Livingston County, Illinois - Chapter 6: County Government, 1909

Chapter 6: County Government

FIRST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - GRAND AND PETIT JURORS - DISPOSITION OF SWAMP LAND INCOME - RECEIPTS TO BE INVESTED IN CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND COUNTY JAIL - ACTION ON LIQUOR LICENSES - RATES OF TAXATION - ORGANIZATION OF THE NEW TOWNSHIP OF WALDO - EARLY TAX COLLECTIONS - ASSESSMENTS OF 1858 AND 1907 COMPARED - RAILROAD TAXES 1907,

The first board of supervisors under township organization was elected in April, 1858, the members and the townships they represented being: Pontiac, William T. Russell; Esmen. W. R. Babcock; Avoca, Aaron Weider; Odell, S, S. Morgan; Nevada, S. H. Kyle; Owego, Daniel

At this session, S. S. Morgan, Robert Eldred and Isaac Wilson were appointed a committee to report a plan for a county jail, with a probable cost for erecting one; J. R. Wolverton was appointed commissioner to sell and convey swamp lands; a proposition to loan the Agricultural Society of Livingston County (Pontiac fair society) $200 until the next meeting of the board in September, at the rate of ten per cent annum, wus defeated by 12 nayes to 5 ayes; it was ordered that hereafter no license for the sale of ardent spirits in this county shall be granted; the sheriff was instructed to procure a chandelier for the court room at a cost not to exceed $50. The board then proceeded to select the following grand and petit jurors for the September term of circuit court, as follows:

At the sessions of the board held during Noyember of the same year, the following resolutions were adopted: "That the special committee on swamp lands shall have the power to employ an attorney to commence suit to recover lands frandulently preempted, or to sell at reduced prices such lands to actual purchasers who will undertake to contest the same with the supposed fraudulent preemptors, at the committee's discretion, and that each supervisor be requested to report all such cases that shall come to his knowledge to the chairman of said committee, together with all information he can procure on the subject.

"That one-half of the interest arising from the sale of swamp lands he divided equally among the various towns of this county, for the purpose of constructing roads and bridges. _

"That one-half of two successive years' interest, to accrue on swamp land sales made by the county, be appropriated toward building a county jail.

"That the school commissioner is hereby authorized to appropriate annually, until otherwise ordered by this board, any sum that may be necessary, not to exceed $200, of money that may come into his hands arising from the sale of swamp land, for defraying the expenses of a Teachers' Institute.

"That the board of supervisors will not allow any claims for reduction of the price of swamp land, unless, in the opinion of this Board, such reduction can be obtained by an action at law.

"That the swamp land commissioner be ordered to make a division of all cash in his hands appropriated to the different towns for roads and bridges, and that he use due diligence to collect all notes now due this county for interest in swamp land sales.

"That S. S. Saul (county clerk) be allowed for service in swamp land matters and extra labor in making up assessments and tax books, and for services connected with township organization, the sum of $40.

"That the school commissioner be required to publish a full report of the total amount of money received from all sources since the first day of October, 1857, to the same time in 1858, together with a statement of the amount paid to each township treasurer.

"On the recommendation of the Committee on Public Buildings, it was ordered that Joseph R. Wolverton, county treasurer, be authorized to procure a safe for his use at a cost not exceeding

"The special committee (Reuben Macey and Aaron Weider) to whom was referred the subject of granting license for the sale of spirituous liquors to John B. Ostrander of Reading township, having consulted together, would recommend that no license be granted in the county.

"Supervisors W. T. Russell, Samuel Kyle, L G. Mott, S. S. Morgan and William T. Garner were appointed a committee to contract for the building of a suitable jail, the cost of which shall not exceed $8,000, to be paid for out of one-half of the interest to accrue after the first of June, 1859. Said committee shall also employ some one to finish the out-house, and have an ornamental cornice put around it, have the house raised about two feet, and a stone wall put around it. That Nelson Buck, the county surveyor, be authorized to put up two stone monuments to set compasses by, at his own expense, as per his proposition filed with the clerk of this board, and that the committee to build a jail be instructed to furnish the said Buck with two good stones suitable for the said monuments."

