Logan County, Illinois - Chapter 11: County Government, 1911

Chapter 11: County Government

County organization in Illinois dates back to 1779, when, after the conquest of Kaskaskia and Vincennes, by George Rogers Clark, the "County of Illinois" was established by legislative enactment of Vir- _ ginia, and the new county, vaguely defined as to its boundaries, was attached to that state. This act was passed in October, 1778, and proclamation thereof made June 17, 1779. Capt. John Todd was appointed "County Lieutenant Commandant" and the county seat was fixed at Kaskaskia. The "County of Illinois" comprised the larger part of what is now the State of Illinois. Patrick. Henry being at that time Governor of Virginia, it may thus well be said, that he was therefore the first Governor of Illinois. In 1784, Virginia surrendered to the general government all claims to this territory, and in 1787, an "Act for the Government of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the Ohio River," was passed by Congress, then sitting under the Articles of Confederation. Under this ordinance, Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed Governor of the Northwest Territory and in 1790, he organized, by proclamation, two counties of this territory, to be known as the counties of Knox and St. Clair.

St. Clair County extended 250 miles from north to south, with a maximum width of about 80 miles. It was bounded on the north, west and south by the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, and its east boundary line began at a point on the Illinois River, where Pekin is now located, and ran in a southeasterly direction to the Ohio River, at a point near where Metropolis is now located. All of what is now Illinois, east of this line, was included in Knox County and it also included all of what is now Indiana and parts of present Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. The boundary line between these two counties, in 1790, ran through what is now Logan County, the larger part of present Logan being then included in the county of Knox, of the Northwest Territory. More particularly, this boundary line, as far as present Logan County is concerned, entered the present confines of the county at the northwest corner, and ran in a southeasterly direction, to a point equidistant be- tween the southwest and the southeast corners of present Hurlbut township. Thus a slight portion of present Prairie Creek township, a small portion of present Sheridan, about half of present Corwin: and twothirds of present Hurlbut were included in St. Clair County of the Northwest Territory, and the rest of what is now Logan County was then included in Knox County, of the same territory, in 1790.

In 1800, the Northwest Territory was divided into two districts, and the territory included in present Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and parts of present Michigan and Minnesota, were included in what was called Indiana Territory, under Gov. William Henry Harrison. On Feb. 6, 1801, Gov. Harrison issued a proclamation, continuing the counties of Knox and St. Clair, but changing their boundaries and enlarging their areas. St. Clair County, as defined by this proclamation, had, for its eastern boundary, substantially what is now the eastern boundary ~ of Illinois, and its northern boundary was the Canadian line. What is now Logan County was a portion of this vast county, which included © sn its boundaries the larger part of what is now Illinois. In 1809, the Territory of Illinois was formed, including in addition to the present territory of the state, Wisconsin and a portion of present Minnesota. By a new alignment of county boundaries, an imaginary line was drawn from the Ohio River, at a point near where it nowi first becomes the boundary of Illinois, to a point on the Mississippi River, near the present site of East. St. Louis. All below this was Randolph County; all above was St. Clair County and what is now Logan County thus still remained a part of St. Clair.

By proclamation of Gov. Ninian Edwards, in 1812, the counties of Illinois Territory were re-arranged, owing to settlements becoming numerous, along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, in Southern Illinois. St. Clair was then made the smallest county of the territory, Gallatin and Johnson were created, while all of the Illinois Territory, above a due east and west line drawn from the Ohio River, opposite Vincennes, now in Indiana, to the Mississippi River, nearly opposite St. Louis, became known as Madison County and thus in 1812 what is now Logan County became part of Madison County in the Territory of Hbinois. Three years later, Madison County was divided into two counties, the eastern portion taking the name of Edwards, later changed to Crawford, and the western portion remaining as Madison, as before. What is now Logan County still remained a part of Madison and the boundary line, running north and south, between Madison and Edwards Counties, was the Third Principal Meridian, which is now the eastern boundary of the present county of Logan, as it was then the eastern boundary of Madison County, of which the present Logan was then a part. In 1817, Bond County was created out of Madison and - it included what is now Logan. Bond County made a queer figure on the map. It was a paralellogram, 24 miles wide, substantially about the present width of Logan County, the east line of the then Bond County being the east line of the present Logan, the west line of the then Bond being the west line of the present Logan, but from north to south, Bond County extended 600 miles, from about the southern boundary of present Bond County to the shores of Lake Superior; and within this narrow box of Bond County the territory of present Logan County was snugly confined. Into this county, the first settlers of Logan County settled in 1818, to make it their future home, and that same year, IIlinois was admitted into the Union as a sovereign state. The earliest settlements in what is now Logan County, occurred when the said territory was included in the county of Bond.

In 1821, three years after the admission of Illinois as a state, settlements had reached so far northward, that the legislature found it necessary to readjust county lines and create new counties. Madison, Bond and Crawford were reduced to their present size. Lawrence, Greene, Pike, Hamilton, Montgomery and Sangamon were brought into being by legislative act. Pike County was the largest of all, for it included all of Illinois, north and west of the Illinois River, as well as the present county of Cook and a gazateer published at that time, described Chicago as "a small hamlet in Pike County, Illinois." Sangamon County, as created, Jan. 30, 1821, included all of the territory now comprised in Logan County. It was created from the counties of Madison and Bond, and included, besides the present counties of Sangamon and Logan, also the present counties of Cass, Menard, Mason and Tazewell, and portions of present Christian, Macon, McLean, Woodford, Marshall and Putnam. In 1825, the boundaries of Sangamon were readjusted and re-defined. In this readjustment, Sangamon County was reduced in size, so that it included all of present Sangamon, all of present Menard, part of present Mason, and all of present Logan, except the present northern tier of townships. For over a year, from Dec, 23, 1825, when the boundaries of Sangamon were readjusted, until Jan. 31, 1827, when Tazewell County was created, this northern tier of townships, now Prairie Creek, Orvil, Eminence and Atlanta townships of Logan County, were "left out in the cold," as far as county government was concerned, and were included in what then was known as "unorganized territory,' and this for the first time since the Revolutionary War. The few pioneers then located in these townships, probably hardly noted the fact, that they had no county seat, no court house and no county allegiance, for they had little need of courts or lawyers in those days. Their strong right arms meted out justice and protected their individual property and their lives.

Orvil, Eminence and Atlanta townships. The other portions of present Logan County, still remained a part of Sangamon. In 1830, Mc- Lean County was created, and in addition to other territory, there was given to it, that portion of present Logan County, now known as Atlanta township, the same having been taken from Tazewell County. Present Atlanta township was then a part of McLean County; present Prairie Creek, Orvil and Eminence townships still remained a part of Tazewell, and the remainder of present Logan County, still remained a part of Sangamon. This condition of affairs existed until Feb. 15, 1839, when Logan County was created, by Legislative act. The oft-repeated statement, that Logan County was created out of Sangamon County, needs some limitation. Logan County was created out of Sangamon County in 1839, but the Logan County thus created was not the Logan County of to-day. It did not include the present northern tier of townships, namely: Prairie Creek, Orvil, Eminence and Atlanta, the three former belonging to Tazewell and the latter toMcLean. In 1840, however, the Legislature detached, from Tazewell, the three former townships, and added them to Logan County. In the meantime, De- Witt County was formed, March 1, 1839, and present Atlanta township was taken from McLean, and added to the new DeWitt County, and later on, in 1845, the Legislature detached present Atlanta township, from DeWitt County, and added it to Logan. It will thus be seen that what is now Atlanta township, was not a part of Logan County for six years after Logan County was formed, and Prairie Creek, Orvil and Eminence townships likewise not portions of Logan, for a year after the county was formed.

