Logan County, Illinois - Chapter 15: Township Organization, 1911

Chapter 15: Township Organization

Government by County Court ceased in Logan County and government by a Board of Supervisors, under what is known as township organization, began May 13, 1867. Township organization was not secured without an effort, for there was strenuous opposition to its adoption, and while the proposition to adopt it prevailed whenever it was submitted to a vote, still three votes were taken on the proposition before it was successfully accomplished, and a lawsuit, which went to the Supreme Court, finally settled the contentions. The constitution of 1848 provided that the General Assembly might provide, in its judgment, for a system of township organization, to be adopted by the several counties in the state, on a majority vote, in lieu of the existing system of County Court organization. The General Assembly of 1849 thereupon passed a township organization act, which was extensively amended in 1851. This law provided that on a petition to the County Court, signed by fifty legal voters, or more, of any county, the question of township organization should be submitted to the voters of the said county, for their adoption or disapproval. The first petition of this kind was filed in Logan County in 1858 and a vote was taken on the proposition at the general election that year. There were 921 votes for and 400 votes against the proposition. While the proposition carried by a majority of 521, still nothing further was done to carry the vote into effect and the matter was abandoned. It came to the front again, however, the next year, when a second petition was filed and a second election held upon the subject, in November of 1850, resulting in another favorable vote, as follows: For township organization, 983; against, 208; majority for, 775. The vote was returned and canvassed, an abstract of same prepared, presented to the County Court, entered of record and commissioners were appointed to divide the county into townships, but the commissioners so appointed never acted. It may be stated in this connection that the County Court, existent at that time, was not friendly to the proposed innovation. The matter was again dropped, this time for several years, when in 1865, a third effort was made by the proponents of township organization to get the will of the people into effect. A third petition was prepared and the question was a third time submitted in 1865. The result of the vote was as follows: For township organization, 1,612; against, 700; majority in favor, 912.

At the December term, 1865, of the County Court, three commissioners were again appointed to divide the county into townships. They were Asa C. Barnes, of Atlanta, H. C. St. Clair, of Mt. Pulaski, and L. D. Dana, of Elkhart. The commissioners did not report until Feb. 29, 1867. Upon the filing of the commissioners' report, the county clerk gave immediate notice, as required by law, for the holding of town meetings, in the newly created towns, for the election of township officers, designating time and place of election. These elections were held April 2, 1867, at which election the first Board of Supervisors was elected for Logan County: Atlanta, James Tuttle; Aetna, Joshua Dunnuck; Broadwell, John A. Critchfield; Eminence, William Beazley; Elkhart, Lorenzo D. Dana; East Lincoln, James Beers; Hurlbut, Elisha Crane; Laenna, John L. Waddle; Lake Fork, James D. Gasaway; Mt. Pulaski, Alexander Fisher; Madison (now Chester), Michael Hinrichsen; Middletown (now Corwin), David G. Evans; Oran, William S. Curry; Orvil, Thomas Quisenberry; Prairie Creek, John Linbarger; Sheridan, George W. Gayle; West Lincoln, John M. Garner. In the meantime, however, six taxpayers of the county, Coleman Gaines and others, appealed from the action of the County Court, in appointing commissioners to divide the county, and later in January of 1866, the same parties filed a bill for an injunction, restraining the County Court and commissioners from further proceedings, to complete township organization. This accounts for the failure of the commissioners to divide the county into townships in time to call township elections in 1866. At the October term, 1866, of the Circuit Court, the injunction was dissolved and the bill dismissed and the petitioners appealed to the Supreme Court: The Supreme Court did not hand down a decision until 1868. During a portion of the period pending this decision, both the old County Court and the new Board of Supervisors claimed to be in control and management of the affairs of the county.

