinois Central at Tuscola, the county neat. It was finished through the county in 1S72.

The charter of the Indiana and Illinois Central Railroad Company, of Indiana, bears date of December 30, 1S52; that of the Decatur and Indianapolis was dated March 21, 1S53, and these were consolidated in 1S54, forming the I. & I. C. Railway, the road receiving its present name under reorganization in 1876, thus it had been a proposed road for 20 years.

In 186S, Douglas county purchased 2,459 shares of the capital stock of the company and there was issued to the county a certificate for the shares. These were at a par value of $122,950 and were purchased of private parties in Indianapolis for $20,000. The transaction was conducted by T. H. Macoughtry, Maiden Jones, and Thomas S. Sluss, and reported to April Term of County Court, 1S68.

In 1S72 the county issued to the company $80,000 in bonds, with interest at ten per cent., j^ayable annually, principal payable in twenty years, reserving the right to pay the principal after eight years; this in accordance with the will of the electors, as expressed at the polls July 15, 1869.

Payable in fourteen years, with interest at ten per cent. In Newman Township last year the taxes paid by the railroad balanced the interest, and the interest due from the other Townships was materially reduced by the same means.

Pending the building of the road large quantities of lands had been acquired by the company, along its line, in this and other counties, in subscriptions ^of private parties for stock.

The Illinois Midland Railway

Traverses the county from east to west, in the south part, crossing the Illinois Central at Areola. It was originally an enterprise of citizens of Areola and the vicinity, and was first called the Paris and Decatur. Upon the extension of the line to Terre Haute, the name of that city was prefixed, and, finally, upon a further addition being made to Peoria, it received its present name. The first train passed over this road October 25, 1S72. ,

Township bonds, in aid of the companv, were issued, by a vote of the people, in Bowdre, Areola and Bourbon Townships, amounting in the aggregate to $16^,000. The payments growing out ot this grant have been strenuously resisted by a large number of citizens who were opposed to the measure, it being held that the voting of the bonds, was illegal, as well as the calling of an election for that purpose. The matter is yet in litigation and whether the bonds will eventuall) have to be paid or not is unknown. The ground occupied by the road is taxed as other lands, being 1S2 acres.

The Danville, Tuscola And Western Railroad

Is a proposed road, and was instituted by Tuscola people, materially aided by influential parties in Douglas and Vermillion counties. It runs in a northeast direction from Tuscola, leaving Douglas county in the northeast part of Camargo Township, thence through parts of Champaign and Vermillion counties to the ancient town of Dallas, and to Danville.

Douglas Coumtt

It has been graded for the most part, and in this county considerable work has been done in the way of bridging. At the present time the prospect of an early completion of this road is not brilliant. The location is a desirable one and its friends are not altogether without hope of its becoming, at some time, one of the institutions of the State.

Other roads have been proposed which were designed to cross the county in some part, as a road from Pana to Tolono, through Garrett Township; a Mattoon and Danville, through Bowdre and Newman, and a Charleston and Danville, touching Sargent Township, all of which have had preliminary surveys. Another proposed road is

The Toledo And St. Louis

Which runs in a southwesterly direction from Areola, has been graded for several miles. In October, 1S71, delegations from Areola and Tuscola met in Shelbyville, in the interests of this road and in that of their respective towns; this, of course, was whilst the Illinois Central was the only railroad in the county. The managers of this enterprise have a well grounded belief that the road will be pushed towards completion this season. And, finally,

The Tuscola And Roodhouse Railroad Proportion Of Indebtedness Assumed

In the act creating the county of Douglas, the new county became responsible for one-fourth part of the indebtedness of Coles county to the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad, and accordingly, at a special meeting of the County Board, January S, 1S6S, the county purchased of John Monroe, of Coles county, bonds numbers 1 to 1 ^ inclusive amounting to $19,070.98, and also paid interest on a remaining $10,000, amounting to $7,800, and since, about $12,500 of interest and principal, making a total cost to the county, in the transaction, of $39,370.98. Coles county had taken $100,000 in the stock of the road, now called the I. & St. L.

Alms House

The county owns the southeast quarter of section 36, township 16 north, range 9 east, 160 acres ot prairie about 2,y2 miles east of the county seat and has erected a large two-story frame building for an Alms House.

The final deed for the land was made by the I. C. R. R. in April 1S71, to Messrs. Sluss, Brown and Jones, the County Court, in pursuance of a contract formerly made with them. The farm cost about $6,400, to which the value of the buildings may be added.

The present lessee of the property agrees to board paupers at the rate of $3.00 each per week, and to pay $3-So per acre, per annum, for the land.

But few paupers are regularly at the Alms House, the greater number being boarded by private parlies at the expense of the county, and in some instances the poor have been allowed a weekly stipend at their own homes, which in man)- cases has been found to be more economical.

The War Record

The first full company - "D," 21st 111. - went out under the command of Capt. James E. Callaway, of Tuscola, who became Lieutenant Colonel. President Grant was the first Colonel of this Regiment. B. Frank Reed, of Bowdre Township, was also a Captain of this company. He died September, 1S65, of wounds received at Chicamauga. Wm. Brian ,vas the first Captain of company "H," 25th Regiment. Four companies were made up for the 79th, Allen Buckner, of Areola, being the Colonel. A. Van Deren, of Tuscola, was Captain of company "B," Wm. A. Low, of Newman, was Captain of company "E," Oliver O. Bagley, of Camargo, was Captain of company "G," and Dr. H. D. Martin, of Areola, was Captain of company "K." Dr. Martin died of wounds received at Liberty Gap, June 25, 1863. Gilbert Summe, of Tuscola, was Captain of company "A," 70th 111., a three months regiment. Derrick Lamb, of Tuscola, was Captain of company "F," 149th, and afterward of company "G," 135th. J. M. Maris, of Tuscola, was Quarter-Master in the 63d Regiment. J. B. McCown, of Camargo, was Colonel of the 63d, in which Regiment J. W. McKinney, was Surgeon. W. H. Lamb, of Tuscola, was Adjutant of the 79th. Wesford Taggart of Tuscola, was Lieutenant Colonel of the 25th. Dr. J. L. Reat was Surgeon of the 2 1 st.

A large number enlisted in the 1st, 2d, 5th, 7th and 13th Cavalry, the Chicago Light Artillery, the Sth and 55th Infantry of Illinois, and the 1st Missouri State Militia.

Henry Von Trebra, of Areola, was Colonel of the 32c! Indiana. He died at Areola in August, 1863. Simeon Paddleford, of Tuscola, was a Quarter- Master in the 21st Illinois.

These are probably enough to indicate, measurably, the part of Douo-las county in the war of 1861. The report of the Adjutant General of the State, on file in the County Clerk's office contains all possible information under this head except the actual number of men from the county in tabular form.

In July, 1S62, the sum of $2,000 was appropriated by the County Board to aid enlistments and the Magistrates were made distributors, in conjunction with the Board. A. G. Wallace and John Chandler were appointed to procure and present to the 79th Illinois a hundred dollar flay;.

