Fulton County, Illinois - Chapter 17: County Officials, 1879

Chapter 17: County Officials

Fulton county has ever been ably represented in her official departments since the organization of the county, as the names in the foUowinn; lists will show. She has ever had able, shrewd and honest men conducting her public affairs. Of the vast millions of dollars that have been handled by her County Treasurers not one dollar has ever been lost or a Treasurer's honesty questioned. Other counties have had more or less trouble from time to time with men in the various departments of her public service, but never, in the entire history of Fulton county, has a case arisen requiring the duties or acts of an official to be investigated. This is a good and honorable record for this «:rand old countv ; and mav another three-score years roll around and all the officials who may serve the people prove as honest, as capable, as courteous, as just as those who have served during the past three-score years.

Many names will be noticed in the following list, under the different headings, that are familiar to the people of the entire county. Manv of these men, by a life of usefulness and honor, have won warm and affectionate places in the hearts of the people of Fulton county. Many names here are not familiar to the present generation, but were almost household words to the past. Many of these veterans have since ceased life's labors and left to the remaining pioneers as a pleasant souvenir a spotless reputation.

The gentlemen who at present hold official position in this county, in respect to ability, are inferior to none who have served the countv in the past. There is not a county in the State of Illinois that can boast of more capable, courteous and faithful officials than those who at present fill the various positions of trust and responsibility in this county. To them we shall ever feel grateful for the kind and courteous manner in which they treated us all durins: our labors in com]>iling this work. They iiave all evinced an interest in the work and were ever ready and willing to give the information and lend that aid which are so necessary in gathering and arranging a full record of the county's history. We will not mention them personally, for all have aided us materially, and one and all alike have our warmest thanks.

hio-hly appreciated by the citizons of this county ; and in this connection we append short bi()j;Tai)hies of each of them, and further on o-ive the name of every otficial who has served this county since its organization that it was possible to obtain.

S. P. Cuinmin(/fi, County Judg:e, is a man who is perhaps more widely known than any other in Fulton county. He is a native of the State of Maine and came to Fulton Co. in May, 1840, since which time he has been actively identified with its business interests. In 1850 he began merchandising and at present is the senior member of the old, established mercantile house of Green & Cummings of Astoria, the Judge's home. In 1858 he was elected to the Illinois Legislature, and re-elected in 1860. In 1862 he entered the army as Major of the 85th 111. Inf He was chosen a member of the 'Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, and afterwards served 2 terms in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate of the 111. Legislature. He has represented Astoria township in the Board of Supervisors for many years ; he is President of that body and has been for several terms. Served as Justice of the Peace in Astoria for 25 years, and in 1877 was elected County Judge, which position he tills with great ability. He is 60 years of age. We present his portrait to the people of the county in this volume.

T. L. Frazier, Circuit Clerk, was born in Adams Co., 111., in 1844, is son of Lemuel G. and Mary E. (Roberts) Frazier, natives of Md. and Ky., resi)ectively, who emigrated to Adams Co. in 1822, there being but two families in the county at that time. The elder Frazier is still living in that county a representative ])ioncer. The subject of this sketch enlisted Aug.*2, 1862, in the 78th I. V. L, and served until the close of the war. His company was captured at Muldrose Hill, Ky., by Morgan in the Winter of 1862, and held at Benton Barracks, Mo., until exchanged; was also a participant in battles of Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, and with Sherman on his march to the sea, thence to Richmond, and Washington, D. C, in the grand review; from there to Chicago, where he was mustered out June 27, 1865. He then entered Abingdon College, Knox Co., where he devoted two years to securing a literary education. He was married in 1867 to Miss Dora C. Durham, whose family were earlv settlers in Knox Co. After marriage he engaged for 2 years in farming, when he moved to Abingdon and started the Knox County Democrat; afterwards formed a business relation with Mr. Heaton of that city. This was the first Democratic paper published in Knox Co. He subseciuently became engaged in the mercantile trade, until 1871, when he moved to Fulton Co., and settled in Table Grove, where he became engaged in the drug and grocery business, and resided until elected to his present position as Circuit Clerk in 1876, when he settled in Lewistown. Mr. F. served as Collector of Indian Point tp., Knox Co., in 1868, and Supervisor in 1869. In 1873 was elected Supervisor of Farmers' tp., this Co., which office he filled for 4 consecutive years ; also Justice of the

Peace in 1875 and '76, and nntil his election to his present position, ^vhieh he has filled to the satisfaction of all. Elizabeth and Clilton are his living eiiildren.

M. D. Cummings, Depnty Circnit Clerk, son of Jndge S. P. Guramings and wife, Mrs. L. M. Cunimings, nee Dnrell, was born in Astoria, this connty, Jan. 18, 1849. He was educated in the common schools of this connty, learned the art of telegraphy, and was operator at Beardstown prior to accepting his present position. He was united in marriage Oct. 19, 1879, with Miss Emma, daughter of D.ivid Kirkbride, the well-known pioueer landlord of Vermont. He entered the Circuit Clerk's office as Deputy in May, 1877.

