Iroquois County, Illinois - Chapter 23: Gen. Clark's Conquest of "the Illinois., 1880 (part 5 of 6)

county who were decidedly opposed to it. There were but very few, indeed, even among the warmest political friends of Judge Chamberlain, who were so bold as to come out in approbation of the sale. But it seems that a great reaction has taken place, and we are inclined to impute that reaction to a fuller knowledge of all the circumstances connecting with the contesting of those lands and the uncertainty of ever obtaining a title to them. We are not sure that the majority are yet convinced that the sale was the beSt thing that could have been done with them ; but having been made, they were strongly opposed to meddling with it." From this postulate Dr. Blades proceeded to draw a conclusion that the result, induced by " a nervous apprehension, which was kept alive and increased by unscrupulous misrepresentation ; that in case Mr. Bryant should be elected county judge, he would proceed at once to involve the county in an expensive lawsuit, by contesting the validity of the sale," was a " handsome indorsement by the people," and "that the people, by an emphatic vote, have made it, with its good or bad policy, their own," and that " their decision should be cheerfully and without cavil submitted to." If the people had known that they still possessed an equitable right to the lands, it would have been a "handsome indorsement," and further cavil should have ceased ; but as the impression was growing that they were conveyed out of reach, and the fear of a chancery contest was made an element of the canvass, and consequently of the vote, it is just as clear that it was deemed best to permit Judge Chamberlain to complete, according to his own design, the policy which he had inaugurated, as that he was elected.

We have omitted thus far to chronicle that Col. Morgan, in June, 1857, commenced an injunction suit in the United States district court, at Chicago, to assert his rights under the original contract he made with the county, alleging the later one to be fraudulent and void ; and to set aside the contract with Tallman and restrain the county from selling the lands to him. On his own motion, Tallman bore one-half the expenses incurred by the county, and retained the Hon. I. N. Arnold, of Chicago, as one of the attorneys in the case. The county employed James Fletcher and George' B. Joiner. An answer was filed to Morgan's bill, and the case was thrown out of court. The surface of public feeling was kept in a troubled state by the smoldering fires within, and every little while there would be an eruption when the board met. Tallman was, at least once, before this body in 1858, explaining and defending his course. He could well afford an occasional tilt ; the stake he was at this time playing for was no mean forfeit. Meanwhile he was addressing himself to the matter of perfecting the title to the swamp lands by getting them, or as many as had been approved by the surveyor-general, patented to the state. A six-months- sojourn in Washington with the agent for the state sufficed for that purpose. In course of time another special act touching the swamp lands was regarded as indispensable to the closing up of this vexed patchwork. It was forthcoming, and was accordingly obtained from the state, February 18, 1859 - Judge Chamberlain and Ray W. Andrews attending the legislature for this and other purposes. George B. Joiner was employed by the county court to lobby this bill, for which he was allowed $50 from the swamp land fund. Nothing was left to petition for again, nothing left for a future subject of legislation - it was sweeping in every provision. The county court was given as full discretion in regard to selling and draining as an individual has in the disposition of his private property ; and this was a release from all obligation to drain the lands. A new article of agreement was drawn up April 22, to which the county court and Tallman were the parties, reselling the entire swamp land grant, the net proceeds of all the lands which had ever been sold by the county to other parties than Tallman himself, and the proceeds of all such lands in the county which had been sold by the government, including whatever remote or contingent interest the county had or ever should have in the lands within six miles of the Central railroad, and also a like interest in any land warrants or money arising from the grant to which the county had or ever should have any right. The consideration was twenty-three $1,000 bonds, which Tallman had already delivered under his contract of October 16, 1856, and his guaranty, with two good sureties, to pay and deliver the remaining twenty-four $1,000 bonds at any time before maturity, with the coupons ; including, also, his guaranty to pay the state for selecting the lands, which were at this time sold to him subject to drainage, Tallman agreeing to sell them as soon as practicable, and to require purchasers to drain them when they required it and were susceptible of drainage. This guaranty with the delivered bonds, constituted the whole consideration and purchase price of the lands, and every interest or benefit accruing at any time- from them. Tallman presented his bond, wi h B. D. Hurlbnrt and I. R. Warner, of Oneida county, New York, as sureties. Judge Chamberlain was then directed by the court to execute to Tallman a deed of conveyance in fee-simple for the lands, and to carry out every part of thu agreement. This deed was of concr.rrent date with the contract, and conveyed 45,527 acres, "and a so all other .lands, not heretofore described, that said county of Iroquois, obtained a title to by means of the laws aforesaid, or any of them." All the old contracts were canceled and restored to him, and he returned the $50,000 of railioad stock, being released from his obligation to pay for the same. This he made a pretense of giving to the county, all of which was for effect, and to have material in hand for defense and to keep down clamor, when in fact it \vas nearly worthless. In 1864 the county obtained a reissue of this stock, and four years alterward sold it to William H. Cruger, vice-president of the comp ny, for $4,000.

At the annual meeting in September, 1860, A. B. Ives, a noted real-estate lawyer, of Bloomington (having been employed by a committee previously appointed), read a report to the board of supervisors concerning the validity of the sale by the court and board jointly, October 16, 1856. Having reviewed the contracts with Tallman, and the several acts of the legislature, he held that the county court had never been divested of jurisdiction of the swamp lands ; that the joint sale was consequently void or voidable ; and that the one made April 22, 1859, by the court, the only competent authority, was binding in law.

A few scattered details and items of information is all that remains to complete the account of this once engrossing theme and fruitful source of controversy. From October 15, 1855, to February 25, 1858 (the first and last dates of sale), there were sold by the county, exclusive of the sales to Tallman, 16,155 acres, for which it received $18,360.69; and there were due November 1, 1861, from purchasers holding certificates, $1,282.40. Under the act of February 14, 1855, the county sold 14,490 acres of these lands. On April 22, 1859, when the sale was renewed to Tallman, the court passed an order declaring that where the purchasers of swamp lands complied with the law of 1859 they were entitled to deeds, and the judge of the court was directed to execute clear conveyances, requiring the lands to be drained when they were intended to be put to cultivation. By virtue of this order deeds were given under the provisions of the act of 1859 for the lands sold under the act of 1855. The court becoming satisfied that these deeds, not being authorized by the law of 1859, were invalid, at the October special term, ordered new ones executed. At a special term, November 1, 1861, the court instructed Judge Chamberlain to make a deed in fee-simple to Tallman for all the swamp and overflowed lands 4 'donated to this county, . . . whether all or any part of thorn have been patented or certified to the state or county or not. excepting, however, out of such deed any of the lands heretofore duly sold by the general government, or by this county, and also those heretofore conveyed to said Tallman by John Chamberlain as such county judge. " There were smaller deeds to Tallman, conveying in the aggregate about 1,000 acres. The act of 1857 authorized the county judge, whenever he should be satisfied, either by report of the swamp land engineer " or by other evidence, that any portion of the swamp lands which have been sold are thoroughly drained," to convey the same by deed in fee-simple. One of these minor deeds to Tallman recites that he had furnished satisfactory evidence to the court and to the county judge that the lands were thoroughly drained. This is the only one in which any pretense whatever is made that the lands had been drained, and it is a notorious fact that neither spade nor implement of any other kind ever broke the sod to drain them, except as it was done by actual cultivators upon them. The act of 1855 required the lands to be drained within eight months from the date of sale ; before the expiration of the contract of October 16, 1856, the act of 1857, by which the time for drainage was extended to two years in the judgment of the county court, took effect ; at the end of two years the act of 1859 became a law, investing the court with an absolute discretion in this matter. The sole intention of the grant was the drainage and reclamation of the lands for the health of the people and the development of the country. Never was a thing more "provided for" in laws and contracts, and yet more completely legislated out of existence. There have been patented to the state, of swamp and overflowed lands, (about) 63,580 acres ; and the number concerning which proofs are on file in the general land office, showing the character of the lands entered with cash and land warrants, and which are unadjusted, is 32,000, making a total of this class of lands in Iroquois county of 95,580 acres.* Tallman realized from this bargain in swamp land funds of the county, which were paid over to him by the treasurer on the order of the county court, $10,427.10. The cash indemnity which he received from the land office for swamp lands, entered with cash and land warrants, by virtue of his contract witli the county, amounted to $15, 664. 56. f The amount of land which passed to Tallman was about 47,000 acres. It was sold by him at prices ranging from $1.50 to $5.50 per acre. Tallman acquired the equitable rights of the county in the 32,000 acres of unadjusted swamp lands which lie along the Central railroad. Legislation is pending in congress to dispose of the claims of states against the government, growing out of this subject.