Benevolent Societies

Masonry is represented in the county by four Lodges, which, in order of priority, are in Tuscola, Areola, Newman and Camargo, with an aggregate membership of 360, and Odd Fellowship by four Lodges, Areola, Tuscola, Newman and HindsDoro, with a membership of 1 85, which gives a total membership, in the societies, of 545, or about one-sixth of the voters of the county.*

Newspapers, Schools And Churches

The county contains thirty-two churches of the various denominations of which seven are in Areola, five in Tuscola, two in Newman and one in Bourbon, or one church to every five hundred inhabitants.

There are eighty school houses, giving- educational facilities to 5,600 pupils, or an average of 70 to the school, the expense being about $3.00 per annum per scholar.

The act admitting Illinois to the Union in 1S1S, provides for the reservation ot one-36th part of all the public lands, for school purposes, and Section 16 of each Township had been accordingly set apart for the benefit of its inhabitants. In all cases, in this county, Section 16 has been sold too early to realize a large amount of money, the land having been sold, in instances, as low as $2,00 per acre.

A common fund for the promotion of education, generally, was also established by the United States Government, through the annual payment to the State, of three per cent of the net avails of the public lands within its limits. Of this fund one-sixth part is appropriated to the erection and support of a collegiate institute. Other funds, to a very generous extent, have been provided, from all of which sources arises a large annual income.

Defalcation

In January, 1S74, James T. Walker, who had been re-elected to the office of County Treasurer in 1S71, upon settling his accounts preparatory to surrendering the office to Mr. J. M. Cox, of Areola Township, his successor, was found to be in default to the county in the sum of $14,295.29.

His sureties being, for the most part, of the most substantial citiizens, he was given every opportunity to make up his accounts out of property of various descriptions, which was in his name, but failing to meet the full requirements of the case and becoming alarmed for his personal liberty, as criminal prosecution was threatened, he escaped from custody, at his home, and under cover of darkness made good his escape. A reward of $1,000 was at once offered for his apprehension.

A petition, signed by a large number of tax-payers, representing a considerable portion of the wealth of the county, was presented to the Board of Supervisors, at the March meeting, 1874, praying for the release of his bondsmen, but the Board did not see fit to grant the prayer, and a suit was instituted to recover the amount of the sureties, in which the claim of the county was successfully pressed by R. B. Macpherson, assisted by E. L. Sweet, of Champaign. The interests of the bondsmen were in the hands of Thomas E. Bundv and T. H. Macoughtry, of Tuscola.

An adjustment was finally effected by a compromise between the county and Walker's bondsmen, upon their paying $13,000 and accrued interest from date of judgment. Walker's assets of whatever kind realized some $8,000 or $9,000, a relief to his sureties to that extent.

Douglas Countt Comparative Value Of Property, 1S59, 1S75

The population of the county by the Sth Census, in 1S60, was 7,140; State Census in iS6^ gave 11,652; per 9th Census in 1S70, 13,484. The number of inhabitants was about doubled the first ten years. The increase from i860 to 1S65 was about sixty per cent., and from 1S65 to 1870 about fifteen per cent., the same latter increase to date would give the number of inhabitants at about 15,000 or more, or about thirty-three persons to the square mile, in 1S70, and about

His Tori' Of

Of which ninety-seven were colored persons and 68S were foreign born, but as Newman has rapidly increased since 1S70 that Township now ranks third or fourth in population, the number of inhabitants in Newman city alone being over 1,000 in 1S76,

Is recorded as having been instituted on March 5, 1S66, Caleb Garrett, President, Joseph B. McCown, Vice-President, and the first Board of Directors were, Wm. Brian, of Tuscola Township; Win. F. Murphy, of Sargent; George W. Henson, of Camargo; L. McAllister, of Areola, and E. McCarty, of Tuscola Township. Shares were put at $5.00, and the Society was formed for the purpose of holding an Annual County Fair, and for other purposes. This Society occupies orounds belonging to the

Which, instituted in 186S, purchased 30 acres south side west half lot 3, northwest quarter section 2, township 15, range S, half mile south of Tuscola, and issued shares at $25 each, improved the grounds with suitable buildings, trotting course and a substantial tight board fence, at a total expense of not less than $4,000.

County Suryevoks

The offices of County Judge and Associates, prior to Township organization, consisted of three, chosen at large from the county, and gave place to the present Board of Supervisors in 1868, in which each of the Townships, eight in number, elect a representative to serve one year, from the first Tuesday in April. The emoluments of the offices of County Judge and Associates were nominal, being a small per diem and mileage for twelve to twenty days in the vear.

Under the present system, is Probate Judge, and has civil jurisdiction to the amount of $500. He is elected every four years, the first having been elected in November, 1S69. The salary is from $500 to $600, at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors, and can legally be put at $1,500.

Position, under County organization, and prior to the Constitution of 1S70, was worth all the fees of the office, which were over $3,000 and probably in some instances amounted to $4,000. The present salary, under the law, can not exceed $1,500 and must be made out of the office, the county not being liable for anv shortage in his pay, the balance, if any over $1,500, being paid into the county treasury. He is entitled to pay for necessary assistance. The present emoluments of this office can only be increased by the county leaving the first class where it belongs and taking place in the second class, which requires a population of 20,000, when the salary may be, but can not exceed, $2,000. The present population is about 15,000. The office at present is a profit to the county of about $1,000 per year. The Count v Clerk is elected to serve four years. The first regular election having been held in November, 1S61, therefore the election is held in the odd year.

The Circuit Ci.Erk And Recorder

Is allowed $1,500 and clerk hire. This office is subject to the same rules as that of the County Clerk, and the present pay can only be increased by an increase of population to 20,000, when it may be $2,000. All over $1,500 and assistance is paid into the treasury. Prior to the Constitution of 1S70 this office was worth all the fees, which were between $3,000 and $4,000. This officer also serves four years. The first regular term began in November, i860, the election taking place in the even numbered years, being at each Presidential election. The County Clerk and the Circuit Clerk and Recorder, it

Collector And Treasurer

And at present the salary is, for this term, fixed by the Board of Supervisors at $1,400 and an allowance for assistance. This salary can not exceed $1,500 and clerk hire whilst the county remains in the first class. This officer is elected in the odd year, beginning in 1869 and serves two years.

The Sheriff'S

Pay is $1,500 per year with an allowance for a deputy. The office paid as high as $3,500 under the old regime. A Sheriff is elected every two years, in the even numbered years, the last election having occurred in November, 1S74.

The Superintendent Of Schools

Receives emoluments per year of, probably, an average of $550. The pay of this officer may legally be, but can not exceed, $1,500, at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors. The office is filled by an election every four years, held in the odd year, the next regular election being in November, 1S77.

a state's attorney For each county is elected every four years, beginning in 1S72, on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, at the election, of the memhers of the General Assembly. He receives a salary of $400 from the State, and the entire emoluments of the office will average $900.

Fees, which he collects from his employers, at his own risk, have never much exceeded $600 per year and are not likely to be increased even with a large increase of population and a corresponding increase of business, under the present state of the law, which permits any competent person to perform the work, which formerly belonged exclusively to the office. His sole monopoly is the inspection of mines which it is, ex-officio, his duty to measure and report upon annually. It was the duty of the County Surveyor in 187 1, under the Statute, to examine and test all cattle scales In the county, under a penalty of $50 for neglect. The measure was extremely unpopular, and the law was repealed in 1S72. The examination of the crossings of railroads at public highways, which, in 1S71, paid the County Surveyor some forty dollars per year, was also stopped by a repeal of the law directing it. This officer was elected biennially until the term of office was changed by the Constitution of 1870 to a period of four years. The last regular election was in November, 1S75.