The Committee on Town Accounts recommended that the following rates of taxes, on $100 valuation, be assessed on the property of the following towns; Pontiac, 4 cents; Dwight, 7 cents; Avoca, 10 cents; Long Point, 7 cents; Amity, 12 cents; Owego, 12 cents; Sunbury, 5 cents; Reading, 7 cents; Indian Grove, Belle Prairie and Eppards Point, 3 cents; Nevada, 2 cents; Nebraska, 6 cents; Saunemin, Esmen and Newtown, 4 cents; Oliver's Grove and Broughton, 5 cents; Round Grove, 25 cents; Odell, 6 cents. The amount levied for road and bridge taxes were; Sunbury, 10 cents; Reading, 30 cents; Odell, 34 cents. For burial ground, Esmen, Avoca, Long Point and Owego were each assessed 13 cents. After selecting the following to, serve as jurors at the March term, 1859, of circuit court, the board adjourned.

"Ordered that W. T. Russell build a coal house for the court house at a cost not to exceed $100; that $30 be appropriated to remove one Jacobs, a pauper in Odell. to his friends in Iowa; that the sum of $1,000 be donated to the Livingston County Agricultural Society of Pontiac, to be paid out of the first money received from the interest on swamp land sales, not otherwise approprlated; that the valuation of the track of the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis railroad in this county be raised to 70 cents per foot, for purposes of taxation, in the year 1859; that the name of the town of Oliver's Grove be changed to Chatsworth; that taxes be levied for town expenses, as follows: Pontiac and Amity, 12% cents; Nebraska, 6 cents; that the county will pay one-half the expenses of putting the pump in the court house yard in good order, if the people of Pontiac will pay the remaining onehalf; that the county taxes for the year 1859 be raised from 30 cents to 35 cents on $100 valuation; a motion to appropriate $300 to repair the bridge over the Vermilion river at Pontiac, provided the corporation of Pontiac

At a special meeting held on Tuesday, November 29. 1859, it was ordered that a committee of three be appointed to employ a mechanic to superintend the repairing of the court house, same having been damaged by the storm three days previous (see Destructive Storms); that the committee have the repairs made on the original plan, with the exception of a wooden gable on the south end of the building, similar to that on the north end, and that S. L. Frost be employed to superintend the said repairs, and that he employ all the mechanics that can work to an advantage upon the job, until the building is enclosed; that said Frost keep an accurate account of the number of days worked by each hand employed.

"That the overseer of the poor in the town of Amity be authorized to advertise for proposals for the keeping of James Winters, and that he shall give the keeping of the said Winters to the lowest bidder who will give security for his good treatment.

"That the school commissioner be and he is hereby permitted to draw from the school fund $1.00 for each annual visit he may make to all the schools in the county, not more than two visits to be made in one day.

"Jesse Hanna, Hial Hamlin and Moses Allen were appointed a committee to report to the Board at the September term the expediency of establishing a poor asylum, and that they be empowered to correspond with the board of supervisors of Woodford and Marshall counties in regard to the propriety of uniting with them in establishing one common asylum at some central point for three counties.

"Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Town and Town Accounts, it was ordered by the Board that the action of the Board heretofore in changing the boundaries of Newtown township be reconsidered, and that the Vermilion river shall be the line between that town and the towa of Reading, as established by the commissioners who divided the county into towns or townships." supervisors divided the township of Nebraska. It was composed of two congressional towns. The northern half retains the original name of Nebraska. while the southern half was called Kansas. (The latter name has since been changed to Waldo).

