Knox County, Illinois - The whole text, 1912 (part 1 of 56)

Preface

Already three histories of Knox county have been written prior to the present work. In each of those volumes considerable time has been spent in writing up the early history of the county and especially of the first settlers. This is true of every township within the county and pretty full accounts of the cities and villages have been given. It seems that but little more can be said along that line. Galesburg is admittedly somewhat unique in its origin. A colony composed of refined and educated people came here for the avowed purpose of establishing a college and surrounding it with good influences from the start and I the history of this movement has been written and can be found not only in the : former county histories but also in quite a variety of publications - especially : the Semi-Centennial of the Old First church of the city of Galesburg. That V little volimie states fully the persons interested in the Galesburg-Knox-college f. movement. The difficulties of their journey have been fully set out and there is ; no doubt that that feature of history pertaining to central Illinois will be prer served and will continue to be the subject of pleasing fireside conversation. -' But little of this side of the question has been indulged in by the author of V this volume. It occurred to him in the start that to the present generation the " accomplishments of these early settlers and their descendants should be the principal subject of investigation. ' He therefore conceived the idea of presenting to the people a careful and thorough statement of what had been actually done in this county, without particularizing very much who the actors were. It v^will be discovered that the principal points selected by the author are the public p(buildings; and the public, social and economic movements of the people have Mormed the basis of that portion of the work prepared by him personally. To -^make this feature of the work still more prominent, he arranged with certain in- ^dividuals, who are in every way qualified, to present various topics in a thorough interesting manner along the lines which he himself has pursued. The earnestly hopes, for he fully believes, that this feature will be of great wnore specific he would call especial attention to the articles upon the various denominations of the county. It will be found that the following outhas been pretty generally followed. First, a full statement of belief ; second, organization of individuals sharing that belief; and third, the extent to I their hopes, based upon their belief and their church organization, have realized. So far as this form is applicable, the secular articles have been

It has been the writer's earnest endeavor to spend but little time upon the side of life, but rather to consider carefully everything that seems while and everything that could make reasonable answer to the questions,

The writer takes a justifiable pride in the illustrations which he has secured for this work for they have served a double purpose. They are not only beautiful and add a peculiarly pleasing effect to the appearance of the work, but in no other way could he show the development of the cities and villages of the county from a primative condition to one of prosperity and really intelligent refinement, in fulfillment of the highest hopes of the founders. It is very difficult to arrive at a just word picture of the progress of Knox county. The time required to discover and collate the facts necessary to show such progress is altogether too great, and even if accomplished, it would then not be visible as is shown by these illustrations. ; -

To those who have assisted in this matter, the writer hereby offers his sincere thanks and confesses in truth that without their assistance this volume would lack its greatest charm and a very large part of its interest and benefit.

V: It is believed by persons best informed upon the archaeology of Knox county that prior to 1828 it had been the home of at least three distinct races of men.

The first is known from fossils found with the bones of extinct animals and fragments of tropical wood from a few to fifty feet below the surface, where the race seemed to have existed for a long time and are now completely covered by the drift. They left no traces than are found as above stated, some of which indicate their handiwork.

The next race was the mound builders, who here, as elsewhere, was probably an agricultural and semi-civilized people. Traces of their occupancy are found in various parts of the county. They too disappeared without leaving anything of their history.

The Indian with his bow and arrow followed the mound builders, at what time we do not know, but he was the undisputed owner of the country for a long period of time. Whatever record of history he made was of such transitory character that nothing is left and nothing is known beyond some few things that may be gathered from tradition and what transpired after the advent of thfc white people. At the time of the discovery of America, he was the occupant of the soil but has now passed away from most of his old haunts and his power is gone as surely as his predecessors'. j < ,. -

The revival of learning in the fifteenth century stimulated the desire for exploration. Spain was the first to move in a far westerly course and the West Indies were discovered by Columbus. -The reports of his meager success were circulated in Europe when Portugal, Erance and England joined in the search for a new world. As early as the year looo, Scandinavian explorers had previously occupied places on the western shore of Greenland, planted a colony which has been supposed by many to have been near the coast of New England, but this was unsuccessful and passed out of existence. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to establish colonies in this country at different periods along the Atlantic coast by the Erench, Spaniards, Portuguese and English. Eernando de Soto, a Spanish chevalier, explored this country in 1541 as a part of Elorida, but it was never taken possession of by the Spanish. We are interested only in the settlements which were finally effected, one in Virginia in 1607 by the English, and one made by Erance in Canada at Quebec in 1608, and at Montreal in i6ii. On April lo, 1606, King James of England granted the first charter to Virginia, providing for the establishment of two companies, the southern branch of London Company to have authority to occupy lands between the thirtyfourth degree and forty-first degree of north latitude. The second branch, or Plymouth Company was to occupy lands between the thirty-eighth degree and forty-fifth degree. These two grants overlapped each other, but it was provided in the charter that each should occupy the overlapping territory under certain restrictions. These two grants were supposed to cover that part of Illinois which includes Knox county. This charter left the colony subject practically to the domination of the King. The Virginia charter was enlarged in 1609 and granted many rights and powers to the people, so that the colony became practically a corporation, with pretty full powers looking towards self government. The territory described in the second charter was to extend two hundred miles north and two hundred miles south of Point Comfort, "all that space and circuit of land from sea to sea, and west and northwest." This somewhat vague de- . scription and questionable power of the king to grant, forms the basis of Virginia's claim to what was afterwards known as the North West Territory. Nothing was known of the west at that time. The Appalachian range of mountains extending in a somewhat broken chain from eastern Canada southwest to Alabama, and the almost impenetrable forests, formed a great barrier to the advance of English settlement to the westward, and at the same time there was a strip of sea-board between the mountains and the Atlantic from one hundred to two hundred miles wide, which for many years gave abundant room for the constantly increasing English settlements.

Not so with the French settlements of Canada. There was easy communication by lake and river between them and that portion of the country west of the mountains and of the English settlements. The French eagerly availed themselves of this advantage and established settlements at Detroit, Fort Miami, Vincennes, Cahokia, Kaskaskia and along the east side of the Mississippi river to Mobile, Biloxi, etc. This came to be known as New France and was claimed by France by right of discovery and occupation. It would seem, in all good conscience, that the French claim to this territory was superior to that of England's claim, being founded upon a substantial basis, while the English claim was probably founded upon the mere declaration of the discoverer of the coast from which he declared that all lands to the west were subject to his sovereign. The presence of the French to the west of the English made the English feel very uncomfortable. There were continually irritating circumstances arising. The Indians were enlisted on both sides and finally war was declared between the. two nations, and in America this war took the name of the French and Indian ; war. The English were victorious and by the Peace of Paris in 1763, the northwest territory was ceded by France to England, together with Canada, and from that time France had no jurisdiction over territory east of the Mississippi river. By this cession of territory, the claims of Virginia to the northwest territory by virtue of her charter of 1609, reading "from sea to sea," became operative as. far west as the Mississippi river. ;/'. ^:; ::C '-'/..;.>.:;-' ^--;;:. .-

The next scene in the American drama was the War of the Revolution, which began in 1776. General George Rogers Clark, (then Colonel Clark) a citizen of the Virginia colony, formed a scheme of wresting this territory from England and thereby preserving it to the use of his colony, and at the Peace of 1783, England relinquished all claim to this territory which she had taken from France, and Illinois was made a county of Virginia.

An explanation of this statement ought to be given. The word Illinois was used by the French to designate a confederacy of the North American Indians occupying the present area of the state of Illinois and the adjacent parts of Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri. This confederacy was composed of the Peoria, Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Tamaroa and Michagamia Indians. In the language of this confederacy, the word "Illini" meant "a man." The plural of this word was "Illinuk." The French substituted their terminal for the plural "ois" for the Indian plural "uk," and thus the name becanie Illinois. In speaking generally of the country between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, it was called the "Illinois country," because of the Indian confederacy occupying such a large portion of it. The Virginia legislature therefore chose that name as the name of the county created. The act establishing the county of Illinois, which was for the more effectual protection and defense thereof, passed both houses of the Virginia legislature on December 9, 1778. At this time Virginia knew almost nothing of the boundary of the county which she proposed to establish. She wanted to incorporate within this county all that she owned of the Northwest Territory. Therefore "the new county was to include the inhabitants of Virginia north of the Ohio river," but its location was not more definitely prescribed.