The Probate Court

Of Douglas county, holds its session on the third Monday of each month, except in January and July, when it sets on the second Monday, these latter being Common Law terms as well.

The Circuit Court

Coles county, third Monday succeeding. The Judges are elected every six years beginning first Monday in June, 1S73. The salary is $3,000, which is paid by the State.

The Board of Supervisors meet the first Monday in March, second Monday in July, second Tuesday in September, first Monday in December. The September meeting is the annual meeting.

Rivers, Or Creeks

Douglas county is intersected by the Embarras and Kaskaskia rivers almost at their sources, both rising in Champaign county. The Embarras, which flows generally through the middle and southeastern part of the county, is called "Ambraw,"" and is marked "Fox River" in the maps of the original United States survey. It is about ninety miles long and empties into the Wabash river in Lawrence county. The waters of this river are now conveyed to Charleston through iron pipes.

The Kaskaskia, locally called "Okaw," is about 300 miles in length, traverses the west part of the county and flows into the Mississippi in Randolph county. A settlement called Kaskaskia was made at its mouth by the French under LaSalle in 1673.

These rivers, locally called "creeks," are, in this countv, fringed as it were, by a plentiful growth of timber, which comprises about one-third of the area of the county, which area of timber is at least holding its own, if not increasing, by reason of the cessation of prairie fires, once so prevalent, which have at last yielded to the cultivation and general improvement of the prairie.

The countv is situated in Grand Prairie, now rapidly filling up with thrifty farmers, but it is within the memory of comparatively new comers that the prairie was considered almost a bleak, barren waste, unfit for habitation; all of the pioneers, almost without exception, settling within or near the edge of the timber, perhaps bv reason of the timber being valuable as well as convenient for use. Nevertheless the seeming protection afforded by the timber had its influence in determining locations in the early days, and it was considered injudicious, to say the least, for a man to expose himself and fiimily to the storms and annual prairie fires.

Twenty years ago, indeed, for the most part, within a nearer time, the traveler or "mover" pushed forward over the prairie for miles in any chosen direction, and almost in a straight line toward his destination, having for his only guide some point of timber, a grove, or perhaps only a knoll, pointed out or described by some obliging settler, and merely selecting the best ground, rode or drove through the tall grass without any sign of a road. In time the repeated travel began to leave a "trail" which, becoming better defined, became a t'trace." The "Springfield trace," running through the south part of the county from Oakland nearly due west, was, in early days, one of the best known and most frequently traveled, and though it has been straightened in many cases, in order that it should conform to the section lines, its original location has been retained in places. In these days the range of vision was bounded only by the horizon, and the white cover of a mover's wagon could be discerned at a distance of from eight to ten miles, suggesting the appearance of a sail at sea, hence these wagons were called "prairie schooners." They usually anchored in the timber or some friendly grove, made a shelter of the sail and built a fire in front. If caught upon the prairie they chose, if possible, the vicinity of some cabin, where the sailors had, generally, a cordial welcome, always receiving what assistance could be given, slept in and about the vessel and by sunrise the next morning would be hull down to leeward. At times fifteen or twenty of them could be taken in at one glance. For the present, however, groves of timber, orchards and hundreds of miles of substantial hedges intercept the view, where twenty years ago the "treeless waste" was a monotony of grass and resin weeds which grew to be as high as a man on horse-back.

These prairie roads, in time, gave w ay to the present well made and well drained public roads, which, like the section lines they are usually laid upon, conform to the cardinal points, and lengthen the distance between given termini about one-third. The present roads, in most instances, become effectual drains b}- reason of their ditches, and the system of drainage, under the Statute, having been adopted by some of the Townships, thousands of acres of valuable lands have been rescued from the swamps.

Flora

Growing upon the variety of soil peculiar to the Central part of the State, the flora of Douglas county is much diversified; of timber, White, Black, Spanish and Red Oaks, Shellbark and White Hichory, Sugar and White Maple, White and Red (or Slippery) Elm, Black and Honey Locust, White and Black Walnut, Swamp and Upland Ash. Sycamore, Cottonwood, Mulberry and Wild Cherry. These, of course, in the timber bordering the water courses, but the experiment of growing forest trees upon the prairie is a pronounced success as many beautiful and thrifty young groves amply illustrate.

Cord wood is hauled to the various towns in large quantities, principally Oak and Hickory, at prices varying' from four to five dollars for choice. However, since the east and west railroads have been in operation, vast quantities of coal are delivered in the countv and every year becoming more generally used, not only in the towns but by the farmers upon the prairie. Present prices, about $3-25 per ton by the car load.

Coal has not been discovered in the county, which lies, however, in the coal region. From discoveries recently made in Coles countv, there is claimed to be an abundance of coal at a depth of five hundred feet. Twenty-five miles east of Newman, on the I., D. & S. Railway, near Dana, Vermillion county, Ind., the Dana Coal Company, C. W. Moore, President, is taking out, from a vein four to five feet thick, at a depth of 136 feet, a superior quality of bituminous coal in paying quantities.

Prof. Worthen's "Geology of Illinois," says of Douglas countv: "The whole area of the county is covered so deeply with drift clay that there is no outcrop of the underlaying coal measures in the county; from exposures 111 adjoining counties it is known that the underlaying beds belong to the upper coal measures, and probably include two or three of the upper coals, but the extent to which they are developed here can only be determined with the drill. It is not probable that any heavy bed of coal will be found short of 600 to Soo feet from the surface, though one of the upper seams two or three feet thick might be found at a moderate depth."

The soil on the prairie is a deep black loam, and in the timber a light, grayish clay, the latter is very productive and much better adapted to wheat growing than the prairie lands.

Bowlders of Granite or other rock are rarely found of any great size, and in many parts of the countv, whether in prairie or timber, they are unknown, whilst in other sections there are enough of small dimensions, weighing from one to five hundred pounds, to obstruct, to some extent, the tilling of the soil, but these are few in number. The largest rock in the county that is visible above the soil, stands in the southeast corner of section 2S, township 16, range 7,011 the farm of Judge Mullen, in Garrett Township. It protrudes considerably above the ground, showing probably 1,000 cubic feet. All of these surface rocks have been rounded by the action of water, and evidently have been transported by natural agencies from their native beds.

Upon the farm of R. Patterson, section 33, 16, 9, in Camargo Township, and on the Embarras river, is a fine fountain of living water, widely known as "Patterson's Spring," and a similar one on the Okaw, upon the farm of Thos. Brian, section 14, 16, 7, called "Sulphur Spring," and another in Hackett's Grove, section 31, 16, 9, the overflow of which finally reaches the Embarras, through Scattering Fork. These locations, offering the double inducements of shade and water, are favorite places of resort for celebrations which, from numbers, have necessarily an alfresco requirement.

On the farm of Wessel Blaase, in Bourbon Township, some mounds have been found, from one of which human remains were taken, in excavating for a building. Other buildings in the county have been set upon slight elevations, all of which, from the surroundings, were doubtless the work of human hands, at least such is the popular belief, assisted, in some instances, by ancient marks upon large trees, all of which face to one point. If an antiquarian society were formed it is possible that Douglas county might furnish some facts of value to the scientist or the antiquarian.