It would be curious to know what these lands cost Tallman, and it will be expected that some statement on this point will be made, but it is not our province to speculate ; nevertheless, there are some facts, though dimly preserved, bearing on this topic, which are legitimate history and ought not to be omitted. There is an indirect allusion in one of White's articles to Morgan's having sued the county for interest on some of the bonds ; and also for bonds claimed under his contract. Until forced to do so by public opinion, Chamberlain refused to deliver them, or some part of them, on his estimates. Those outstanding at the date of the sale to Tallman were nearly all of recent issue. We are not well favored with information on this head, even after diligent research, but prefer to believe that they were about thirty-five per cent below par, though common report makes the discount considerably greater. We remember having seen a newspaper published about the time of which we write, which stated that the bonds were worth sixty-four cents on the dollar. As some confirmation of this, at the June (1857) special term of the county court, a bond was presented by S. M. Ayres, and as Tallman was bound to pay it, and the swamp fund belonged to him, the court ordered it received, and that Ayres be credited on the note held against him for borrowed swamp funds, the sum of $650.

It is interesting to know something of the history of the management of the swamp land grant in other counties. "Of sixty-eight counties interested in the swamp land acts, but five have sold out their interest to speculators, the remaining counties have been judicious in the disposal of their swamp lands. Most of these lands have been drained and the country has been made healthier, and the revenues of the state, as well as the health of the counties largely increased."* In taking leave of this topic we may be excused for adding, that if wisdom could have controlled in the management of this rich interest, Iroquois county might have had a source of revenue for many years to come ; at least it might now have been free from debt. This is to be modified by the condition that the same wisdom which was lacking in 1856 should not afterward have been wanting to resist the many temptations to prodigality through which our country has since passed. But with the experience of the past twenty years vividly before us, we have the most solemn doubt if prudential action would have held the ascendency and made the most of this magnificent donation ; and, after all, perhaps it ought not to be regretted that it went at the time and in the manner that it did.

A strong effort, begun in 1856 and maintained till 1859, was made to detach the southwest corner of Iroquois county, and unite it with that part of Vermilion county which is now Ford. The leading men of Loda, chief among them Adam Smith (deceased April, 1880), conceived the scheme of detaching a part of Iroquois, and making their village the county town of the new county. If they could secure the division, there was no doubt, owing to the peculiar, chance-shape of the proposed county, that they could succeed in this purpose. The petition that was laid before the legislature from these movers contained about 150 names of residents in the southwest corner, and several hundred of the citizens of Vermilion. A county was to be formed in any event; the only opposition was to the dismemberment of Iroquois, and this was exerted from two opposite quarters. James Mix was interested in Prospect City (Paxton), and wanted the seat of justice at that place. This was enough to make him an opponent of the Loda movement. There was little following in the county outside of Loda township. Meetings were held in various places, and vigorous efforts made on both sides. At an adjourned meeting held at the Loda hotel December 20, 1856, a verbal report, designating the boundaries of the new county, was made by Capt. J. M. Hood and David S. Crandall, committee. It was voted to embody the suggestions in a petition to be submitted to the citizens of Iroquois and Vermilion counties, and these gentlemen, with E,. D. Foster and I. O. Butler, were appointed to draft it, with power to change the north line of division indicated by the committee. Addison Goodell, George Shat'er and Moses Walker were appointed, with power to increase their number, to circulate the petition for signatures in the limits of the proposed new county. Messrs. Hood and Crandall were unanimously elected to carry the petition to Springfield, and lobby in the interest of the petitioners. A committee on finance, consisting of Addison Goodell, I. O. Butler, C. O. Barstow, Adam Smith and R. D. Foster, was appointed, with the privilege of adding to their number. On the 23d a meeting of the citizens of Onarga was held, to remonstrate against the proceedings at Loda, and to organize for effective resistance to the project. E. W. Andrews, "W. P. Pierson, E. Knight, W. H. Skeels, Dr. J. L. Parmalee and Joseph Thomas were chosen a committee to draw up a remonstrance against any portion of Iroquois county being taken to form a new one. The following persons were selected to canvass the county : W. P. Pierson and Capt. E. Doolittle, Onarga ; Thomas Magee, Wygant ; "W. B. Young, Chebanse ; Alonzo Taylor, Ash Grove; Dr. E. K. Farmer, Milford ; W.. B. Lyman, Beaver;

"Winslow "Woods, Crab Apple; J. Strickler, Concord, and Samuel Williams, Belmont. Dr. A. K Crawford, E. Knight, William A. Davis and W. P. Pierson were named to correspond on this subject with the three county papers: "Iroquois Republican," "Middleport Press," and " Garden State," the latter published at Loda. Meetings were held subsequently ; but the account is carried far enough to afford a view of the thorough preparations by each party to canvass the subject. The petition and the remonstrance were presented to the legislature, and a bill was introduced to carry out the object of the former. Mix attended the session and used his. influence against it. The representative, Franklin Blades, harmonized with a large majority of his constituents in opposition to it, and when a motion was made to suspend the rules and take up the bill, he announced his determination to resist its passage. The motion did not prevail, and afterward the bill was stolen, and so never came to a vote. Not having been able to enlist Blades' support, and the measure having failed ingloriously through theft of the bill, as it would likely have done had it reached a vote, Crandall came home and assailed Blades with caustic vehemence through the columns of his paper, the "Garden State," charging that he had promised his influence in favor of the project ; whereupon Blades, replying through his own organ, the "Republican," denied the accusation in the same withering style and bitter spirit. On September 13, 1858, the republican convention, for the selection of a candidate for representative, was held in Middleport, and Capt. Hood, of Loda, was nominated by one vote over his competitor, C. F. McNeill. This was understood to be a triumph for the division of the county. Hood was elected. The work of getting up petitions and remonstrances was repeated. Judge Chamberlain and Ray Andrews were at this time in attendance on the general assembly to influence swamp land legislation, and James Mix was also there to lobby the bill establishing Ford county. These men killed Hood's bill, which was the end of the whole question.

At the May (1858) special term of the board of supervisors two important measures were passed. On these points there had arisen a general demand. One provided for the publication of the current proceedings of the supervisors, accompanied by a resolution that "the board approve of the copying or searching for the purpose of publishing a general synopsis of the transactions of the county courts and boards of supervisors previous to this meeting of the board." This last was only permissive and amounted to nothing but a gerrymander to rid the board of an attempt of Ray Andrews to create influence for himself, besides preventing expense to the county. The "Republican " had teemed with appeals in this matter. At this session both that and the "Press" came forward with propositions to publish the proceedings free of charge if furnished by the county clerk. Up to this time there had been no such publication, and of course the people could have little knowledge of how the public business was managed, or of the condition of their aifairs. Ray Andrews had been the central figure in all the proceedings of the board. It is surprising that he should have had so much influence, and it seems paradoxical that, well known to be without principle, and corrupt, his support of any measure, or his antipathy to it, was nearly certain to bring it to successful issue in the one case, or to be fatal to its chances in the other. It is hard to believe that those in whose nostrils his reputation was inodorous should not have firmly opposed him. He was energetic, insinuating, unscrupulous. His push and manners made him agreeable to a large class with whom it was an easy matter for him to become a hail-fellow on short notice. It long has been, and likely long will be, that a vigorous, unprincipled character, capable of much harm, will inspire a certain degree of timidity and passivity. In all bodies, too, a few men of strong character rule, while the majority are either echoes or gaping spectators.

The other matter referred to, which had also been well ventilated in the " Republican," was the repair of the court-house and the furnishing of a jail. An undisguised prejudice existed against Middleport, which detracted from the disposition to improve this, or to erect new buildings. While the walls were substantial and sufficient, they did not inclose enough space, being but forty feet square; the inside of the building was dilapidated and crowded ; there were no vaults for the records, and they were liable to destruction at any time by fire ; the treasurer had no depository for the safe-keeping of funds, and large amounts, when there were such, had to be taken to Chicago and placed on deposit. The old log jail had long since been abandoned as utterly unfit for use, and prisoners were confined at Kankakee. This was an unavoidable expense, for the board had early devoted its attention to the purchase of a poor-farm and the building of bridges, which had diverted most of the county funds from other objects. A serious obstacle, besides, was the lack of building material within easy transporting distance. But at the meeting in question, A. 0. Mantor, D. B. Gardner and M. Hogle were appointed to examine the courthouse and ascertain what repairs were necessary, and whether it were better to build offices entirely disconnected from that building, with instructions to report a plan and the cost at the sitting in June. They reported in favor of an addition of twenty-five feet to the east side, which would make the court-house 40x65 feet, and also proposed the erection of prison apartments in the basement. The suggestions of the committee were concurred in, except that the addition was made on the west side, and vaults were constructed in the court-house instead of erecting a separate building for the records. Inside, the house was entirely remodeled and refitted. The circuit court room was transferred to the upper floor and all the offices were removed below, where the cells and the vaults were arranged.