Comparison Of Assessments, 1858-1907

The total value of all the property in Livingston county for the year 1907 was $84,181,185, the total assessed value being $16,836,277 - the full value being five times the assessed value. The amount of taxes assessed in the county for the year 1858 was but $36,244.93. In 1907 it was $519,253.57. A comparison of the taxes for these years will probably be of interest, as shown by the following:

Early Collection Of Taxes

Prior to township organization (1857) the taxes in this county were collected by the sheriff, who was ex-officio collecter. The county at that time was none too well settled, and the roads to the county seat at Pontiac were few and far between. To accommodate the settlers, the sheriff would mount his horse, take the books and visit every precinct, remaining two days. The taxes on unimproved tracts in 1857 were as follows: 160 acres, $5.14; 320 acres, $10.27; 640 acres, $20.54. The last sheriff to perform this task was James W. Remick, who, during January, 1858, made the rounds as follows: Reading precinct, at the store of D. B. Shackleton; New Michigan, at the store of Collins & Dice; Mud Creek, at the home of Andrew Sprague ; Dwight, at the store of David McWilliams; Day's, at the home of Sylvester Potter; Avoca, at the office of W. G. McDowell; Indian Grove, at the home of John Darnall; Bayou, at the home of the late Joseph Reynolds; Nebraska, at the home of Moses Hopwood; during the month of February at the office of the sheriff in Pontiac. Persons pot quite familiar with the numbers of their idnds, were "requested to bring their title papers or old tax receipts, as this will facilitate business." The delinquent tax list published in June, 1858, showed that 1,427 persons had failed to pay their taxes on farm lands, due to the panic and poor crops.

Official Legal Business, 1907 08

OFFICIAL LEGAL BUSINESS, 1907 08. Common Law Cases, - On the January (1908) docket of common law side of the circuit court, there were 146 cases against 170 a year ago and

112 two years ago. On the May docket there were 168, against 144 a year ago and 119 two years ago. On the October docket there were 184 cases, 158 a year ago and 139 two yeurs ago. The January (1908) docket contained 31 new cases against 69 the year before; the May docket, TO new cases against 40 a year ago, and the October term 43 new cases against 60 a year ago. The January (1909) common law docket contained 48 new cases.

CHANCERY CASES. - The January docket contained 175 cases against 186 a year ago and 144 the year preceding. On the May docket there were 208 and 104 the year before that. The October docket contained 160 cases, while that of the same time in 1907 contained 144 and 157 the year previous. During the year 1908 there were 95 new cases instituted on the chancery docket, with 98 in 1907. On the January docket there were 34 new ones, on the May docket 28 and on the October 33. The January (1909) docket contained 22 new chancery cases.

The new cases started on the chancery docket during 1908 are as follows: Divorce, 33; remove cloud, 7; partition, 8; foreclosure, 15; 'quiet title, 10; miscellaneous, 19; injunction and relief, 1; accounting. 1; specific performance, 1. Total, 95.

CRIMINAL CAsES. - The number of indictments returned during the year shows a slight falling off over the number returned during 1907. The total number of indictments returned by the several grand juries of 1908 was 79, while that of 1907 was 89.

The indictments returned during 'the year are as follows: Malicious mischief. 8; burglary and larceny, 14; larceny, 3; forgery, 2; assault to murder, 2; habeas corpus, 2; attachment, 8; false imprisonment, 1; assault with a deadly weapon, 5; confidence game, 2; arson, 1; conspiracy, 1; criminal appeals, 4; robbery, 1; assault to kill, 2; selling liquor to minor, 1; selling liquor without license, 7; manslaughter, 1; debt, 1; homicide, 1; false pretenses, 1; murder, 1; embezzlement, 2; violation of medical practice act, 1; gaming, 5; abduction, 1. Total, 79.

DISPOSITION OF CRIMINAL CASES. - On the criminal side of the circuit court the following cases were disposed of in the manner mentioned: Verdict of not guilty, 10; nolle, 6; indictments quashed, 2; fined on a plea of guilty, 6; fined for contempt of court, 2; sentenced to county jail, 10 - i, e. - killing dog, 1; larceny, 4; assault with deadly weapon, 3; assault to rape, 1; malicious mischief, 1; sentenced to Reformatory - i. e. - burglary and larceny, 1. Sent to asylum for criminal insane, 1. Sentenced to the penitentiary, 10 - i. e - burglary and larceny, 4; confidence game, 1; arson, 1; robbery, 1; embezzlement, 2; abduction, 1.