The productiveness of the soil, and the easv tillage, from the absence of timber and rock, with the comparative remunerative value of all farm products, have made agriculture the leading interest of the county, to the exclusion of manufacturing enterprise. At the same time the facilities for manufacturing are not great, from the absence of home coal and perpetual water power. There are, however, many fine flouring mills, several extensive brick yards, which are sufficient for the growing demands of home, and one or two Sorghum refineries, manufacturing svrup, which are doing good business.

The growth of the county and the expansion of agricultural interests, from year to year, increase the demand for nearly all manufactured articles, but, like new countries in this respect, manufactures are of slow growth, and must wait for the necessary capital to accumulate or the introduction of it from other quarters.

The climate of Douglas countv is exceptionally healthy and still improving with the cultivation of the land. She offers, in addition, superior inducements to good men of every grade who desire permanent homes, where they can educate their children and enjoy facilities for worship, the educational institutions being of advanced character, and the various religious denominations exhibiting unusual liberality. For the sending and receiving of goods, grain and merchandise generally, her railroad system, now nearly all that could be desired, having 72 miles in operation, when completed, will hardly be found exceeded elsewhere, and notwithstanding the rapid increase of wealth, evinced in both town and country by many handsome residences, erected within a few years, by self-made men, the tendencies of the people are decidedly democratic, the intelligent workingman receiving as much consideration, socially, as the professional, though he had the bluest blood and the riches of Croesus.

Nowhere in the county are liquor licenses granted. Crimes committed by residents of the county are comparatively rare. The people are industrious and, upon the whole, the morals are good and the conclusion necessarily follows that Douglas county is making rapid strides in proportional wealth and greatness, towards the front rank, in which she will eventually take her place.

Illinois System Of Surveys

The rectangular system of surveys adopted by the United States Government in subdividing the public lands, in its present state of perfection, is the simplest and most beautiful that could be devised. A State, when subdivided, has the regularity and symmetry of a well laid out city on a grand scale, the townships corresponding to the blocks and the sections and subdivisions to the lots. The sections and cownships are almost invariably one and six miles square, bounded by lines corresponding to the cardinal points.

The public lands are primarily surveyed into rectangular tracts, six miles square, called townships, bounded by lines running east and west, and north and south, and containing, as near as may be, 23,040 acres - 16, 7, in Garrett Township, is of just that area. The townships are subdivided into thirty-six tracts one mile square, as a general rule, and called sections. The sections are numbered consecutively from one to thirty-six, beginning in the northeast corner of the township and numbering west with the' north tier of sections, thence east with the second tier, wrest with the third and so on to section thirtysix in the southeast corner of the township.

Sections are divisible into four equal parts of 160 acres each, and each quarter section is again divisible into two half quarters ol So acres or into four quarter-quarters of 40 acres each. These are called legal subdivisions and are the only divisions recognized by the Government in disposing of the public hinds, except where traces are made fractional by water courses or other causes. The subdivisions of sections were not actually surveyed and marked in the held. Quarter section or half mile posts were established on the boundaries of the sections, ami the quarter-quarter corners are, by law, the equidistant points between the section and quarter section corners.

The lines constituting the base of the public surveys, with regard to Douglas county especially, are three. A line running north and south through the centre of the State is called the "Third Principal Meridian," and a similar one in the State of Indiana, whL.i is the Second Principal Meridian, and a Principal Base line which crosses Illinois about So miles south of Douglas county. We count, therefore, north from the Base line and east from the third Principal Meridian, or west from the second Principal Meridian. Thus, Tuscola is situated in township 16, North of the Principal Base,of Range S East,of the third Principal Meridian, and Newman is in the same Township, 16, North of the Principal Base, and of Range 14 West of the second Principal Meridian. Thus tb';se points are accurately located, for no other section of land in the State of Illinois can possibly have the same description, and knowing the location of any other city in the State, in the same manner, that depends upon the same Base and Meridian, their distance apart can be quite accurately estimated.

As is well known, lines beginning at a given distance apart and both running accurately north will converge or approach each other, and consequently the Townships always become narrower as they run north, and a single Township is about three rods narrower on its north side than on the south, in this latitude. A check upon this convergence is made bv running what is called a Correction line, sub-base or standard parallel. Such a line runs between Townships 15 and 16 in this county. Here the work was, as it were, begun afresh, with new and accurate measurements east and west, and thence the work again carried on north. This will account for the well known slip corners of Townships and sections on this line, sometimes called "jogs;1' Surveyors call them "fallings," falling to the right or left of corners at the end of the line run.

The townships in range 14 west, in Douglas county, count from the second P. M. in Indiana, so that a system of surveys counting east from the third P. M., in Illinois, was extended until it met and closed upon a system, counting west from the second P. M. in Indiana.

Township 16, S, was surveyed by John Messinger, April, 1S21; 15, 9, by W. L. May, in May, 1821; 15, S and 14, S, by C. McK. Hamtrauck, who subdivided 15, 9, into sections in June, 1821. It is unlawful for the surveyor who surveys townships to subdivide the same into sections, that one may he a check upon the other, and it is well known that in many cases the surveyors, being overtaken b\ a severe attack of bad weather, subdivided some of the townships in the tent.

In re-establishing the lines of the original survey, the so-called pro rata system is now universally adopted by all skilled surveyors, in which they are sustained b} the Courts; not, however, until the surveyors had educated the Courts up to the point. That is to say, if in a measurement of six miles, between original corners, there is a loss or gain found, thus differing from the record, the difference is distributed to each mile. In other words, if the loss or gain is six rods in six miles, each section will lose or gain one rod from its original recorded length, whilst, at the same time it may be longer or shorter than some other section on the same measured line as it was in the original survey, the whole distance is longer or shorter than the recorded distance, so the length of each mile of the distance is longer or shorter than the recorded distance.

Report Of The Commissioner General Of The Land Office, 1S6S, Page 7

Missing corners must be re-established in the identical localities they originally occupied. When the spot can not be determined by existing landmarks in the field, resort must be had to the field notes of the original survey.

The law provides that the lengths of the lines as stated in the original field notes, shall be considered as the true lengths, and the distance between the corners, as set down in those notes, constitute the proper data from which to determine the true locality of the missing corner.

Hence the rule, that all such should be restored at distances "proportionate" to the original measurements between existing original landmarks.

Tuscola, the county seat, is situated in section 34, township 16, north, of range S east, of the third Principal Meridian. The original town was laid out by a company, who also instituted the city of Newman at the same time, in 1857, an<^ tne projectors of the enterprise predicted that a new county wculd be soon formed, that the east and west railroad would be built, and that Tuscola would be l he county seat of the new county. The new county was made in two years, Tuscola became the county seat about the same time, and the railroad was built through the county fifteen years after.

October 11, 1S59, an election was held for and against incorporation. The names of all the voters were: VVm. Chandler, I. J. Halstead, Michael Noel, A. L. Otis, F. F. Nesbit, P. Noel, A. J. Gorman, J. H. Harrison, Jas. Davis, A. G. Wallace, John Chandler, A. VanDeren, Thos. Woody and J. G. Cannon. For incorporation, 12; against incorporation, 2 - 14. The last six named are still living in the city. Town organized November, 28, 1S59. First Council was: F. F. Nesbit, L.J. Wyeth,Jas. Davis, W. T. French, with M. Vaul, Clerk.