C. R. Brown, A. C. Mantor and George B. Joiner were the committee appointed by the board to supervise the improvement. On July 19 they let the contract to M. and J. Hogle. The job was to be turned over by the contractors by the first day of December. The heavy rains of the season interfered with the progress of the work, and delayed the completion of the contract till the latest moment. On the 22d the board closed its December session, and on that day the same building committee was continued and authorized to contract with the Hogle brothers " for the completion of the jail and cells, the furniture, shelving, and the recess for the vaults, seating the court room, and making the judge's stand and desk." The jail consisted of three cells, inclosed on the south and west sides with oak studding, spiked or bolted together, on the inside of which was another row of the same device lined on both sides with No. 16 iron; the north wall of the cells was four or five feet from the brick wall of the court-house, leava narrow corridor, and that and the east side were made in the same manner, and lined on the inside also with iron. The floor was laid of joists, edgewise, covered with iron in the cells, and overlaid with flooring. The ceiling, too, of the cells was likewise sheeted with iron. The whole expense, including commissioners' fees and cost of plan and specifications, was $7,218.58. When this improvement was completed the court-house had cost the county a sum estimated from §10,000 to $16,000. The county offices were occupied February 1, 1859. The vaults, wanting ventilation, turned out altogether worthless, and the records were never kept in them. It was early found that the jail would not answer expectations concerning its security. Before the close of the year it became necessary to strengthen the cells and increase the safety of the prisoners by an additional wall on the north side, composed of heavy plank spiked together transversely ; the insertion of a strong grate window in the partition between the corridor and the sheriff's office; an additional door made of heavy plank placed inside the hall door, to be well secured by locks, and the apartments to be ceiled over- head with two-inch plank placed crosswise. A month before this the prisoners had almost effected their escape by digging through the wall. But these improvements did not keep pace with the enterprise and industry of the criminals. Between May 1 and the middle of September, 1860, the jail was three times broken, and eleven prisoners escaped. The board of supervisors was in session when the last lot got away, on the night of the llth, and they promptly comdemned the jail and ordered that the criminals of the county be taken to Kankakee and confined. But at the November meeting this was rescinded, and orders were given for securing the locks and fastenings of the doors. En the winter of 1861-2 Miles Williams and Henry Davis were confined for larceny, and indicted by the grand jury at the February term of court. With an auger and a saw, which had been passed in at the »rate, Williams made a hole in the ceiling, through which he climbed up into the grand jury room, from which he escaped by lowering himself to the ground with a cord made from his bed clothing. After this the corridor was sheeted with iron overhead. Davis was tried on the 20th, and sentenced to the penitentiary for three years. On the 25th :;ourt adjourned till the following morning, and that night he undertook to break jail. Contrary to custom, he had not been locked in his sell, and this circumstance gave him opportunity to attempt escape. Not knowing that the hall door was irou lined, he built a fire against it, designing to burn through into the passage, when he could get out by way of the window. The heavy joists beneath the pine flooring bad once before been burned partly through in the same place by Matt Lynch. They had now shrunk from seasoning, and when the fire penetrated the overlying boards a current of air sucked the flames through the interstices, when they were at once beyond the prisoner's control, and the dry material was swiftly lapped up by the devouring slement. The fire was discovered about 2 o'clock in the morning. Some person broke in the window in the west end of the jail, but the lames poured out so that no entrance could be made. There was barely time to remove the records, which were in the east end, and the building was in ruins. Davis' body was found on the floor of his sell lying upon the breast with the head and limbs totally consumed. His mattress, burned off at both ends, covered the charred trunk. The 3ourt-house was insured in the Hartford and Plxunix Insurance Companies.

County Seat Contest

The rivalry between the old and new towns now waxed hot. The friends of South Middleport wanted the court-house at that place, and though the old town people would not acknowledge it, and made a gallant fight, it was a foregone conclusion that a removal must take place ; for wherever the thoroughfares of travel thread, the public convenience requires the establishment of every accommodation, and never waits long to have the need supplied. The people of the old town at first maintained that the seat of justice had been permanently located there, and that the county had accepted 100 town lots as a consideration, and that in equity they were entitled to its continuance in that place. Its removal would entail on property-holders a loss which men of little means could ill afford, and which none ought to be compelled to suffer. The hardship was apparent ; but the location of the railroad had made it inevitable that it should be borne; for no voting population were ever known to have any scruples on such a point. Discovering at last that it would be next to impossible to prevent a removal, they then strove earnestly for a compromise location, which had strong supporters, Judge Chamberlain being of the number. The contest is to be admired for the ingenuity, energy and game spirit displayed by the two factions, but a too close view of all the details might detract measurably from any hastily conceived admiration ; for this reason, and want of time and space, we shall only briefly outline it, believing that there is always much that should be forgotten, as well as much that ought to be preserved.

At the March term of the board of supervisors, held on the 4th, Charles H. Wood, Joseph Leonard and John Paul were appointed to settle with the insurance companies, and were given full power of adjustment, with authority to receive the funds and receipt for the same. This committee procured an assessment of the damages to the building by three disinterested appraisers, who reported it to be $4,385.84 ; but as other parties had made proposals to rebuild for a less sum, the companies refused to pay that amount. They proposed to the committee to pay $4,000, which was accepted, and drafts were promptly drawn in favor of the county. The committee reported their doings at the May term, and were directed to deposit the money safely in Chicago, which they did as follows: $2,000 in the bank of Solomon Sturgis <fe Son, bearing four per cent interest, and $2,000 in the bank of the Western Marine and Fire Insurance Company, drawing six per cent. A resolution offered by Daniel Fry, and adopted by a vote of 8 to 7, proposed "that a court-house be built within the incorporate limits of Middleport, as near the railroad as a suitable location can be obtained ; provided that land sufficient for all necessary county buildings be furnished the county free of charge, and that a committee be appointed to examine locations, and report to the board the most eligible site at the earliest moment." The chair appointed Kendall

Shankland, John Paul and Daniel Fry. The record shows no report, but the board in committee of the whole selected lots 9, 10, 11 and 12 in block 2 in South Middleport, and recommended that the courthouse be permanently located on them. The report was adopted, and $8,000 appropriated, in addition to the $4,000 of insurance money, for the purpose of erecting a court-house on the lots designated, on condition that they, together with "twelve other lots in South Middleport of an average value of unsold lots in said South Middleport, should be conveyed to the county by good and sufficient deed, in consideration of the permanent location of said court-house ; and provided, also, that the citizens should donate the further sum of $1,000, to be paid in money on the completion of the same." Daniel Fry, John Paul and Joseph Leonard were appointed to procure a deed to the lots, and besides, to procure plans and specifications, and to receive bids for building the court-house. A proposition was then submitted by James Fletcher, attorney for the citizens of Middleport, to rebuild the courthouse on the old site, to be in all respects like the one burned, except the jail, provided the supervisors would let them have the insurance money, $1,000, in county orders, and the old material to be found in the ruins. They offered to erect the house during the year, and to enter immediately into contract and bond, with good security, to perform their engagement. Fry moved to adopt, which was lost by the following vote: Ayes - D. Fry, J. L. Martin, E. S. Hamilton, Alvin Harroun, Thomas Stump, - 5. Nays - K. Shankland, J. H. Jones, E. K. Farmer, P. Gendron, C. K. Wood, Isaac Beyea, Joseph Leonard, A. G. Willard. - 8. John Paul and W. H. Shotwell were absent.