Days or CourT. - During the year 1907 circuit court was in session 288 days. The October term was the longest of all, it being in session 144 days. The longest session last year was that of the October term, which was in session 46 days. The total number of days during which court was in session during the year 1908 was 113.

Worps 'TRANSCRIBED. - The number of words transcribed on the criminal docket during the year 1908 shows an increase of 27 per cent over 1907; the common law shows a decrease of 6 per cent, and the chancery an increase of 25 per cent.

INSTRUMENTS FILED. - The total number of instruments filed during 1908 was 3,231, while a year ago there were 3,364 filed and two years ago 4,071, which was the highest since 1902, when 4,007 instruments were filed for record in the office. The following gives the number of instruments filed during the year 1908 and in what month they were filed: January, 245; February, 481; March, 504; April, 250; May. 253; June, 256; July, 194; August, 223; September, 219; October, 211; November, 172; December, 273.

NATURALIZATIONS. - The matter of becoming a citizen of the United States has become much more difficult during the past two years than formerly, on account of the new laws placed in effect. On this account the number of naturallzations, of course, is lower, but foreign born residents are becoming better acquainted with the law, and the applicants are increasing. During the year 1908, four persons received their 4 final papers in Livingston County as against one a year ago; 33 declared their intentions of becoming citizens, against 22 a year ago. Eleven

MARRIAGE LICENSES. - During the year 1908, County Clerk W. W. Kenny and his deputies issued 282 marriage licenses, against 276 in 1907 and 313 in 1906. The banner month was February, when 39 licenses were issued, while January and December were close on its heels with 26 and 35, rspectively. May was at the foot of the column, with but eight licenses issued. The following is the number of licenses issued during the year month by month: January, 36; February, 39; March, 17; April, 14; May, 8; June, 30; July, 12; August, 18; September, 22; October, 25; November, 26; December, 35.

Berts Recorp. - The total number of births recorded in the office of the County Clerk from January 1, 1908, to September 1, 1908, is 362. Of this total 176 were boys, 195 were girls, while Sex of one was not reported. Of the total, 356 are reported as white and 6 colored. Of the parents of the children, 239 of the fathers gave their place of birth as Illinois, 21 as the United States, 42 as foreign born, while the birthplaces of fifteen are not given. Of the mothers, 254

WILLs PRoBATED. - In the county clerk's office during the year 1908, there were 56 wills filed for probate, as follows: January, 3; February, 3; March, 6; April, 6; May, 5; June, 6; July, 7; August, 10; September, 3; October, 3; November, 2; December, 2.

COUNTY AND PROBATE Court. - On the probate docket in the court of Judge U. W. Louderback there appear 144 cases during the year 1908, Of this number 19 were insanity cases, 1 was for adoption, while the remainder were for appointment of guardian, conservator, executor, etc.

On the law docket, criminal side, there appeared thirty-six cases, as follows: Incorrigible, 2; dependent, 3; larceny, 3; delinquent, 3; assault with a deadly weapon, 2; criminal libel, 2; miscellaneous, 3; selling liquor without license, 4; selling liquor to minors, 5; appeal, 4; scire facias, 1. On the common law side there appeared twenty-nine cases, as follows: Appeal, 9; condemnation, 1; miscellaneous, 8; assumpsit, 5; rights of property, 1; attachment, 3; confession, 2.

THE SHERIFF'S Orrice. - Sheriff J. W. Morris and his deputies report a very busy year during 1908. In the matter of serving papers relating to suits in courts, etc., the work is increasing greatly from year to year. During the year there have been 251 prisoners under the care of the sheriff. The largest number at any one time was 37 and the smallest number was 7. During the year, 6 prisoners were taken to Joliet to serve sentences in the penitentiary, 3 were taken to the Reformatory. 1 to the institution for the criminal insane at Chester, 12 to Kankakee Asylum, 2 to Bartonville, 2 to St. Charles, and 1 to the state institution for dependent girls at Geneva, During the year 117 prisoners served jall sentences.