It stood without a question that the Northwest Territory now belonged tcy the United States subject to such rights as Virginia might have therein by virtue of her colonial charter, subject also to the rights of the Indians.

On July 9, 1778, the several colonies which had joined in the revolutionary struggle for independence from England, formed a confederacy which, under articles of confederation, was known as the United States, having a president and congress the same as at the present time. : . * . '. \

On the 6th day of September, 1780, congress recommended to the several states in the union having claims to waste and unappropriated lands in the western country, a liberal cession to the United States of a portion of their respective claims for the common benefit of the Union. In conformity with that recommendation, the state of Virginia appointed Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee and James Monroe, commissioners to execute a deed to the United States, in congress assembled, for the benefit of the said states, all rights, title, claim as well of soil as jurisdiction, which this commonwealth hath to the territory or tract of country within the limits of the Virginia charter, situate, lying, and being to the northwest of the River Ohio, upon condition that the territory so ceded shall be laid out and formed into states containing suitable extent of territory not less than one hundred, nor more than one hundred and fifty miles square, or as near thereto as circumstances will admit. These instructions contained quite specific conditions as to the rights of the people and the states to be so formed. It provided further that the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers of the Kaskaskies, St. Vincents and the neighboring villages who have professed themselves citizens of Virginia, shall have their possessions confirmed to them and be protected in the enjoyment of their rights and liberties. It provided further that a quantity of land, not exceeding 150.000 acres, promised by this state shall be allowed and granted by them to the then colonel, now General George

Rogers Clark and to the officers and soldiers of his regiment who marched with him, etc., in subduing this territory. The deed, in accordance with those instructions, was executed to the United States of America on March i, 1784, and thereby all interests of the state of Virginia in and to the lands of the state of Illinois and Knox county were extinguished and transferred to the government of the United States. See Plate I.

On the 3Oth day of December, 1788, the state of Virginia modified the conditions of grant to the United States and authorized the formation of five states out of the Northwest Territory, if deemed advisable by congress. ";.. . ,^ I- -

On the 7th day of August, 1789, congress passed an act for the government of the territory northwest of the Ohio river, but made no division of the same.

On May 7, 1800, congress divided the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio into two separate governments providing that all that part of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river which lies westward of the line beginning at the Ohio opposite the mouth of the Kentucky river and running thence to Fort Recovery and thence north until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and Canada, shall for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a separate territory and be called the Indiana Territory. See Plate II.

On February 3, 1809, congress again provided that from and after the first day of March next, all that part of the Indiana Territory which lies west of the Wabash river and a direct line drawn from the said Wabash river and Post Vincennes due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada, shall for the purpose of temporary government constitute a separate territory and be called Illinois. See Plate III.

On April i8, i8i8, congress took further action authorizing the inhabitants of the Territory of Illinois to form for themselves a constitution and state government and to assume such name as they shall deem proper; and the said state when formed shall be admitted to the Union upon the same footing with the original states in all respects whatever. The boundary line of the territory to be thus admitted is described as beginning at the mouth of the Wabash river, thence up the same and with the line of Indiana to the northwest corner of said state, thence east with the line of same state to the middle of Lake Michigan, thence north along the middle line of said lake to north latitude 42 degrees, 30 minutes, thence west to the middle of the Mississippi river and thence down along the middle of that river to its confluence with the Ohio river and thence up the latter river along its northwestern shore to the beginning. See Plate IV.

A constitutional convention was called at Kaskaskia, August 26, i8i8, which adopted a constitution of the state to be submitted to congress for adoption and under which Illinois became a state of the United States of America.

The question of extinguishing the Indian titles to the lands in the Northwest Territory had been taken up by the United States government. There was considerable tardiness on the part of the government in relation to this question. Settlers were coming in from the east and squatting upon the public lands without any authority of law and there was much uneasiness on their part lest they might make improvements more or less valuable, and in the end lose their entire time and investment because no arrangement for a permanent purchase of the land had been made. Numerous petitions setting up these facts were sent to congress and congress failed to act upon them. The territory on the west side of the Mississippi river belonged to Spain, and at one time there was a strong feeling among the American settlers that they would be better off to go over into Spanish territory and deal with the Spanish government than to remain within the jurisdiction of the United States and be so long in an uncertain condition. Nevertheless, the population continued to increase and petitions for relief were continually circulated, until finally in the year 1804 a treaty was made at St. Louis on the third day of November, with the Sauks and Foxes, whereby that part of Illinois west of the Illinois and Fox rivers was ceded to the United States. Black Hawk, the principal chief of the Sauk Indians, did not sign this treaty, but it is claimed that he confirmed it on several subsequent occasions. This treaty contained an article which wrought great mischief as it led to the Black Hawk War of 1832. By Article VII of that treaty, it was provided that "as long as the lands which are now ceded to the United States remain their property, the Indians belonging to the said tribes shall enjoy the privilege of living or hunting upon them." It was expected by that clause that until the government made survey and sold these lands, the Indians should remain unmolested by the white people, but this did not follow. The principal Indian village of these tribes was situated within the ceded territory near where the city of Rock Island now stands. The Indians cultivated quite an area of land as best they knew how and produced very good crops. This fact was a continual temptation to the white people coming into the ceded area, and after awhile the white people made demonstrations calculated to either drive the Indians out of their home and across the Mississippi river into what is now Iowa, or to excite their anger and lead to war. The Indians were in the habit of going north in the winter time to hunt, returning in the spring with their cured meats and furs to cultivate their ground and raise their grain and vegetables. During the absence of the Indians the white people would commit depredations by burning their homes, and one year they went upon the ground and plowed up their national cemetery. This proved unendurable to the Indians, and the Black Hawk war followed. The Indians offered to retire, cross the Mississippi and never again come upon the ceded territory for the sum of six thousand dollars. This offer was laughed at and its refusal shut out all opportunity to avoid the war which followed and which cost the lives of many white men and a treasure of over two millions of dollars, and practically exterminated the Indians who had fought in defense of their homes and the resting place of their dead. As a matter of course, the result of this war was the complete forfeiture by the Indians of the lands ceded by the treaty of 1804. There was left, however, an indelible mark of shame upon the white man. See Plate V. .

From the foregoing account, it will appear that the land comprising the county of Knox has been under ten territorial jurisdictions, two of them being extinct races, one Indian race, one under France, one under England, one under Virginia, one a territory of the United States, one the territory of Indiana, one the territory of Illinois, and lastly the state of Illinois.

Although Knox county is not especially concerned with the matter, it will be interesting to add that at the time of the Enabling Act passed by congress for the adoption of a constitution for the state of Illinois, Judge Nathaniel Pope, father of Major General John Pope of the Union army during the War of the Rebellion, was a delegate in congress from the territory of Illinois. It was proposed to fix the northern boundary at a line running westward from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan to the center of the Mississippi river. Judge Pope urged that the northern boundary of Illinois be set far enough north to give Illinois a liberal frontage on the west side of Lake Michigan. His argument for that change was that the southern point of the state of Illinois extended far into the south. It will be seen from a map of the United States that it reaches nearly to the southern boundary of the states of Kentucky and Virginia and the northern boundary of the state of Tennessee, which is nearly one hundred and fifty miles south of the city of Washington. If the northern boundary of the state could be pushed far enough north to give a good frontage upon Lake Michigan, it would make Illinois a most potent factor in tying together the two sections of the Union, the north and the south. On the north there would be easy communication with the east by way of the great lakes, and on the south with the entire south by way of the Mississippi river, and in case any difficulty should arise between the two sections of the country, the geographical position of the state of Illinois would be a most peculiar and powerful one. The arguments of Judge Pope convinced congress, and the boundary line was fixed as we now have it, quite well up on the west side of Lake Michigan. That act gave to Illinois the city of Qiicago, and during the War of the Rebellion, Illinois fully performed all the duties devolving upon it and foretold by the able judge.

Knox county, of course, shares in whatever honor and pride there may be in being a part of a state so situated, and which has now become so influential in all governmental matters. ' -- ' ' :

The division of Illinois into counties began in 1790. More than the east half of that part of the state south of the Illinois river constituted one county, and was called Knox county. Changes and further subdivisions were made in 1793, i8oi, 1803 and 1809. In 1809 the name of Knox county drops out. In the subdivision of 1790 that portion between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers was untouched. In the subdivisions of iSoi, 1803 and 1809, it was included within the limits of St. Clair county, which comprised about four-fifths of the entire area of the state, Randolph county occupying the other one-fifth in the southern portion of the state. In the subdivisions of 1812 and 1813, about the same amount of territory and similarly located, was called Madison county. The territory now occupied by Knox county remained a part of Madison county until 1821, when that portion of the state lying between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers was called Pike county. See Plate VI.

