Madison County, Illinois - Chapter 9: Civil History, 1882 (part 1 of 4)

Chapter 9: Civil History

IHE organization of Madison county was by no means the work of its inhal)itants. The republic of the United States of America had not yet become a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, as Abraham, Lincoln happily called it in his famous speech, delivered on the battle field of Gettysburg. In the days in which the history of Madison county began, it was thought safer to have the men in power think for the mas.ses than to have them act on their own thoughts. The republican form of government was still new and on trial. Illinois had on February 3d, 1809, by act of Congress become one of the territories of the United States. Ninian Edwards, at the time Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky, was ap|)ointed governor of the newly organized territory on the 24th day of April, 1809. The governor, and territorial judges constituted the legislative body, and on the Uith of Jun'3, 1809, re-enacted such of the laws of Indiana territory, with which the people, who fur nine years had formed a part thereof, were fatiiliar, and as were suitable and applicable to Illinois. ^lany of their laws were those, which, without even change of phr.iseology, had either been originally imported or enacted by the authorities of the old Northwestern Territory. Some of these laws will be specially mentioned hereafter.

steadily advanced by adventurous pioneers, who had established permanent settlements in the north in the -' Woodriver " regibu, as early as 1804. The settlements, however, were very sparse and feeble, and remained so until after the of 1812, as immigration had been at a perfect stand still for a period of five years, to wit: from 1810 to 1815.

Governor Edwards organized the counties of St. Clair and Randolph by his proclamation April 28th, 1809. A county of St. Clair had heretofore existed, as organized by proclamation of Arthur St. Clair, "governor or commanderin-chief of the territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio, on the 27th of April, 1790" Th'^ boundaries of this St. Clair county were more modest than those of the new county of St. Clair, as they extended only to the confluence of Michilliakinack and Illiuoise rivers in the north, while the new county of St. Clair embraced all the territory north to the south boundary line of Canada.

The third county of Illinois, in chronological order of organization was Madison, named so by Governor Edwards in honor of his friend, the President of the United States.

A Proclamation

" By virtue of the power vested in the governor of the Territory, I do hereby lay off a county or district, .to be called the county of Madison, to be included within the following bouuds, viz. : To begin on the Jlississippi, to run the second township line above Cahokia East until it strikes the dividing line between the Illinois and the Indiana territories, thence with said dividing line to the line of Upper Canada, thence with said line to the Jlississippi, and thence down the Mississippi to the beginning.

Thus the county of Madison was ushered into existence. It extended from the Wabash river on the East to the Mississippi on the West, from its present boundary in the South to the howling wilderne-s in the North. It would appear, however, that the governor was not accurately informed and advised as to the political geography of the land, for the actual northern boundary of Illinois never extended to Canada. The territory of Michigan, was organized in 1805, and it embraced also the present states of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, thus cutting Illinois off from the southern boundary line of " Upper Canada."

The first territorial legislature of Illinois, composed of five senators and seven members of the house was convened at Ka.skaskia on the 2.5th of November, 1812. An election had been held, in Madison county soon after its organization, fir the purpose of electing a senator and representative. All researches to find the original poll books of this election have been in vain. These books, together with countless othtr papers have been destroyed, or sold for waste paper!! It is therefore impossible to introduce here the names of the voters at this first election of the county, all the chronicler can do is to relate who were elected. Samuel Judy (see pioneers), had been elected senator, and William Jones represenative. The latter is also spoken of in the chapter on pioneers and early settlers. He held various county offices, as hereinafter mentioned. In later years Jones seems to have been an influential member of the third house. The writer was shown a letter written by Jones at Vandalia, December 2.3d, 182.3, directed to Doctor Erastus Brown, at Alton, and mailed at Eilwardsville on the 2.5th of December; the letter, still in existence and in possession of Mrs. Willard Flagg of Fort Russell, is worded as follows :

" A.s we had the fortune lo get a l,iw passed to build a penitentiary at or near Alton, I have thought it a.lvisable, if it should meet your approbation, for you lo draw up a petition, and get the people to sign it for a small county, beginning at the mouth of Wood river> thence up said river to Captain Little's, thence a northea.sterly course to the middle of the Prairie, between the timber of Wood river and Indian Creek, thence up .said Prairie to encompass! the timbtr of the East Fork of said Wood river, one mile or two North in the Prairie thence taking in all Wood river and the Piasa timber to some point on the Illinois or Mississippi river, as you and the peojde may think most advisable, not to encroach on Green county too far, lest their iiiembcrs here ^houl/ not approve of it. If you tliink proper please be in haste, likely the assembly will rise not far from the 20th of January. It is in the power of the legislature to pass a law lo that effect, although the re(juirememt'i of the lair should not be futjilled on that occasion,