The first Board of Supervisors met in their first session, May 13, 1867, and were called to order by County Clerk John T. Jenkins. L D. Dana was made chairman pro tem. Messrs. Tuttle, Evans and Beers were made a Committee on Credentials and reported sitting members entitled to seats on the Board. Messrs. Dana, Beers and Beazley were appointed a Committee on Rules. John M. Garner was then elected the first Chairman of the Board, after which the Board adjourned until June 4, 1867. The Board met June 4th and proceeded with the county business from that time on. The County Court met June 3, 1867, and resolved that "whereas, there is some doubt who should manage the finances of the county and as this day is the day fixed by law for the meeting of this court, it is ordered that this court be considered duly opened, and whereas, the Board of Supervisors, so called, of said Logan County, propose to meet on Tuesday, June 4, 1867, it is therefore ordered that this court adjourn until Monday, June 9, 1867." The County Court met again June 9th, but being convinced that the Board of Supervisors were going ahead with the county finances, the court adjourned for the term. And it never met again. In January of 1868, the Supreme Court sustained the Circuit Court, in dismissing the injunction, the points raised, as issues, being all of a purely technical character.

The original division of the county into townships in 1867 was substantially as follows: Atlanta township included all of present Atlanta township, and the north row of sections of what is now Oran township; Oran township included present Oran township, except the north row of sections, which were included in Atlanta township; Aetna township included that part of present Aetna township, north of Salt Creek, and sections 23, 24, 13 and 14, in present Aetna township, south of Salt Creek; Laenna township included all of present Laenna township, except that portion south of the Lake Fork and that part of present Aetna township south of Salt Creek, not included in original Aetna township; Lake Fork township included all of present Lake Fork township and that portion of present Laenna township south of the Lake Fork; Mt. Pulaski, East Lincoln, Eminence, Orvil, Elkhart, Sheridan and Prairie Creek townships included territory the same as at present; West I.incoln township was substantially the same as at present; Madison township was the same as present Chester township, except sections 13 and 24, which have since been added ; Broadwell township the same as at present, except that it included sections 13 and 24, now in Chester; Hurlbut township included, besides present Hurlbut township, the lower row of sections now in Corwin township; Middletown township was the same as present Corwin township, except that it also included the upper row of sections in present Hurlbut. Subsequently changes were made in the original townships to include their present territory. The name of

Madison was changed to Chester and Middletown to Corwin. An effort was made in 1868 to have Lake Fork added to Laenna in one township, but was fruitless. The boundaries of Atlanta and Oran townships were not readjusted until 1872. Another change attempted but unsuccessful was an effort, in 1874, to have a new township created to include the city of Lincoln.

County Jail

The present county jail was erected in 1868, at a cost of about $30,000, on the block bounded by Hamilton, Sherman, Broadway and Pekin streets. Prior to its erection, escapes from the old jail were so frequent as to hardly cause comment. On Dec. 6, 1866, one Thomas Little, indicted for the appropriation of a horse, which was said to belong to another, escaped through an enlarged stove pipe hole, with an iron bar, taken from the cell door. On June 15, 1867, five prisoners made their exit, this being, at that time, the total population of the jail. On Oct. 28, 1867, three more prisoners escaped. At the September session of the Board of Supervisors in 1867, a resolution was passed "that a jail and a jailer's house be built by the county of Logan, to cost not to exceed $30,000, and that the Committee on Public Buildings be instructed to report to this Board at the December meeting, © 1867, plans and specifications and estimated cost; also that $15,000 of special tax levied for 1867 be set apart for the purpose of aiding in building said jail." The committee was also authorized to advertise for bids, for a site for the proposed jail. Bids were received from R. B. Latham for two lots for $1,800 and from George Webb for two lots for $1,900. Neither bid was accepted, but, by a vote of seven to four, on July 9, 1868, the Board decided to erect the jail and jailer's residence, on the lot above mentioned, the same being ground deeded to. the county by the proprietors of the town of Lincoln, in 1853. The contract for the erection of the building was awarded to Ives & Co., of Jacksonville, for $29,550. The jail was completed and turned over to the county, Sept. 18, 1869. The residence portion, for the sheriff or jailer, is a two story brick structure. The jail portion is of Joliet cut stone and contains about eighteen cells. It is not, however, in keeping with the progress of the county and there has been considerable agitation of late, with a view to securing the erection of a new structure. The first prisoner, who took lodgings in the present jail, in 1869, was one Charles Boratsky, held for larceny and later sent to the penitentiary.

