Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 13: County Organization and Government, 1919

Chapter 13: County Organization and Government

URALIZATION PAPERS - FIRST COURTHOUSE - ELECTION OF 1840 - NEW PRECINCT - FURTHER COUNTY BUSINESS - COUNTY COURT - NEW POORHOUSE - ISSUANCE OF RAILROAD BONDS - REPAIRS TO COURTHOUSE - BOUNTY FOR SOLDIERS - LAST FEW MEETINGS - COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD - SHERIFFS - CIRCUIT CLERKS - COUNTY CLERKS - COUNTY SURVEYORS - COUNTY ASSESSORS AND TREASURERS - CORONERS - COUNTY HIGHWAY ENGINEER.

Jersey County was organized August 5, 1839, in accordance with the Enabling Act passed by the Legislature on February 28, 1839, pro¬ viding for the submission to the people of Greene County a proposition for and against the separation of a portion of it from Greene County. At the election the vote stood 1,239 in favor to 714 against separation, giving a majority of 525 out of the 1,953 votes cast, in favor of the measure. Thus Jersey County was established, and it then contained the same territory as at present. Jersey ville was selected as the capital of the new county.

Preliminary Legislation

Pursuant to a demand for separation, John N. English circulated and secured signatures to the petition for the establishment of Jersey County, and carried it to the Legislature at Vandalia, which was then the state capital, making the trip on horseback. At that time Thomas Carlin of Greene County was governor of the state, and E. M. Daley of the same county, was a member of the lower house. After the estab¬ lishment of the new county, the live and enterprising residents interested themselves in Jerseyville, and took advantage of their favorable situa¬ tion to draw capital and business to that place. Roads were opened to Alton, Carrollton and all parts of the county, so as to concentrate the interest of the people at that point, and there has been a steady and substantial growth of Jerseyville from that time to the present.

A Prominent Citizen

John N. English, who presented the petition for separation of Jersey County from Greene County, to the Legislature, continued to be promi¬ nent in the history of Jersey County. At the first election for county officers in Jersey County, he was elected sheriff, and re-elected in 1840 by a majority of one vote. Since then he was elected to the office of State Representative for several terms, from. the district in which this county is situated.

First Officials

On October 14, 1839, the first board of county commissioners met at Jerseyville. They were Thomas Cummings, Solomon Calhoun and Amos Pruitt. The other officials were : Richard Graham, clerk ; George H. Jackson, circuit clerk; Joseph Crabbem, school commissioner; John N. English, sheriff ; Nelson R. Lurton, coroner, and John R. Black, treasurer.

At the first meeting of the county board of commissioners, E. M. Daley was authorized to purchase the necessary books for the county officers, and Solomon Calhoun and R. L. Hill to erect a building to be used for the county clerk's office, on the public square.

At the regular meeting, held December 2, of that year, Thomas Cum¬ mings drew one year, Solomon Calhoun two years, and Amos Pruitt, three years, as their respective terms as county commissioners.

Peyton C. Walker erected a building to be used by the county clerk as his office for $220.00, to be paid in installments of $20.00 each. The "Backwoodsman" was allowed $5.50 for printing blanks. Thomas Cummings and Chilton Smith, the committee on the Internal Improve¬ ment Fund, reported that they had conferred with the commissioners of Greene County, and secured $6,000.00, and an agreement to make

Judges Of Election

The following judges of election in the seven precincts of the county, were appointed as follows: Phil's Creek, David Myers, Josiah Jackson and Elijah Barnes; Jerseyville, John Anderson, Robert B. Robins, and George H. Collins; Richwoods, Thomas Vance, Stephen M. Richey and Reuben S. Spencer ; Delhi, William Draper, William Hackney and James Cummings ; Mississippi, John D. Gilham, David A. Thompson, and Chauncej^ Brown; Otter Creek, Thomas M. Hamilton, James Dougherty and Coe Edsall; Illinois, David Utt, Thomas Johnson and Samuel Haye. The fees for grand and petit jurors were fixed at seventy-five cents per day.

First Naturalization Papers

On December 5, 1839, Dr. James C. Perry, a native of England, filed his oath of allegiance, and was given his naturalization papers, the first issued by Jersey County.