Mr. Jones was at that time not a member of the senate nor of the house, and as he started out with the personal pronoun of the first person in the pleural number, we, i.e., the outsiders, jobbers, etc., it may be safe to put him down as a member of the third house, the concluding sentence of this letter - although the requirements of the law should not be fulfilled on that occasion, is more forcible than moral. But to return to the subjtct matter. The legislature of 1812 passed an act to fix the place of holding courts in the several counties dated December 25th, 1812, of which the parts relating to Madison county are as follows :

" That the place of holdingcourts in Madison county shall be at the house of Thomas Kirkpatrick until the judge of the court of Common Pleas shall provide proper accommodations at the place to be fixed on by the commissioner.?.

" To fix the permanent seat of justice of Madison county, Paul Beck, Dr. Cadwell, Alexander Waddle, George Moore, James Renfro, Johti Kirkpatrick, and Ephraim Wood, are appointed coramisiioners to meet on the first Monday in February, 1813, - they shall proceed to designate a convenient place for fixing a county seat for the erection or procurement of convenient buildings for the use of the county, taking into view the situation of the settlements, the geography of the country, the convenience of the people, and the eligibility of the place, which place so fixed on, the commissioners shall certify under their hands and seals to the nest court of Common Pleas, which said court shall cause an entry thereof to be made on their records, and it shall be the duty of the court of Common Pleas as early as practicable, after the place so designated shall be fixed upon to cause suitable buildings to be provided thereat, and to cause a purchase of such a quantity of land to be made for the use of the county, and to erect a court-house and jail, and to make such other improvements thereon as they may deem expedient from time to time.

The commissioners named above must have failed to agree on a " permanent" seat of government, for they did not report to the Court of Common Pleas at their next meeting, as required by the act of the legislature. This first meeting was held at the house of Thonas Kirkpatrick on the oth of April, 1813. Later, January 14th, 1814 - the Court ordered the sherifif to notify the several commissioners appointed by Jaw to fix the place for the public buildings (court-house and jail), for Madison county to meet on the last Monday in January at Thomas Kirkpatriek's, to be qualified to enter on their duty as the law directs The records do not contain an account of further proceedings, but as the building of a jail was contracted for with William Ottwell, it is to be presumed that the troubles in reference to selecting a permanent seat of government had been overcome. The site selected remained the "seat of government" for a period of over forty years, and has recently become the property of the Edwarilsville public school di-strict. Those forty years were by no means enjoyed in peace and quietude, for a fierce struggle to change the location took place among the citizens of Edwardsville in 1821, and was the cause of some of the best men, citizens of the town, leaving the same, never to return. The losses then and thus suffered, have been of dire consequence, and wounds iuilicted have left sores which are still perceptible.