On the 28th day of January, 1823, a further subdivision was made, and Pike county was cut down to a very small part of what it once was. Fulton county was laid out and covered the south four townships of what is now Knox county. The balance of the land now comprising Knox county and the territory north and east was attached to Fulton county for judicial purposes. This will be shown by Plate VII.

legislature, and it covered the same territory that it covers today, with the exception of four townships on the north, the four townships on the south previously - included in Fulton county being given to Knox, and four townships on the north being given to Henry county, giving to Knox county sixteen townships only. See Plate VIH. ... '

The county remained the same until 1831, when on January 13, the boundary :-':- of the county was changed by adding a row of townships on the north and two ; , . \ townships. Numbers 12 and 13 in Range 5 East, on the east as shown by Plate v , -

Another change was made March 2, 1839, whereby the two townships,' '-, Numbers 12 and 13 North in Range 5 East, were taken from Knox and given :' .! : to Stark county. This is shown by Plate X. Since that time there has been no v :; ' change in the area of Knox county. : v T .

Thus it is shown that the territory comprising the county of Knox today, has -- been a part of St. Clair, Madison and Pike counties, and that a part of the territory of Knox county has heretofore formed a part of Fulton and Henry counties. - The inhabitants of the county at different points were obliged to go to Lewistown, ' ' - Rushville, Pittsfield, Edwardsville and Kaskaskia to secure an abstract of title ' ' / to their lands. After the formation of Knox county in its present shape, the rec- > ords pertaining to lands in Knox county were carefully copied from the above ; places and now constitute a part of the records of Knox county. It is supposed, . however, that the records of Knox county today as kept at Galesburg, are com- - :- > > plete, and that there is no reason for visiting other county seats for information -' concerning Knox county lands. V . : '

During the progress of fixing the territory, state and county boundaries, a , . - systematic plan of survey had been pursued. The plan of congress consisted in ;V running a base line east and west through some point having a natural witness, if ;-:':.,.. possible, and running a meridian line north and south from this base line. Then beginning in the angle formed by those base and meridian lies, lay out the town- . ships six miles square. The north and south rows of townships were called ranges, and the ranges were numbered one, two, three, etc., east or west of the .-.-,.. meridian as the case might be. ^ ^ ;

'. The description of the lands in Knox county is arrived at in the following ; . ;- way: the city of Beardstown in Cass county, Illinois, is on the Illinois river, and > \ . is taken as the starting point for all descriptions of land west of the Illinois river. :: ' A line running due north from Beardstown is known as the fourth principal me- - ridian. This meridian forms the western boundary of Knox county. All lands east of that meridian and controlled by it, are described as east of the fourth prin- ;. cipal meridian. Another line passing through Beardstown runs west from here ^ - to the Mississippi river, and is known as the base line. If you take a township - ' .; map of the state of Illinois, and start at Beardstown and count the townships V^ h-' northward until you reach Knox county, you will find that the southwest town- : ' ; ship of Knox county is the ninth township north of the base line running through ; ; Beardstown. It is also east of the fourth principal meridian. Therefore, the ' . southwest township of Knox county would be described as township 9, north of .:.. . the base line, and in range i, east of the fourth principal meridian. This town- v; ' ship is also known as Indian Point. The southeast township of the county is ' ... known as Salem township, and under congressional description would be known > .

as township 9, north of the base line, and in range 4, east of the fourth principal meridian. Each township is divided into sections ^each one mile square, and each township therefore has thirty-six sections. They are numbered beginning at the northeast corner of the township for number one, running westward six miles, then drop one mile south and you have section number seven, then you run eastward six miles and you have section twelve, then drop southward one mile and run west six miles and you have section eighteen, and so on until you have numbered all sections in the township, giving you thirty-six sections in all. Knox county has twenty townships which would make 720 sections, making approximately 450,800 acres. ^ ' :" ^ .: ^ '.'-;: .:[-;:;.;.:^

It is a simple matter from the above congressional rule to describe any fraction of any section in the county. If you are purchasing the northeast quarter of section i, township ii north, in range i, east of the fourth principal meridian, you know that it is one hundred and sixty acres of land in the northeast corner of Galesburg township.

It is now proper to consider the governmental organization of the county. The writer once knew an intelligent, educated young Russian who remarked that the most noticeable thing he saw when he first came to America was the ease with which a new movement, society or party could be started. In Europe all social organizations began with the preacher or some ministerial officer. If he approved, he called the meeting, called it to order, was its chairman, appointed its secretary and conducted the whole proceedings. In America when public action was considered necessary on any question, a self-appointed committee called a mass meeting, the people assembled and some one stated the object of the meeting. A resolution approving the object of the meeting would be offered, discussed and passed if approved, or a committee would be appointed and an adjournment taken to enable the committee to give the matter more careful consideration and present it in better shape to the adjourned meeting. The thing especially noticeable to the young Russian was the absence of the preacher, whereas in Europe he was the whole thing, while here the people originated and carried through their own measures. The preacher is welcome on such occasions, but he comes in citizens' clothing and not in ministerial robes or vestments.

Township, county and state governments originate in very much the same - way. There is a little more formality in the start. They all possess a certain leg- -.; islative, judicial and executive capacity which has to be recognized by other commonwealths and it is necessary that such organizations have a definite starting, usu- -' ally by proclamation or notice from the proper constituted authority. When once set in motion the whole thing becomes a government by the people. i

7; It has been shown that on January 13, 1825, the legislature fixed the boundary ; of Knox county, not as it is today, but giving to it sixteen townships. By the year 1830 it was believed that Knox county had 350 inhabitants, and it was so made to appear to the Hon. Richard M. Young, judge of the 5th judicial circuit of the state of Illinois, and on the tenth day of June, 1830, he issued his order for the organization of Knox county by the election of three county commissioners, one sheriff and one coroner to serve in and for said county of Knox until superseded by the persons elected at the general election to be held the first Monday of August next. . i.

The organization of Knox county is of such interest and importance to the people that all orders pertaining to the same are given in full, and no more fitting tribute of respect to the memory of John G. Sanborn, under whose skill and ability this organization was effected, than the publication of such orders in this history. The accuracy of these orders, written at such an early date, will be observed and appreciated by every attorney in this county.

The following are ^the orders in the circuit court of said county held on the first Monday in October, 1830, which was the first day of the first term of said court ever held in Knox county. --;/;-. - . :' . -;

.-') PLEAS, before the Honorable Richard M. Young, judge of the fifth judicial circuit of the state of Illinois, at a circuit court, began and holden in and for the county of Knox and state aforesaid, at the house of John B. Gum, Esq., in said county, on Eriday, the first day of October, it being the last Eriday before the first Monday in the said month of October, in the year of Our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and thirty, and of the independence of the United States - the fifty-fifth : ' . '.

Present, The Hon. Richa.rd M. Young, circuit judge ; John G. Sanborn, clerk ; ,: Stephen Osborn, sheriff ; James M. Strode, Esq., state's atty. pro tem.