The Charter is dated March 11, 18.^9. The first Mayor was James H. Martin, with a Council consisting of I. L. Jordan, E. Price, M. Pugh, W. Taggart. Mayor Martin resigned in June, 1S70, and dying November 15, 1S71, was buried at Camargo with Masonic honors. He was from Indiana and had resided in Tuscola about six years in the practice of the law. Tuscola is, doubtless, the first city in the State that was organized under the general incorporation act, which took effect July, 1, 1S72. Various additions have been made to the area of the original town plat, which now covers an area of one square mile.

The prosperity and progress of the city has heen retarded by many and some extensive fires, the largest and most notable of which, known as the fire, occurred on the night of March n, 1S73, at about 9 o'clock p. m. It originated in Block "A," between the present location of Hudson's lumber yard and Griswold's store. Block "A," 1 10 feet front, was built up of wooden structures, and the first intimation of the fire was the loud explosion of a quantity of gunpowder in a grocery store where the fire began. The explosion spread the flames in every direction in the block, and the intense heat soon ignited the buildings on the east side of Parke street, and the fire rapidly made its way along the south side of Sale street, and the north side of the Avenue, including Commercial Block, the best building in the city, a large three-story brick which contained, besides several handsome stores, a large City Hall, and in the third story the splendid Hall of the Masonic Society, also the First National Bank. These rooms had been finished in fresco in the best style of tne art and the Lodge room was not surpassed by many of the finest halls in the large cities. When it was found that the Block would be burnt, the bank men piled every possible moveable into the vaults, including the valuable law library of Mr. Cannon, and upon opening the vaults the third day after the fire, the contents were found to be absolutely uninjured. This Commercial Block occupied the site of the present Opera Block. The other burnt buildings were of wood but contained in the aggregate a large quantity of merchandise. Some fifty buildings were destroyed, and the lo^s was not much short of $150,000.

Tuscola was, and is, destitute of a fire company or fireman's organization of any kind whatsoever, and the great fire was only checked by tearing out buildings in its course, which energetic action probably saved Union Block on Sale street, a building of conside able value. Other fires have occurred from time to time, resulting mostly in loss, but in many instances valuable buildings have been saved by the well directed efforts of volunteer firemen, with no other apparatus than a dull axe or two and a few ropes. A fire limit has been fixed within the bounds of which it is unlawful to erect a wooden building.

Tuscola contains the Court House, which is more particularly described in the notes on the county at large, and the fine building of Tuscola Union School District, the cornerstone of which was laid on the 20th day of June, 1S70, by the Masons and Odd Fellows, with appropriate ceremonies. It contained a history of the city and county, with exact situation of both; the variations of the compass and the atitude and longitude, by Henry C. Niles; the history of Free-ma-

This building is of three stories with basement, a large bell and excellent town clock, and has ample accommodations for over 500 pupils, which is about the number ot present attendance. The contract price was originally $32,000, but the amount was subsequently ncreased so that the entire cost is about $40,000. The contractor and builder was L. Johnston.

The District issued bonds in aid .of the cost of construction to the amount of $20,000, which were payable in three, five and seven years and were sold for ninety-two and one half cents.

A substantial two-story brick school house was demolished in 1S71 to make room for the present building. It had cost $6,000. The first School House was a one-storv frame, which cost $500, built in 1S58. It stands in its original location, next east of the Baptist Church, now refitted for a dwelling.

The first hotel was built by the Town Company, and there seems to be authoritj- for the statement that the I. C. R. R. Co. had agreed to put the depot opposite the present site of the Court House, say at Houghton street, but under a mistake of the person in charge it got its present location. This change in the proposed location of the first depot accounts measurably, if not altogether, for the absence of business houses about the Court House. The first store in town was built on the square and removed up town. A drug store, the first in town, was kept for years by Dr. Wright in the dwelling now occupied by H. B. Evans, on the Court House square.

The first child born in Tuscola was Miss May, daughter of A. G. Wallace. Miss May Chandler moved to town at the age of six weeks, and was, therefore, the "first baby.1' She is the daughter of Wm. Chandler, who built the second dwelling in the place, northwest corner of Daggy and Main streets, still standing, remodeled.

Opera Block, on the north side of the Avenue, was built by stock subscription in 1S74, and replaces Commercial Block, which was burnt in 1S73. Besides several large stores it contains a large audience room furnished with comfortable arm chairs, and a graceful gallery, proscenium boxes, large and roomv stage, drop and other curtains and scenerv, private entrances and exits, and almost every convenience for a fairly appointed theater. It has a seating capacity of about 1,000 and the building cost quite $30,000. As this Hall was added to the improvement in the face of the fact that the former Hall did not pay, it must be conceded that it was erected by public spirited men in recognition of the great need of such a convenience, and in a spirit of pure love for. the good and beautiful the intelligent portion of the community can appreciate.

The brick block of Bright & Jones, on the south side of the Avenue, contains, on the second floor, the Lodge Rooms of the Masonic Society. That of the Odd Fellows being on the second floor of J. M, Smith's building, on the same street.

Union Block, on Sale street, corner of Main, was erected in 1S71 by a combination of capital, and narrowly escaped the fate of Commercial Block in the great fire. It is also of brick, of two stories, and about 100 feet front. There are several other small brick buildings.

The first newspaper in Tuscola, and in the county, was the "Tuscola Press," followed by the "Douglas County Shield," the "True Republican" and the "Tuscola Gazette." The papers published at present are: The "Saturday Journal," which was once the "Union" - it is published by Lindsay & Chapman, and is Republican in politics - and the "Douglas County Review," instituted in July, 1S75, de\oted to Democratic principles, and published by Converse & Parks. These papers are known in newspaper parlance as "co-operative."

The first Banking House in the county was that of Wyeth, Cannon & Co., having been instituted in iS6^, afterwards converted into the "First National Bank of Tuscola;" cap- tal, $1 13,000; surplus, $25,000; H. T. Carraway, Pr sklent; W. H. Lamb, Cashier. There is no other bank at present, two or three more having had a short existence The Doaglas County Bank was instituted September, 1S70, on Sale street.

There are five Churches, of which the Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Christian and Colored Methodist have one each. The Methodist and Presbyterian Churches were finished about the same time, 1S65, the former being of brick. The large brick tower of the Baptist Church is a conspicuous object from the surrounding country.

The first Masonic Lodge in the county was instituted in Tuscola in 1S60: Jas. Davis, W. M.; W. B. Dryer, Secretary, and W. H. Russell, Treasurer; Tuscola, No. 332; a Council in 1S63, a Chapter in 1S67, and a Commandery of Knights Templar in 1S70. Messrs. Davis and Dryer are yet business men of the place. Russell, who came in 1S59, became a prominent and wealthy merchant in the firm of Wood\ & Russell, and died in June, 1S76. This organization had a lodge room in Commercial Block, which was burnt in 1S73. The preser.t membership is 140.