The Wilson House was rented at $200 per annum, to be used for offices and storing the records. The old school-house in Middleport, owned by William Frees, was leased for terms of the circuit court, and was declared to be the court-house of Iroquois county during the same. The original plat of Middleport was enlarged May 9, 1859, and two of the lots (9 and 10) selected by the board for a court-house site lay within that corporation. As soon as it was. known what action had been taken, the president and trustees passed an ordinance, on May 6, reducing the corporate limits to the original boundaries, leaving the new site wholly without the town of Middleport, where the seat of justice was located by the commissioners in 1839. It had been located there in pursuance of law, and the constitution provided that "no county seat should be removed until the point to which it is proposed to be removed shall be fixed by law, and a majority of the voters of the county shall have voted in favor of its removal to such point." An injunction was sued out to restrain the board from completing the proposed removal and erecting a court-house, or spending any funds of the county for that purpose on the lots which they had selected. McNeill, Chamberlain, Fletcher and Joiner were solicitors for the complainants; and Randall, Roff, Clark and Walser for the defendants. This case was heard at the June term, but no decree was entered on the records of the court, and it is a reasonable inference that the injunction was sustained. This issue was made a prominent feature of the local campaign of that year. There were two tickets in the field and three candidates for representative : the republican ticket, on which Addison Goodell was the nominee for the legislature ; and the people's ticket, so-called, selected from both political parties somehow without a convention, on which James Fletcher, a war democrat, was candidate for the general assembly. Charles Sherman was announced just before the election as a democratic candidate for representative, not with the hope of being elected, but to draw oif votes from Fletcher and secure the success of Goodell - all in the interest of the removal. Fletcher was the champion of the mediate locality. Goodell, in a published card, thus defined his position : " It is my opinion that a large number of citizens desire the privilege of testing the wishes of the voters of the county as to whether the county seat shall remain where it is or be removed to the village of South Middleport; and should I be elected a member of the state legislature, I will use my influence to secure the passage of a bill enabling the voters of the county to change the county seat from Middleport proper to the village of South Middleport." Goodell was elected. A delegation of the principal citizens, both from the old town and the new, attended the legislature at its sitting in the winter of 1862-3, James Fletcher, C. F. McNeill and Judge Chamberlain for the former and Micajah Stanley, A. B. Roff, Dr. William Fowler and Ray W. Andrews for the latter. Each went before the senate committee on counties with a bill embodying their respective aims. That urged by the first party proposed to make all of section 32 and that part of section 31 east of the river the seat of justice. Commissioners friendly to the old town were named. If a removal was voted, they were to select a site about half way between the two places, taking into consideration the interest of the two towns, its nearness to the railroad, and the consequent convenience to the people of the county. The second party proposed to the committee, and to Fletcher and McNeill, who were present, to withdraw their own bill and accept the one described, if they would amend it so that either the commissioners to locate the site for the county buildings should be elected by the people, or that the supervisors to be elected in the following April should be authorized to make the selection ; in either case the choice to lie between South Middleport and the point between the towns. This proposition was not accepted by Fletcher and McNeill. The intermediate location insisted on by the old town representatives was on the N.E. £ of S.W. £ Sec. 32, close by the residence of S. G. Bovie.

The bill, which was approved February 11, was drafted by A. B. Roff, and declared that if a majority of all the votes cast should be "for removal, then the said town of South Middleport (consisting of South Middleport and Stanley's addition thereto) shall be and remain the permanent seat of justice of said county." March 17 was fixed for the election. This satisfied both sides; the one because they were not aware of the fatal defect in it, and the other because they were aware of it, and could secure no better advantage on which to hang their hopes, - and nothing but tire blunder of the other party had given them this. The legislature adjourned until June, and the lobbyists came home to engage in the short but heated canvass which was to follow. The act did not require a donation of the court-house site if the vote should be for removal, an unusual omission in such a case. An attempt to make capital out of this led Micajah and Rebecca Stanley to give to the county a bond of $1,000, binding themselves to convey "four fullsized lots or their equivalent in quantity of selected land not laid off in lots," provided the county seat should be relocated at South Middleport. This campaign document was offset by another of similar kind signed by G. B. Joiner, C. R. Brown, E. Bowman, M. V. B. Harwood, W. S. Kay, Mary A. Troup, William Frees, "W. F. Keady, J. L. Horton, Lewis Troup, C. F. McNeill and George King, binding themselves to rebuild the court-house in the old town in every respect as good as the one destroyed, upon payment to them of the insurance money collected, provided that the county seat should be permitted to remain. Then Stanley renewed his obligation, increasing the donation to eight lots. As the discussion advanced, and quibbles were raised and flaws professed to be found, both parties were driven to amend their bonds, to keep even before the voting public. Twenty-eight of the principal citizens of Middleport filed another bond, binding themselves to subscribe for $5,000 of stock in the Kankakee and Iroquois River Slackwater Navigation Company. The last periodical movement in this matter had occurred only the summer before. The advantages of such improvement to the county had always been given roseate colors, and it was now regarded as only necessary to incur an obligation to aid this enterprise to be a piece of effective campaign capital, though it is not apparent what benefit could have been derived from this work by the general public, in which the new town would not have been equally interested. The contest, as waged by the two places, was evidently enough a game of blntf. The new town followed with a bond also to aid the same project with a like subscription. It was charged that by a removal the county would become liable for damages, as certain parties had paid for the locating of the seat of justice at Middleport with town lots, and to prevent this from influencing taxpayers a bond was made by ten citizens of the new town to guarantee and indemnify the county against all damages on this account, resulting from the transfer. Eight of the leading townsmen also executed a bond, binding themselves in the sum of $20,000 to erect and finish the court-house in every respect as good as the old one, and in addition, to pay the county $500 on the completion of the same, with which to furnish it, and thus save the people, as they said, from being taxed for this purpose, provided that the county seat should be removed to South Middleport, and the obligors should be permitted to use the $4,000 of insurance money. Middleport having filed an agreement to pay the county $2,000 in case the site should, remain and the county build the courthouse, the new town filed another bond, agreeing to pay a like sum if, on removal to South Middleport, that place should also be released from its obligation to erect it. Numerous points were raised, and other agreements of less importance made. Every electioneering device was brought into requisition. Statements and affidavits were bandied about, and forfeits freely offered ; the validity of the bonds was denied by the rival interests, and the old town, to disprove the charge against theirs, submitted the one obligating them to build the courthouse to Judge Drummond, of the United States district court, and to Judge Manierre, of the Cook county circuit court, for their opinion, both of whom pronounced them good and sufficient. Circulars and addresses were issued broadcast, and all the trash which could be manufactured in connection with this subject was made to cumber the canvass. It is but just to observe that the new town discussed the main issue and the cognate questions with superior candor and sincerity. The old town, conscious of its feebler prospects, strove with the spirit of desperation. As the question was to come before the people, stump orators from both places traversed the county on foot and on horseback, wading through mud and swamps and sloughs, holding forth at every school-house where a knot of listeners could be collected, with as much earnestness and vehemence as if a mighty fate was suspended over the people, and would be decided by the coming verdict at the polls. If it seem strange that the old town people should make such prodigious exertions when they knew that the site could not be relocated under an unconstitutional law, it is explained by this fact, that this canvass would be the real battle, without regard to the imperfections of the law ; for if the result should be against them, the record of the prevailing wishes of the county would give their opponents a prestige which would certainly be fatal to their future prospects. So every energy and resource which one party brought to their aid spurred the other to. redouble their vigor. The last echo of the conflict came from the new town in a bond, which in gaming parlance, as well as in the language of the agreement itself, was "a hundred dollars better." We quote it almost entire, as a curiosity and reminiscence of this struggle. The obligors, Charles Sherman, Micajah Stanley, A. Dalton, A. B. Roff, C. Secrest, William Fowler, John Fagan and A. Munson, " propose and agree, inasmuch as George B. Joiner and other citizens of the town of Middleport have filed their agreement to pay the county of Iroquois $2,000 toward building the court-house in case it remains at Middleport, and inasmuch as the undersigned have filed their agreement to pay the county of Iroquois $2,000 toward building the court-house in South Middleport or Stanley's addition thereto, and as we understand said parties intend to make an additional offer of several hundred dollars just on the eve of the election, -to prevent us having the opportunity to compete with them, therefore we propose and agree to pay to the county of Iroquois a sum of money (in addition to the $2,000 filed by us) equal to whatever sum may be pledged and secured by good and responsible parties and persons, and filed by said parties or any person or persons on behalf of the town of Middleport in the Iroquois county court before March 17, 1863, in addition to the $2,000 already pledged by them. And we do hereby agree and bind ourselves to do, pay and perform whatever said parties may or will become obligated to do, pay or perform by virtue of any bonds, notes, agreements or other instruments that may be filed in the Iroquois county court before the day of the election, to wit, March 17, 1863, by them, for the purpose of building a court-house and saving the people from taxation, and we agree to be bound by the same obligation they may file, save and except that ours shall be payable on condition that the county seat be removed to South Middleport or Stanley's addition thereto, by vote of the people, on March 17, 1863. And we further agree to pay to the county of Iroquois, on the same conditions of the above agreement, the sum of $100 over and above, and in addition to all such sum or sums of money that we have agreed to pay, and making the amount $100 better to the county than the said parties of and on behalf of Middleport have or may be obligated to pay before March 17, 1863." The election took place at the stated time. The " South Middleport ticket - for removal," received 1,138 votes ; and the " Old Town ticket - against removal," 810. The immediate impression was that the matter was now settled, and that nothing could hinder the board of supervisors from proceeding with the erection of the public buildings. A call for a meeting was promptly made by one-third of the members, and on the 23d the board assembled " for the purpose of selecting a site for the court-house in the town of South Middleport, in pursuance of a special law passed by the legislature entitled ' an act to enable the people of Iroquois county to vote for the removal of the county seat,' approved February 11, 1863, and in accordance with a vote of the people had on March 17, 1863." Having resolved into committee of the whole, the board adjourned to make the selection. They did not reassemble till the next morning, when their only proceeding, except to adjourn again, was an order fixing 1 o'clock in the afternoon as the time at which they would have read the injunction filed in the circuit court against the board of supervisors, the county and circuit clerks, and the treasurer. This injunction was sued out the day before by W. F. Keady, C. B. Barnes and Lewis Troup. In the bill, among other things set forth, it was represented that the act of February 11 was unconstitutional, for the reason that " the said act was not read in either the senate or house of representatives composing the general assembly, on three different days, as is required by the constitution of the state, there being no emergency declared in either house. Under the constitution, no public act could take effect until the expiration of sixty days from the end of the session at which the same had been passed, unless, in case of emergency, the general assembly should otherwise direct. Consequently, this act had not become a law at the date of the election. The legislature had adjourned till June. Supervisor Fry submitted resolutions, the preamble to which affirmed that " whereas the people of Iroquois county have decided by their votes, by 320 majority, that the county seat of said county shall be removed to South Middleport ; and whereas, there is an injunction pending in the circuit court of said county by which it is sought to set aside the expressed will of the people; and should said injunction not be tried before the June term, it will be too late to apply to the legislature (in case that should be necessary) for two years to come, therefore " it was resolved to petition Judge Charles E. Starr, of the twentieth judicial circuit, to hold a special term of court to try the injunction, and thus enable the people to apply to the general assembly in June for further legislation, if found to be necessary. A committee was appointed to employ good counsel for the county. The injunction was not tried until the November term, when it was made perpetual. The case went to the supreme court on appeal, and the law was de- clared unconstitutional. All this time that the old town was waging a hopeless contest the county was at growing inconvenience, and the papers and records exposed to constant risk, for want of suitable buildings. There was no disposition shown by the supervisors to rebuild on the original site, and much less since the voice of the county had pronounced for removal. So an enforced delay until the assembling of the legislature in 1864-5 succeeded. At that session both factions, were again promptly represented by lobbyists, the old town sending; this time but one person - R. K. Mclntyre. Some of the chief defenders of the place, who had been furnishing the brains in the controversy^ having now acquired some interest in Watseka (the name had been changed from South Middleport, September 17, 1863), had lapsed intoinactivity. An act. which was approved and became a law February 6, 1865, was obtained, designating Watseka " as laid out and platted on the entire southeast quarter of section 32 * * as the point to which the county seat of said county may be removed from the town of Middleport." The first Tuesday in April (4th), 1865. was fixed for the election, and in the event that the county seat should be established at Watseka, the board of supervisors were constituted commissioners to select a site for the erection of public buildings ; and it was made their duty to remove the records and offices of the county within ten days after the election. At the appointed time the issue was decided in favor of removal by a majority of 831 votes. The supervisors convened at the county clerk's office on Monday, the 10th, and a committee of their number, consisting of Franklin Blades, C. F. McNeill and Kendall Shankland, were appointed to superintend the removal of the county offices. The board then adjourned, " to meet at 9 o'clock to-morrow, in the lower room of the building occupied as a school-house, situate on lot No. 11, in block No. 20, in the town of Watseka." This building was declared to be the court-house of Iroquois county, and the first floor was used for the county clerk's and treasurer's offices, and the county court and supervisors' room. The office procured for the circuit clerk was on lot 6, block 27. This officer moved perhaps not fewer than half a dozen times.