ORDERED : That the order heretofore made on the tenth day of June in the . year of Our Lord, 1830, for the organization of the said county of Knox. tbgether with the order, made on the 5th day of July, A. D., 1830, regulating the times of holding the circuit court in said county, be spread upon the records of this court ; which said orders are in the words, and figures following, to wit :

Whereas, by the ninth and eleventh sections of the act entitled "An Act forming new Counties out of the Counties of Pike and Fulton, and the attached parts thereof" approved i3th January, 1825, it is made the duty of the presiding judge of the fifth judicial circuit of the state of Illinois, whenever it shall be made appear, to his satisfaction, that either of the counties of Hancock, Warren, Mercer, Henry, Putnam or Knox contain three hundred and fifty inhabitants, to proceed to organize the same, and to grant an order for the election of officers, preparatory thereto; and whereas, it has been made appear to my satisfaction, that the said county of Knox contains three hundred and fifty inhabitants and upwards, and inasmuch as the greater part of the qualified voters of the said county, have requested by petition, that the same should be organized with as little delay as possible ; I do therefore in pursuance of the power vested in me by virtue of the 9th and nth sections of the above recited act, ORDER and DIRECT, that an election be held in and for the said county of Knox at the house of John B. Gum, on Saturday, the third day of July, A. D., 1830, for the election of three county commissioners, one sheriff and one coroner, to serve, when elected and qualified, in and for the said county of Knox, respectively, until they shall be superseded, by the persons who may be elected at the general election, to be held on the first Monday in August next ; and for the purpose of having this order carried into execution, I do hereby appoint Jacob Gum, Stephen Osborn and Nicholas Voiles of said county, judges of the said election, whose duty it shall be to set up written or printed advertisements, or notices of said election, in at least six of the most public places in said county inclusive of the place at which said election is hereby directed to be held, having regard to the situation and population of the different settlements within said county at least ten days previous to the said election, to the end that all persons concerned may have timely notice thereof. The election to be VIVA VOCE, between the hours of lo o'clock in the morning and 7 o'clock in the evening of said day and conducted, as /ar as may be practicable, in conformity with the act entitled "An act regulating elections," approved January loth, 1829. And lastly, the said judges are to certify the result of said election to the secretary of state as soon as thereafter may be convenient, in order that the persons who may be elected may be commissioned and qualified with as little delay as possible. And after the election of the said county officers, I do hereby declare the said county of Knox, to be organized, and entitled to the same rights and privileges, as the other counties in this state.

Given under my hand and seal, at Lewistown, this loth day of June, in the year of Our Lord, 1830, and of the independence of the United States the fiftyfourth. .

JOHN G. SANBORN produced in court his appointment as clerk of said court, which was ordered to be entered of record, and is in the words and figures following, to-wit :

Know ye, that I, Richard M. Young, judge of the fifth judicial circuit of the state of Illinois, north of the Illinois river, and presiding judge of the circuit court, in and for, the county of Knox, and state aforesaid (whenever the same shall be organized), reposing especial trust and confidence in the integrity and capacity of John G. Sanborn, Esq., have, and by these presents do, for and in behalf of the people of the state of Illinois, appoint him clerk of the circuit court in and for the said county of Knox, and state aforesaid. And I do hereby authorize and empower him, to have and to exercise all the powers and duties, legally appertaining to the said office, and to collect and receive all the emoluments therefrom arising, during good behaviour.

Given under my hand and seal, at Lewistown this loth day of June A. D., 1830, and of the independence of the United States the fifty-fourth. -..-'< (SEAL) - , - , . - RICHARD M. YOUNG. -^

Pursuant to the order of the Hon. Richard M. Young, judge of the fifth judicial circuit of the state of Illinois, for the holding of an election for the election of county commissioners, it will appear from the following that said election was held on the third day of July. 1830, and the action of the commissioners in pursuance thereof is herein entered in full.

At a special term of a county commissioners court began and held at the house of John B. Gum, Esq., in and for the county of Knox in the state of Illinois on this seventh day of July A. D. 1830 (pursuant to notice of Riggs Pennington, Philip Hash and Charles Hansford, commissioners elect for said county ;

Present, Riggs Pennington, Philip Hash and Charles Hansford, who, at an election, held in and for the said county of Knox, on the 3rd day of July A. D. 1830, in pursuance of an order of the Honorable Richard M. Young, judge of the fifth judicial circuit, in the state of Illinois, were duly elected to the office of county commissioners for said county of Knox ; and the said county commissioners being duly sworn into office, the said court was declared duly organized for the transaction of business by Stephen Osborn the sheriff elect for said county.

ORDERED: That this court be adjourned to meet at the same place on the 9th day of July instant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of said day.

The appointment of John B. Gum as clerk of the county commissioners court for some reason proved unsuccessful and he declined to serve, probably because he preferred to be county treasurer, to which office he was appointed July 9th. Whereupon John G. Sanborn was appointed. By this appointment

At a special term of the county commissioners court, began and held at the house of John B. Gum, Esq., in and for the county of Knox in the state of Illinois pursuant to adjournment, this pth day of July A. D. 1830.

John B. Gum who, at the last special term of this court, was appointed clerk of said court, having declined the acceptance of said appointment, John G. Sanbom was thereupon appointed clerk of this court. - t ;; .

John G. Sanborn produced in court his appointment as clerk of the county commissioners court for the county of Knox, and was sworn into office by Philip Hash one of the commissioners of said court ; which appointment and oath is in the words and figures following, to wit:

Know ye, that we the undersigned county commissioners in and for the said county of Knox and state of Illinois, reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity and capacity of John G. Sanborn, have, and by these presents do, in behalf of the people of the said county of Knox, appoint the said John G. Sanborn clerk of the county commissioners court in and for the said county of Knox and state of Illinois. And we do hereby authorize and empower the said John G. Sanborn, to have and to exercise all the powers and duties legally appertaining to the said office, and to collect and receive all the emoluments, arising therefrom, during good behavior.

Given under our hands and seals this ninth day of July in the year of Our Lord 1830, and of the independence of the United States the fifty- fourth,]

ORDERED : That for the purpose of holding the next general election, to be held on the first Monday of August next, the said county of Knox shall be one precinct and that the said election shall be held at the house of John B. Gum, Esq.

ORDERED: That Jacob Gum. Nicholas V^oiles and Thomas Maxwell be appointed to act as judges of election in the district composed of the county of Knox. :.::-.--; 1: -V

ORDERED: That t.he clerk be authorized to procure a suitable seal for this court, and also a suitable seal for the circuit court ; and also all necessary and suitable books, for the circuit and county commissioners courts, for said county, judges and clerks of an election held on the 3rd day of July ; and that the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of each, viz., . . . ,j,

OIIDERED: That the clerk deliver to him his appointment, and request him to file his bond, for the penal sum of five hundred dollars with the clerk of this court before the next term thereof.

ORDERED: That the clerk issue a license for retailing spirituous liquors for the term of one year from the date thereof, to Samuel S. White in said county, on his paying into the county treasury the sum of two dollars, and to the clerk his fees for issuing the same ; and that the following tavern rates be established, for the regulation of the said Samuel S. White, viz :

We have now traced the territorial jurisdiction and the organization of the county of Knox to a point where everything may proceed with orderly sequence. We are now leaving that part of our subject to take up the general business of the county at a point where we have the circuit and county commissioners courts fully established and all the county officers properly inducted into office.

It is interesting to notice, however, that the first act of the county after its full preparation to do business was the granting of a license to sell intoxicating liquor, a thing which could not be done today under any circumstances whatever. The board of supervisors have at different times been petitioned for the granting of such a license and have always refused to do so by an overwhelming vote. We may learn one thing, however, from this record, that the drinking of liquor in all probability was not carried on in the tippling house proper but was purchased and taken home in small quantities for home consumption, which much minimizes the evil of the traffic. The tippling house with its attendant evils was reserved for the time when the business became differentiated from all other businesses and when the fight for profits was concentrated upon the sale of liquor alone.

It will be our duty to take up in the next and succeeding chapters a consideration of the more important transactions of the county of Knox.

After placing the county machinery in good working order, the commissioners undertook the work of providing minor courts for the people, and to get possession of such funds as were coming from the county of Fulton from taxes levied on Knox county property while Knox county was under judicial control of Fulton county as shown in previous pages of this history. The orders on these matters are given in full for the purpose of showing methods of transacting business in those days.

ORDERED: That for the election of justices of the peace and constables, the ' county of Knox shall be and hereby is divided into two districts, bounded and defined as follows: - The first of said districts shall include all that part of the .v , ' - said county lying north of the township line between townships number ten and .; eleven north, and shall be called the "Henderson" district. And the second of said districts, shall include all that part of said county lying south of the township line between townships number ten and eleven north, and shall be called the .;; ."Spoon River" district. i:

ORDERED: That J^cob Gum, Nicholas Voiles and Thomas Maxwell be, and 'VV.: hereby are, appointed judges of elections for justices of the peace and consta- . 'v' bles, in the "Henderson" district in the county of Knox, and that elections in : ' .' said district be held at the house of John B. Gum, Esq., and that an election be - - held in said district on the 7th day of August next, for three justices of the j I'',- peace and two constables. ' ;/.,

ORDERED: That Abraham Swarts, Hiram Palmer and Parnack Owen, be, and ., are hereby, appointed judges of elections for justices of the peace and consta- -; :- bles in the "Spoon River" district in the county of Knox, and that elections in ; . said district be held at the house of Abraham Swarts, Esq., and that an election '..-.''^ be held in said district on Saturday the 7th day of August next, for two justices ' 1 .