The United States Census of 1810 returned a total of 12, 282 inhabitants in the state, of whom 163 were slaves, and 613 colored people, free or apprenticed. Randol])h county counted 7,275 and St Clair county 5,007, Madison county, or more properly speaking, that part of St. Clair, which became MadLson county in 1812 may have contained probably one sixth of the population ; less than 3 000 in number. The chapter on pioneers contains a more detailed account, and points out the location of various settlements near the Mississippi, along Cahokia and its branches, on Wood river and its forks on lower Silver creek and also on Shoal creek. The pioneers, coming from woodland states, naturally squatted on lands well stocked with timber. The public lands of Illinois had not been surveyed at that early date and so they had not yet been brought into the market. A number of " claims, " embracing about 10,000 acres of land, had been located in various parts of the county before the formation of the county. These" claims" were of four distinct species : 1st Those founded on ancient grants derived from the government of France. None of these were however confirmed in the limits of Madi=ou county. 2d. Those founded on the grant of a donation of four hundred acres to each of those who were heads of families in the county at or before the treaty with England in 17S3 ; they were known in this county under the name of Cahokia headrights. The archives of St Clair county contain a census of Cahokia and vicinity taken by order of Governor St. Clair, and verified before \Villiam St. (JIair, recorder, in 17S)0- This census taken to ascertain the number of families residing there in 1783 or prior, recites the names of ninety nine families who were enticled to these head-rights. A few of these claims were located in this ounty, to wit: 400 acres in T. 3. R. 10 opposite Cabaret Island, granted to Ale.xis Buyatte and affirmed to Nicholas Jarrot : 40() in Sec. 32, T. 3-9 granted to Jacque Germain and aftirmed to Jarrot ; and 400 acres in Section 35 and 30, T- 3-i)-Monk's Mound granted to Jean Baptiste Gonville and affirmed to Jarrot; 3d. Those founded and having actually improved and cultivated land in the country, - the so called Virginia improvement rights of 400 acres each: 400 acres of those are found in thi^ county to the heirs of Jame< Biswell in Township 3-7 extending intoSt. Clair c )uiity ; 400 acres in section 20, T. 4-8, on the blutfs in the Goshen settlement, granted to Ah-xauder Dennis and affirmed to William B )lin Whiteside, (2d .sherill of the county ; ) 40 J acres to the heirs of Samuel Worley, sec. tion 6 in T. 3-9, one of the oldest improvements in the county ; 400 acres to Nick Jarrot, assignee of Joseph Hanson, in See. 26, T. 3-9 ; 400 acres George H. Dougherty, sections 25 and 26 in T. 3-10 ; 400 acres to Nicholas Jarrot for Baptist Lionais, in Sec. 32 T. 5-9 ; this land has all bfcu washed away by the river ; 400 acres to Isaac Darneillc a.ssiguee of Isaac Levy, part only in this county - in Sections 34 and 35 T. 3 9; 400 acres to Jarrot assignee of Michael Pichette, Sec. 31 T. 3-9; and 400 acres to Isaac Wert, in Sec. 29 T. 3-8 ; this tract was surveyed in 1802; and 4th those having been enrolled on the 1st of August 17!'0 and done duty in the militia. Each enrolled militia man was entitled lo 100 acres of land. There were many of these rights located in the county, although but few in the name of the original grantees, to wit : 100 acres to Jean Brugier - Nicholas Jarrot, located on the river, and now gone; 100 acres to James Haggin, assignee of M. Rene Bouvet in Sec. 22 and 23-T. 4-8 ; 100 acres each to Louis Biboux, Jacob Judy, Louis Laflamme and Francis Ritchie, assigned to Samuel Judy in Sections 32 and 33 in 4-8, one of the oldest, probably the oldest improvement in the county. Judy planted an orchard there in 1801 ; the 1st brick-house built in the county was erected there in 1808; it is still standing; 100 acres to Isom Gillham, assignee of Louis Bison, in Sec. 5 T. 3-8; 100 acres to John Whiteside, assignee of George Biggs, in Sec. 17, T. 5-9. This was the site of the town of Milton. 100 acres to Nick Jarrot, assignee of Jean Beaulieu, Sec. 7 in 4-8 ; 100 acres to John Rice Jones, assignee of Francois Cam peau, 100 acres to Louis Ilarmond, 100 acres to Constant Longtemps. 100 acres to Dennis Levertue, 100 acres to Philip Le Boeuf, 100 acres to Joseph Lcmarch, 100 acres to Pierre ]Martin Jr., 100 acres to Jacque Mulot, 100 acres to Joseph Poirier and 100 acres to Jean Baptiste Rappalais. These 1000 acres were located in Sections 1 and 12 of 3-10 embracing Chouteau and Cabaret Islands ; 100 acres to John Briggs, assignee of Pierre Clement, Sec. 36 in 3-10; 400 acres to John Bloom, assignee of Frank Colline, Thos. Callahan, J. B. Derousse St. Pierre and Fr. Deneme in Sections 31 and 32 T. 3-8. 200 acres toUel Whiteside assignee of Elisha Harrington and John Whiteside in Sections 1 and 2 T. 3-8; 100 acres to Nicholas Jarrot, assignee of Charles Hebert, Section 8 and 9 in 4-9, now in the river ; 200 acre^ to Nicholas Jarrot, assignee of Baptiste Lecompt and Barzle Lecompt, in Section 17 T. 4-9 ; 100 acres to Thomas Kirkpatrick, assignee of Louis Le Brun Jr., Section 23 in 4-8 ; -00 acres to Henry Cook, asssignee of Francis Louval and AVilliam Young Whiteside, in Sections 4 and 5, 8 and 9 in T. 3-8; 100 acres to Thomas Kirkpatrick, assignee of Pierre Lejoy in Sections 2 and Bin 4-8 ; the north-western part of Edwardsville. The house of Thomas Kirkpatrick stood on this tract, and from here vrere the first official papers of the county sent forth, the Honorable Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of iladison county, John G Lofton and Jacob Whiteside held their first session in said house on the 5th of April 1813. 200 acres to Benjamin Casterline, assignee of Levi Piggott and Louis Rhelle in Section 29, T. 3-8 ; 100 acres to Nich. Jarrot, assignee of Joseph St. Ives, Section 17 in 4-9 (now in the river ), 100 acres to David Waddle and 100 acres to Alexander Waddle, Sections 31 and 32 in 4-9.