Poor Farm

to the effect that 'the best interests of the county required the purchase of a county farm for the poor and that the Committee on Poor Farm be instructed to look up a suitable farm for the above named purpose, at the December term.'"' Among the sites offered were the following: Peter Bowen, 160 acres, two miles southeast of Lincoln, $70 per acre; Peter J. Hawes, 160 acres, three miles north of Lawndale, $60 per acre; Price Morris, 160 acres, six miles northwest of Lincoln, $62 per acre; John F. Leonard, 120 acres, four miles southeast of Lincoln, $35 per acre; R. B. Latham, 160 acres, four miles east of Lincoln, $7,000; C. H. Couch, 160 acres, being the northeast quarter of section twenty-two, in West Lincoln township, for $10,000. The latter bid was accepted, under a contract to pay $5,000, on March 1, 1869, and $5,000 in one year, at three per cent interest. A committee consisting of Supervisors Dana, Beazley and Dunnuck was appointed to adopt plans and details for the erection of buildings, the same not to exceed $4,000 in cost. Subsequently, the committee reported that the buildings could not be erected for that amount, and they were authorized to expend a larger sum, if necessary. The farm, buildings and improvements cost about $20,000, but since then many new buildings have been added and many improvements made, until it has few superiors, as a pleasant home _for the unfortunate, in the state. In 1881, a large two story brick building was erected, with two rooms on each floor. The first superintendent of the poor farm was Daniel B. Reeves, of Atlanta, and on his death in 1870, he was succeeded by Henry Neal, who was succeeded, the same year, by J. L. Yates. The latter occupied the position many years, as did also Edward F. Spellman. The present superintendent is Frederick Dyer.

The Fifth Court House

While the subject of a new court house, to succeed the one built in 1858, was frequently talked of, no definite movement to secure a new structure was inaugurated, until the year I901. About this time, the Farmers' Institute had developed into some significance as an institution and the need of an adequate public audience room and suitable rooms to display products on exhibition, at the meetings of the institute, had a great deal to do with focusing public attention on the question of a new county building. At various institute meetings, the matter was referred to by local speakers, and each time seemed to strike a favorable chord. The first definite effort was made at the June session of the Board of Supervisors, in 1901, when Jacob Bollin, Supervisor from West Lincoln, introduced a resolution in the Board, setting forth the need of a new court house, the unprotected condition of the county records and providing for the submission to the voters, that year, of a proposition to issue $150,000 in bonds, "for the erection and completion of a new court house in Logan County." The same day, it was supplemented by a second resolution, of similar tenor, by T. L. McConnell, Supervisor of East Lincoln township. Judge L. C. Schwerdtfeger also appeared in person before the Board. and advocated the passage of the resolution. A vote was taken on the resolution, and the same was defeated, by a vote of 7 to 11. At the January term of the Circuit Court, Judge Moffett called the attention of the Grand Jury to the condition of the old court house, and asked that body to make a careful examination of the building and report the same to the court. The Grand Jury reported through its foreman, W. R. Gilchrist, and its secretary, J. i Brady. Its report was also filed with the Board of Supervisors.

The Grand Jury's report set out that "there is a limit to the age of man as well as to the life of his creation," that "the present structure used for county purposes was constructed in 1858, at an expense of $13,000 and now, following a lapse of forty-four years, is in a state of decay and will soon have to disappear from the plane of life," that "the buildings are without fireproof vaults in which to store the records and the offices are too small to afford shelf room, to say nothing of protection;" that "many of the county officers were compelled to seek office room outside of the building, owing to lack of space;" that "the officers have no safe place, from fire or burglars, for such valuable papers, as decrees of court, deeds awaiting recording, documents and even wills, and they are kept in ordinary boxes, which a ten year old boy could break in five minutes;" that "the office of the county treasurer, with the funds of the county, are liable to be robbed in broad daylight, and is insufficient for the transaction of public business and in need of modern safe-guards against the raid of burglars and sneakthieves;" that 'a serious menace faces the people in the danger of destruction by fire, of records pertaining to the titles of property as was once the case, in the early history of the county, causing litigation, worry and expense and should the calamity occur again, there is no way of estimating the cost to the county to replace the rocords, which of itself, would pay for a new court house, provided with fire proof vaults;" that "the main building is now old and worn; the outer walls are cracked; the columns in front are bare of plaster; the abutments of the building are in such a dilapidated state as to appeal to the sympathy of the public; the corridor on the first floor is sunken, and, in places, great cracks gape at the passers-by; the jury rooms are so small that they are forbidding in their aspect and seldom used ;"