We the undersigned county commissioners of Knox county do hereby petition your honorable court to grant an order of said court, to furnish to the clerk of the county commissioners court of Knox county a list of the property in said county of Knox, assessed for taxation by the county of Fulton for the ,\ .. present year, and to relinquish to the said county of Knox, the right of collect- v ing said taxes. And should the above petition be granted, we do hereby agree to - account to your honorable court, for all taxes on lands in said county of ? Knox, with which the county of Fulton may have become chargeable by the - auditor of public accounts; and further, to account for expenses legally in-, curred in taking the assessment of said county of Knox. ;.;..;-

ORDERED: That the clerk of this court leave the above recited memorial, -:''v. with the clerk of the county commissioners court of Fulton county, and request him to lay the same before said court, at their next regular or special term.

' It will be remembered that Riggs Pennington, Philip Hash and Charles Hansford were elected members of county commissioners court on July 3, 1830, to organize the county; that they met on the 7th of July and adjourned to July gth; that on said July gth they ordered a new election to be held at the house of John B. Gum on the first Monday in August following at the time of the general election; that election was held as provided and Pennington, Hash and Alexander Frakes were elected to the first commissioners court under the general election in the county. At the December term 1830 of the court was reported upon what conditions the county commissioners of Fulton county would turn over to Knox county the collection of taxes which had been levied by Fulton county on Knox county property. The order of approval is as follows :

ORDERED: That the conditions proposed by county commissioners of Fulton county at their special term on the 26th of August, as certified by the clerk of said court on file be accepted, and that the clerk of this court issue an order for the sum of eight dollars and twenty-five cents, and cause the said amount to be paid into the county treasury of Fulton county on or before the first Monday of March, 1831.

It seems from the above that the work of assessing and extending the taxes on Knox county property at that time could be done for $8.25. The assessment of taxes at that time was a very simple matter. The following order was entered at the March term 1831 of said court.

ORDERED: That a tax of one-half per centum be assessed on all personal property liable to taxation by law, in the county of Knox for the year 1831. ':--' John B. Gum, treasurer of Knox county, produced in court a statement of his account with the said county as follows: ,.

ORDERED: That the above account be accepted, and that the treasurer be allowed two per cent on the amount paid out of the county treasury as per the above account.

ORDERED: That John B. Guni^be reappointed treasurer of Knox county and that he be required to give a new bond for the penal sum of five hundred dollars, and file the same in this court.

The money received from the state was the greatest part of the revenue of the county as shown by the above report of the county treasurer. Five hundred dollars was the amount of the treasurer's bond for that year.

The temporary seat of justice was at the house of John B. Gum, Esq., located on section 32, Henderson township. In the very nature of things, this arrangement could not last long. Accordingly on the I2th day of March, 1831, the county commissioners ordered the construction of a court house upon specifications which are entered below. The contract for the building was let in two parts and was divided according to the following orders:

ORDERED: That a contract be entered into with the lowest bidder for the erection of a court house as follows: To be built of logs hewed on the ground and raised two stories high, the first story to be nine feet high between the sleepers and joists, the second story to be eight feet between the joists and top of the wall plates; the size of the building to be twenty-eight feet long and twenty feet wide, the corners to be sawed down after the building is raised. Thirteen sleepers to be delivered on the ground; and thirteen joists to be nine inches by three inches in size to be hewed straight and planed smooth and placed in the building at equal distances apart, level and ready for the reception of a floor; said building to be erected on such part of the quarter section designated by law, for the seat of justice for said county as may be selected by the county commissioners on or before the loth day of April^ and said job to be completed on or before the 2Oth day of May next; said building to be placed on a solid and permanent foundation of pillars of stone, one at each corner and one at the center of each side, to be raised one foot above the surface of the ground. The sills are to be hewed square, ten by twelve inches in size and to be laid level and so as to leave four inches clear inside the logs, and to be made of good sound over cup* or white oak timber - the first round of logs above the sills also to be over cup or white oak; the wall plates are to be hewed square, lo by 8 inches in size and to be delivered on the ground - two plates 28 feet long, and two plates 20 feet long.

ORDERED: That a contract be entered into with the lowest bidder, for completing and finishing the court house in the following manner, viz : The plates are to be raised and laid level and a good substantial roof to be put on, made of good black walnut shingles i8 inches in length, jointed and well put on; thirteen sleepers to be hewed on one side and laid level in a workmanlike manner, and a floor of good white oak or ash plank one and one- fourth inch thick and 7 by 9 inches wide to be laid close but not jointed or laid down tight; two windows and one door to be cut out and cased and faced with plank, the windows to be of suitable size to receive the sash for 12 lights of glass 8 by lO inches, the door to be of good large suitable size, and to be made of good plank and made to fit the casing, and well hung in a workmanlike manner. The windows and door to be placed in such part of the building as the commissioners may direct on or before the 2oth day of May next, and the whole work to be completed before the first Monday in June next.

At this time there was no town in which, and no land belonging to the county, on which to build this court house. Nevertheless, on the same day the court entered the following orders:

ORDERED: That a contract be entered into with the lowest bidder for posts and stakes for laying out a town at the seat of justice for said county as follows: Four posts for the corners of the public square to be seven feet in length, 12 inches squari, to be hewed and planed for four feet in length and a suitable head cut or turned, the head to be painted white and the remainder of the four feet to be painted red or black - three feet at the lower end of said posts to be left the full size of the timber, and to be the butt ends of white oak or over cup trees. Three hundred stakes three feet in length, to be shaved four inches square for one foot in length at the upper end' - the lower end to be hewed or shaved to a point and the remainder to be hewed or shaved square - to be delivered at or near the center of the quarter section designated for the seat of justice for said county on or before the ist day of April next. The posts may be painted after they shall be placed in the ground at any time before the 2Oth day of May next, the stakes to be made of large over cup timber suitable for board timber.

ORDERED: That the foregoing jobs of work be offered to be let to the lowest bidder upon the following terms, viz: One-third part of the amount of each contract to be paid out of the county treasury on taking the contract and upon the contractor's giving bond with security approved by the court for the performance of the contract ; and the other two-thirds of the amount of edch contract to be paid out of the first money arising from the sale of lots in said town, or out of the revenue which may be due from the state treasury to said county for the year 1831, whenever it shall come into the county treasury. Every person taking a contract, shall within two days after taking a contract, enter into a bond with sufficient security in a penalty of double the aniount of said contract for the faithful performance of the same. . -/

William Lewis, having offered to take the first contract for the erection of a court house for the sum of seventy-eight dollars, and being the lowest bidder for same it is therefore ORDERED: That a contract be entered into for the same.

Parnach Owen, having offered to take the second contract for completing and finishing the court house, for the sum of one hundred dollars, and he being the lowest bidder, it is ORDERED : That a contract be entered into with him for same.

Andrew Osborn, having offered to take the third contract for posts and stakes, for the sum of fifteen dollars, and he being the lowest bidder for the same it is therefore ORDERED: That a contract be made with him for the same.

Parnach Owen, having offered to make six additional windows in the court house of the same description as those mentioned in his contract, for the sum of six dollars, ORDERED: That the same be added to his contract.

Provision having been made for a court house, the county commissioners took steps to acquire land on which to build and for laying out a town which

ORDERED : That some suitable person be employed to proceed on to the land offices in Springfield, as agent for the county of Knox, to secure the title to said county by pre-emption for the S. W. 28 - ii N. - 2 E., being the land designated by law as the permanent seat of justice, for said county; and for this purpose that the same be offered to the lowest bidder upon his giving bond in a penalty of double the amount of money entrusted to him, with sufficient securties to be approved by the court, conditioned that the person so employed and empowered shall proceed to go to the land offices in Springfield as soon as practicable, and make application for said land in the name of the county commissioners of said county, and make return of the certificate he may receive for said land, on or before the loth day of April next, to the said commissioners or to the clerk of said court.

Rees Jones, having offered to go on to the land offices at Springfield as agent as before mentioned, for the sum of eight dollars, and having offered a bond for the faithful performance of said commission as above specified, it is ORDERED: That the said offer and bond be accepted and that the bond be filed in the clerk's office.