Of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 316, in Tuscola, was put in working order June 6, 1S65. The charter members were: C.M.Richards, A. B. Gibbs, I. L. Williams, R. Barden, P. F. Kinder, H. Gregory; Secretary, John G. Uhler. The Encampment was instituted October S, 1S68. The present membership is about 6^.

Tuscola is divided into three Wards which are represented in the City Council by two Aldermen from each, tne Mayor being John J. Jones, of the firm of Bright & Jones. The population of the city is 2,000.

In December, 1S67, Jas. B. Hart, a resident of Tuscola, who had for several years kept a plow store on the corner of Central Avenue and Parke street, and was an active member of the Christian Church, was arrested for complicity in a case of forgery committed upon the First National Bank of Madison, Wisconsin, the principal being one Barton, who had passed as a Christian minister of the Gospel. Hart was taken upon a requisition from the Governor of Wisconsin, though an attempt had been made to c?rry him off without it, which had been successfully resisted by Jos, G. Cannon and others. Hart was accompanied to the depot on the night of Wednesday, December iS, 1S67, by a large crowd of friends and sympathizers, such a demonstration in fact that the officer in charge feared a rescue. He was conveyed to Madison, attended by T. H. Macoughtry, as counsel. He returned the following Saturday, having been able to give as security a $5,000 check of Wyeth, Cannon & Co., which had been voluntarily tendered by Wm. P. Cannon, Esq., upon which the money was at once paid in Madison, and that deposited as security. The trial, set for January 7, 1S6S, resulted in his acquittal and he returned cleared, being obliged, howtver to meet an expense of $1,200.

Hart eventually sued the bank for the reward offered for Barton and for false imprisonment, and finally settled for $q,200, his expenses, however, were heavy. The Sheriff of the county was Henry C. Carico, who had been elected in 1S66. He served in the war of 1S61, with a Captain's commission, in company "D'" iqth 111. Cavalry. Though young he had been unusually successful in business and had accumulated a large amount of property He died suddenly in Chicago, on a health tour, and was buried Masonically at Tuscola, in October, 1S71.

Tuscola Township contains 5S sections of land, making an area of 602.-3 square miles and 38,823 acres, some of the sections being more than a mile square, and is the largest Township in the county in area as well as in population and wealth. This Township being nearly all prairie was of the latest settled, its development being almost entirely due to its railroads, the I., D, & S. and the I. C. Railroads crossing at Tuscola.

Amongst the most active of the earlier settlers were Oliver C. and M. F. Hackett, Owen J. Jones and Joseph W. Smith, and in the north part, B. F. Boggs, B. F. Nelson and G. P. Phinney. O. C. Hackett was the first Supervisor of the Township. Mr. Phinney, who arrived in Tuscola in 1859, on the day of the election for county seat, was subsequently chosen three different times to represent the Township as Supervisor, in 1S73-4-5. Wm. Brian settled in the west part of the Township in 1S34, and was for many years the only inhabitant. Jos. G. Cannon and Wm. Wamsley, of Tuscola, both old settlers of the town, added the Wamsley & Cannon addition to Tuscola in i860. Mr. Wamsley died October, 1874, and was buried by the Masons at Tuscola, on his 70th birth day. Theodore F. Daggy died in August, 1S74. He was a young lawyer of great promise. Enoch, father of Kimball Glasco, of this township, settled one mile north of Charleston, in Coles county, in 1826. The first settler in Coles county seems to have been John Parker, in 1824, who located at the Blakeman mill on the Embarras.

In the distribution of county offices the share of Tuscola Township, by the vote of the people, has been liberal. Thomas S. Sluss was elected County Judge in November, 1865, and to the same title, but a different position, after township organization in the fall of 1869. Andrew G. Wallace was the first Circuit Clerk of the new county in 1S59, and continued to serve, by continuous re-election, until November, 1872, when he was succeeded by Patrick C. Sloan, the present incumbent. G W. Flynn, as Assessor and Treasurer, served from November, 1861, to Novemoer, 1S63, succeeded by V. C. McNeer, sr., who was followed bv Henry B. Evans, in November, 1S65, who was re-elected in 1S67. Jas. T. Walker was made Collector and Treasurer in 1S69 and again in 1S71. Henry R. Ingraham was elected to the same office in 1875, and is the present officer. Wm. T. French, in November, 1S62, and Henry C. Carico, in 1S66, were elected to the office of Sheriff. Wm. H. Sipple was installed as Superintendent of Schools in 18=59, being the first in that office. C. Frank Lamb was elected to the same position in November, 1863, to fill a fractional term, and succeeded by Rev. S. T Callaway, in 1S69, who was re-elected in 1S73. He died in 1S75 and the interim between that time and the November election was filled by C. YV. Woolverton, b\ appointment. Henry C. Niles was elected County Surveyor in 1S71, the first one to serve four years under the new Constitution of 1S70. He had been the first Surveyor of the county, in 1859, and was re-elected in 1S61. E. C. Siler had been put into the same office in the fall of 1S65. O. B. Lester was appointed State's Attorney in Juhr, 1872, and was the first person born in the county who held a State office in the county. The Supervisors of the Township have been: 1868, O. C. Hacket; 1S69, K. Glassco; 1S70, Rice Ervin; 1S71, A. M. Woody; 1S72, P. C. Sloan; 1873-4-5, G. P. Phinney. The present Supervisor is Rice Ervin, who arrived in the county in April, 1S65.

The population of the township in 1S70, per Ninth Census, was 2,863, The township took stock in the L, D. & S. Railway to the amount of $20,000, at ten per cent, interest, payable in 14 years.

A Modern School House

The original city of Areola was laid off by the Illinois Central Railroad on its own lands, about the centre of section 4, 14, S, in November, 1855, in which year the road had been completed through the county. Large tracts were soon after added by Dr. F. B. Henrv, John McCann and others, and later the area of the place was farther enlarged by the additions of Chandler & Bales on the south, Sheldon & Jaques on the east and other smaller tracts, some sixteen in all, until the city now covers the area of an entire section, viz., one square mile. The railroad company chose to lay off the streets of the original town plat square with the track, which runs considerably to the east, thus throwing the streets off the cardinal points in the heart of the citv. In the additions on the south and east the proprietors of the additions have preferred keeping to the north, south, east and west lines, thereby conforming to the original survey of the land, hence the notable deflections in the built up streets of the city toward the south and east.

The original station was called "Okaw" by the railroad company and went by that name for a number of years until a change was made under the following circumstances: Col. John Cofer was post master at Rural Retreat from 1854 to 1S5S and being the nearest post master, as such, the duty devolved upon him to show the necessity of a post office at "Okaw,'1 which had been petitioned for bv Doctor and Judge Henry, John Blackwell and others. The Colonel sent the papers to Washington in due course, and they were returned with the information that there was already in the State a post office called

Col. Cofer represented the county in the State Legislature and is still, though advanced in years, an active business resident of the township. John Blackwell, Esq., who came to the place in 1S57, was the first magistrate in the town. He was, in his day, a leading, man in all that pertained to good citizenship, and died, January 16, 1S69, much lamented. Dr. F. B. and Judge John J. Henry are yet active business citizens of the town, the latter having been elected Associate Justice of the county prior to Township organization in 1S65.