"in the east end of the ancient structure, the thermometer, at times, will show a high degree, close to the sweltering point and in the west por- | tion, as stated by Judge Moffet, the head of the Court is warm and' its feet verging on the freezing point;" that "back of the jury box, is a great crack, which had to be covered with a blanket to keep out the cold, and during the recent murder trial, the jurors-complained of the condition and the court had to order them to the parlors of the Lincoln House, for the comfort of those in health and the protection of a sick juror."

The Grand Jury thereupon recommended the construction of a new court house "for the preservation of the public records and the speedier and more satisfactory transaction of public business." They stated that "they were creditably informed that a structure costing $150,000, payable in twenty annual payments, would not cost an additional county tax of three cents an acre to the owners of land," and that if the county preferred to pay for it in cash, the money could be borrowed. It cited the statement of Judge Moffet that "the county should invest in a new court house as an evidence of progress, enterprise and security" and urged the Board of Supervisors to take steps, at their next regular meeting to submit the question of building a new court house to a vote of the people. The resolution sets forth, that "on motion of N. P. Gasaway, duly seconded by Samuel Sparks, the resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote of the Grand Jury of Logan County, February 4, 1902."

Despite this harrowing appeal, the Board of Supervisors, at that session, took no action on the matter but deferred it until a "more convenient season." On June 2, 1902, the Committee on Public Buildings, composed of H. P. Purviance, Wm. J. Houston and Oscar M. Kiest, offered a resolution setting forth the necessity for a new building and recommended submitting to the voters at the general election in November, 1902, a proposition for additional taxation to the amount of $150,000, for the erection of a court house, bonds to be issued, payable $25,000 each year, until fully liquidated. By a vote of nine to ten, the resolution was rejected. On June 3, the same session, the same committee offered another resolution, directing the submission to a popular vote, on Nov. 4, 1902, of a proposition for additional taxation, to the amount of $150,000, for a new court house, bonds to be issued, payable $50,000 per year, for three years. And on motion, this resolution was adopted by a viva voce vote, no roll call being had. Subsequently, at the September session, the above resolution was reconsidered and a resolution passed, providing for the submission of the question of a direct tax 'fon the taxable property of the county, above the constitutional limit, at a rate sufficient to raise $50,000 per year, for three successive years, beginning with 1902, for the purpose of constructing and furnishing a court house, at a cost not to exceed $150,000." This proposition, being submitted to the voters of the county, November 4, 1902, the new court house became an assured fact, by the following vote: For the additional tax, 3,250; against the additional tax, 1,043; majority in favor, 2,207.

At the December term, 1902, the Board passed the necessary resolution, levying the tax, in accordance with the vote of the people. A committee of five, consisting of H. P. Purviance, O. M. Kiest, J. C. England, E. B. Nicholson and Patrick Ryan, known as the Court House Building Committee, was appointed to receive plans for a new building and to advertise for bids for the sale of the old building and its contents. The committee organized by making H. P. Purviance, chairman, Oscar Kiest, Secretary, and Lawrence B. Stringer, attorney for the Committee. Plans were submitted by twelve architects of the state, but the plans presented by J. M. Deal, of Lincoln, were finally adopted, Dec. 22, 1902. The Committee was then empowered to receive and accept bids, for construction of the new building and for furnishing same, and enter into all necessary contracts for the prosecution of the work. The following bids were received and acted upon: Southern Illinois Construction Company, East St. Louis. IIl., $186,- ooo; F. Jahr, Champaign, Ill., $151,500; J. A. Simpson, Lincoln, IIL, $177,758; E. F. Stranburg, Chicago, $168,785; Charles A. Moses, Chicago, $183.220; McCarty Bros., Chicago, $172,621; Lake View Construction Co., $185,000; V. Jobst & Sons, Peoria, IIl., $146,914. The bid of the latter concern was accepted, and contract entered into with said. firm, May 28, 1903. W. A. Corwine was made Superintendent of Construction. In 1904, owing to the retirement of Messrs. England and Kiest, from the Board of Supervisors, their places were filled by the appointment of W. H. Rigdon and A. Eisiminger to succeed them. The contract for metallic fire proof furniture, including files, shelving, etc., was awarded the Vandorn Iron Works, of Cleveland, O., for $8,579; the contract for wood furniture to A. H. Andrews & Co., of Chicago, for $11,000, and the contract for the clock, with the Seth Thomas Clock Co., of New Haven, Conn., for $1,585. Owing to further changes in the Board, in 1906, W. E. Birks and H. E. Quisenberry were added to the Building Committee. The contracts, above referred to, were later supplemented by additional contracts, where extra furnishings or extra features of the building were, found necessary. The old building was disposed of, to the contractors, who dismantled same for whatever salvage might be secured therefrom.