First Courthouse

At a called meeting of the county commissioners, held January 13, 1840, Elijah Van Horne, Solomon Calhoun and Thomas L. McGill, were appointed as a building committee to superintend the erection of the courthouse. They submitted a plan for this courthouse to be erected by the people of Jersey County, and it was approved by the board of commissioners. At the March term of the county commissioners' court in 1841, the building committee reported that contracts had been let for the erection of a courthouse and jail, and that the expense of erection of the two would be $2,170.-00. At the June term of the county commis¬ sioners' court in 1845, T. L. McGill was appointed agent to collect sub¬ scriptions from the citizens for the erection of the courthouse and jail.

Election Of 1840

At the August election of 1840, Chauncey Brown and Cyrus Tolman, were elected county commissioners; John N. English, sheriff; George W. Lowder, collector, and Aaron Rue, coroner.

New Precinct

At the June meeting of the county commissioners' court in 1841, Grafton was made an election precinct, with John Keyes, Paris Mason and William Williams, judges. On August 14, George H. Pigues filed his bond as school commissioner. On the eighth of the following Sep¬ tember, he resigned, and James Harriott was appointed to fill the va¬ cancy. Solomon Calhoun was elected as assessor, and George W. Lowder, as collector.

On September 7, 1840, the county commissioners met, there being present Amos Pruitt, Chauncey Brown and Cyrus Tolman. During the September term, 1842, the commissioners were Chauncey Brown, Cyrus Tolman and William Palmer. During that term the most important act was the passage of a tax levy of thirty cents on every $100.00, for county purposes. At the September term of 1843, the commissioners were Cyrus Tolman, William Palmer and Thomas Carroll, the last succeeding Chauncey Brown, w7hose term had expired.

At the September term of 1844, the commissioners were William Palmer, Thomas Carroll and Maurice Armstrong, while those of 1845 were Thomas Carroll, Maurice Armstrong and Ambrose S. Wyckoff.

At a special term, called October 13, 1845, Samuel R. Perry was allowed $900.00 in payment for a farm of 166 acres of land for the establishment of a poorhouse thereon, and at the December term of that year, a poorhouse was established in the residence of said farm, which was several miles northeast of Jersey ville.

At the meeting held September 7, 1846, the commissioners present were Maurice Armstrong, Ambrose S. Wyckoff and Benjamin Cleaver. On September 6, 1847, the commissioners present wTere Ambrose S. AYickoff, Benjamin Cleaver and James McKinney. On September 1, 1848, Commissioners Ambrose S. Wickoff, James McKinney and James A. Piggott were present. This board held over until December, 1849, under the provision of the Constitution of 1848, when they were suc¬ ceeded by the county court.

County Court

judge, and James McKinney and Jacob Lurton, associate justices. At the January term, 1850, Ira Moore was appointed superintendent of the county poor farm, at a salary of $235.00 per annum. Order was made for the payment of six percent interest upon warrants not paid for want of funds in the hands of the treasurer, for the purpose of sus¬ taining the financial credit of the county.

In December, 1852, Jasper M. Terry became associate justice to suc¬ ceed Jacob Lurton. At this term of the county court, it was ordered that the question for and against subscribing $5,000.00 towards the building of the Jacksonville and Carrollton Railroad be submitted to the voters of the county, at an election to be held March 26, 1853, the results of which were that a majority voted for the proposition. Judge George E. Warren was authorized to make the subscription to the capital stock of said railroad company and issue the bonds of the county in pay¬ ment thereof. At the election in 1853, George E. Warren was elected judge, and Jasper M. Terry and Charles H. Bowman, associates, and they duly qualified.

New Poorhouse

The capacity of the poorhouse having become insufficient for the needs of the county's poor, at the September term, in 1854, the county court purchased from James C. Graham, his residence and twenty acres of land, a short distance east of Jersey ville, on the Carlinville road, to be used for a poorhouse, paying him $2,000.00 for the property.