The reader will perceive that but a very few of these militia rights had remained in the possession of the original owners. These owners were principally Frenchmen, ever rtady to sell their militia or family rights, provided they could obtain " I'argent" for tlie same.

The records of St. Clair county give an account of the earlier transactions of this kind. Joseph Chennie sold his militia right to Will. Arundel for ^17.00 on the 7th of January, 1796, first sale on record-and obtained the best price ; Joseph La Plat and Augustus Clermont sold theirs, a few days later, the one for $15.50, the other for $12.00, which latter was the lowest price paid for a militia right. The so called head-rights of 400 acres, do not show so much uniformity in price. Joseph Lambert was the first to sell, his 400 acres to Philp Engel on the 5th of February 1793 for §120. Tom. Brady, in 1794, sold his to William Arun_ del for 845, and William St. Clair bought the head rights oj Joseph Boisvenue and Mary Mooney, 800 acres for §40.00

The entering of lands in Madison county commenced in 1814, when the land had been surveyed up to the fifth township line. The south boundary line of the county, the township line between towns 2 and 3 were surveyed in 1S07 and and 1808, by John Messenger. He commenced his work in township 3 - 8. The tow-uship line between town 3 and 4 and 4 and 5 were surveyed in 1808 by J. Milton Moore and Messsenger. The subdivision lines were run several years later in 1813 and 1814; the township boundary line between towns, 5 and 6 were surveyed about the same time and the subdivision lines of ihe four tiers of townships were completed in 1818. Besides the surveyors mentioned above the records give the names of T. W. Thurston, Enoch Moore, J. S. Conway, William Rector, Charles Powell, H. Morley, E. Barcroft, George Frazur, G. Marshall, Joseph

Borough, Gilbert Marshall, Jacob Judy, D. A. Spaulding, Gershom Flagg and J. D. Bates, as surveyors, connected with the geographical subdivisions of the county.

The French hunters and traders who were undoubtedly the first white people to come to these regions, did not remain - at any rate their number was very small at the time of the political organization of the county. A hardier and more energetic class of people, coming from the older states, principally Virginia and Kentucky, had found their way to the modern " Goshen" and concluded to remain and develop the wonderful resources of this beautiful land- Pennsylvania too had sent a number of her industrious and frugal sons, and even a few Europeans of pluck and talent had made Madison county their home, before it was known under that name. Among the early inhabitants were also a small number of French monks, Trappists who had come to the United States in 1803, under the leadership of Dom Augustin Lestrange. They first located in Pennsylvania removed to Kentucky in 1805, and to Missouri, at Florissant near St. Louis in 1808. In 1809 they settled on a huge mound now named after them, and universally known as Monk's Mound their residence. They abandoned the Mound in 1813 and removed to Nova Scotia. Another factor of the population, more permanent and prolific, was the negro, free, as indentured servant, or as slave.

As seen above, the colored population of Illinois amounted to 781 individuals according to the census of 1810, and as the negro, or more properly the slavery (juestion became a prominent one during the infancy of the state, we therefore introduce the subject here.