Work was begun on the new structure about June 15, 1903. The corner stone was laid, without formal ceremony, Sept. 21, 1903. Under the stone, which shows the year and names of the original building committee, were placed copies of the county papers, list of supervisors, directory of the county schools, lists of standing committees of the Board of Supervisors, rules of the Board of Review, bar docket, list of Circuit Judges and county officers, Lincoln College catalogue, list of members of the bar, Lincoln Chautauqua catalogue, premium list of the Atlanta fair, a Grand Army of the Republic badge, book of poems by J. H. Beid- ler, copy of the Stone Cutters' Journal and samples of all United States coins under one dollar. An exceedingly disastrous and unfortunate accident occurred during the construction of the building, on October 7, 1903, when a huge derrick being erected for the purpose of raising large stones to their places, in the building, fell with a terrific crash, carrying with it a workman, Albert Sutter, who was instantly killed. Two other workmen were injured, but not seriously. On May 15, 1905, the building was completed and turned over to the - county, on acceptance by the building committee, and immediate occupancy by the county officers, then took place. During the building of the structure, the Circuit and County Clerks continued to occupy the one story side structures erected for them in 1858, which were isolated from the main building; the other officers occupied rooms in the City Hall and the Court was held in the Council Chamber of the City Hall of Lincoln. The entire cost of the building, including cost of construction, decorating, furnishing, wiring, installation of heating pipes, telephone system, grading of grounds, relocation of soldiers' monument, cement approaches, was approximately about $205,000.

The building was formally dedicated Nov. 9, 1905, with appropriate ceremonies. The exercises included a civic procession in the morning and literary exercises in the Court House building in the afternoon. Lawrence B. Stringer was president of the day, Charles W. Tyler, Chief Marshall, E. B. Nicholson, Assistant Marshall and Donald Danken, ad= jutant. The exercises consisted of an opening address by Lawrence B. Stringer, an address of welcome by Mayor E. G. King, of Lincoln, a formal dedicatory address by Isaac N. Philips, of Bloomington, addresses by Judge George W. Patton, of Pontiac, Gen. Alfred Orendorff, of Springfield, and Dr. J. A. Lucas. A fire works display and a reception in the new court house were the features of the evening's entertainment.

The building is constructed of Cleveland sandstone. The basement and first stories have rock-faced surface, while the remaining stories are of dressed stone. The building is of classic design, with four entrances, each surmounted by four huge columns twenty-five feet high, three feet in diameter, holding aloft pediments bearing stone carvings representing the state seal of Illinois. The structure has a basement and three stories. The size of the body of the structure is 110 by 118 feet, while the measurements over all, make the building a square of 126 feet, in dimensions. The building is topped with a dome, one of the largest in the state. It has a diameter of 52 feet and a height of 60 feet, from the base to the summit of the dome proper. The dome is surmounted by a lantern, nine feet in diameter, and about 18 feet high. On this there is a flag pole 30 feet in height. The building, from the ground surface to the dome of the lantern, is

125 feet high, the flag pole bringing the highest point to an elevation of 155 feet. In the dome are the four clock dials of glass, each being nine feet in diameter. The dome is covered with copper and the roof is of red tile. :