ORDERED: That Rees Jones be and he hereby is employed and authorized as agent for the county commissioners of Knox county, to proceed on to the land offices at Springfield and make application in the name of the said county commissioners for the use of said county, for the southwest quarter of section twenty-eight, in township eleven north, in range two east, of the fourth principal meridian, being the quarter section designated by law for the seat of justice for said county, and to which the said commissioners are entitled to the right of pre-emption, according to the laws of the United States, and that the clerk of this court furnish them with a certified copy of this order, and also a certified copy of the act passed at the last session of the general assembly of this state, entitled "An act to establish a permanent seat of justice for Knox county and for other purposes," approved January 15, 1831. And for the purposes aforesaid, the clerk is hereby authorized to issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Rees Jones, agent for said commissioners, as aforesaid for the sum of two hundred and five dollars. r --'--,: ^ -.::-'.''' h - ' 'V . ;

ORDERED : That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Rees Jones for eight dollars, his compensation for going to Springfield as agent for the county commissioners of Knox county.

Having arranged for the purchase of land on which to build a town and a court house, the committee on the first day of April, 1831, entered into a contract with Parnach Owen for dividing the same into lots and blocks according to the following plan.

ORDERED: That a contract be made with Parnach Owen for laying out the town of Henderson, the minutes of which contract are as follows: The said Owen agrees to survey and establish the exterior lines and corners of the southwest quarter of section twenty-eight in township eleven north, in range two east, and to lay off the streets of said town as follows: Main street to be six rods wide, the north side of said street to be 54 rods south of, and parallel with the north line of the said quarter section ; two other streets 4 rods wide to be laid

Plate \'III - Knox County, Illinois, as formed Jan. 13, 18i5. The north four townships of Knox County of to-day, then covered by Henry County.

out at a distance of 20 rods one on each side of and parallel with Main street; two other streets 4 rods wide to be laid out from South to North across said quarter section 40 rods distant from and parallel with the east and west lines of said quarter section ; and two other cross streets 4 rods wide extending from the south to North street, and crossing Main street and 20 rods from and parallel with the east and west streets and bounding the public square on the east and west sides ; the public square to be laid out and bounded east and west by the two last mentioned cross streets and extending lo rods north and south of Main street; all the blocks between north and south street to be laid out in lots to contain one quarter of an acre of land and to be lo rods in length by 40 rods in width fronting north and south upon one of the streets running east and west; the remainder of the quarter section to be laid off into out lots as follows : The land on the north side of North street to be divided into 4 lots and the land on the south side of South street to be divided into 8 lots as nearly equal in size as may be thought advisable, said Owen to stick and drive and number the stakes at the corners of the lots and set 4 posts and the said Owen is to be paid twelve and a half cents for each large and small lot, in said town as a full compensation for laying out and surveying said town ; to be paid and discharged in lots in said town at the same prices and rates as may be obtained for the same at the first sale of lots for cash or prompt payment.

On the 9th day of April, 1831, there was another meeting of the county commissioners at which was presented the following receipt showing the purchase of land which had been set apart by law for the seat of justice of Knox county.

Received from Alexander C. Frakes and Riggs Penning^on, (county commissioners of Knox county. 111.) the sum of two hundred dollars, being in full for S. W. qr. of section No. 28, township No. ii North, Range No. 2 east, 4th pi. md. containing one hundred and sixty acres at the rate of $1.25 per acre. $200.

And now having acquired perfect title to the land by purchase from the government and having subdivided the same into lots and blocks, a day was fixed for the sale of such lots and blocks as it was deemed advisable to offer at the time. .:'.>->;-.:------:;-;-:".';;''-; - '' ^.'- -..;','';-

ORDERED : That a sale of lots in the town of Henderson be made on the 23rd day of April, 1831, as follows: The lots which may be offered for sale will be sold to the highest bidder, and immediately after the sale of the lots, the purchasers will be required to give a note or obligation with approved security for the amount for which each lot shall be sold, payable in three equal installments ; one-third part of said amount payable in 12 months, one-third part in i8 months, and one-third part in 24 months from the day of sale; subject, however, to a deduction of eight per centum per annum, for the payment of the said amount at the time of sale, or at the same rate for the payment of any of the said installments, at any time before the same shall become due; and the purchasers will receive from the county commissioners a bond for a deed to be made on the full payment of the amount for which each lot may be sold; and the clerk V is required to prepare blank bonds and notes for said sale. j-;

A plat of the ground as surveyed was made and acknowledged by the ,/, county commissioners before William McMurtry, a justice of the peace of said . county, being the town of Henderson, and was delivered to the recorder of the county according to law on the 23rd day of April, 1831, being the day on which' certain lots were sold at auction. At that sale seventy-nine lots were sold for ^ $1,256 or an average price of practically $15.90 per lot. The lots varied in price from $4 up to $6i each. For making the survey Parnach Owen was paid the sum of $18.25 ^"d it was ordered that the court house be located on the south- - west corner of lot lo, in block 5, so as to front on Main street 28 feet. It was . ordered that a further sale of lots be made on Monday the i3th day of June, * . 1831. Upon that day a second sale was made which resulted in disposing of .:' v eighteen lots for a gross sum of $233.50. Upon the same day the work performed by William Lewis on the court house was examined and approved and '-'- Mr. Lewis was discharged from the contract and was paid $52, also Parnach ;-:^.' Owen appeared and was discharged from the contract and he was allowed $6 :; ' -' in addition for extra work and paid $76.66. Upon the same day Andrew Os- ; born appeared with his contract for stakes and posts which was declared satis- . . fied and he was discharged from further work and the clerk was directed to - ' . issue an order on the treasurer in the sum of $io in payment of said contract. --

On the 6th day of September, 1831, the county commissioners court con- -'V' vened and entered the following order in regard to further work upon the ,-; ^ court house. .:;'

ORDERED: That notice be given that on Saturday the I7th day of Septem- -:;; ber inst. at the court house in the town of Henderson, the following jobs of ' work will severally be let to the lowest bidder, to-wit: For underpinning the ' ' walls of the court house and for finishing the walls of the court house by chink- ' \' ing and daubing the same, and nailing boards on the outside over the cracks v;;. and daubing. For furnishing oak or ash plank and laying loose the upper floor ,- in the court house. For furnishing sash, glass, putty, etc., and finishing the windows of the court house; making a suitable seat for the judge, table for the clerk and seats for the court, the particulars respecting the same to be made f . known at the time they are let out. - ;. ' . >- vV; ^j ' v.v' / ' - ;^':'

ORDERED : That John G. Sanborn be authorized to procure a suitable stove and stove pipe for the court house, and also a lock and key for the same.

ORDERED: That no family be permitted to reside in the court house, and that as soon as the same shall be finished it shall be kept locked, and the key thereof deposited with the clerk of this court. .;

On the 1 7th day of September, 1831, the commissioners proceeded to let the contract for completing the court house according to the notice previously given and the reading of the contract and specifications are so quaint and full of in- ; structions that they are given in full below. It is certainly a matter of education to the people of today and will continue to be such more and more as time passes on. They are as follows:

The commissioners proceeded agreeably to notice given to let out the jobs of work for finishing the court house as follows : A contract was entered into by the commissioners with Robert K. Hendricks for underpinning the court house with good sound rock to be laid to face on the outside and laid tight and in a workmanlike manner. Also to chink the cracks of the walls on the inside with blocks of suitable size to fill the cracks and of convenient lengths to be laid in lengthwise so as to fill up the cracks full and plum with the wall and fastened with pins well drove into the logs and the pins sawed off close: - The cracks to be filled full and plum with the outside of the logs with clay mortar well worked and tempered and mixed with straw or hay and rough boards of sufficient width to cover the cracks and daubing to be nailed on the outside over the daubing - to be completed on or before the 22nd day of October next, and for which the said commissioners agreed to pay to the said Hendricks the sum of thirtyseven dollars and a half, of which one dollar and forty-nine cents is to be paid out of the treasury upon entering contract as above, and the remaining sum of thirty-six to be allowed to the said Hendricks in payment of any town lots sold at any former sale : - it was

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of the said Robert K. Hendricks for the sum of one dollar and forty-nine cents on the above named contract.