Issuance Of Railroad Bonds

J. Murray Bacon was elected associate judge in 1856, to succeed Charles H. Bowman. On September 10, 1857, in compliance with the request of the Jacksonville, Alton & St. Louis Railroad Company, as voted at the election of March 23, 1853, the bonds were duly issued of that date, in amounts of $500.00 each, with six percent interest pay¬ able annually, and delivered to said railroad company.

Repairs To Courthouse

At the election in 1857, Oliver P. Powell was elcted judge, and Richard R. Ely and William Williams, associate justices, which brought about an entire change in the court. The election in 1861, brought in

Richard I. Lowe as judge, and Jacob Lurton and Larkin Richardson as associate judges. At the June term, 1863, orders were made for the ex¬ penditure of $3,400.00 for repairs and additions to the courthouse, ac¬ cording to plans therefor, submitted by William Embly, architect, the work to be done by Embly and Coddirigton.

Bounty For Soldiers

At a special term of the county court, held September 22, 1864, it was ordered that the sum of $10,000.00 be appropriated for the pur¬ pose of paying a bounty of $50.00 each to all soldiers who should volun¬ teer on or after September 19, 1864, for enlistment in the United States army from Jersey County, until its quota be filled, to avert a draft. William Shepard, H. O. Goodrich and Dr. John L. White were ap¬ pointed as a committee to investigate and report the names of the per¬ sons entitled to receive this bounty. The committee made their report December 10, 1864, giving the names of 249 volunteers that were en¬ titled to receive this bounty. This report was approved, and the bounty was paid accordingly. All but five receiving the bounty, were in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

The Last Few Meetings

In December, 1865, O. P. Powell, judge, and Phineas Eldridge and William H. Allen, associates, composed the court. On December 6, 1869, J. M. Hurd, Judge, and Caleb Noble and G. A. Gorin, associates came into office. On September 9, 1871, William Shephard presented to the court an offer of $12,500.00 for the $5,000.00 stock of the Jack¬ sonville, Alton and St. Louis Railroad Company, subscribed September 10, 1857. This offer was accepted and the county clerk was ordered to transfer the stock to Mr. Shephard upon the payment of the sum offered therefor. J. M. Hurd resigned, and Robert M. King was ap¬ pointed, and took his place as judge, at the December term, 1872, with Caleb Noble and William A. Scott, associates. Under the Constitution of 1870, the county business was transferred to three commissioners, and the last term of the county court, under the old form, was held during September, 1873.

County Commissioners

1874, and upon drawing lots, William H. Allen secured the office for one year. Edwin Colean secured the office for two years, and Isaac R. Ely secured the office for three years. Isaac R. Ely was elected chairman of the board, and the commissioners at once entered upon the transaction of the county business.

William L. Ruyle, John W. Evans and P. D. Cheney, with P. D. Cheney as chairman, met January 6, 1878. Fulkerson had resigned prior to this date.

William L. Ruyle, J. W. Evans and S. B. Foree, with William L. Ruyle as chairman, held a special meeting February 25, 1879, in com¬ pliance with a mandamus from the Supreme Court, requiring the board to. divide Jersey County into townships under the law providing for the adoption of township organization, in pursuance of an election held in November, 1878. At that time the project was submitted to the people, and upon canvassing the votes of the several precincts in the county, owing to a technical objection, the returns from Grafton pre¬ cinct were rejected, and the proposition was rejected. By counting the returns from that precinct, the proposition was carried. On the latter count, the vote stood 1,459 for, against 1,399, giving the proposition a majority of sixty in its favor. By rejecting the votes of Grafton pre¬ cinct, the returns were 1,268 for and 1,295 against.

Writ Of Mandamus

The matter was presented to the Supreme Court upon a petition of a writ of mandamus to require the canvassers to count the returns from Grafton precinct. The Court ordered the issuance of the writ in pur¬ suance of the petition (People ex rel. 0. P. Powell et al. vs. Ruyle et al., commissioners, 91 Illinois, 525), and it was to comply with that writ that the special meeting of the board of commissioners was called. E. M. Fuller, George H. Jackson, and Phineas Eldridge were appointed a committee to divide the county into townships as provided by law, in compliance with the wish of the people, as expressed in their votes at the election.