There were few settlers in the confines of what is now Logan County, when the same was a part of Bond, and county government with the early pioneers really began with the formation of the original Sangamon County, in 1821. The first election in Sangamon County occurred April 2, 1821, at which three county commissioners were elected: William Drennan, Zachariah Peters and Rivers Cormack. James Latham, of Elkhart Hill, was appointed Probate Justice; Charles R. Matheny, Clerk of the Commissioners' Court and James Sims, County Treasurer. The County Commissioners located the county seat, "in the prairie, near John Kelly's field, on the waters of Spring creek," now the site of Springfield. A court house was built, in May, 1821, of logs, twenty feet long, one story high, with a window and a door and it cost the county, forty-two dollars and fifty cents. The first entry of the Probate Court, was as follows: "Springfield, Sangamon County, June 21, 1821. Agreeable to an act of the Assembly, establishing Courts of Probate, approved Feb. 10, 1821, the court was opened at Springfield, Sangamon County, on the 4th day of June, 1821. Present, James Latham, Judge. The court proceeded to issue letters

The first act of the Commissioners' Court, affecting the present territory of Logan, was the appointment of Robert McClure, Robert Musick and James Turley, in June, 1824, "to review and make a road, known as the Elkhart road, and pursue the point named in the petition." In May, 1824, Jacob Boyer, James Meadows and Nathan Hussey were appointed road viewers, for a road from "Sangamo Town" to Fort Clark. This was declared a public road, Sept. 7, 1824. In December of 1824, a road was ordered laid "from Sangamo Town to Thomas Primm's, thence to Sugar Grove and from thence to intersect a road already laid from Orendorff Bluff to Fort Clark, at Musick's on Salt Creek." In March, 1825, Mathew Rogers and Levi Cantral were appointed viewers for a road from Sangamo Town "to intersect with the Springfield and Fort Clark road, on Section one, township 19, range four." This location is near Rocky Ford. In September, 1825, the road, heretofore described in the chapter on early settlements, from Springfield to Fort Clark, by way of Latham's at Elkhart Hill, Mc- Clure's Ferry on Salt Creek, and Robert Musick's on Sugar Creek, was ordered "laid." Robert McClure's ferry was authorized in September, 1825, and rates fixed. On March 8, 1826, Samuel Musick was authorized "to keep a ferry across Salt Creek on the road leading by his house to Fort Clark," and rates fixed: also to keep a public house of entertainment, price of meals fixed at twenty-five cents, lodging at twelve and a half cents, and whisky at twelve and a half cents per half pint. In October, 1826, James Turley, Richard Latham and David Riddle were appointed viewers for a road "from Springfield to Chapman's Ford on the Sangamon, then to cross Wolf Creek at Cherry Grove, thence to Turley's bridge on Lake Fork, thence to the county line, in a direction to the Vermillion Saline."

On March 6, 1827, the County Commissioners of Sangamon County divided the county into road districts. The districts included in what is now Logan, were described as follows: "Fourth district, all settlements on Salt Creek, from the mouth of the Lake Fork, east to the county line and south, so as to include the road to Turley's bridge, and to the ford on Wolf Creek, Abraham Bowman appointed superintendent; Sixth district, all settlements on Salt Creek, from the mouth of the Lake Fork to the county line and down Salt Creek, so as to include Reuben Jones'; and south to the middle of the prairie, including Elkhart Hill, Robert Musick appointed superintendent; Seventh district, all settlements on Salt Creek below Reuben Jones', so as to include Irish Grove, and south to the middle of the prairie, George Bordens appointed superintendent." Another noteworthy incident, gleaned from the old records of the Sangamon County Commissioners' Court, is the fact, that while there was never any such a thing as slavery in the confines of what is now Logan County, as far as known, still there was a tax levied on the owners of all slaves or registered negro servants in the county, if any such there were.

The levying of taxes on such "personal property" as slaves in Sangamon County, is an incident that the writer has never seen published in local histories or public print, and is inclined to believe that it makes its first appearance here. On March 23, 1827, the commissioners entered an order, that in order "to defray the expenses of the county, there shall be a tax of one half per cent laid on the valuation of thd following property, namely,' - then follows a list of property taxed and among others are found the items, "on slaves and indentured or registered negro or mulatto servants, on pleasure carriages and distilleries." This included such property, if any there was, in what is now known as Logan County. The same order was entered March 4, 1829. There will also be found of record, a declaration from Thomas Iles, of Bath County, Kentucky, to the effect that as "my black man, Isaac, has gone to Sangamon County, Illinois," all people were duly informed of record that Mr. Iles had "given him his liberty."

On July 27, 1827, an election was ordered for Justices of the Peace in Salt Creek precinct, to be held at the house of John Buckles, with Richard Latham, Montgomery Warrick and Charles Turley as judges. The precinct was vaguely defined, as follows: "Beginning on a road on the county line at the southeast corner of township seventeen, then with the county line to the north boundary of the county, then with the county line to the middle of range six, then in a southeastern course between Sugar Creek and Irish Grove, to the Fort Clark road, in the middle of the prairie, then southeast by Wolf Creek and through the prairie, between Lake Fork and Buffalo Grove, to the county line, at place of beginning."" On March 3, 1828, a road was laid out "from Miller's Ford on the Sangamon River, thence to Sugar Grove, thence to Mr. Glenn's on Canozier's Creek, thence to cross at the Rocky Ford on Salt Creek, thence to Robert Musick's on Sugar Creek, otherwise to intersect the Mackinaw road in that settlement." The viewers appointed were James Williams, Robert White and John N. Moore. On March 5, 1828, George W. Turley, Orneal Clark and Richard Latham were appointed superintendents of road districts, which were largely included in what is now Logan County. In 1829, John Lucas and Peter G. Cowardin were appointed road district superintendents and in 1830, George W. Turley, Solomon Wood and Stephen Stone. Rates were established for Philip Suiter's ferry at Rocky Ford in 1832, but this ford had been in operation many years previous. James Turley, Montgomery Warrick and William Glenn were appointed judges of election in the Salt Creek precinct in 1832. On March 8, 1833, the records show that "William Glenn moved the court for a writ of ad quod damnum to view a site proposed for a mill on Salt Creek, in township nineteen, range three west, and the court being satisfied that said tract of land is the property of said Glenn and includes both sides of said creek, a jury was summoned." To be strictly accurate, however, the word "both" in the record is spelled "boath." In 1834, Peter G. Cowardin, a resident of that part of Sangamon County, which is now Logan, was appointed Circuit Clerk for the county.

On Jan. 4, 1835, that part of Sangamon, now included in Logan, (except the northern tier of townships in present Logan County, which were then a part of Tazewell), was divided into three election precincts, as follows: Lake Fork precinct, election at the house of Jeremiah Buckles; William Copeland, Jeremiah Birks and Robert Buckles, judges; Irish Grove precinct, election at Middletown; Stephen Stone, Enoch B. Smith and John Barnes, judges; Salt Creek precinct, election at William McGraw's house; Daniel Lantis, Stephen Jones and William McGraw, judges. In 1835, George Girtman, John Lucas and Thomas L. Scroggin were appointed viewers of a road "beginning at Judy's Ferry on the Sangamon, through or near Buffalo Grove, so as to cross the Lake Fork, at or near Buck's Ford, passing by or through Hurricane Point and to the county line, in a direction to Salt Creek post office." Barton Robinson was issued a permit to sell goods in 1835 and John Vandeventer to erect a mill dam in township nineteen, range two west. Jabez Capps was given a license to sell dry and wet - goods in "the town of Pulaski." This order was dated Sept. 5, 1836. On Dec. 5, 1836, William McGraw, Edward Moberly and Stephen Jones were appointed viewers of a road "beginning at the northeast corner of Sangamon County, running in a westerly direction, passing through land between Charles Winn and William Houchin, thence to James Martin's lane, thence through said lane to the state road that leads from Springfield to Bloomington, thence westwardly to the crossing of the Kickapoo at John Metcalf's Ford, so as to intersect the state road near Daniel Lantis'." In 1836, a road was also laid from the county line of Tazewell County, through Postville to Decatur, William McGraw, Edward Moberly and Stephen Jones being viewers. In 1837, George W. Dunlap was licensed to keep a tavern at Middletown and rates were fixed. A noteworthy feature of the rates was that while he was allowed to charge but twenty-five cents for meals, ordinarily, still he could charge "'stage passengers,' who of course were transient, thirty-seven and a half cents.