Calvin Glass having offered to furnish oak or ash plank i ^ inches thick and eight or nine inches wide for the upper floor in the court house, and to lay the same loose, on or before the 22nd day of October next, for the sum of eighteen dollars, which offer was accepted by the commissioners - one-half of the said sum to be paid by an order on treasurer on the ensealing hereof, and the other half to be paid on the completion of the same : Whereupon it was

Calvin Glass offered to finish and complete eight windows in the court house and to furnish glass, putty and other materials requisite for the same - each window to contain two sash, each of six lights of 8 by lo glass (12 lights to each -window), the glass to be set with putty and the sash to be primed, fitted and put in in a workmanlike manner. Also to erect a seat or stand for the judges as follows: a platform to be erected seven feet long, three and a half feet wide and eighteen inches high, with a step or stair at each end of the same; standards to be inserted and framed in, and the front and back to be closed up with plank neatly jointed and matched, the front to be two feet nine inches above the top of the platform, and an inclined writing shelf about fifteen inches broad placed on the top, projecting over the front about one-third part of the width of it. The platform to be framed and put together so as to stand independent of the walls of the building - the whole to be made of good suitable plank in a workmanlike manner. Also a table two feet and ten inches high, seven feet long and three and a half feet wide, the legs to be framed together at the top and bottom, and to be made strong and finished in a neat, substantial, and workmanlike manner. Also six seats or benches of- suitable height, nine or ten feet long and at least twelve inches wide, to be made of suitable plank, the l^s to be of plank and braced with strips on each side, and to be planed smooth and made strong and substantial ; to furnish all the materials requisite and suitable for the whole of the above work and to complete the same on or before the 22nd of October next, for the sum of forty-three dollars, to be paid out of the county treasury on the completion of said work ; and the said offer having been accepted.

ORDERED: That the clerk prepare written contracts for the above work with Calvin Glass and execute the same on part of the commissioners upon his entering into contract and giving security for the performance of the same.

ORDERED : That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Robert K. Hendricks for the sum of five dollars and fifty cents in part on his contract for completing the court house.

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Calvin Glass for the siun of fifteen dollars in part on his contract for windows, etc., for the court house. . ,

Upon the request of the court, George A. Charles and John B. Gum having taken into consideration the contract of Robert K. Hendricks, and having examined the work performed under said contract, gave it as their opinion to the court, that the said Robert K. Hendricks is not entitled to full compensation for said work, but that the sum of two dollars and fifty cents be deducted from the amount of said contract. Whereupon it is

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Robert K. Hendricks, or bearer, for the sum of twenty-eight dollars, receivable in payment of any town lots sold at any sale previous to the ijth day of October, 1831, as a full compensation for the work done on said contract, and that the said contract and bond be endorsed satisfied, and the said Robert K. Hendricks and his security be released from said contract and bond.

ORDERED : That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer for the sum of thirty-three dollars in favor of Calvin Glass or bearer, being in full compensation for a certain contract entered into by the said Glass for finishing the court house by putting in windows, making seats, table and judge's stand, and the above including five dollars additional compensation for extra work done on the judge's stand, etc., and that the said contract and bond be endorsed satisfied.

ORDERED: That the clerk issue an order on the treasurer in favor of Calvin Glass or bearer, for the sum of nine dollars in full, compensation for his contract for furnishing plank and laying loose the upper fioor of the court house; and that the said Calvin Glass be held on his contract accountable for any deficiency of plank which may be required to lay said floor agreeably to contract.

By Frederick R. Jelliff

The topography of Knox county is determined by the watershed between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. This elevation diagonally traverses the northwest part of the county and creates two main drainage districts, the one to the south and southeast with Spoon river as its main channel, and the other to the northwest, with branches of Pope and Henderson creeks furnishing the outlet. By much the larger part of the county is drained by Spoon river and its net work of creeks with their brooks and rivulets. These run south and east on the north and west side of the river and north and northwest and west on the east and south side of the river. This ridge varies from a quarter to a mile in width and is part of the watershed extending from nearly the north boundary of the State to the south and west.

Knox county is thus by no means a uniform surface, a level prairie, but is diversified, with its rich prairie uplands, its long slopes to the streams, its rounded hills, its often broad valleys and occasionally abrupt bluffs.

There is a remarkable ramification of streams as a glance at the map will show. Counting the mapped contributary streams. Spoon river has a total of 352 tributaries in this county, not including those of Walnut creek, that afford drainage to every mile of its basin. On the north it has twelve main streams and twelve on the south and east. Court creek, running east from east of Galesburg to the river gets to be a fine stream often with wide and picturesque valley, with high, rounded hills for a border; and emptying into it are nine main branches, some of which extend far north into the adjacent territory. Haw creek is another handsome stream, with Brush as one of its main assets, and with a total of eleven main tributaries, including those of Brush. French creek which flows from the east brings to Spoon river the waters of ten main tributaries, while Willow creek in the extreme south part of the county conveys the waters of five more. The laterals of all these creeks have their subdivisions, their sloughs and their draws, extending into seemingly level uplands, and all charged with water during times of heavy rainfalls. In all are 352 recognizable and mapped Spoon river streams, little and big, reticulated like veins, conveying water, sculpturing the land, often filled with precious humus, and gradually planing down the level of the county. Every hill is the result of this process, and every valley represents the work of a stream.

Walnut creek, which drains the northeast part of the county, has no less than sixty-seven tributaries little and big, including the subdivisions of its main branches, and is a Spoon river auxiliary. To the northwest are Pope creek with twenty-five tributaries, and Henderson with forty-seven, and including Cedar Fork with fifteen, all flowing west into the Mississippi river, while in the extreme southwest part of the county is Cedar creek with twenty-four tributaries emptying into Spoon river.

Thus all told on the 720 square miles of territory in this county there are 440 streams, agencies in shaping the surface and giving it its present contour and character. These are fed by the thirty-six to forty-eight inches of annual rainfall, either by direct flow from the surface, or from seepage or springs. It should also be remembered that every stream has for its feeders its rills and rivulets. It is indeed amazing how large a work is accomplished by a mere streamlet during a heavy rain, as it excavates a ravine in the soft hill side, or plows its way down a cultivated incline, bearing soil away to the bottom land.

A Knox county hill represents the labor usually of two small streams that in descending from the upland gradually excavate more and more deeply until the bottom is reached through which they meander to the main channel, the hill sides meanwhile being rounded into agreeable proportions by the washing away of the material and the action of frost and atmosphere. As one walks along a creek like Court he can see hill after hill, between each two of which comes tumbling and singing a rivulet. The four hundred and forty streams mean therefore more than this number of hills, indicating that the areas of level land are never more than a few square miles in extent and that the whole territory is magnificently drained.

The highest altitude on record in the county is that at Wataga, 835 feet above the sea level; the lowest, 532 feet, that at the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy bridge at London Mills. The river bed is some distance below the bridge, so that the elevation of the river itself is less than the figure shown for the bridge. Then the 835 feet is not the highest altitude. Wataga is about a mile south of the watershed and on its southern slope. The elevation of the ridge is higher than Wataga. Northwest of Oneida is Pilot Knob, a conspicuous landmark and in the early day serving as a guide to travelers. From this the land slopes in all directions and the altitude at its summit must be considerably greater than that of Wataga. It is judging from the altitude of Oneida not far from 870 feet.

It will be noticed that the higher altitudes belong to the towns on the watershed or near it, such as Oneida, Wataga and Galesburg, while as one goes toward Spoon river or toward Walnut creek or Henderson or Pope creeks, the altitudes fall. .;^;:^..

- ." "; Pilot Knob is a point from which descents radiate; Victoria is another; Knoxville ' ,. I :/ in a measure another, with streams flowing into Haw creek south of it and streams ...',:. ''flowing into Court creek north of it. Abingdon and Yates City occupy high points > -' - from which streams flow. .

: : : tion seems in large measure to have ceased. If the present soil covering is removed, there appears no present agency to renew it. There are already many

The topography of Lake Rice east of Galesburg, a beautiful sheet of water, affords an illustration. It is surrounded by these deep ravines, especially along its eastern shore, and some of these extend far up into the ploughed fields. North of Knoxville one can follow a little stream and find that in the course of a mile and a half it has dug a deep valley for itself, while extending down the sandstone and clay shales to its valley are deep crevasses, affording an excellent opportunity to study the formations.