Building Of The Present Court-House

At the May meeting, begun on the 2d, C. F. McNeill, A. S. Palmer and K. Shankland, previously appointed to receive and examine the different propositions for the location of a public square, reported,, recommending lots 4 to 13, inclusive, in block 29, which were offered to be partly donated and partly sold, about $1,600 being demanded forthem. The recommendation of the committee was adopted and war- ranty deeds procured. Lots 4 and 13 on the east side of this purchase were set off for a public street named Lincoln, and the remainder were declared to be the permanent public square of the county seat upon which to erect the court-house and offices. Micajah Stanley donated and conveyed to the county eight lots, in pursuance of a prior agreement. Watseka had given bond to erect temporary county offices in case of removal. A proposition was now received from citizens of the town to exchange for that obligation a subscription of $2,500, on condition that it be applied to the immediate construction of a permanent court-house. This was accepted, and a written agreement, made May 26, 1865, with the provision that one-half be paid when the brick for the edifice should all be burned; and the giving of this sum was declared to be a release from all other obligations to furnish temporary buildings for the use of the county. Franklin Blades, C. F. MaNeill and A. S. Palmer were appointed a building committee, and authorized to contract for the burning of 400,000 brick; to advertise for and receive sealed proposals to build a court-house either of stone or of brick, to be 50x70 feet: the lower story twelve and the upper twenty feet high, with suitable rooms for the circuit and county courts and board of supervisors, the circuit and county clerks and treasurer; also grand and petit-jury rooms, and two fire-proof vaults. The building was required to be completed and ready for use by November 1, 1866. The committee was further authorized to adopt all the details of the plan and to let the contract. These and other instructions were given at different meetings of the board as occasion demanded. They were directed to offer in payment one half of the contract price on March 1, 1866, and the other on March 1, 1867, with the privilege, if they found it expedient to use county orders, to require the clerk to issue the whole or any part of them. At the August meeting it was resolved that the whole cost of the " court-house and jail " should not exceed $25,000, and subsequently the building committee were instructed to sell " the town lots lately donated to the county by the citizens of Watseka." C. B. Leach, architect, furnished plan and specifications, for which the board allowed him $300. On August 23 the committee opened the sealed bids in the presence of the county clerk and president of the board. Strother Moore, of Lafayette, Indiana, was the lowest bidder for the contract, which was awarded to him for $22,700. Charles O. Gorman, of Peoria, having made a bid to Moore for a portion of the building, upon request, it was agreed to make the contract with both of them. On November 24, when the board were again in session, the contract and bond not having been signed by the contractors, the committee were instructed to notify Moore to attend to that by January 1, at the expiration of which time, if that should not be done, the committee would relet the contract. They were furthermore authorized to enlarge the contract so as to include a basement and jail under the court-house, the total cost of the structure not to exceed $28,000.

On January 2, 1866, the contract was relet to Amzi C. Mantor, of Iroquois county, who was to furnish all the materials and labor necessary, and to have the building completed by November 1, " except the seating and railing and judge's desk within the circuit court room, and the inside painting of the entire building, and that said court-house and jail should be entirely completed on or before February 1, 1867." He was to receive $28,000 in installments, as follows : $10,000 March 1, $4,000 June 1, 1866 ; and $14,000 March 1, 1867. In lieu of the last payment he was to take, at his option, county orders as the work progressed, but for no greater amount than the value of the labor and materials furnished, the committee to determine the amount. Mantor gave bond, with W. B. Fleager, Benjamin Fry, Jesse Eastburn, C. Secrest, Charles Sherman, Micajah Stanley and Putnam Gaffield as sureties. In May, a new board having assembled, E. C. Hall, of Onarga, was appointed on the building committee in place of A. S. Palmer, not returned this year. The edifice wras completed, and full settlement made agreeably to the contract, and at the May meeting in 1867 the board tendered Mr. Mantor their cordial thanks for the fidelity with which he had " in every respect and under all circumstances " fulfilled his engagements. A portion of the basement was fitted and furnished by the committee for apartments to be occupied by the jailor's family.

In May, 1867, $1,546.25 had been paid by the citizens of Watseka on their individual subscription, leaving an unpaid balance of $953.75. At this time J. A. Koplin, A. S. Palmer and J. W. Williams were appointed to ascertain if it could be collected; and none of it having been paid, at the annual meeting in September the list was placed in the hands of a committee, consisting of A. G. "Willard, K. Shankland and Thomas Stump, with instructions to enforce the collection of the same. A year later A. Honeywell and A. J. Alexander were added to the committee, and at the May term, 1869, this special committee was directed to bring immediate suit, in their discretion, on any unpaid amounts. A report, submitted by Blades & Kay, collection attorneys, to the December meeting in 1871, shows only a very small portion collected. Here the matter rests.