Slaves And Indentured Blacks

A number of readers may wonder at this caption. Slavery in Illinois! Why, the very ordinance of Congress creating the Territory North West of the Ohio River decreed that neither slavery or involuntary servitude should exist in it. How then could that institution be established ? The fact is that the ordinance of July 13, 1787 found slavery in this and other parts of the vast territory, as will readily be seen from the following:

King Louis XIV of France had, on the 14th of September 1712, exactly one hundred years prior to theorj^anization of Madison county, granted to said Crozat letters patent to the vast regions extending from Upper Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Crozat arrived in 1713 and commenced mining operations in the vain hope of finding precious metals. His followers were suffering with climatic diseases, and therefore a number of blacks were imported from the French West India Islands. Crozat's exploits, however, failed entirely and he returned to France in 1717, surrendering his grants to the crown.

Frangois Renault, manager of the affairs of a company of adventurers, sent out by the " company of the Indies," to whom the royal domain, refused by Crozat, had been granted in 1719, brought five hundred negro slaves to Illinois, land- ing them a little above Kaskaskia in what is now Monroe county. The conditions of the grant were, that at least 6000 whites and 3000 blacks should be brougiU to the territory within 25 years from the date of the grant. By the conditions of the peace of Paris, February 10, 17G3, the territory was ceded to England, and on taking possession of it in 1764, General Gage, commander in chief of the English troops in America and governor, issued a proclamation in the name of the crown of England, December 30, 1764, in which all the rights and privileges heretofore enjoyed by the then inhabitants of the ceded territories were guaranteed to them. Sieur Stirling, captain of the Highland regiment brought this proclamation to Cahokia in person. During the revolutionary war, Virginia sent out an expedition uude Col. Clark to take possession of this territory with result as stated heretofore. Virginia in her turn readily guaranteed to the inhabitants of the conquered territories all their prior rights and titles to property of every description. The territory remained a province of Virginia until March 1, 1784, when it was ceded to the United States by a formal deed in which the rights and privileges of the inhabitant were of course again guaranteed. Hence it was afterwards strenuously contended that the ordinance of 1787, prohibiting slavery conflicted with the deed of cession and was therefore of no binding effect, as the system had legitimately existed in the territory prior to 1787.

It is not the province of the chronicler of a county sketch to follow this subject through its various stages at length. It took years of bit:er strife, causing even the shedding of blood, before the last vestiges of the institution of slavery had been wiped out in the state. Suffice it to saj', that the leader in the struggle, the man who conquered the hydraheaded monster in the state was an honored citizen of Madison county, Governor Edward Cole aided by Hooper Warren, editor of the Edwardsville Spectator, George Churchill, Captain Curtis Blakeman, members of the legislature ajd others from this county, as well as by the prominent antislavery men of the state. It should here be stated that Gov. Cole as well as many of the leading anti-slavery men were born and raised in slaveholding states and had owned slaves themselves. They had studied the pernicious consequences of the system, and therefore fought it, all honor to them .' The fruits of their labors ripened in 1861. What might have been the result of our civil war if Illinois, and j)erhap3 Indiana, too, had been members of the Southern Conederacy ?

The struggle to defy the stipulations of the famous ordinance of 1787 was scarcely perceptible before the beginning of this century. The feeble efforts made by several citizens of the territory to have Congress reconsider the anti-slavery proviso were ineffectual and even hurt and injured the very men who made them. The purchase of Louisiana in 1803 added a vast empire of slavery territory to the United States, the present state of Missouri with it, and it was not until the few and scattering settlers of this territory saw well-equipped emigrants from the southern states pass through Illinois bound for Missouri, where slavery was not prohibited, that the actual agiiation for introducing or legalizing it here, also, was inaugurated. It must have been provoking to see a desirable population turn iheir backs t) the beautiful lands on the east bank of the Mississippi and cross over to select inferior land for their settlement;. Hon. Jos. Gillespie tells an anecdode of a rawbonded Tennesseean passing with his family and property through Edwardsville on his way to Missouri. Being asked why he would not rather remain here than move further on, he opened his big mouth, saying: "Your sile is rich and fertile and the Country is fine, but God dern ye, a man is not allowed to own niggers here." But to return to the subject, it should be stated that the ordinance of 1787 was prospective only and did not affect the condition of the French slaves or their descendants.