The entrance to the building is gained by four openings, situated on the Kickapoo, Broadway, McLean and Pulaski Street sides. There are vestibules, each entrance opening into tiled corridors, with marble wainscoting. The corridors are roomy, being 16 feet wide. Intersecting the corridors, is the rotunda, 36 feet in diameter. In the center of this, on the first floor, is a mosaic representing the state seal, formed of variously colored tile. The rotunda, which is continued to the roof of the third floor, is covered with a dome of colored glass, which admits natural light during the day and the artificial light of electricity after the fall of darkness, there being a series of electric arc lights over the glass dome. Just under the edge of the glass dome surmounting the rotunda, are eight separate paintings of subjects, all more or less connected with the origin, growth and welfare of the county of Logan. The building is a model of comfort and arrangement. The rooms are large, well ventilated, and fitted with every convenience known to modern sanitation. On the first floor, at the northwest corner, is the suite of rooms for the county superintendent of schools. The private office is 18 by 18 feet, connected with a vault II by 16 feet, with a room for examinations, 28 by 31 feet in dimensions. East of this, adjoining the corridor, is the county surveyor's office, 17 by 24, with a small vault.

At the northeast corner, is a room set apart for the Grand Army of the Republic, 28 by 33 feet. South of the G. A. R. room, across the corridor is the public waiting room for women, being 27 by 28 feet. Just south of this room, is the office of the master in chancery, comprising a general and private office, the former 21 by 28, and the latter 15 by 27 feet in measurement. West of the corridor leading into Pulaski street, is the office of the Coroner 1 5 by 27 feet. The meeting room of the Board of Supervisors, with a committee room attached, is in the southwest corner of the first floor. The main room, nicely furnished, is 29 by 33 feet, ample in size, to meet any ordinary use. There are in addition to the offices mentioned, two large storage vaults, one 14 by 33, and the other 14 by 24 feet. The second floor is reached by two broad stairways, with stone treads and iron railings, On this floor are the offices of the county officers. In the northwest corner is the office of the Sheriff, comprising a general office, 17 by 23, and a private office, 13 by 19. The northeast corner is occupied by the suite of rooms used by the Circuit Clerk. The public office is 31 by 33 feet; the workroom 29 by 33 feet; private office 13 by 19, with an exceptionally roomy vault attached for housing the numerous: records of the court and realty transfers, 14 by 33 feet in size. The office has also a spiral stairway and dumb-waiter connecting it with the Circuit Court room immediately above, on the third floor.

In the southeast corner of this floor are the offices of the County Judge, which connect with the County Court room. The court room opens off the south side corridor and is constructed and furnished admirably for the dispensation of justice. The part of the room set aside for the judge, attorneys and witnesses, is separated from the remainder of the room, by a railing. Back of the judge's chair in a niche, is the figure of Justice, with arms extended in the act of protecting the widow and orphan. On the south and west side and corner of the second floor, is the office of the County Clerk. Its arrangement is identical with that of the Circuit Clerk's office, with the exception of the spiral stairway and dumb-waiter. Between the County Clerk's and Sheriff's office, on the west side, are the office rooms of the County Treasurer. The main office is 25 by 29, then private office, 13 by 19; with a vault, 11 by 16 feet.

The third floor, which is reached by a double stairway, is devoted exclusively to the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court trial room is 40 by 87 feet. The platform, occupied by the judge, bailiff, court reporter, stenographer, and witness, is at the east end of the hall. To the right side of the platform, is the jury stand. The area, devoted to the attorneys and witnesses in court, is in front of the platforms occupied by the judge and jury, the entire arrangement being separated from the audience by a railing. The remainder of the room is fitted with comfortable chairs. East of the court room is the judge's room, stenographer's room, law library, two consultation rooms, lawyers' rooms, two smoking rooms, a room each for male and female witnesses, and a grand jury room, 29 by 33 feet. Connected with the grand jury room and situated on the west side of the building, are the offices of the state's attorney, the main office being 21 by 24 feet. The entire building is lighted by electricity, but gas fixtures are likewise in the building. City water is used in every office or suite of rooms. From basement to the third floor, a large elevator forms a connecting link, in addition to the stairs. The building is fireproof, the floors being built of reinforced concrete. In the private offices and other places, where the public generally is not admitted, the floors are covered with wood or linoleum. Probably no part of the entire building provoked so much discussion as the clock, which records the time in the dome of the structure. It was decided when the structure was built, not to have a clock placed therein. Later, the supervisors changed their minds about the matter, and placed in the building, a Seth Thomas clock, which cost several thousand dollars. The bell which sounds the hours, is out on the roof of the court house,