This committee made their report to the board of commissioners March 25, 1879, as follows: Piasa Township to contain all of Township 7, Range 10. Fidelity Township to contain all of Township 8, Range 10. Ruyle Township to contain fractional township 9, Range 10. Jersey Township to contain all of Township 8, Range 11, and fractional town¬ ship 9, Range 11. Mississippi Township to contain Township 7, Range 11. Elsah Township to contain fractional township 6, Range 11. Graf¬ ton Township to contain fractional township 6, Ranges 12 and 13. Otter Creek Township to contain Township 7, Range 12. English Township to contain Township 8, Range 12. Illinois Township to con¬ tain fractional township 7, Range 13. Richwoods Township to contain fractional township 8, Range 13. The committee's report was adopted. An election was called for the election of supervisors in the several townships and 'the board of commissioners adjourned sine die, March 25, 1879.

Board Of Supervisors

On April 14, 1879, occurred the first meeting of the board of super¬ visors for Jersey County, with the following present: Walter E. Carlin,

The following judges of election were appointed for the several townships. Ruyle Township - Orin Palmer, Henry Ryan and W. L. Ruyle. Fidelity Township - I. R. Ely, D. Q. Trotter and Archibald Craig. Jersey Township - George H. Jackson, J. C. Barr and J. E. Cooper. Piasa Township - J. N. Lurton, D. Robertson and L. Heubner. Grafton Township - Jacob Godfrey, C. P. Stafford and W. D. F. Slaten. Mississippi Township - Samuel Darlington, Richard Chappell and N. M. Lurton. Elsah Township - B. F. Farley, William Wade and A. Deidrich. Otter Creek Township - William McAdams, Sr., J. G. Dougherty and N. T. Rogers. English Township - Edwin Colean, A. J. Rice and L. T. English. Illinois Township - John Dugan, E. P. Lowe and A. J. Thompson. Richwoods Township - A. J. Arkebauer, Robert Wylder and Leonard Cutler.

Change In Name

At the June meeting of the board of supervisors, in 1879, James Eads, clerk, reported that a notice had been received from the Sec¬ retary of State that there was already a township in Illinois named Grafton. On the motion of J. G. Erwin, the name of Grafton Town¬ ship was changed to that of Quarry Township. Rules and order of business were adopted, and the following committees were appointed: Judiciary Committee, Ernest Mysenburg, William A. Scott and Henry J. Hoffman. Finance Committee, Ernest Mysenburg, John G. Erwin, Silas W. Rogers and William A. Scott. Claims Committee, William A. Scott, Silas W. Rogers and Lewis Elliott. Roads and Bridges Com¬ mittee, Lewis Elliott, Addison Greene, John G. Erwin, Charles C. Busby, Ernest Mysenburg. Equalization Committee, Silas W. Rogers, Samuel B. Foree, Charles C. Busby, Addison Greene and Walter E. Carlin. Poor and Poor Farm Committee, John G. Erwin, Silas W. Rogers and Henry J. Hoffman. Petitions Committee, Charles C. Busby, William A. Scott, Lewis Elliott. Public Buildings Committee, Adison Greene, J. L. Reed and John G. Erwin. Appropriation Committee, Henry J. Hoffman, J. L. Reed and Samuel B. Foree. Rules Committee, J. L. Reed, Ernest

Mysenburg and Walter E. Carlin. At this first meeting $1,000.00 was appropriated for the investigation of the book and finances of the county, the committee being ordered to report to the September meet¬ ing of the board. On May 6, 1878, William Davison, William Kirby and Jarrett T. Grimes, tax payers, filed a bill for an injunction, en¬ joining the payment of ten percent interest on money borrowed by the county commissioners to liquidate county warrants, issued in pay¬ ment of current expenses of the county. A temporary injunction was issued, which was made permanent under a final decree, and on writ of error was affirmed in the Supreme Court (111 Illinois, page 19).