On March 12, 1836, the sum of $100 was appropriated "to build a bridge across the Kickapoo at or near where the present state road from Springfield to Bloomington crosses said creek.'' Chaney Spears was appointed agent of the county to contract for the bridge and Wil- liam W. Allen was awarded the contract to build it. On June 3, 1834, Samuel Fvans was licensed to keep a ferry on Salt Creek, where the covered bridge is now located, at the foot of Union Cemetery hill, near Lincoln. Subsequently, the General Assembly of Illinois, passed a special act, approved March 1, 1837, authorizing Mr. Evans "to erect a toll bridge across Salt Creek" at this same point, the location being defined in the act as "on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section two, township nineteen, north, range three west, near the crossing of the state road from Springfield, by way of Bloomington to Chicago."' The rates set out in the bill were as follows: "Every fourwheeled carriage, drawn by four or more horses, oxen or mules, fifty cents; every four-wheeled carriage drawn by two horses, oxen or mules, twenty-five cents; every dearborn, gig or other vehicle, drawn by one horse, twelve and a half cents; for each footman, six and a fourth cents; each hog, sheep or goat, one cent; each head of loose horses, mules, neat cattle or asses, three cents." The bridge was not to be allowed to obstruct the ford. An incident connected with this bridge is told by the early settlers. The presidential campaign of 1840 was the. famous "Tippecanoe" campaign, with William H. Harrison as the Whig candidate for President. A monster Whig rally was arranged for Springfield. A Whig delegation, two hundred strong, mounted on horseback, came from in and around Bloomington and portions of the state farther north. A monster canoe on wheels, drawn by six horses, was also hauled along, in the procession and men, with paddles, sat inside, as if paddling the canoe forward. This procession, remarkable for the times, passed through Logan County, over the state road. When the procession reached Evan's toll bridge over Salt Creek, the toll would have meant a neat sum for its proprietor. Mr. Evans, however, was an enthusiastic Whig and he cried out to the leader of the procession to come along. "I don't charge Whigs a cent to cross my bridge," said Mr. Evans, in his enthusiasm. The leader replied, "Much obliged, but we've got one Democrat with us; what about him?" "Oh, that's all right," said Mr. Evans, "let him go along, for once in his life, he has been found in good company."' And with many a cheer and shout, the procession moved on toward Springfield.

Among those who were Justices of the Peace in territory now included in Logan County, prior to the organization of the county, were George W. Turley, John Hawes, Stephen Moore, John Lucas, Peter Price, J. W. Patterson, Philip B. Miles, Mahlon S. Hoblit, D. G. Thompson, James B. Bashaw, J. C. Morgan, Gabriel Watt, Joseph Slatten, John Montgomery, Thomas J. Enslow, David Montgomery, Alexander Lindsey, John Shoup, Peter J. Cowardin, William Stallings and Elijah Vansandt.

The first movement looking toward a division of Sangamon County began about 1831. It originated in that portion of Sangamon County, now: known as Menard County, and later the sentiment spread to the portion now known as Logan, as well as to that now known as Christian. The plan advocated was a division of Sangamon County into four counties. As will be referred to elsewhere, in this work, the rise of this. movement was responsible for the bringing into public life of one Abraham Lincoln, then unknown, now immortal. The Old Salem idea of a division of Sangamon County was bitterly resisted in and around Springfield. The advocates of division, in 1832, put up Abraham Lincoln, a resident of Old Salem, as their candidate for the Legislature. Old Salem was to be the county seat of one of the new counties, carved out of Sangamon. In the campaign that followed, Lincoln received substantially the entire vote in the section of the county now known as Menard, and largely the vote of that portion now known as Logan, but the vote in and around Springfield was decidedly against him and Mr. Lincoln was defeated. The movement for separation thus received somewhat of a back-set and temporarily subsided. Two years later, however, Lincoln was again a candidate for the Legislature, having just returned from the Black Hawk War. The separation question was not an issue this year and Lincoln was elected on National issues. He remained in the Legislature until 1842. About 1838, the county division movement came again to the front, with redoubled enthusiasm. Sangamon County was too large; the county seat was too remote from the extremes of the county. This did not matter so much, when settlers were few and there was little legal business to be done; but as settlement increased and legal rights had to be established, the remoteness of the county seat became a great hindrance. Portions of what is now included in Logan County were forty to fifty miles from the seat of county government. The settlers in what is now Menard County, however, were the most enthusiastic for division. The settlers in the south of what is now Logan County were rather apathetic, but in the northern and western portion the sentiment was strong. Among those in what is now Logan, who were especially active in the propaganda was John Metcalf, and he was one who circulated the petition for separation in this section.

The movement for county division reached its climax in the Eleventh General Assembly. Abraham Lincoln was a member of that body and also a member of the Committee on Counties of the House of Representatives. The records show that John Calhoun, also a representative from Sangamon County on Jan. 7, 1839, presented . the petition, which was known as "the petition of certain citizens of

Sangamon County, for a division of the county." A second petition was presented on January ninth. On January twelfth, a remonstrance against the proposed division was presented and a further remonstrance on the fourteenth, all of which were referred to the Committee on Counties. This committee was composed of the following individuals: Abraham Lincoln of Sangamon; John Moore, of McLean; E. B. Webb, of Alexander; Newton Cloud, of Morgan; G. Kent, of Jo Daviess; John Houston, of Crawford; E. M.' Daley, of Greene; John H. Murphy, of Vermilion and Alden Hull, of Tazewell. On January sixteenth, so states the record, "Abraham Lincoln, from the Committee on Counties, to whom certain petitions were referred, reported a bill for 'An Act to Establish the Counties of Menard, Logan and Dane,' which was read twice, and, on motion of John Calhoun, was referred to a select committee of five." The committee of five was as follows: Abraham Lincoln and John Calhoun, of Sangamon; William F. Thornton, of Shelby; Josiah Fisk, of Montgomery, and William W. Roman, of St. Clair. On January eighteenth, the select committee reported the bill back with certain amendments, which were adopted and the bill was ordered engrossed for a third reading. On Jan. 21, 1839, the bill was read a third time and passed by the House. It then went to the State Senate, where it was amended in immaterial points, not affecting Logan County, and the amendments were concurred in by the House, The bill became a law, Feb. 5, 1839. Subsequently, the name of Dane County was changed to Christian. Those portions of the bill affecting Logan County were substantially as follows:

"That all that tract of country, lying within the following boundaries, to-wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of township twenty, range four west, thence south to the southwest corner of section eighteen, township nineteen, north, of the range aforesaid; thence east one mile; thence south to the southeast corner of the county of Menard ; thence east to the line dividing ranges three and four; thence south to the southwest corner of section seven, township seventeen, north, of range three west; thence east to the northeast corner of section fifteen, township last aforesaid; thence south one mile; thence east to the eastern boundary line of Sangamon County; thence with the present boundary lines of Sangamon County to the place of beginning, shall constitute the county of Logan; that Charles Emmerson, of Macon County, Cheney Thomas, of McLean County and Charles R. Mattheny, of Sangamon County, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to locate the seat of justice of Logan County, and who, or a majority of whom, shall, in all respects, perform their duties in the manner that the commissioners for the location of the county seats of the counties of Menard and Dane are by this act required to do, and shall meet at the town of Postville, in said county of Logan, on the first Monday of May next, or within twenty days thereafter, for the purpose of forming the same, and such location, when so made, shall be and remain the seat of justice of the said county of Logan, until the end of the session of the General Assembly, in the year 1841; that each of said commissioners, named in this act, shall receive, out of the county treasuries, respectively, for which he may have served, such per diem allowance as shall be paid the members of the present General Assembly; that an election shall be held on the first Monday of April next, in each of the counties established by this act, to elect for each of said counties, one sheriff, one coroner, one recorder, one county surveyor, three county commissioners, one clerk of the county commissioners' court, and one probate justice of the peace, who shall hold their offices until the next succeeding general election and until their successors are elected and qualified, which election shall be conducted in all respects agreeably to the law regulating elections; that said election shall be held in the county of Logan at Postville and Pulaski, and shall be held by the judges heretofore appointed by the authority of Sangamon County for the precincts, respectively, provided, that where any place named in this act for holding said election has not heretofore been an election precinct, the electors meeting there may chose their own judges and clerks, who shall be qualified according to law, previous to entering upon the discharge of their duties." The act further provided, "That the judges of election shall deliver to each officer elected a certificate of his election; that the poll books shall be retained by them, until the clerks of the commissioners' courts shall respectively be qualified, and then such poll books of each county shall be delivered to its own clerk who shall make and transmit to the Secretary of State an abstract of the votes given at such election, in the same time, manner and form, as is required of clerks of county commissioners' courts, in elections, in other counties of this state; that said counties hereby established shall be attached to and form part of the first judicial circuit; that the county of Menard shall be entitled to one representative in the General Assembly and the counties of Logan and Dane together one; the county of Sangamon, five, and the four together two Senators, and in case any vacancy shall occur previous to the next election, the four counties shall vote together to fill said vacancy, in the same manner as if no division had taken place; that all business in the Sangamon County circuit court, or which shall be commenced therein, previous to the organization of the counties hereby established, shall be determined therein, as if no new counties had been established, and the sheriff of Sangamon County is hereby authorized to perform all duties within the boundaries of the said new counties, which may be necessary for the finishing of the aforesaid business and for the collection of the taxes already assessed; that all business now pending in the courts of justices of the peace of Sangamon County, or which shall be commenced therein, previous to the organization of the new counties hereby established, shall be finished by said justices and their constables, as though no division had taken place; that the judges of the several election precincts, in the aforesaid counties, shall meet at the several places hereinafter named, on the second day after said election, to compare their respective polls; in the county of Menard, at the town of Petersburg; in the county of Logan, at the town of Pulaski, and in the county of Dane, at the town of Allentown; that the justices of the peace and constables, now in office, for Sangamon County, who reside in the boundaries of the new counties hereby established, shall continue in office, in their respective new counties, so long as they would have done, if no division had taken place."