At two o'clock on the morning of October 16, 1866, the buildings occupied for county offices were destroyed by fire. The school-house already mentioned as situated on lot 11, block 20 (where Bishop's furniture store now stands), was occupied below by the county judge, county clerk and county treasurer, as previously described, and the upper story was used for the public school. The fire, supposed to be incendiary, originated in this building, and the wind blowing strongly from the northeast at the time, communicated the flames to the wooden structure adjoining on the west, in which the circuit clerk's office was then situated. Regarding the loss of books and records and the damage to them, Judge MdSTeill wrote, in answer to the request of the editor of the "Republican": "All the following records were preserved complete : All the books and papers pertaining to the office of the clerk of the circuit court, and also the following records belonging to the county clerk's office, to wit, the land book, the swamp land record, the probate claim dockets, running back to January 4, 1859 ; the executors, administrators and guardians' records since 1860, and the railroad tax book. In addition to the above, most of the important records were dug out of the fire, only partly burned, and it is hoped that we shall be able to decipher most of the important matters belonging to the county court. By the assistance of those interested in the estates, and perhaps some necessary legislation, the county court will be able to straighten up most all of the important matters of that court. All executors, administrators and guardians will be required to file new bonds, and render just accounts of all estate matters in their hands, as soon as practicable. Perhaps the most serious loss of the whole is the destruction of the will records, as many of our land titles are derived from that source. If those interested take immediate steps, by proper legal proceedings, to quiet their titles while the necessary evidences to do so are attainable, most of this evil may be avoided. . . . The orders and decrees of the county court in all administrators' and executors' sales of real estate are preserved in full in the deeds made on such sales." Fortunately, in January, 1865, the board of supervisors had appropriated $300 to assist Judge McXeill in making an abstract of the land titles in the county. As the abstract was to be used by the judge in his private business, this occasioned some complaint ; but this fire proved the foresight of the board, and justified their action. In addition to those mentioned as destroyed, the record of the proceedings of the board of supervisors, and the assessors' and collectors' books were lost. The former was restored from September

23, 1861, by reference to newspaper files, supervisors Honeywell and McNeill being appointed by the board and charged with that important duty. The county clerk, under instructions of the board, made new assessors' books, and those township officers copied and returned, at the expense of the county, the assessment of their several towns. A committee, consisting of C. F. McNeill, chairman, Samuel Williams and Alba Honeywell, was appointed to prepare a bill to be presented to the legislature for passage, to aid in restoring the records and tax levies, and to legalize the same. This trust they performed, and the act was approved and became a law January 30, 1867. We have once before alluded to the destruction of the commissioners' record, the journal of the county court and the supervisors' record to the date above mentioned, as having entailed upon us a heavy task in the preparation of some portion of these pages, and. we dare not hope that for the want of information which they would have furnished we have not fallen into some errors.

Political History

The political or, more strictly, partisan history of the county was comparatively uneventful and uninteresting till the organization of the republican party, and the presidential campaign of 1856. Anterior to this time Iroquois county had been uniformly democratic. Passing the many active members of that party, we can find room to mention only the most prominent: Hugh Newell, Isaac Courtright, Micajah Stanley, Samuel M. Ayres, Major John Strickler, Samuel McFall, Samuel Harper, Sr., John Chamberlain, Joseph Thomas, Aaron M. Goodnow and John Wilson. Courtright served two terms in the legislature, and Stanley and Thomas one each. As the early presidential votes show, the whigs were greatly in the minority. Robert Hill, Edward D. Boone, James Smith, Ira Lindsey, Lewis Roberts and Col. Thomas "Vennnm were the leading men of this party.

In May, 1856, the "Iroquois Republican" was started by J. A. Graham and D. T. Lindley, with Jesse Bennett and Franklin Blades as editors. The former, though the senior, was only an occasional contributor. Blades was a young physician, animated, as most young men are, by a high purpose, a pure devotion, and an ardent attachment to the principles of political unity and universal freedom. Closing his salutatory, which was a vigorous announcement of the position the paper would maintain, with this terse and manly avowal, "Here we stand, God help us," which gave token of the strength, courage and earnestness with which he would do battle for human rights, he modrs * marshaled them for the conflict. Throughout that memorable campaign the fiery and enthusiastic notes of a dashing championship rang out in all the utterances of the "Republican." Owen Lovejoy was the candidate for congress from this district. On August 7 a mass meeting was held at Middleport, which was a notable event in connection with the change in the tide of politics in this county. It was in every way a county affair, and the first really distinctive outpouring that had ever been awakened in Iroquois county. Because of the general and permanent interest which will always attach to it, we subjoin almost entire the account given of it by Dr. Blades. " Thursday last inaugurated a new epoch in the politics of our county. In years agone, while nearly the whole country was ablaze with partisan heat and strife, our county hibernated on, and gave back no response to, the enthusiasm that thrilled the nation in heart and limb. But the long to be remembered 7th ignited the very soul of the county, and made it vibrate to all its extremities with the deep, fervent throbbings which have pulsated throughout the nation. That gathering may be surpassed in numbers at some future day, when the county shall have become more densely populated, but it will never be surpassed in earnest enthusiasm. We had not doubted that the convention would be well attended ; but when we saw the immense delegations which at an early hour commenced pouring into town from every township, we felt ashamed that we had so greatly underrated the spirit and enterprise of Iroquoisans. The first large delegation came into town from Onarga and the Longshore neighborhood, the two having united a half mile out of town, and were escorted in by the Momence brass band, who did their dusty, tiresome labors on that day cheerfully and creditably to themselves, and much to the grateful entertainment of the occasion. Then came in the Concord and Milford delegations, which united a short distance out of town, and were also gallantly escorted in by the band. Next, the Ash Grove delegation was escorted in by the band. Right nobly did Ash Grove do her dut}', considering that the main part of Ash Grove township is twenty miles off". Hundreds came in 'on their own hook.' Altogether, Middleport was never so gloriously overwhelmed as on that day. Never within the memory of the oldest citizen has there been so large and enthusiastic a gathering as literally poured out to greet with warm hearts, and with countenances lit at the altar-fire of liberty, that noble hearted, glorious man, Lovejoy. It is a fair estimate to place the number who were in attendance at 4,000. And .when we consider that they were nearly all residents of the county, it is an illustration of how profoundly the 'great deep' of the popular heart has been moved by the wrongs and calamities which their brethren in Kansas have endured, and how it swells with terrible indignation at the bloody hand of tyranny which sways the scepter of the direst despotism over that doomed territory. After forming into procession under the efficient marshalship of our friend Mark Ayres, assisted by Messrs. J. C. Bryant, D. B. Gardner and F. Blades, the company proceeded to the tables, where were spread out, in bounteous profusion, the good things prepared and furnished by fair hands from every part of the county. . . . Dr. Fithian, the elector for this district, first addressed the meeting with force and point for nearly an hour; but his voice failing - he is in feeble health - he was obliged to desist. After a soul-stirring glee or two by the Onarga glee club, and a spirited air by the band, Owen Lovejoy ascended the stand, and for over two hours poured forth the charming eloquence of his musical soul to an audience as spell-bound as was ever transfixed by the magic tongue of eloquence. We do not wish to praise or express admiration by rote, but we will say that we never heard that speech surpassed. He moved the hearts of the great throng as we never saw them moved before, and the upturned eyes, oft filled with tears, told in language stronger than mere utterance that humanity has its instinctive, spontaneous, irresistible sympathies for human woe and bondage, in whatever of its protean horrors it presents itself. Owen Lovejoy is this day more secure in the affections of the people than any other man may soon hope to attain to. He is a noble, generous, glorious, frank-hearted, good man. It was luxurious to witness how completely and triumphantly he vindicated his past life from the aspersions and slanders that have been heaped upon him. Most of all, his irresistible defense of his position as a national man, in every true sense of that term, was grand and soulstirring in the highest degree. Said he, 'If we succeed in electing a president, we will neither dissolve the Union ourselves, nor let any other party do it.' To which we said in our hearts, Amen ! and all the people said, Amen ! Amen ! ! His apostrophe to the constitution we expect never to hear surpassed in patriotic eloquence."

Dr. Blades was nominated one of the republican candidates for representative to the general assembly from this district, and was elected over his competitor, Micajah Stanley, by a majority of 162 votes, the total number cast for both being 1,302. The county went republican by majorities ranging from 154 to 290, - the first time in its history of twenty-two years that it disavowed faith in the shibboleth of democracy. No man contributed more to this result than Dr. Blades. For a few years following this triumph the county alternated between the supremacy of the two parties. In 1857 the democrats were successful at the polls, Judge Chamberlain heading the ticket for reelection. The total vote was 1,269, as against 1.318 the year before. The one reflected the views on local and the other on national issues. In 1858 the county gave a republican majority, and again in 1860. A union and a republican ticket was in the field in 1861. This year the swamp-land question was once more a topic of discussion. A public fear of litigation was to some extent excited by those interested in the union nominations. Some of the most respectable republicans gave their active influence to this ticket. The republicans generally were desirous of uniting all in a hearty support of the war, and to that end were anxious to testify their magnanimity by sharing the offices with their opponents. Samuel Williams was candidate for county judge on the union ticket, and being an old citizen, enjoying the full confidence of the people, was elected. The full ticket was successful.