The greatest asset of Knox county is its soil. Several varieties are mentioned, according to the clay and sand and humus elements. Judging from the recent census report, this surface is worth nearly forty-eight million dollars at the present time, with promise of a larger valuation in the future, if properly conserved. On the upland prairies is found the dark, fertile stratum with its underlying subsoil. It thins out on the hills, and there the covering is more clayey, while in the bottom lands is the often thick deposit of alluvium. The upland subsoil is underlain by a deposit of drift, thirty to sixty feet in depth, and this drift rests on the coal measure rocks. Immediately under the subsoil is a stratum of yellow clay, eight to fifteen feet in thickness, and often containing beds of sand. Frequently about eight feet below the surface is found a second soil from six inches to a foot in depth and of a chocolate color. Below the yellow clay is the blue clay, at the base of which there is usually a deposit of gravel and sand, while scattered through the entire deposit are boulders, some of which are of large proportions.

The yellow clays with their sand deposits are the great underlying water reservoir. The blue clay will not allow the passage of water through it; that is, it is impervious. The rain passes through the porous soil and subsoil and is gradually diffused through the yellow clays where it is held, because it cannot sink through the blue clay. It is thus kept within reach of the roots of vegetation. Where streams cut through the yellow clays, as along the hill sides, there are springs and seepage that maintain the streams. This retention of water in the yellow clays is a magnificent provision, as all can readily see. .: ;

Wells are usually sunk into the yellow clays and perhaps a short distance into the blue clay, but the water flows into the well from the yellow clays, impregnated with the lime, magnesia, iron and other minerals dissolved out on the way.

This interesting arrangement of the deposits is a vital factor in agriculture. If in place of the blue clay there were sand or other porous material the water would sink beyond the reach of plants, there might be no streams and a desert like condition might result. If the blue day extended to the surface, as water could not sink, the tendency would be to form swamps. As it is, the great underground water supply so near to the surface and maintained there is a most beneficent and magnificent treasure for maintaining the streams and for supplying all life with needed moisture.

The drift contains at some points in the county beds of sand and also of gravel. At one time gravel was extensively mined in the hills along the northwest shore of Lake Rice east of Galesburg, and also in Maquon township.

The surface formations of the county thus include the soils, the water stratum of yellow clays, the blue clay, the coal hieasure shales, sandstones, and limestones, and the coal veins, six in number, all here and there exposed in the county.

The soil survey of the county shows that the surface formation approximately consists of 468 square miles of black loam, which is the superior soil of the county ; ten square miles of black clay soil, almost like gumbo in its tenacious qualities;' 185 square miles of clay soil, and 55 miles of bottom land. In Ontario township nearly all the surface formation is set down as black loam, and in this respect it leads the county. Galesburg township also has a large preponderance of this soil. On the other hand, such townships as Copley and Victoria have much clay loam, not however, lacking in fertility, while Maquon township has the largest area of bottom lands.

The Coal Resources

At one time there extended all over the county six veins of coal and their intermediate strata of limestone, sandstone, and clay shales. They are nearly horizontal with a slight dip to the southeast, toward the center of the Illinois coal field. The sixth and fifth veins are now found only in the north part of the county and a small section in Salem and Elba townships. These two veins have been mined in Walnut Grove, Sparta, Ontario, Victoria and Copley townships north of Spoon river and in Elba and Salem townships south of the river. In the vicinity of Spoon river valley they are not found simply because they have been with all their strata eroded.

As one therefore goes down the incline toward Spoon river he gets below the horizon of these two veins and is in that of No. 4, and as he goes still farther he passes below the horizon of No. 4 and reaches the horizon of No. 3, which is found in the banks of the river in places in Truro township, while still farther south one passes into the horizon of No. 2. Thus the river and its tributaries before the south limit of the county is reached have washed away the strata of four veins.

There is a fine illustration of this along Brush creek south of Knoxville, the sandstone hills making a very picturesque valley and the slate and coal appearing at the base of the sandstone a few feet above the bank of the creek.

The same erosion of coal veins is noticed going west from Wataga down the slopes of Henderson creek. Vein No. 6 has been mined just west of that village and starting from this point one descends past successive veins until in one place in Henderson township he is on the horizon of No. i. In walking west from Oneida, the horizon of No. 6, mined there years ago, he comes to the horizon of No. 3, in the vicinity of Pope creek.

That streams have cut, down through coal veins and their strata, leaving them exposed on each side of the valley, explains why drift mines are so commonly met in the hills facing the bottom lands. As the veins are nearly horizontal it is easy to trace them in the hillsides. That just above the bottom of Court creek east of Knox station can be followed clear to Spoon river, and there it is found just below the bed of the river. In Henderson township five miles northwest of Galesburg a seam can be traced along the hillsides a short distance above the bottom lands.

In Henderson township it is believed that all six of the veins of coal are either exposed or mined. In section 26 the streams have cut deeply into the shales. High in the bluflfs in the eastern part of the township are found fossils associated with vein No. 6. In the shafts penetrating the creek bottom farther west three veins were gone through. Still farther down the valley is a vein thought to be the equivalent of No. i, the lowest of the series.

Each coal vein is separated from the one below by a series of rocks, sometimes solid, sometimes shaly; the distance between the veins varying, and the veins not always appearing to be continuous. From thirty to sixty feet of rock usually separate one vein from that below it, although occasionally a vein is split up into two or three seams. The rock is ordinarily sandstone or a clay shale, that passes easily and naturally into sandstone. In the case of vein No. 3 found along several streams running into Spoon river, there is a very interesting series of formations extending twenty feet above the vein, comprising a friable black shale, with lines of concretions, deposited in parallel lines, and often containing shells and other marine animals. Above this black shale is a very valuable clay shale deposit, from which are made the Galesburg paving brick. Bluffs of this clay surround Lake Rice, and Glenwood Lake and extend along Court creek for miles to Spoon river. Streams running from the north and south to Court creek cut through this shale. It is thus the surface coal measure formation over a number of square miles along Court creek. The same condition is noticeable along Haw creek and its branches, although there the shale is more likely lo pass into sandstone than farther north. Indeed even along Court creek and its laterals there are stretches of sandstone, and often great concretions of sandstone and ironstone abound in the formation, even where the layers are consistent enough for brick making. All along the drift lies on top of the formation and must be stripped oflf. Then come forty to sixty feet of bluish white brick shale, which when the sandstone is absent, is wonderfully fine grained. .

As one approaches its base, he finds the remains of coal measure vegetation in the shape of fern leaves and the stems of coal measure plants ; then he passes into the black shale with its layers of concretions often filled with sea shells ; then he strikes the slate, which reflects a vast variety of ancient life, ranging from large sharks and gigantic water fleas to the beautiful shells of the nautilus family; then comes the coal seam, formerly mined along the creek. The region thus gives the scientist as well as the manufacturer something worth considering.

All along Court creek to Spoon river is one traveling between bluffs of this clay shale and sandstone. A few feet above the creek juts out a ferruginous limestone rock that abounds in ancient snails and bivalves. As one nears Spoon river, the bluffs along the creek are rounded and picturesque. From the sandstone concretions one may obtain fine specimens of fern fronds. Then as the river is reached the slate is found at the base of the bluffs, with its relics of ancient sea life, while in the waters of the river itself are the modern fish and mollusks.

There is scarcely a rock in the county that does not speak of life and forces, of the sea, of elevation, of depression and of elevation again. C--' V. ;

In Henderson township there are fine bluffs of shale that some day may be utilized. The same is true of shales over No. 6 in Sparta township, although there a strong tendency to concretionary structure is shown. All along Spoon river one sees shale bluff structure. In Cedar township there are large accumulations of shale.

The day may come when even the masses of ironstone formations found above some of the veins may be utilized. In Victoria township the shale was once used in the manufacture of tile, and in Cedar township for making brick. When processes are better understood more of these may be serviceable, for such is the topography of the county that there are frequent exposures. , :. :

There is not much data regarding the history of mining in this county. Mines are known to have been operated in Sparta township as early as 1850 and for twenty years thereafter assumed an importance that they have not since attained. Sparta township was for a long time a leader in production owing to its proximity to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy main line. The earliest mine of which there is specific record is that opened by E. F. Ranney in 1850 in section 23, Sparta township. H. H. May was operating a mine in the same township as early as 1854. It is known that scores of mines have been opened in that township, have been worked out and abandoned. Over a half century ago coal was mined in the south part of Maquon township and has been since. One of the oldest mines was on the David Masters' farm and was run by a man named I-opeman. During the civil war coal was taken from the J. K. Lane farm in the same township and from the F. M. Davis farm. The Cope farm also has yielded considerable coal.