The legislature of Indiana passed various acts in September 1807 (Illinois was at that time a part of Indiana) by which at least a temporary and modified form of slavery was effected. Negroes were brought into the state or territory and there held as indentured servants. This act provided that the owner of a person owing labor (slave) may bring such person into the territory and agree with him before the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county upon a term of service after the expiration of which the slave should be free. The ignorance of the poor blacks was taken advantage of for most of them would just as readily bind themselves for ninety-nine as for ten or fifteen years. The reader will find a number of such contracts below. The Clerk of the Court, Josias Randle, made a sarcastic remark on the margin of the contract by which Jack Bonaparte sold himself to Joshua Vaughn for ninety years, to wit: "Jack Bonajxirte will be a free man on the 15th of March, 1905."

If an indentured slave refused to work the owner was allowed to take him to another state or territory, i. e., to sell him to some slave trader in the south. Slaves under the age of fifteen were held in servitude until the age of thirty-five or thirty-two according to sex. Owners had to give bond that slaves who would become " free " after their 40th year of age, should never become a county charge. The children of these registered slaves remained in servitude until they were twenty-eight and thirty years old according to sex.

Sylvmin - Betsey Holts registered - Feb. 25, 1815, a negro girl, aged 10 years, named ".Sylvania" to serve 22 years - she wa.s to lie free on tlie 17ili of May,18.J7.

Frankiiy, a negro woman, aged 23 years formerly owned by Etienne Pensoneau of St. L'lair, and by him " iiannfened " to Samuel (jillliam tj,.;ether wi;li her girl baby, 1 year eld for^oOO., U.S. currency to him in hand paid ; the deed is still in existence.

y,it a blaciciuan, 17 years old, brought in the territory by Michael Dodd aud by him registered to serve 35 years from May 31, lS16-to be free in 1851.

Amy, bhick woman, 21 years ohl, brought into the territory by \Vm. Savage, registered for 30 years service, from Jurte 10th 1816-will be free in 1846.

Lucy, black woman, 28 years of age, aud 3 children, Frank 7 Reuben 6 and Silvy 2 years ; board to be paid-registered by Samuel Judy for 20 years from Oct U 1816to 183C.

Hark, Winn, Bebb, Mnriah Caroline, Lou'sa, and Barkley, 7 negro children, registered by Benjamin Stephenson, lately from Kaudulph county. La., January 15, 1817.

Richard, a negro man, bound to George Moore until Oct. 1S18 ; was sold to George Richard for §100, June 23, 1817. Hence it would appear that the services of an able bodied man in tliose days were worth about ?50 per year and clothes.

The foregoing statement mentions the names of slaves and indentured servants, 47 in all, prior to the state organization. This list is followed by a

Register Of Free People Of Color

REGISTER OF FREE PEOPLE OF COLOR, made in pursuance of an act to prevent the migration of negroes and mulattoes into the territory, and for other purposes.

Friday /September 15, 1815. The reason, why the following free people of color were not registered within the time limited by law, is that the knowledge of the said act did not come to our hands in time it not being published until a few weeks previous to the present dale. Certilied by me Jcsias Randle, C. 0. C. M. C.

Pkillis Singleton. 55 years old, yellow, 5 feet high together with children above mentioned, agul lespeclively 20, 13, and 12 years, black and all manumitted by Ogle of St. Clair county.

Phebe Barton, his wife, raanuraitied by Ogle of St. Clair. Geo'-ge, William, Eliza aud Polly, their children, /rec born. Lonvisia Vanderburg, wife of S.imuel Vanderburg (nu further remarks .)

Sarah, formerly owned by John Dudley, then by John Smith, then by John Fulton and lastly by Robert Reynolds; was by him registered as entitled to her freedom on the 1st of September 1825.

Benjamin, David and Josc/iA - lier children, free born. Caty Smith, 21 years old, wife of Cupid Smith yellow, manumitted by John Kirkpatrick of Madison county. Biltey and Isaac, her children - free born.

In order to point out the rigorous conditions of the indentures mentioned herein, the following proceedings in the Circuit Court of Madison county in May 1818 are here introduced. The cause is entitled, George, a black man, vs Robert Whitedde, his master, in May term 1818. The suit was brought to recover damages.