Just inside the stone arches which overshadow the entrances in stone panels, are memorial tablets, bearing inscriptions on each side, being eight panels in all. At the Broadway entrance on one side is the following: "Erected 1903-5. H. P. Purviance, E. B. Nicholson, Pat Ryan, A. Eisiminger, W. H. Rigdon, John England, Oscar Kiest; H. E. Quisenberry, W. E. Birks, Building Committee; V. Jobst & Sons, Contractors; J. M. Deal, Architect." On the other side, the following: "Logan County, Illinois, established February 15, 1839. County seats, Postville, 1839-1849; Mt. Pulaski, 1848-1855; Lincoln 1855 - . First county election held April, 1839; John Deskins, Sheriff; Jabez Capps, Recorder; G. B. Lucas, Coroner; T. R. Skinner, Surveyor; Michael Mann, Probate Justice." On the right, upon entering the building from Broadway, is the following inscription: "In memory of Abraham Lincoln, who practiced law in the court houses which formerly occupied this site; who prepared and introduced, in the general assembly of 1838, the act creating this county, and for whom the city of Lincoln was named, in 1853, before he became famous in the nation." On the left is: "In memory of Dr. John Logan, of Jackson County, Ill., 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."

The McLean street entrance disclosed the following on the tablet to the right: "Board of Supervisors, 1902-1905: J. E. Arnold, T. W. Baker, W. E. Birks, LaFayette Boyer, James Burns, L. E. Byrum, J. T. Camerer, J. P. Dehner, A. Eisiminger, J. C. England, J. H. Hammerton, A. T. Hays, W. F. Henn, W. J. Houston, T. D. Howe, Andrew Keys, O. M. Kiest." The left side of the same entrance contains the following: "Board of Supervisors, 1902-1905: D. H. LaForge, John McBride, John McMath, Walter Murphy, E. B. Nicholson, H. P. Purviance, H. E. Quisenberry, W. H. Rigdon, Joe Romer, Patrick Ryan, Joe Samples, Adam Schonauer, Samuel Sparks, W. H. Splain, G. F. Thompson, James White." Entering from Pulaski Street on the right hand side, the following inscription is seen: 'Dedicated to Robert B. Latham, John D. Gillett, Virgil Hickox, who laid out the city of Lincoln, in 1853, and donated to Logan County the land on which this court house now stands." The other features to be seen in the yard, in addition to the walks, are the cannon and the soldiers' monument, on the walk leading to the north corner of the yard. Surrounding the yard, is a stone coping, with drains affixed, on the inside, so as to properly drain the yard. The grounds are surrounded with expansive walks of cement, suitable for the massive structure they enclose, and

Local Option

The township local option law passed by the General Assembly in 1907, resulted in a submission to a vote of the people, in the several townships in Logan County, of the question whether such townships should become what is known in the act as "anti-saloon territory." A vote was taken in every township but Aetna, in which there is no incorporated town. All of the townships went "dry," except East Lincoln and Mt. Pulaski. The townships "going dry," with the majorities, were as follows: Prairie Creek, 18; Sheridan, 16; Corwin, 99; Hurlbut, 17; Orvil, 60; West Lincoln, 101; Broadwell, 86; Elkhart, 102; Eminence, 71; Chester, 6; Atlanta, 63; Oran, 34; Laenna, 30; Lake Fork, 23. The townships "going wet" are East Lincoln, 200; Mt. Pulaski, 14. Subsequently at the election in 1910, Mt. Pulaski was added to the "dry" column.

The following is a complete list of the Supervisors, Town Clerks, Assessors, Collectors and Justices of the Peace in the respective townships of the county, with their terms of service, from the date of township organization to the present. The dates preceding the names of Justices of the Peace indicate the year of election. In all other cases, the dates indicate the term of service.