By a further act, passed Feb. 28, 1839, the Legislature further provided that the county officers elected at the first election held in Logan County, should hold their offices respectively, as long after the next August election as they would have done under the general law if they had been elected at said August election; that in all elections for senators, in the four counties of Menard, Logan, Dane and Sangamon, the vote should be canvassed by the clerk of the commissioners' court of Sangamon County and two justices of the peace; that in elections for representatives in the General Assembly, in the counties of Logan and Dane, the clerk of the commissioners' court, of both counties, were to canvass the vote at the county seat of Logan County, and that militia duty was to be performed in the counties of Menard, Logan, Dane and Sangamon, as if no division had been made.

From the boundaries defined for Logan County, it will thus be seen, as has before been stated, that the same did not include the northern tier of the present townships. What are now the townships of Prairie Creek, Orvil and Eminence were added to Logan County, by the Act of Jan. 27, 1840, which provided "that all that portion of Tazewell County embraced in the following limits, namely: Beginning at the southeast corner of township twenty-one, north, range two west of the third principal meridian; thence north seven miles, to the northeast corner of section thirty-six, township twenty-two; thence west along the section lines, eighteen miles, to the northwest corner of section thirty-one, on the range line, between ranges four and five, township twenty-two, north; thence south seven miles to the corner of Logan County; thence east along said county line to the place of beginning, is hereby added to and hereafter shall be a part of the county of Logan, and that hereafter, at all general or special elections, the portion of Tazewell County, so added, shall vote with the county of Logan."

What is now known as Atlanta township, was added to Logan County, by act of Feb. 26, 1845, and the territory then added was thus defined by the act: "All that portion of territory in DeWitt County, described as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of section thirty-six, township twenty-one, range one west, thence north four miles to the northeast corner of section thirteen, thence west with the section line to the northwest corner of section eighteen, thence south with the range line between ranges one and two, to the southwest corner of section thirty-one, thence east with the township line, between sections twenty and twenty-one, to the place of beginning." It might also be mentioned in this connection, that at the time the original boundaries of Logan County were defined, it was first intended to make the county rectangular, but that the irregularities of contour in the southwestern portion were currently reported to be due to the fact that certain personal friends of Mr. Lincoln, occupying lands in the proposed Logan County rectangle, desired to remain in Sangamon County, and still desired Springfield for their county seat, and that Mr. Lincoln saw that they were accommodated, in this regard, even to the extent of spoiling the geographical regularity of the new. county.

Logan County was named by Abraham Lincoln, in honor of his friend, Dr. John Logan, father of the famous soldier and statesman, Gen. John A. Logan. Dr. Logan was a well-known Illinois pioneer. He was born in 1788 and died in 1852. He was a member of the Tenth, Eleventh, Twefth and Fifteenth General Assemblies. He was therefore a member of the General Assembly, which passed the bill creating Logan County. He resided at Murphysboro, Jackson County, Illinois, and it was the district of which Jackson County was a part, which he represented in the General Assembly. In the Tenth General Assembly despite the fact that Dr. Logan was a Democrat in politics, he and Abraham Lincoln became close friends. When in a subsequent session, Logan County was carved out of Sangamon no name having been suggested by the settlers inhabiting the new county, Mr. Lincoln suggested the name of his old friend, Logan, then a member of the House, and the name was adopted. It is an incident handed down in the Logan family that Dr. Logan was the man for whom Logan County was named, and Gen. John A. Logan, during his life time, frequently referred in private conversation with residents of this county, to the fact that Logan County was a monument to his father. As convincing proof of the origin of the name, the following item appeared in the Sangamo Journal of Springfield, Ill., in its issue of Feb. 16, 1839, the next day after the passage of the bill creating

County Seat At Postville

Logan County: "Logan County is named in honor of Dr. John Logan, the present representative from Jackson County, in this state, and an old resident of Illinois." Among further confirmatory authorities, may be noted Moses' History of Illinois, the Illinois Blue Book and the publications of the Illinois Historical Society. An uncertainty having existed as to this question up to the year, 1908, and former histories having given the credit to Judge Logan, the Indian Chief Logan and others, even to Gen. John A. Logan, who, at the time of naming, was a thirteen year old boy, the writer, having been selected to prepare memorial tablets for the new court house and devise a historical decoration for the court house dome, made a special investigation of this matter with the result above named. At that time only one likeness of Dr. Logan was extant, an oil painting in the possession of his brother at Murphysboro. A 'photograph of this oil painting was taken and a replica of the same in oil now adorns the court house dome, while the northern entrance to the court house, contains the following memorial carved in the stone: "In Memory of Dr. John Logan, of Jackson County, Illinois, Who Was a Member of the General Assembly, which in 1839 Established and Created Logan County, and For Whom the County Was Named; Born 1788, Died 1852." In this connection, the following tribute to Dr. Logan, found in Gov, Reynolds' History of Illinois, published in 1851, is appropriate: "The Logan family emigrated from Missouri and settled on the Big Muddy, in pioneer times. Dr. Logan is still alive and a respectable and living monument of the pioneers of Southern Illinois. This gentleman has been in much public service and acted to the advantage of the public interest and much to his own honor." COUNTY SEAT AT POSTVILLE.

'The commissioners named in the bill creating Logan County were Charles R. Matheny, Cheney Thomas and Charles Emmerson and the duty devolved upon them to locate a temporary seat of justice for Logan County, the site so selected to remain the seat of justice until 1841. The first named, Charles R. Matheny, was the County Clerk of Sangamon County, and he died a few months after performing the official duties, devolving upon him in this act. Emmerson was a young lawyer, just admitted to the bar. He soon afterwards removed to Decatur, where he was elected Circuit Judge in 1867. Thomas was a resident of Bloomington. There were three small towns then in Logan County, namely, Postville, Mt. Pulaski and Middletown, and each aspired, in a way, to be the first county seat. The latter was eliminated as a candidate, in consequence of remoteness from the center of the county. Postville claimed to be the geographical center, but Mt. Pulaski set up the claim of being nearer the then center of population, as the northern and northwestern portions of the county were then substantially unsettled. The commissioners explored the county and decided in favor of Postville, however, but by a divided vote. Matheny and Thomas were for Postville and Emmerson was against, the latter favoring Mt. Pulaski. The new square, where the old court house now stands, in the Fourth Ward of Lincoln, was chosen as the particular site, in contradistinction to the old Postville square, now a city park. Around the old square, the original town of Postville was laid out. The new square was in Knapp, Bird and Tinsley's new addition. The report of the commissioners on the new seat of justice is still on file in the archives of Sangamon County and is in words and figures, as follows:

"June 3, 1839. We, the subscribers having been appointed commissioners to locate the seat of justice of Logan County, do hereby certify that on the first Monday of May, instant, we met in the Town of Postville, in said county of Logan and have located the seat of justice thereof, at the town of Postville, in said county of Logan, on the public square, known as the new square, and enclosed by blocks number 60, 62, 58 and 68, situated near the center of the east half of the northwest quarter of section number 36, in township twenty, north, range three west of the third principal meridian. Give under our hands and seals this ninth day of May, 1839.