The first City Council, or Board of Trustees of the city, was convened in 1S5S. Mahlon Barnhart was the first President and I. S. Taylor, Clerk. W. T. Sylvester and Judge Henry were of the Board. Mr. Barnhart was from Indiana in 1857, anc^ Wils elected Supervisor of the township in 1873-4-5 and again in 1S76, being the present Supervisor.

August 6, 1S73, the city was organized under the general law for incorporating cities and towns, in force July I, 1872, with Geo. Klink, Mayor. Aldermen - H. M. McCrory, J. E. Morris, J. II. Wagner. Jas. Jones. It is now divided in towards and Geo. Klink is the present Mayor. He had the rank of Sergeant Major in the 25th Illinois in war of 1 86 1.

The citv has lost much by many destructive fires, amongst the more notable cf which was the loss of a fine brick block on First South street, west of the railroad. This was a substantial two-story building of 110 feet front, and had keen erected by .Samuel Blackwell at a cost of $20,000. The fire occurred in January, 1S74, and was supposed to have been incendiary, but the building had been on fire previously in a drug store which occupied part cf it, so the fire may have been spontaneous in its origin. Mr. Blackwell arrived in the place in 1858, before the institution of the county of Douglas. There was also lost by fire in October, 1S75, a two-story frame school house belonging to the district which had cost between $5,000 and $6,000. This was supposed to have been purposely fired. Parties were tried for the crime but acquitted. Some years previously another school house had been designedly burnt by a disreputable painter, who kept a tavern in the city. He was tried and cleared. In the summer of iS6i a large elevator was burnt on Second South street, and at another time Bradbury's mill in the south part of town.' Rust's frame dwell- ing was burnt in 1872, and three hotels have also been lost by fire. A fire limit has been established, within the bounds of which it is unlawful to erect wooden buildings, but no other precaution has been taken to prevent the spread of dangerous fires. In addition to the calamities of fire, the city was visited, on May 14' 1S5S, by a tornado, which also took the village of Bourbon in its course. This storm threw down sixteen buildings in Areola, beside doing other serious damage. It is the most serious storm remembered in this region.

The first Banking House in the c'ty was instituted by Beggs & Clark in March, 1S6S, which, on December 19, 1S75, became the present First National Bank of Areola. Capital, $50,000. James Beggs, President; A. L. Clark, Cashier. Mr. Beggs arrived in the city in 1S51. The present Banking House of J. C. Justice was instituted July 23, 1S73. Cannon, Wyeth & Co., had a Bank here for a short time.

Amongst the most prominent of the permanent buildings in the city, at present and erected to date, Union Block, 60 x 40, built by Douglas, Louthan & Grant, Duncan's Block, the Bank Block, Lloyd's Block and Willis' Block, west of the railroad, are all substantial bricks. The finest building in the city is Metropolitan Block, on the north side of First South street. If is an imposing large two-story brick edifice, covering seven large stores of great depth, and having an aggregate frontage of 160 feet. The upper floors are principally occupied by the handsome lodge rooms of the benevolent societies of the place, the chief feature, however, being a fine auditorium or City Hall, with a seating capacity of about Soo, with comfortable arm chairs, a sjmcious and roomy stage, drop and other curtains and scenery, and most of the best appliances of the day for the convenience and comfort of exhibitors and audiences. It was built in 1872 by various owners at a cost of $30,000. A new School House is about being erected of brick. It wili be of tasteful design, 35 feet in height and 64 x 74 feet, to cost about $10,000.

In Churches, in the county, Areola takes the lead in numbers, having seven, of which the Methodist, Baptist, Episcopalian, Christian, Presbyterian, Catholic and Lutheran denominations have one each.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows began business here October n, 1S60, and is therefore the oldest Odd Fellow lodge in the county by about four years. The charter members were, Jas. Ewing, W. T. Sylvester, C. Cooper, L. D. Price and A. G. Wallace, of Tuscola. Jas. Ewing was the first County Judge of Douglas, 1859. This Lodge, No. 2S9, has a present membership of 65.

Of newspapers there are two. The Areola Record was started in 1S65 under John M. Gruelle, the present propiietor. It is independent in politics. The Douglas County Democrat, formerly owned by H. H. Moore, was established in 1870, is Democratic in political creed, and the present editor and proprietor is C. M. Leek. Both are known in newspaper parlance as "co-operative."

In July, 1862, fourteen years ago, a gloom was cast over the community by the accidental death, by drowning, of John Blackwell, a lad of 12, and a son of John Blackwell, sr. In company with Wm. R. Rust, then also a lad, and a German, Peter Henson, they attempted the old "Stoval Ford" on the Okaw, in Bourbon Township, being in a buggy drawn by a fine mare belonging to L. C. Rust. The waters were up and the ford being deeper than they supposed, John Blackwell and Henson were drowned, Rust escaping by a miracle, how, he never knew. The mare having become entangled in the harness, was lost.

L. C. Rust, father of W. R. Rust, was a leading merchant and business man of Areola, having been one of those who removed from Bourbon when the business of that place was transferred to Areola and Tuscola. He died February, 1873. Dr. I. N. Rynerson died in April, 1873. He was a farmer and former practicing physician, of fine education and great talent as a public speaker.

Areola is unfortunately the scene of two of the few murders committed in the county. One of these was the deliberate murder of Joe. Eves, a carpenter, by one Bullock, an agent for Culbertson. Bullock, who was a large heavy young man, had repeatedly joked Eves about his supposed intimacy with women, and after repeated rencontres Eves appears to have been able, on the last occasion, to retaliate in kind and with liberal interest, which so enraged Bullock that, producing a pistol, he shot Eves on the instant. This occurred near the p'-esent Harvey Restaurant. Bullock fled and concealed himself but the people promptly turned out and captured him. He was committed for murder in the first degree, and as there was no jail in the county at the time, August, 1S61, he was imprisoned at Champaign, where by a daring effort, he broke jail and made good bis escape. Eves was a quiet inoffensive man, and it docs not appear that he even expected to provoke Bullock to anger.

The other murder was that of Mr. Abram Houghtelling, a lumber merchant, by bis nephew, Desang, which occurred January 21, 1S72. Mr. H. was sitting in his office writing when Desang entered, and within ten or twelve feet, discharged the contents of g doublebarrelled shot gun, which, having been loaded with large buckshot, killed him instantly. The murderer was tried and the defence having sufficiently established insanity, he was committed to the Asylum at Elgin, whence he at one time made his escape and returning to Areola made many threats of violence. He was re-arrested and returned to the Asylum by Sheriff Cunningham. Douglas county has had six insane persons committed to the various Asylums of the State.

Bourbon Switch is a point on the I. C. R. R.,in the north part of this township, between sections 15 and 22, township 15, range So It had been made a point for the reception of cross-ties, during the construction of the road, and locally known ;is the "Tie Switch." It has a side track for the accommodation of the neighborhood, called the Ohio Settlement, which is comparatively thickly settled, for prairie, and rapidly becoming the" best improved section of the country.

The township of Areola contains 56 sections of land, equal to 54 square miles, containing 34,604 acres. Previous to township organization this division, then called "precinct, extended one mile farther east and also contained all of range 1 1, 7, which now belongs to Bourbon It then had seventy-seven sections of land. The population, per the 9th Census, 1S70, was set down at 2,332, being the second in ooint of population, or about 41 persons to the square mile; 1,900 of them, however, live in the city.