During the early stage of the war Judge McNeill conducted the " Republican." He forecasted events with uncommon clearness, and by his radical and steadfast sentiments contributed largely toward educating and unifying the war feeling. Scarcely could a man have so good a monument from other material. For many years since that time, as a few before, he exercised a controlling and creating influence in the republican party of this county. No hands have done more toward its upbuilding. Others planted, but he has weeded and watered and trained with an unselfish and sacrificing devotion. From that time to this the county has been strongly republican on questions of national debate. In local politics, however, since 1873 there has been nearly an even division of success between the republican and independent parties. We attempt only a brief account of the two salient political events in the history of the county. The revolution of 1873 and the good results following it mark a distinct epoch. The reforms introduced by the constitution of 1870 were everywhere reluctantly accepted by the office-holders, whose ideas of compensation had been gradually formed by the powerful influence of the fees and perquisites of the old system. Under that had been produced a set of unwritten maxims, and practices not more real, disorganizing in their moral effects, but cohesive otherwise, which had originated in every shire town a central authority styled " the ring." When by the altered circumstances the incumbents were constrained to take smaller pay in salaries, which were not, unlike the former pay, adequate to lay the foundations of respectable fortunes, they naturally felt that it was an effectual, if not ingenious, scheme of oppression. That they did not promptly come forward, upon the inception of the new system, and offer zealous suggestions how to put the machine in motion and keep it in running order, so as to secure the most effective results, ought not to create astonishment, though it did provoke criticism. It would have been expecting too much to think that they could be conspicuous sympathizers with the new plan. It was not enough that a remote decision had been pronounced in adopting the constitution. A radically curative effort by the people, displayed in tearing away from old affiliations and assuming independent fellowship, in which they should remove their own positive sanction solemnly given at the polls, was necessary. To have indorsed the same men, - in other words, the old means of perpetuating power, would have defeated the object. Until they could raise themselves to this plane of a better manhood and citizenship, it were but putting new wine into old bottles. Incorrigible education unfitted the old vessels for the active virtues of the new compound. A new system required new men. The occasion for obtaining them was not long wanting. It was of no consequence that the popular agitation was incited by a wholly extraneous cause, or a <?ause combining with it many lesser ones. The people were ripe for the occasion when it came. Abuses in office and out of office, in business and out of business, in private and in public, - abuses everywhere, touching the financial affairs and operations of men, - had produced in the public mind, more especially of the "bone and sinew " of the land? patronizingly so called, a just sense that the burdens of government and of society were unequally distributed. Being hard pressed from every side, it is not surprising that in the general ferment they often struck wildly, and perhaps with too little moderation. But an important work was to be done, and it took blows to do it. It was unfortunate personally for those of the opposition upon whom devolved the leadership. In this county a long tenure of power, whose insecurity was never suspected, had made the dominant party remiss. The managers saw in the supremacy of their organization only spoils for division among themselves. The suffrage of the people was a public means to private ends. The overshadowing prominence of national measures took all their attention, and the local politicians were prosperous when the eyes of their constituents were turned away. Pains were not taken to inform the people of the state of county affairs, but rather there was a careful effort to withhold such knowledge. The system of accounting showed either a misconception of the law, or an evasion of it, and the fiscal statements confused instead of enlightening those who were entitled to know the condition of public business ; indeed, it has been truly said that even the treasurer was not often able to furnish very definite information. The treasury was run in the interest of a few individuals. County orders sold at from twenty-five to fifty per cent discount. With a change of power, however, came a sudden improve- ment of affairs. The augean stables were cleaned out. Care and economy succeeded waste and extravagance. County orders were honored at the desk of the treasurer. The public interests shot into the ascendant. About January 16, 1873, a convention of the farmers of Illinois was held at Bloomington, pursuant to a call, by a convention of a few clubs held at Kewanee, Henry county. A large representation from clubs and granges, together with prominent men from different parts of the state, assembled to inquire into the cause for unpaid labor, and to deliberate upon a remedy. The chief subject of discussion was the extortionate tariffs of railroad monopolies, and the defiance by such monopolies of the lawful authority of the state. An association was organized, and the farmers of Illinois were advised to form clubs auxiliary to the same, for the agitation of questions affecting their interests. At this time the grange organization was almost universally unknown. In this state not a dozen were in existence, and these were limited to Lee and "Whiteside counties. A few persons from Iroquois county were present at the state convention ; the only ones now remembered were A. J. Alexander, of Oilman ; George B. Fickle, of Onarga; and R. G. Campbell, of Loda. Fickle was a delegate from the Onarga Horticultural Society. Campbell represented the Farmers' Protective Association, of which he was president. This was organized at Loda, and incorporated under the laws of the state, November 30, 1871; and was the first farmers' club in the county, and the only one of the kind. On his return, a meeting was advertised to be held at Loda on the 25th, to ratify the action of the Bloomington convention, and to organize under the state association. It \vas largely attended, and earnest addresses were delivered. A similar meeting was held on the same day at Onarga, and about the same time another at Gilman, called by Mr. Alexander, who had been appointed to attend to the organizing of Iroquois county. Permanent clubs were formed at all these places. Others rapidly followed, and the press at once teemed with their proceedings. The whole country was soon ablaze. This was the secret of the wonderful spread of the order of Patrons of Husbandry, which was wholly distinct from the Illinois State Farmers' Association. For a while there was a little rivalry between the two grand organizations, but on the whole they worked harmoniously together for the same general objects. Iroquois county was soon well organized. In eighteen months about fifty of these bodies were meeting regularly, nearly three-fourths being granges.

On the assembling of congress, after the presidential election of 1872, the credit mobilier, which had been unearthed during the campaign, was investigated and thoroughly exposed. Following close upon this came the salary grab by congress, approved by the president. The public mind was deeply affected by these events. Added to the grinding extortion practiced by the railroad corporations, these moral forces engendered a state of feeling that very early in the year took positive political form. High protective tariff and other causes added their full share to the result. The evils complained of as heavily borne were understood to run through every branch of the public service from the national administration down to the lowest office. " These," said the " Gilman Star," of that date, " are the causes that make men forget their differences and labor for each other's welfare." Indeed, the grievances were real and deep-rooted, and like true men whom a' common danger threatened, the people dropped all contention. The press throughout the country, with great unanimity, applauded the movement, and welcomed it as a sign of coming good. Notably in some cases the attempt was undertaken to make it turn the old party mills, but with signal failure. Never did men set about the accomplishment of an object with a firmer purpose, nor a more rational con- .ception of their aims and duties. The "Iroquois Times," "Gilman Star" and "Onarga Review" supported the farmers' cause politically, while the " Watseka Republican," advocating the railroad reforms demanded by the new movement, chose to labor for them within the party. On July 14 the republican central committee met at Watseka for consultation. Several of the principal men of the party, not members of the committee, were present by invitation, and freely advised concerning the best course of action. A contrariety of views were entertained. A "people's anti-monopoly convention " was called for August 26, to nominate candidates for county offices. This was a clear abandonment of the party name ; but not, as was shrewdly suspected and finally developed, a sincere abandonment of the party organization. That this was a mistake, no well-informed republican will now deny. Whatever the motives for this change may have been, we regard them now as of little moment ; still the decision was disastrous to the integrity of the organization, if at that time that was worth a consideration. The chairman, Z. Beatty, was a partisan of the inflexible type, whose spirit was such in this business that it was not necessary for him to make a special effort to give the proceeding, which he did not indorse, such an odor as to make it seem perhaps worse than it really was - even disingenuous. His name appended to any political call determined its absolute character. The only question from first to last for the farmers to decide was whether they should undertake to accomplish their desires within the republican party, to which a large majority of them belonged, or whether it should be attempted by a new and distinct organization. The action of the republican committeewas interpreted to have been the result of temporizing motives, and hence when the hour for a new departure came there was scarcely a breath of controversy, and the opposition that was made was so wanting in strength as not to command even respectful consideration. It was soon clearly seen that the committee had missed the popular chord, for expressions denoting a different wish were becoming numerous. This dissatisfaction was first made known by the Sheldon Club,, and afterward by those of Milford, Oilman, Iroquois and Middleport,. the two last of which separately issued calls for a farmers' convention,, to be held in Watseka on August 8, " for the purpose," as expressed by the last club, "of taking into consideration the propriety of going into the people's anti-monopoly convention, already called, or to determine under existing circumstances whether it is expedient to call a farmers' convention, and, if found to be expedient, to call such a convention and apportion the delegates to the same." The 8th of August brought together fifty-seven representatives of twenty-one organizations* A. J. Alexander was made president, and Henry Phelps and George T. Metzger, secretaries. An interchange of views on the question which the convention had been called to decide took place. There was great unanimity. Only four, of whom the writer was one, advocated turning out to the primaries, and sending delegates of our own to the antimonopoly convention to control it in our interest. The sentiment in favor of holding an independent convention was so strong that the majority were impatient of opposition so slight, and had it not been for the extreme fairness of the president the minority would not have been fully heard. A central committee of twenty-four, one from each club and grange, was appointed, and instructed to issue a call for a convention ; this they did before the adjournment, fixing the representation at three from each organization, and naming the 25th as the day for holding the convention. This was one day earlier than the antimonopoly convention, and was so ordered to take a fearless and independent departure. This new plan of representation had a powerful effect in promoting the organization of farmers' clubs. The interval was improved by such as were intent on party-making and had a malady for office.