Pursuant to the act of the General Assembly establishing Logan County, the first county election occurred in the county, April first, 1839. The county was divided into two voting precinct districts, known as the Postville and "Pulaski" precincts. The voting places of the precincts were at the towns of the same name. The judges of election were as follows: Postville - John Wheeler, William Russell, Samuel Evans; Mt. Pulaski - George W. Turley, William Copeland, John Turner. Michael Mann was elected first Probate Justice, at this election, without opposition. This office at that time was analogous to the present office of County Judge, as far as probate jurisdiction was concerned, the difference being that the Probate Justice had no criminal or common law jurisdiction. The settlement of Michael Mann in the county has already been noted. He does not seem to have qualified as an officer, however, for about three months later, Colby Knapp was appointed by the Commissioners' Court of the county as Probate Justice. The can- didates for Sheriff were John Deskins and John Lucas, the former being elected by a vote of 155, to 153 for the latter. Deskins was a physician and also conducted the hotel in Postville, which was located on the opposite side of the street from the court house, all this in addition to his official duties as Sheriff. He was reelected Sheriff in 1840 and 1842, and served in the legislature fron: 1844 to 1846. Deskins moved to Kansas where he died in later years. Jabez Capps of Mt. Pulaski, was elected first recorder of the county, over David Smith, by a vote of 169 to 136. A sketch of Mr. Capps will be found in the history of Mt. Pulaski. Thomas R. Skinner was elected first surveyor, without opposition, an exceedingly important office in the early days. He was afterwards elected County Judge. George B. Lucas was elected first Coroner, over Samuel Musick, by a vote of 167 to 139, and Stephen Moore was elected Clerk of the Commissioners' Court, over James W. Sapp, by a vote of 162 to 147. There were six candidates for the office of County Commissioner, with three to be elected. The first three in the following list, giving the vote on Commissioners, were elected: John Shoup, 223; Elijah Vansandt, 169; Robert Downing, 139; George W. Turley, 134; Peter G. Cowardin, 127; Ezekiel Bowman, 115.

Under the Constitution of 1818, then in force, and the statutes enacted thereunder, all county officers except the commissioners and clerk of the commissioners' court, were elected for a term of two years or until their successors were elected and qualified. The first election in Logan County in 1839, was merely a special election, the regular election being in 1840. The sheriff, under the laws then existent was ex officio county collector of taxes and the County Treasurer was ex officio County Assessor. The Recorder simply acted as recorder of deeds and legal instruments. The judge of the Circuit Court appointed his own clerk in each county. All county officials were compensated by the fees received in the discharge of their duties. The general control and management of the affairs of the county were, by law, vested in the "County Commissioners' Court,'' composed of three Commissioners elected by the people. At the first election in a county, three commissioners were to be elected and they were to draw lots for the one, two and three year terms. Annually thereafter, one commissioner was to be elected. This Commissioners' Court had jurisdiction, throughout the county, in all matters and things concerning revenue and the imposition of taxes, the granting of licenses for ferries and taverns, the laying out, construction and maintenance of public roads and bridges, the auditing of accounts of public officers, the control of elections, filling of official vacancies, erection of public buildings, purchase and sale of public lands, and the general management of county affairs, with power to issue writs and attachments, make orders, decrees and judgments, punish for contempt and issue all necessary process to execute its powers. A clerk of the court elected by the people was to hold office for a term of four years. This form of county government existed in Illinois until 1848, when it was succeeded by government by the County Court.

The First Court House

One of the great inducements, which led to the location of the county seat at Postville, was the promise of the proprietors of what was known as "Knapp, Bird and Tinsley's Addition to Postville," that they would give to the county, the new square in said town, together with a frame court house, which they would erect thereon, and also, two other adjacent blocks of ground for county purposes. The original town of Postville was laid out by one Russell Post and was centered around the old square, now a city park. East of the original town, three owners of Logan County land, Knapp, Bird and Tinsley, had laid out an addition to the old town, and it was in this addition the county lots were located. The records show a conveyance of "the entire block known as the public square" on June 4, 1841, and of blocks 68 and 71, on De= cember 14, 1840, both conveyances being by Seth M. Tinsley and others to the County Commissioners of Logan County. An act of the General Assembly, passed and approved February 17, 1841, provided "that the seat of justice for the County of Logan, be, and the same is, hereby declared to be permanently located at the town of Postville in said county;" that the proprietors of Postville were to pay, by June 1, 1841, to the county, the sum of $3,000, with the understanding, however, that the value of the all former donations, were to be included and form a part of said $3,000; that the $3,000 could be paid in money or lots, at the donor's option, the lots to be of a value agreed upon by both parties; that the Commissioners were to be allowed to sell any portion of such donated lots, the selling price to be turned into the county treasury. In default of the proprietors paying\ the $3,000 as aforesaid, the County Commissioners were directed to select some other place than Postville as the county seat.

The County Commissioners of Logan County, elected at the first special county election in April, 1839, met at the house of John Shoup, on the north side of Salt Creek, in what is now Chester township, and organized by the election of Mr. Shoup as chairman. Mr. Shoup was a Justice of the Peace and a Captain of Militia. Later, in 1861, he was elected an Associate Justice of the County Court. Mr. Shoup's house was substantially the seat of county government until the court house was ready for occupancy in Postville, in 1840. Immediately on the location of the temporary county seat at Postville, Messrs. Knapp, Bird and Tinsley proceeded to carry out their part of the contract, with the commissioners, who located the county seat, by erecting a court house on the new square, these gentlemen paying the expenses of the same and the building being erected under the direction of Seth M. Tinsley. The new court house was a commodious structure, for thé day in which it was built. In fact there were few other counties in the state, if any, which could boast so imposing a structure. It was two stories high, and two story buildings were then a rarity in Illinois and it was about twenty-eight by thirty-eight feet in dimensions. It is said that Peter J. Cowardin built the structure and that the father of William Hungerford did the masonry work. The rocks used came from Rocky Ford. The joists and sills of the building were of walnut. The lower story was divided into rooms for the various county offices, while the entire upper story was thrown into one room and used for a court room. A fire-place, with its picturesque outside chimney, gave heat to the building when required. The building was located in the center of the square, on the north side of Fifth Street and faced the south,

The first court house of Logan County still stands as a monument of early days. Despite the more than "three score years and ten" since its rafters arose above a lonesome prairie, it remains intact. It has been repaired but little and its solid walnut timbers today show absolutely no signs of age. They are substantially as sound as when placed in the building. It is the most historic building in Logan County today. It was the court house of the pioneers. It was church, assembly room and lecture hall to the early settlers. Here Judge Treat and Judge Davis handed down judicial decision. Here Abraham Lincoln, then to fame unknown, helped to lay the ground work of his future greatness. Here Baker, Edwards, Walker, Stuart and others of like renown argued to court and juries. Here a Peter Cartwright hurled his bolts of indignation against the powers of evil.. Grander than Gothic spires or minarets of burnished gold, this ancient structure still stands limned against the skies. For here the commonwealth was partially bon; here in letters of fire were written the beginnings of our progress and here within its humble walls were laid the foundations of a civilization, which shall tell its triumphs in song and story, until time shall be no more. With feelings of regret, the writer sees this early monument pass into private hands. For the time is not far distant, unless public or official action rescue it from demolition, when, despite the sentiment that ought to cling about it, the structure will be one of the things of the past. What better way could the man of means endear his memory to posterity than by purchasing this relic of other days, restoring it to its original condition and position, presenting it to the city or county, to be used as a museum of pioneer times, and making its spacious grounds a public park?

First Courthouse Located At Postville

The first county jail was built by Elisha Parks, father-in-law of John D. Gillett. Mr. Parks was born in Middlebury, Conn., in 1793. When a young man, he went to Canada, and came to Logan County in 1837. While in Coberg, Canada, he had built a harbor by fastening hewn logs together and making a log bottom, filling the same with stones and sinking it. Upon this principle, he built the first Logan County jail. It was constructed entirely of hewn logs, each a foot square and notched at the ends, so that when laid in the wall, they fitted closely together. It was about twelve feet square and had two stories. The upper floor was also made of logs, securely fastened to the upper tier. The lower floor was composed of logs, hewed about twelve by sixteen inches in thickness, the greater thickness placed upwards. These were laid closely together and the entire interior of both stories of the jail, floors and walls, were covered with heavy oak plank, two inches thick. A similar covering was placed on the outside. In the center of the upper floor, a small trap door was made, sufficiently large to admit a man's body. This door was composed of a crosswork of iron bars, firmly fastened together and padlocked several inches from the door. Two windows of similar construction were made. Over all, a heavy roof was placed, and in the end of the upper story, a door was made of heavy plank, which could be securely bolted. The prisoner would be taken in at the upper door, the trap door of the inner cell raised, and a ladder let down upon which he descended. The ladder was then withdrawn and the trap door and outer door bolted.