Inaiah C. Worlej^, County Clerk, was born in Cumberland Co., Pa., Oct. 27, 1834. His parents, Daniel and Mary (Caldwell) Worley moved to Richland Co., O., in 18,36, where both of them died when Isaiah was a child. After their demise he was bound out and sutlered the experiences and hardships of parentless children. He came into the county in 1849 and sto])ped at Farmington. July 16 of the same year he came to Lewistown, where he has since resided. Hh worked in woolen mills and clerked in stores until 1855, when he began writing in the off.ce of Circuit Clerk. At the breaking out of the ilebellion he enlisted in Co. A, 103d 111. Inf., and served nearly 3 years, closing his military service in the Signal Service Corj)S. Returning home he engaged as Deputy in the office of County Clerk and served nntil 1873, when he was elected to the office he 'now holds, npon the People's ticket. In 1877 he was re-elected. His entire service of over 20 years of public life has been characterized with ability, integrity and uprightness. He married Amanda L., daughter of Charles Clark, of this city, and they have 2 children: Amv Mabel, born Dec. 1, 1865, and William C, born Dec. 1, 1867.

Frank P. Riull, Dapatv County Clerk, was born in Champaign Cj., O., Mirch 9, 1838, and is the only son of Robert Paull, a lineal descendmt of Paul Jones, of Revolutionary fame. Mr, P. came to this county with his parents in 1839. TJiey settled in Bernadotte, and in 1840 erected one of the first mills in this county, which was swept away by the spring freshet of 1844. He was prominently identified with the early settlement of the county, and is at present living at Ipava. The subject of this sketch has been engaged in the County Clerk's office since his boyhood. In Sept., 1862, he engaged in tlie sutler's department of the 103d regt., I. V. I., and was afterward employed in the paymaster's department until the close of the war. Returning home he served as surveyor 4 years, and tiien accepted his present position of Deputy County Clerk. In March, 1863, he was married to Miss Margaret Shawver, a native of this county, where she was born in 1838. Anna S., Bertha A., Lillie and Corda are their living children.

Rand()l])li, Avas a native of tlio same county, and a farmer. He married ^liss Elizabeth Phillii)s, and tlieir only ehild was O. P. The latter passed his youth in Pennsylvania, received a liberal education and learned the plasterer's trade. In 1850 he married Isabel Balsinger. The last four years of his life in Pennsylvania he dealt in live stock extensively and conducted a meat market in New Salem. On emigrating to Illinois he settled in Astoria tp., Fulton Co., purchasing 140 acres of land, - now increased to 220. He opened a meat market, a part of the time in partnership with j\I. K. Lerew in Astoria, dealt cNtensively in stock, and then retired to the farm again ; but in 1878 he was nominated by the Republican party for Sheriff, and he was elected by 550 majority, in a county that had always had, for 40 years, only a Democratic Sheriff. He has had 12 children, 10 of whom are living: John B. and Charles S., Deputv Sheriffs, Wm. T., Frank P., O.'P., Anna B., Elizabeth, Maggie F., D. W. and Mollie D.

H. J. Benton, County School Superintendent, is a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and was born in 1819. He is the son of John Benton, a sea captain, who died in 1822. The subject of this sketch came to this State with his widowed mother in 1835 and settled in AVarsaw, Hancock county, being among the early pioneers of that county. In 183(3 he entered Jackson College, at Jacksonville, and 3 years afterward commenced teaching and has devoted 26 years of his life to his professional calling. He was married May 31, 1851, to Miss Smith, daughter of Gen. Smith, of Hancock county. She is a native of Sangamon county. 111. They have three children, - Charles, Mary and Alice. Mr. B. has been prominently identified with the county, and has filled the office of County Superintendent of Schools since 18()9.

Philemon Markley, County Treasurer, is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born July 15, 1822. His parents were David and Susannah Markley, who came to this State in 183G, bringing their son Philemon. Hon. David Markley was one of the leading men of Fulton county during its earlier history. He resided at Canton, where our subject grew to manhood and embarked in active life. From the age of 12 years to 17 he clerked in a dry -goods store. He then learned the brick-mason's trade, which he continued to follow until 1877, when he was chosen by the people to handle the public funds of the county, which he has done with the signal honesty that has characterized his entire life. That he gave entire satisfaction to the public is evinced bvth(i faot of his being elected to a second term, which he was in 1<S79. Mr. Markley was married in this county in 1845 to Mary G. Shinn, who was born in Virginia Nov. 24, 1828. A family of 3 children have been born to them, - Sarah, Clara and Ann, the latter deceased.

Dr. .S'. B. Bennett. - We refer the reader for a sketch of Dr. Bennett, Coroner of Fulton county, to the biographical department of the history of Fairview.

Circuit Clerks

In most awes the figures after the dash .signify the year into which the officer served. In some instuiues, however, thev only served to the beginning of the year denoted. It was impossible for us to find the name of the officer for every year, and those years for which no names are given are such as we were unable to obtain.