On the 25th, 38 clubs and granges sent 106 delegates, entitled to 114 votes. A. B. Caldwell, of Sheldon, was elected chairman ; EL A. Butzow, of Iroquois township, secretary, and Oeorge T. Metzger, of Onarga, assistant secretary. On the first regular ballot Manliff B. "Wright, a young and rising attorney of Watseka, was nominated for county judge. This nomination was not unexpected. Mr. Wright had canvassed the county in his own interest, and made a good many friends. He stood well in his profession, and it wras understood that he was the preference of the bar. His antecedents were democratic, and this was pleasing to one wing of the convention. After events proved this to be a fortunate choice, not more for his ability as a politician than for his merit as a judicial officer. For all the offices except that of county clerk announcements had been made. On account of his superior qualifications, and personal popularity, S. C. Munhall, who had been a deputy in that office seven or eight years, was regarded as the only candidate. Not until after the calling of the independent convention was any other person thought of; but when events had gone so far that the new departure began to look around for untrammeled men, Henry A. Butzow, a German citizen, of Iroquois township, was mentioned by his friends. On the informal ballot 109 votes were cast, of which he received 45, and Munhall, 59. The next vote revealed a tie of 57. From a graphic history of the political events of this period, published in the "Times" a year or two since, we quote: "At this moment there was intense excitement. If Mr. Munhall had been willing to rest his chances of election on this single nomination it would have been his. A dozen delegates pressed around him for an instant to hear what he had to say. When they returned to their places his defeat was certain." He was momentarily paralyzed. The supreme situation burst suddenly upon him and was gone. The second formal ballot gave Butzow 77, to 32 for his opponent ; and this " short, sharp and decisive" contest was closed. Continuing to quote from the same source concerning Munhall : "It was probable that his sympathies were warmly enlisted on the side of the people among whom he lived. Perhaps the objection felt to him was that he was allied with, and was the candidate of, the men whose manipulations of county affairs it was hoped to defeat. The democrats of the convention doubtless remembered that he had always been a republican, yet on the informal ballot he had more votes than any of his opponents." And in regard to Butzow : " This nomination proved most fortunate. The nominee was little known at the time outside of his own town, but he developed unlooked for ability, and made a spirited and successful canvass. He was thoroughly in sympathy with the movement." On the third formal ballot George T. Metzger, of Onarga, was nominated for treasurer, and, on the fourth, David Kerr, of Gilman, for school superintendent. The committee on resolutions, W. E. Knibloe, O. H. Bales, J. F. Good, D. Brumback and R. Caldwell, reported a set which are of more than transient value. They were widely commented on, and elicited many expressions of approval from the country and metropoli-

The Farmeks' Platform Preamble

We, the people of Iroquois count}', who are opposed to monopolies, regardless of former political opinions or party affiliations, do hereby ratify and confirm the following resolutions, as an honest expression of our opinions and the basis of our future political action :

Resolved, That every man should earn the pay he receives and receive the pay he earns, and that every contest between labor and capital should be settled upon this principle ; that we are desirous of political reform, and of honesty, economy and purity in all official administration. To secure this is the duty of every citizen, and that to this end every good man should feel bound to participate in politics and make an end of bad men forcing their election by securing a party nomination. We declare it the duty of every citizen to oppose the election of a bad and incompetent official, whether on our own or any other ticket ; that we demand the strictest economy in national, state and county affairs, and absolute responsibility in all official relations, deprecating every violation and departure from the strictest official integrity, and insisting that every such violation shall at once be brought to the attention of the county courts, and that the salaries of officers shall be reduced and fixed so as to give fair compensation for services, but the same shall not be excessive ; that we are opposed to all class legislation, either state or national ; that we are opposed to monopolies of any kind ; that a law compelling one man to pay tax to support the business of another is nothing less than legalized robbery ; that a protective tariff is the basis of all monopolies, and that we are in favor of free iron and steel, salt and lumber, sugar, coffee, tea, woolen and cotton fabrics, and if a tariff is justifiable at all it should be for revenue purposes only; that agriculture is the basis of wealth and power; that all other branches of business depend on the success of the farmer; therefore we believe that the farmer should be represented in every branch of the government, legislative, judicial and executive, and that we pledge ourselves to support for office men who are interested in the prosperity of the farmer, and none others ; that we recognize the great benefits to be derived from railroads in the transportation of freight and passengers, and in developing sections of country that would be almost useless without them, we yet deny that the corporations controlling them are superior to the power that gave them existence, but that they are subject to legislation, as much so as individuals ; that our member of the board of equalization be and he hereby is instructed to use his influence to assess railroads and railroad property at as near its cash value as real estate and other property has been assessed in this state; that we denounce, in unqualified terms, the act of congress increasing their pay, commonly known as " the salary-grab," and pledge ourselves not to vote for nor support any man for office who voted for the bill or accepted the unjust pay.

No other convention has been held, since the republican party obtained undisputed power in the county, which has furnished so important a lesson or been attended with so valuable results. On the following day the antimonopoly convention met. The party labored under the weight of a great mistake. In trimming to catch the breeze it had parted with the symbol of its strength, and courted a crushing defeat for despising the banner of many victories.

In a spiritless manner the convention went through the formality of making nominations. R. K. Mclntyre, of Middleport, an old and respected member of the Iroquois bar, was nominated for county judge; S. C. Murihall for county clerk; B. F. Price, a one-armed veteran soldier, of Loda, for treasurer, and John A. Holmes, of Milford, for superintendent of schools. The resolutions were a complete travesty - churlish, puerile, ambiguous, a reflection of the melancholy, confused sense which had fallen upon the convention when they found themselves forced to battle on a false and disadvantageous ground. The canvass was carried on with spirit by the new party, which continued to have the support of the papers before mentioned. The " Republican " having labored with faithful zeal, before the unfortunate action of the central committee, to preserve the integrity of its party, .now made but feeble effort to maintain the unequal contest. The election occurred November 4. Wright's majority was 1,260 ; Butzow's, 300 ; Metzger's, 320, and Kerr's, 487. The highest number of votes cast was 3,118.

Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad

Although this is a comparatively new road, it must not be presumed that consequently it should be placed among the list of unimportant lines, for just the very opposite is the fact. However much older roads have assumed in the credit of opening up and developing this part of the state, no less can, in justice, be said of the line under consideration. Let any one take a map of eastern Illinois published prior to 1870, and he will observe that much of what is now known as the most desirable portions of the state was entirely without railroad facilities. Some places through which this line now passes were forty miles from a railroad station. It will therefore be seen under what disadvantages this part of the country labored, and a good reason will easily be discovered for its tardy development. Then, also, the country including the eastern part of this county, and much more valuable country, was cut off entirely from communication with the great metropolis of the west, Chicago. It is, therefore, not surprising that so complete and prosperous a road as the Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad should be built up in eight years, for its construction was an urgent necessity, and it takes no philosopher to comprehend that the causes which led to the building of the road will ultimately make it the most important line passing through this section. While numberless roads have been projected, and many built, in different portions of the state, wherever local pride or an itching for speculation could secure the needed aid, with few exceptions they have not only proved failures, but have bankrupted and disgusted their patrons. This line, however, unlike nearly all born under the peculiar law passed by the Illinois legislature but a short time before, has gradually, from the first, gained in public favor, and though it received donations from the townships through which it was built, there are few persons, and perhaps none, who regret having aided so worthy an enterprise.

The Illinois Central railroad had not long been built when its apparent advantages stimulated thoughts of a parallel route from Paris, in Edgar county, through Georgetown, Danville and Mornence, to Chicago. A proposition to this effect took tangible shape in 1857, when the Paris and Chicago Railroad Company was chartered. Many of the projectors living along the line were men whose names are distinctly associated with a past day, among them, Dr. William Fithian, Judge Joseph Peters, Hiram Sandford and William A. Chatfield.