A. J. Thompson, J. M. Seagraves, C. P. Stafford, George W. Reed, H. Y. Yoorhees, N. T. Rogers, Y. L. Dodge, and L. T. English. On January 6, 1884, the courthouse and jail were burned, and four prisoners in the jail died of suffocation, to wit : Emil Koehler, August Schultz, James Riggs and Walter Duncan. At a special meeting held in January, 1884, James M. Seagraves, Milo Landon and W. E. Carlin were appointed as a committee to receive bids for, and award contract for the building of a temporary courthouse. On March 11, that committee reported to the board that the temporary courthouse was completed at a cost of $950.00, and ready for occupancy. It was a frame building, oblong in shape, fronting south, with the courtroom in the south end, and two juryrooms in the north end. At the election held on November 4, 1884, a special tax of thirty-five cents on each $100.00 of assessed valuation for the purpose of building a sheriff's residence and jail, was submitted to and carried by 426 majority. On January 12, 1885, the building committee reported acceptance and approval of bids for the erection of the sheriff's residence and jail at a total of $15,115.00, which was ap¬ proved. This building was erected on the northwest corner of the court¬ house square, being completed and occupied in December, 1885.

P. D. Cheney, chairman, M. J. Ritchey, Frank Knapp, Thomas L. Bradshaw, J. H. McDow, C. P. Stafford, John G. Dougherty, A. J. Thompson, James Stirrett, Cosmos Keller, Milo Landon, Mortimer J. Parker, were the board in 1889.

In 1890 the members of the board of supervisors were as follows: P. D. Cheney, chairman, F. J. Mains, F. Knapp, L. Stirrett, W. G. Van Meter, Robert L. Smith, Joseph Chambers, C. P. Stafford, J. G. Dough¬ erty, Milo Landon, Robert R. Ward, and William Goshorn.

Thomas A. Case, L. T. English, Robert L. Smith, C. P. Stafford, William Goshorn, W. H. Bartlett, W. L. Ruyle, and Joseph Knight. During this year the courthouse was built in the public square.

The members of the board of supervisors for 1895 were as follows: P. D. Cheney, chairman, Thomas C. H. Wylder, W. H. Bartlett, Benja¬ min C. Elliott, Adam Lightner, C. P. Stafford, Mathew C. Whipple, H. V. Voorhees, William Dougherty, L. T. English, R. R. Ward and William Goshorn.

The members of the board of supervisors for 1897 were as follows: C. P. Stafford, chairman, Charles B. Bartlett, George W. Ruyle, Joseph Kleffner, Richard C. Gillham, Charles E. Brooks, H. Y. Voorhees, H. H. Snell, William Dougherty, James Powers, R. R. Ward and S. M. Reddish.

During 1900 the members of the board of supervisors were as fol¬ lows: C. P. Stafford, chairman, James Powers, H. H. Snell, Grant Thompson, Tunis C. Craig, Thomas A. Case, Clarence West, C. B. Bartlett, J. Kleffner, T. B. Ruyle, Tell McDow, and C. E. Brooks.

During 1901 the members of the board of supervisors were as fol¬ lows: T. E. McDow, chairman, John B. Rentges, C. B. Bartlett, T. B. Ruyle, F. J. Mains, James M. Allen, James Powers, H. H. Snell, Grant Thompson, T. H. Craig, Thomas A. Case and C. West.

During 1907 the members of the board of supervisors were as fol¬ lows: Robert L. Smith, chairman, W. H. Bartlett, John A. Cory, T. B. Ruyle, William H. Journey, R. C. Gillham, T. H. Craig, William H. Hanley, W. W. Dabbs, William Weighard, James Wedding and William Decker.

During 1908 the members of the board of supervisors were as fol¬ lows: T. H. Craig, chairman, Edward P. Sauer, William M. Hanley, George W. Noble, William Weighard, James Wedding, W. H. Bartlett, R. C. Gillham, T. B. Ruyle, J. A. Cory, William H. Journey, and R. L. Smith.

During 1909 the members of the board of supervisors were as fol¬ lows : Thomas B. Ruyle, chairman, J. A. Cory, R. C. Gillham, R. L. Smith, William H. Journey, F. Gorin, T. H. Craig, J. T. Hanley, E. P. Sauer, George B. Noble, William Weighard and James Wedding.

County Highway Engineer

In 1913, Charles E. Warren was appointed county highway engineer for Jersey County, by its county board of supervisors to hold office until 1919, and is the only one to hold this office in the county.