Citizens of this township have figured largely in the public busi- , ness of the county. Col. John Cofer, W. T. Sylvester and Joseph H. Ewing have represented the people in the State Legislature, las, Ewing was the first County Judge, being elected in iS=;a, and after township organization Asa T. Whitnev was the first Supervisor, 1S6S; D. Hitchcock served in the same capacity, 1S69-70; Wm. Luce, 1871-72; succeeded by Mahlon Barnhart, who was elected in 1S73-74-75, and again in 1876, being the present Supervisor. W. W. Monroe was made .Superintendent of Schools in 1S65, Jas. M. Cox, County Treasurer in 1 S 7 3 , serving until the fall of 1S75. Edmund Fish was elected County Surveyor in 1S69, and served two years. He is now County Surveyor of Montgomery county. F. G. Cunningham was elected Sheriff in 1S72 and, removing to Tuscola, was re-elected in 1S74. N. Rice Gruelle was elected to the same office in 1S6S. John J. Henry was Associate Justice of the county in 1S65 and resigned. He was succeeded by Calvin Jones in 1S67.

Camargo Township enjoys the honor of being the oldest settled portion of Douglas county, the first comers of whom we have any account having arrived in 1S29. The township derives its name from the city of Camargo in Mexico, and was suggested by Col. McCown. The first house built in Douglas county is yet standing on section 33, 16, 9, on the lies' land, west of the railroad bridge at Camargo and north of the track. It was raised in 1829 by John A. Richman, the father of John Richman of our day, and well and familiarly known as "Uncle Jack." John A. Richman lived to be over So, and even at that age would hardly deign to ride a horse, but would gird himself with knife and tomahawk and with gun on shoulder, would "step over" to the Okaw timber, twelve or fifteen miles and back, as coolly as a man of the present day would walk a mile. Mr. Richman came from West Virginia, in the year mentioned - some say, however, 1S27 - and John Richman, then a lad, made a hand at the raising. This house was for a long time the headquarters for elections and military musters.

There was a small tribe of Indians camped a Bridgeport, now Hugo P. O., section 12, 15, 9, which was a trading point with them and a store or trading post was kept by Godfrey Vessar, a Frenchman, or perhaps Vessar & Bulbory.

Mr. John Hammet and his sons, Win. S. and Jas. R., arrived in November, 1S30. The family lived in a tent the first winter and were visited by large numbers of Indians who would call and sit aruund the fire. Their general conduct was such as to leave the impression that they were honest, and although the family of the Hammet's was at their mercy, nothing was stolen, and they had no fears for their per- sonal safety. However one or two battles with Indians from the upper Embarras are spoken of as having occurred, 1S15-1S1S; one \\ ith Government Surveyors, near the creek in Coles county. John Ham met and Harrison Gill, of Kentucky, were the first land owners in the area of the county, after the Government, having entered land on the same day. Mr. H. took several hundred acres north of Camargo village, and Mr. Gill entering 240 acres in section 35, east of Camargo. The Patents for these first entered lands were signed by Andrew Jackson, in March, 1S30. Mr. Gill is still living in Bath county, Kentucky. Samuel Ashmore entered part of section 36, 1 ^, 10, in 1S30, also. Mr. Gill came from Kentucky on horse-back and in company with his Uncle Robert visited the Indians at Hugo. His Uncle told the "boss" Indian that Gill, being about to enter land, wanted a wife. Upon hearing the news the "ladies" at once gathered around the candidate for matrimonial honors as if they meant business. All of them wanted a white man, "if he could hunt." Mr. Gill only got out of the difficulty by informing them that, much to his regret, he was a "poor hunter," and so would make but a sorry husband. The two winters immediately succeeding the arrival of these early settlers, were the hardest known in the history of the State, that of 1 S3 1 -2 being known as the winter of the great snow. The milling of the neighborhood was done principally at Eugene, Ind., a distance of forty miles.

Jas. R. Hammet was active in the intesests of the new county of Douglas and also in those of the east and west railroad, of which he was one of the incorporators and a director for fourteen years. G. \Y. Henson, Charles Brewer, John Brown, Martin Rice, John D. Murdock, Alexander Bragg and the Watson's were also of the first arrivals. C. Brewer came in 1S55. Jonn Brown, who arrived in 1S3S, was elected Associate Justice of the county of Douglas in 1S65. Mr. Rice has been a resident of the State since 1S49, and of what is now Douglas county since 1S53. He actively assisted in the movement of the new county, and was a member of the first political convention held in it. In the second vear after township organizntion - 1S69 - he was elected Supervisor of Camargo Township, re-elected in 1S73 and every year since, being a member of the present Board. John D. Murdock was elected Associate Justice of Douglas county, as a member of the first County Board in 1S59, and re-elected in 1861. Coleman Bright, a native of Virginia, came from Indiana to Camargo in August, 1S50. He has been a merchant about ever since, and is now senior member of the firm of Bright & Jones, in Tuscola. Alexander Bragg came to the State in 18^5, and served in the Mexican War, 1S46. W. D. Watson, of this township, was in the State Senate at the time of forming the county. Geo. W. Henson arrived in 1S44. H. L. Thornsbrue, of this township, is probably the oldest living person born within the area of the county - 1S30.

The original part of the village of Camargo was laid off in November, 1S36, by Isaac Moss, Jos. Fowler, Surveyor, and was called New Salem. When Moss' addition was made it was called New Albany, after which it received its present name. It is the most ancient village in the county, and in the long years pending the advent of the I. & I. C. Railway was considered "finished." The completion of this road, however, has given it an impetus that may end in distinction, it having been the place of residence of many of the most successful business men of the county. The first County Court of Douglas county was held here "under dispensation," pending the selection of a county seat. The town proper composes an area of about So acres, lying on the left bank of the Embarras river and upon the line of the I., D. & S. Railway.

The Methodists and Christians have each a church, the former being a fine brick building costing $5,000, and another brick block is the store of Carrawav & Elfes.

The township took stock in the I., D. & S. Railway to the amount of $15,000, payable in fourteen years, with ten per cent interest. The taxes paid by the road materially reduce the interest.

The Danville, Tuscola & Western is a proposed railroad, graded and partly bridged. It crosses the west and north part of the township in a northeasterly direction. The line was established in

The area of the township is fifty-six sections of land or about equal to 6oi_, square miles, some of the sections having over i,oco acres. The township contains 38,769 acres.

The notable high-handed and desperate robbery of Mr. Wm. S Ham met and his household occurred on the night of June S, 1S70. The family had retired. Mr. H. was aroused by a knock at the door, and upon opening it was instantly seized by two armed and masked men, who demanded silence and money. Mr. H. being not only unarmed and partly unclothed, taken by surprise, with a loaded pistol pointing directly at and close to his heart, which might at any instant have been discharged by the trembling hand of his guard, after carefully weighing the chances concluded to surrender, a prudence that is commended by men who have been in the army. He was held strictly under guard until the villains had obtained watches and jewelry to the amount of $250 and a little money. They had taken care to fasten the door of a room occupied by some work hands, and, having accomplished their purpose with dispatch, released Mr. Hammet and disappeared with great haste in the darkness.