Strong as this jail was, it was not entirely to be depended upon. Some years after it was built, a man by the name of Bartlett was arrested for shooting at a stage driver. He had a reputation for breaking jails, and Sheriff Deskins took extra precautions with his prisoner, by stationing a guard around the jail, day and night. He made several ineffectual efforts to escape. He was finally manacled, hands and feet, but these he managed to remove, by wearing the irons out with constant friction. One day, while the guards were not on close watch and were engaged in conversation in the court house yard adjacent, having left their guns temporarily in their part of the jail, Bartlett, by what seemed an almost superhuman effort, jumped up and caught the bars of the trap door above. Clinging to this bar with one hand, he drove a part of the window sash under the door and wrenched the padlock staple from its place. He then hid the guns of the guards, broke open the outer door and escaped. Quietly and quickly descending, he made his way southward toward a drove of horses in the prairie, observing them slowly, as though designing to purchase. One of the guards noticed him and said, "That looks like Bartlett." "It can't be," say another, "he could not get out." An investigation soon convinced them that it not only could be, but was. They started in pursuit of him, but he took to "the tall timber" of Salt Creek. They finally located him in the stream, underneath a fallen tree. He was captured, taken back to jail and later, his trial coming on, was sentenced to the penitentiary for ten years, in which place he died.

Commission Government

The court house was erected in 1840 and after its erection, the meetings of the county commissioners were held in the new building. Under provisions of the act of 1841, permanently locating the county seat at Postville, before noted, the proprietors of the town proposed that the amount already paid by them for building the court house, the lots previously donated to the county, and three lots additional, which they agreed to convey, be accepted by the county, in lieu of the $3,000 named in the act, and it was so ordered. It may also be of interest to note that the state revenue derived from Logan County in the first year of its existence, amounted to $368.39, as against $64,538.44, the amount of state revenue from the county in 1910. All records of Logan County prior to 1857, being destroyed by fire that year, no history exists of the proceedings of the County Commissioners' Court, not even a list of the Commissioners themselves has been preserved and that given has been derived from other sources. As stated the first board consisted of John Shoup, Elijah Vansandt, and Robert Downey. One commissioner retired each year and one was elected. In 1844, Colby Knapp was elected commissioner and in 1845, John Clark. In 1846, Jeremiah P. Dunham was elected commissioner, the board for that year being Colby Knapp, John Clark and Jeremiah P. Dunham. In 1847, Berryman Boughan was elected, he, Dunham and Clark constituting the board. 1848, Robert Buckles was elected and he, Boughan and Dunham were the board. The county commissioner form of government ceased by constitutional enactment in 1849. Stephen Moore was clerk of the board from 1839 to 1843, William Stallings from 1843 to 1849 and Barton Robinson served eight months in the latter year. Among the roads laid out by the board was one, on Sept. 14, 1840, beginning "in the center of the south end of Main street of the Town of London" and running south and east to intersect with "the Springfield and Postville road," at a certain "double honey locust tree." The road viewers appointed were Thomas Shoup, Asa French and George Slater. The chain carriers were Wesley Lannum and Joseph B. Teft. The "town of London" was a boom town, which was located near the present Union school house in Aetna township.

County Seat To Mt. Pulaski

Postville," thence in a southeasterly direction to Mt. Pulaski, thence in a southeasterly direction to the southeast corner of the county. This was the beginning of the present Lincoln to Mt. Pulaski road. The road viewers were John D. Reece, William M. Allen and William Stallings. On August 6, 1841, a road was laid out "beginning at the east end, in the center of Harry Street, in the town of Mt. Pulaski, running thence east,' about three miles, to "the corner of John Clark's field and near David Brook's house." The road viewers were Robert Frakes, Levi T. Whitaker and Alexander Rigdon. The chain carriers were William Mitchell, William M. Allen, Moses Moore and Lucien Norton. Another road was laid out August 10, 1841, beginning "in the center, at the south end of Main Street, in the town of London, thence north along Main Street,'"' thence east to the east line of Logan County. This road connects with the formerly described Postville to Mt. Pulaski road and thence east to the county line. The road viewers were James Downing, John Anderson and Samuel Dement. On August 21, 1841, a road was laid out "beginning at a white oak tree on the land of Levi Johnson, on Kickapoo Creek, section eighteen, township twenty, range two, thence east twelve chains to Rudolph's sugar house," thence to a bridge across Kickapoo creek, thence "to the southwest corner of Henry Johnson's field'? and thence to "the north end of the bridge across Sugar Creek, near Orendorff's Mills."' COUNTY SEAT TO MT. PULASKI.

About the year 1845, the settlers in the southeastern portion of the county began to agitate the question of a removal of the county seat from Postville to Mt. Pulaski. Mt. Pulaski had then become a sprightly village of over three hundred inhabitants, enjoyed an excellent trade and had surpassed Postville in commercial importance. While farther from the geographical center than Postville, it was still closer to the center of population, as the southern end of the county had settled more rapidly than the other sections. In addition, there was considerable talk of organizing a new county out of territory from Logan, Sangamon and Macon Counties, with Mt. Pulaski as the center, and it was thought the removal of the county seat of Logan to Mt. Pulaski would help along this plan. The constitution of 1848, however, with its provision prohibiting the organization of new counties, until a certain number of inhabitants were in the prescribed limits, put a quietus to this movement, but this came too late to be of assistance to Postville in retaining the county seat. The proprietors of Mt. Pulaski were active and energetic pioneers. Postville had never secured the county seat by popular vote. It was located by commissioners, and one of those was opposed to the Postville location. The proprietors of Mt. Pulaski therefore figured, that on a popular vote, Mt. Pulaski could win in a contest for the county seat and their argument was that this question was one in which the majority should rule. As a result of this agitation, an act was passed by the General Assembly, February 23, 1847, providing for an election "to be held in the several precincts of Logan County, on the first Monday in April, 1847, at which election, voters shall vote for or against the removal of the seat of justice from Camden to Mt. Pulaski." The name of the town of Postville had before been changed by legislative act to that of Camden, although it was still known generally as Postville. The act also provided for a viva voce vote; that in the event of a majority voting for removal, the seat of justice was to be removed from Camden to Mt. Pulaski and that in the event of removal, "the proprietors of the town of Mt. Pulaski shall be required to erect a good and sufficient court house for the use of the county," the same to be erected on the public square. At the election held in April, 1847, a majority of votes was cast for the removal of the county seat to Mt. Pulaski, which was a source of much joy to the inhabitants of that town and of deep regret to the inhabitants of Postville, for it rang the death knell of the latter.

The Second Court House

The new court house was erected in the center of the public square in Mt. Pulaski, where it still stands, at the present day, in a state of complete preservation. A subscription paper was passed around among the residents in and around Mt. Pulaski to defray the expenses of erecting the court house and about $2,700 was so raised. This was supplemented by $300 from the county. In addition, various citizens gave their time and assistance in the work of erection and considerable material was donated. The building faced west, was two stories in height above the basement. The lower floor was utilized for public offices and the upper floor was the court room. Immediately after completion of the new building, the records were removed from Postville to the new seat of justice and with them came the county officials. In many respects, the old court house at Mt. Pulaski is as historic as the old Postville building. Abraham Lincoln was present oftener in this building than in any other in the county and during the existence of the county seat at Mt. Pulaski, he was on one side or the other of every important case upon the docket. Stephen A. Douglas, who never appeared at the Postville temple of justice, was a frequent advocate at the Mt. Pulaski bar as also were U. F. Linder, Josiah Lamborn, O. H. Browning, Lyman Trumbull, Leonard Swett and others. David Davis was the sitting judge at Mt. Pulaski. Every plank in the structure is therefore sacred with historical significance. Fortunately, the trend of official affairs has made this building a public asset for all time and it will likely be preserved. And as the years go by, its value as a reminder of the days when intellectual giants strove for mastery, increases more and more. For "there were giants in those days."

Following the erection of a court house, a jail was built at Mt. Pulaski, always a necessary concomitant. It was two stories in height, built of brick and was a great improvement on the Postville bastille. The windows were covered with iron grating. This jail contained a debtor's cell, now no longer an adjunct to our civilization. The jail cost about $1,000. On the removal of the records from Postville, the county commissioners, on July 1, 1848, sold the Postville court house to Solomon Kahn for $300, who immediately opened up a stock of merchandise in the building. It was also used as a post-office. Mr. Kahn also purchased five additional lots owned by the county. The sale of this building and grounds, as well as the lots, all having been donated by the proprietors of Postville, brought on considerable subsequent litigation. The proprietors sued the county for the value of the lots and the court house, alleging that on their abandonment by the county for county purposes, the Property reverted to the donors. Judge Davis held otherwise, however, and on appeal to the Supreme Court, he was sustained. Abraham Lincoln was attorney for the county in this dispute. Reference to this litigation will be found in the chapter on "Bench and Bar." Some years after the court house was sold, the jail was also disposed of and later the logs were converted into railroad ties and used in the first construction of the Chicago & Alton railroad.

County Court Government

By the new state constitution of 1848, the government of counties by a Commissioner's Court was abolished, and in place of the same, the full management and control of the affairs of the county were placed in the hands of a county court, composed of one county judge and two county justices. This court also had jurisdiction in all probate matters, and in certain civil and criminal cases, the justices sitting with the judge in all matters. Provision was also made for a county clerk, who was to be ex officio recorder. The judge and his two associates were to be elected every four years. In effect, it was another phase of commission government, with longer terms and greater powers. The first county judge elected under this system was Thomas R. Skinner, who was elected in 1849 and again in 1853, serving until 1857. Judge Skinner died, while in office, during the last year of his administration and Reuben B. Ewing was appointed to fill out the unexpired term. Christopher C. Ewing was one of the associate justices during Judge Skinner's first term. From 1853 to the adoption of township organization, the county court was constituted as follows: 1853 to 1857, Thomas R. Skinner, Judge, and William Ryan and Zebulon Cantrall, associates; 1857 to 1861, Reuben B. Ewing, Judge, and Thomas Noland and Sheldon Parks, associates; 1861 to 1865, Reuben B. Ewing, Judge, and John Shoup and Asa C. Barnes, associates; 1865 to 1867, Reuben B. Ewing, Judge, and Alexander Fisher and Calvin M. Grapes, associates.

County Seat To Lincoln

The year 1853 marked the coming of the railroad into Logan County and with it changed conditions and surroundings. The Chicago & Alton, then the Alton & Sangamon Railroad, was completed from Alton to Springfield late in 1852, and, early in 1853, preparations were made to extend it through Logan County to Bloomington. It was decided to locate a station on the new road at a point near Postville. Before the proposed new town was named, agitation began for the removal of the county seat from Mt. Pulaski to this new location. The county was now generally settled throughout and the proposed new townsite was both the geographical center and the center of population. It was easily accessible. The new railroad would give a means of transportation to the new town from the north and south, and it was argued that an eastern and western line would soon follow. Following this agitation, Colby Knapp, then a member of the Legislature, secured the passage of the-following act, which went into effect, February 14, 1853:

"Be it enacted, by the State of Illinois, represented in General Assembly; that an election be held in the several precincts of Logan County, at the next regular election to be held in November next, at which election, the legal voters of said county shall vote for and against the removal of the seat of justice from the town of Mt. Pulaski to the northwest quarter of section thirty-one, in township twenty, range two west of the third principal meridian. If it shall be found that the legal voters, or a majority of them, have voted in favor of said removal, the seat of justice is hereby declared to be located on the said northwest quarter of section thirty-one, township twenty, range two west aforesaid; Provided, that the owner or owners of said quarter section of land, shall, before the said day of election, convey to said county of Logan, at least ten acres of said quarter section, to be a good and eligible location for the public buildings and public grounds; said location to be approved by the judge of the county court and his associates or a majority of them. If it shall appear that a majority of votes cast at such election, are for the removal of the seat of justice, it shall be the duty of the county court of said county, at the court holden first after said election, to provide for the erection of the public buildings of said county, and when such court house is completed, or within thirty days thereafter, all county officers required by law to keep their office at the county seat, shall remove their respective offices to the new location."

Third Court House

Pursuant to this act, on September 5, 1853, Robert B. Latham, for himself, John D. Gillett and Virgil Hickox, proprietors of the new town, which had by that time been called Lincoln, conveyed to Logan County, blocks 6, 16 and 25, in the new townsite, and same were approved by the county court. Block 16 is the court house square and the blocks 6 and 25 are the two parks. At the election held in November following, the yoters of the county voted to remove the county seat to the new town and the seat of justice migrated a second time to its third and present location in the city of Lincoln. Work began at once upon a new court house in the new square and was pushed so rapidly that it was ready for occupancy in 1854. It was a two-story structure, built in the center of the square, was seventy feet in length and forty-five feet in width, the height from the water table to the eaves being thirty feet. The officers were all on the first floor and the court room on the second, the latter reached by a stairway in the rear. Around the court yard, a fence was erected with a single entrance gate on Kickapoo street. The removal of the county seat from Mt. Pulaski was not fully accomplished, however, without some efforts on the part of that locality to retain it. George W. Turley and others, of Mt. Pulaski, filed a bill in the circuit court, Judge David Davis presiding, to restrain the county officers from erecting county buildings at the new location, on the ground that the act providing for the vote on removal was not legally passed, not having been read a required number of times. Judge Davis decided adversely to the petitioners, however, and on appeal to the Supreme Court, the decree of the lower court was affirmed. In 1857, an act was passed by the General Assembly donating the old court house at Mt. Pulaski to the town of Mt. Pulaski, to be used forever for school purposes. Henry Vonderleith, George W. Turley and Jabez Capps were created a board of trustees to manage and control the property for two years, making rental of same and using the rental money for repairs. At the expiration of the two years, they were to turn the building over to the Board of Education of Mt. Pulaski. By an act of the General Assembly, of date February 12, 1855, the county was empowered to have the records of Sangamon, De Witt, McLean and Tazewell counties transcribed, with references to all matters connected with territory at one time located within said counties, and subsequently included in or added to Logan County, such transcribed records to have the force and effect of original records.

On the night of April 15, 1857, the court house erected in Lincoln in 1853 and 1854, burned to the ground, and with it were destroyed substantially all the records of Logan County. The origin of the fire is unknown. It was rumored, at the time, that the fire was of an incendiary Origin, but the charge was never substantiated. The fire broke out about midnight and before any one could reach the building it was a mass of flames. The remarkable rapidity with which the flames deand then ran over, rushed into the smoke and grabbed two books. He said afterwards: "T wasn't thinking so much of the county records, generally, as I was of myself in particular. J owned 160 acres of Logan County land and I was afraid if the books were burned, I might have trouble with my title. The man of whom I bought the land lived in Germany. I just took the chance of getting the right book, but I understand I didn't get it." The fire was disastrous in various ways. Titles to lands in the county, are in many cases, defective to this day, by reason of the fire. The early official history of the county was thus destroyed. The court house had not been paid for and the county, thus in debt, had to face the building of a new structure. John T. Jenkins, unaccounted for, the receipts and books being consumed. The General Assembly, however, in 1859, passed a special enabling act, directing the Logan County Court to release him from al] liability on the same, which was done.

Fourth Court House Old Courthouse At Lincoln

tion as the structure that was burned and was of the same size, with a portico added in front. The foundation of the former building was substantially undamaged, very slight repairing being necessary. The portico was ten feet wide, with a stone floor and six vertical columns and the basement of the portico was filled with the debris, from the burned court house, as a foundation for the stone floor. The superstructure was of brick, the outside walls being one and one-half brick thick and the hall walls nine inches thick. The roof was constructed with eight bents of principal rafters. The floors were of pine, the court room floor in the second story being deadened with mortar. The front door, opening upon the portico, faced Kickapoo street and a rear door faced McLean street. A wide hallway connected these doors and on each side of the hallway were small office rooms, used by the Sheriff, Treasurer, Superintendent of Schools, Surveyor and Master in Chancery. At the rear of the hall, a stairway led up to the court room, which occupied the entire second story, with the exception of two small rooms at the rear, used for jury and consultation rooms.

The contract for the erection of this court house also included the erection of two small fireproof offices, to be occupied by the Circuit and County Clerks, said offices to be detached and equally distant from the main building, each to face Kickapoo street and each to be on a line with the west line of the court house. These offices were built first, in order to safely preserve the records, without delay. They were 20 by 30 feet, one story high and built of brick and stone, the flooring being of stone. The north office was occupied by the Circuit Clerk and the south office by the County Clerk. The latter office was also occupied by the County Judge, and the County Court was held in this building. The offices were ready for occupancy October 1, 1857. The court house was not completed until June of 1858. The court house and offices cost $14,514.73, and payments were made as follows: $1,000 cash, on the signing of the contract; $2,000 when the two offices were ready for occupancy; $2,500 when the first story of the court house was completed and the balance when entire structure was finished and accepted. County orders given in lieu of cash payment drew ten per cent interest. The contractors utilized the old material, not destroyed by the fire, where practicable and allowed the county a credit for half the value of the material so used, "with full price for the sash weights." The contractors were Springfield parties and their bondsmen, David Spear, E. R. Ulrich and Joseph Klein, were certified as responsible, by N. H. Ridgely and N. W. Matheny, of Springfield. Subsequently, in 1880, additions were made to both of the clerk's offices, each 18 by 28 feet, at a cost of $2,000. After the erection of the buildings, the court house fence was repaired and four gate entrances made instead of one. This fence was, in subsequent years, repeatedly repaired and repatched until about 1884, when it was dismantled and taken down, much to the improvement of the court house square. Up to the year 1859, the county had been lodging its prisoners in the small town calaboose. In 1859, a contract was entered into between the Board of Trustees of the town of Lincoln and the County Court, by which the town of Lincoln agreed to erect a jail, twenty feet square, twelve feet high in the clear, wall to be of square blocks of stone, the county and town of Lincoln to use the jail jointly, the jail to be under the charge of the Sheriff, the county to pay the sum of $425. This agreement being ratified, the jail, known as the "calaboose,"' was built that year, and was used by the county until it erected a special jail for county purposes alone.

Voting Precincts

At the organization of the county, it was divided into two voting precincts, as before stated, namely: Postville and Mt. Pulaski. Later there were created Middletown, Salt Creek, Sugar Creek and Prairie Creek precincts, and still later, Elkhart precinct. In 1855, after the entrance of the railroad and the laying out of the towns of Lincoln and Atlanta, the precincts were reorganized, and the following precincts created: Prairie Creek, Middletown, Elkhart, Salt Greek, Mt. Pulaski, Atlanta, Lincoln and Sugar Creek. Prairie Creek precinct included the two northern rows of sections of the present Prairie Creek township. Middletown precinct included the remainder of present Prairie Creek township, all of present Sheridan township and a larger part of present Corwin township. Elkhart precinct included all of present Hurlbut township and all of Elkhart, except that portion east and south of the Springfield-Mt. Pulaski road. Salt Creek precinct included all of present Aetna township, except the four northwest sections, that part of present Chester south of Salt Creek, the northeast portion of Elkhart, the northern tier of sections in present Laenna township and that part of present Mt. Pulaski township north of a line drawn east and west along the street, north of the square in the town of Mt. Pulaski. Mt. Pulaski precinct included the remainder of present Mt. Pulaski township south of the Mt. Pulaski public square, all but the northern tier of sections in present Laenna township, all of present Lake Fork, and Elkhart, east and south of the Springfield-Mt. Pu; laski road. Atlanta precinct included all of present Atlanta and Oran townships and the east row of sections in present Eminence. Sugar Creek precinct included all of present Eminence except the east row of sections, all of present Orvil and that part of present East Lincoln township bordering on Kickapoo creek. Lincoln precinct included all of present East Lincoln township not included in Sugar Creek precinct, together with all of the present townships of West Lincoln, Broadwell and Chester. The judges of election for these precincts in 1857, this being the first list now on record, since the court house fire, were as follows: Prairie Creek, John Nichols, I. V. Cunningham, A. R. Chesnut; Sugar Creek, George Clark, Anderson Miller, Peter J. Hawes; Lincoln, Mathew McElhiney, John R. Skelton, William Cramer; Atlanta, Samuel Bevan, Joseph Bell, David Montgomery; Middletown, Joseph W. Barnard, John L. Clough, David G. Evans ; Elkhart, William S. Hunter, Joseph A. Dalby, William Rankin; Mt. Pulaski, John Bigger, Carter Scroggin, Harrison Dyer; Salt Creek, I. R. Braucher, Robert Downing, William Mathews. In 1860, Eminence precinct was created. In 1862, the precincts in the county were as follows: Bowles, Salt Creek, Lincoln, Broadwell, Madison, Lake F ork, Elkhart, Middletown, Prairie Creek, Atlanta, Eminence, Sugar Creek and Mt. Pulaski. These remained the voting precincts until township organization.

Early Officials

Among those who were elected and served as Justices of the Peace in Logan County, from the organization of the county in 1839 to the time of the court house fire in 1857, were N. M. Whitaker, John Turley, Colby Knapp, Abraham Winsor, George W. Turley, John Hawes, John Anderson, Timothy B. Hoblit, Jeremiah: P. Dunham, D. G. Thompson, B. S. Dunn, William Houchin, Stephen Moore, James Randolph, John C. Halstead, William Stallings, I. R. Braucher, Charles Maltby, Elijah Vansandt, J. T. Clark, William H. Young, John Lucas, Ezekiel Bowman, N. W. Milliken, George T. Scott, James O. Turley, George A. Fleming, Peter Price, Samuel Bevan, Richard M. Clark, Samuel Emmett, Thomas J. Enslow, James M. Blackford, Thomas Eston, John Shoup, Michael Tierney, Mahlon S. Hoblit, Steel Cunningham, Wilford W. Morgan, Elijah Lucas, David P. Lee, David Smith, John Bigger, Christopher C. Ewing, William Friedrich, Samuel Biggs, Zebulon Cantrall, William Mountjoy, Jacob L. Ream, William Gambrell, Cornelius Lambert, Joseph W. Bernard, Andrew McElvain, Bartholomew Gardner, James Lindsey, William Ryan, William H. Stevens, C. H. Goodrich, J. H. Ball and Joseph Reed.

The following is a complete list of Justices of the Peace elected in the county from 1857 to the date of township organization, with year of election: 1857, C. H. Goodrich, Ezekiel Bowman, Isaiah T. Mc- Coy, John Clark, Franklin Fisk, Mathew McElhiney, Isaiah Thomas, William E. Dicks, Sheldon Parks, John T. Bryan, James McGraw, N. M. Whittaker, A. J. Lanterman, R. T. Willey, William Barrick, Alfred L. Bryan, Bartholomew Gardner, Abner Howe, William H. Bennett; 1858, Ezekiel Bowman, John Morgan, Martin Buzzard; 1859, J. H. Ball, Joseph F. Benner, William S. Morse; 1860, Cornelius Lambert,

In 1857, the county was divided into twenty-five road districts and the following persons were appointed road supervisors: John Bigger, Thomas C. Fletcher, William C. Wasson, Guy H. Tuttle, Harvey Turner, Allen Quisenberry, George M. Angel, John D. Curry, David Rudolph, G. W. Cass, George Snyder, A. B. Nicholson, John D. Gillett, Perry Davis, William B. Broadwell, Sinnet Rankin, John J. Russell,

Lewis Craig, John Thomas, William Carnahan, John Linbarger, Gerard McKinnie, Joseph W. Bernard, David G. Evans. In 1859, the road districts were increased to twenty-seven; in 1861, to thirty-one; in 1862, to thirty-four; in 1863, to thirty-eight; in 1865, to forty; and in 1866, to forty-one. Those who occupied the position of road supervisors at the time of the adoption of township organization were: William H. Gasaway, Titus Joynt, George Barr, George W. Harcourt, Ezekiel Johnson, James Gordon, William S. Curry, William Esters, Stephen Hatch, John A. Hoblit, H. C. Quisenberry, Peter J. Hawes, N. Applegate, Leonidas Stephenson, William Beck, L. L. Holton, Thomas Curry, A. C. Town, L. D. Downing, Franklin Patterson, Christian Suedmier, I. H. Ingham, John H. Lucas, A. Leach, D. K. Turley, Hiram Lloyd, William Ragsdal, Elijah Morris, William Jackson, Jacob Cramer, Jefferson Bruner, David Bowles, George Nichols, H. M. Howell, Henry Niewold, Philip Windel, Stephen E. Clarno, Henry P. Moore, Daniel Bryant, A. J. Berryhill, and James Beers.

War Bounty

At the outbreak of the Civil war, the County Court on August 12, 1862, "in consideration of the recent call of the War Department for additional volunteers and in order to encourage enlistments and raise a regiment in Logan County under said call," ordered that an appropriation of fifty dollars be made for the use of every non-commissioned officer and private, a resident of this county, who should enlist in any company raised in this county. For the purpose of meeting this appropriation, a four mills tax on the dollar was levied by the court. This military tax was to be collected by agents in every precinct, under the direction of a county agent. George Musick was appointed county agent and the precinct agents were as follows: Atlanta, Andrew D. Downey; Eminence, William B. Cramer; Sugar Creek, Mathew McElhiney ; Prairie Creek, A. R. Chesnut; Middletown, Thomas Nolan; Broadwell, A. B. Corwine; Elkhart, James Rigney; Lake Fork, Joshua Day; Mt. Pulaski, John Clark; Salt Creek, Sheldon Parks; Bowles, I. R. Braucher; Madison, John E. Downing; Lincoln, Solomon Kahn.

In 1859, a special reward of fifty dollars was offered by the County Court for the apprehension and conviction of any horse thief or counterfeiter. This was deemed necessary, by the prevalence, at that time, of those crimes.