' Byram, David M. Gillham, Joshua Dellap ain, Thomas G. Davidson, Chad Brown, Richard Browufield, Samuel Thurston, Aaron Sutton, Henry Brown and William Scott. Their

1 fendant offered the following deed as evidence in bar of the plaintiff"s action, to wit : Illinois Territory, Madison county, know all men by these presents that I Gdorge, a negro man said county at my special instance and request, first to hintexpressed, to purchase the right, title, interest and claim of said Uel Whiteside to my services for fifteen years yet to come and whereas said Robert has exhibited to me satisfactory testimony of his having purchased from said Uel Whiteside all his right and claim and pretentions to my services as his indented servant for fifteen years yet to come, and in consideration also of the following articles to be given and delivered to me by said Robert at the expiration of my term of service with him, to wit : one horse, one yoke of young steers and plow, one ax and one hoe. I do hereby bind and oblige myself to serve said Robert Whiteside for the terra of fifteen years from the date hereof, in the same manner as indented servants under the laws of this territory are bound to serve their masters, au 1, for every day I lose by voluntarily absenting myself from the service of the said Robert Whiteside, without his consent first had and obtained. I do promise to serve him at the conclusion of the af)resaid period of service two days ftr every one so lost, and should I at any time, before my time be completed with him, run away from his, said Robert Whiteside's service, then and in that case I do hereby authorize and empower him, to pursue me and if necessary, me force to brinj ms b'Mk to his service and if necessary, by force oblige me to execute all and every of his reasonable coaarainds, and the said R)bert is to find the said George meat, drink, lodging and clothing for said term of service, such as is suitable and customary for negroes to have.

The plaintiS" objected to the reading of said deed as evidence, which objection was over-ruled by the court, and the deed admitted to go in as evidence to the jury, to which opinion of the court the plaintiff excepts and prays this bill of exceptions may be signed, etc, which is done John Reynolds

The irrepressible negro is now dismissed, to appear again in the celebrated suit of Madison county against her noblest citizen, -Edward Coles, the Governor of the state.

In territorial times the government of the counties was entrusted to courts of Common Pleas, who also transacted the probate business. The honorable members of those courts were called " Judges " from the day they appeared on the "Bench" for the first time, and during life. All officers held their positions by appointment, with the exception of representatives and senators. Even justices of the peace were appointed by the governor, usually at the recommendation of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas. It was thought that the dignity so very desirable on the bench as well as in the '"Squire's" chair, might be lost by the vulgarity of elections. The tenure of oflice, as a rule with but few exceptions, lasted as long as life. Who, that has ever witnessed it, does not remember with certain pride and satisfaction the gray-headed " Squires " of former years, neatly attired in their homespun apparel, their cleanly shaved faecs, radiant with kindness and expresive of the dignity of their position ?

The first meeting of the court of Common Pleas of Madison county was held on the 5th day of April, 1813, at the house of Thomas Kirkpatrick, where the Hon. John G. Lofton and Jacob Whiteside, judges, had met as directed by the governor's proclamation. Josias Randle was appointed Clerk.

The business transacted at this meeting may here be briefly related. Polly Snider, orphan daughter of Joseph Snider, deceased, chose Jesse Waddle* for her guardian.

The court appointed Joseph Newman and John Kirkpatrick road overseers. The only established public road at that early day seems to have been the one leading from Thomas Kirkpatrick's mill on Cahokia creek southwest, jiast Col. Judy's to Indian Ford, on said creek, thence to Cahokia, the county seat of St. Clair, the mother county. The court also appointed overseers of the poor for the four townships into which the county appears to have been subdivided, called respectively Shoalcreek in the East, Goshen in the center, Woodriver in the Northwest, and Six Mile in the Southwest.

This inventory was dated November 14th, 1812, is correctly made out, and as it contains a pretty complete list of what constituted the personal property of an American pio neer family at the time when Napoleon Bonaparte crossed the Berezina, we introduce it here at length, also giving the values put upon those articles, goods and chattels by the appraisers, Isom Gillham, Henry Cook, (who spells his name Kook, thus indicating his Teutonic descent, and that, in fatherland, he was known as " Koch)," Thomas Kirkpatrick, and Ejjhraim Woods. - We find there a bay mare and colt, worth S55 00; a sorrel mare and colt, $30 00; a cow and a yearling calf, .$12 OO ; a bed, bolster and pillow, $8.00 ; 5 bed covers, $10.00; a flax hackle, $4.00; a set of spools, $1.50; a side saddle, $11.00; 2 pewter dishes, $6.00; a pewter basin and two plates, $2 00 ; a Dutch oven and hooks, $1.50; a sifter, 75 cents; a bell, 75 cents; a pot, . 82.00; a pair of sUver Icnee buckles, $1.00; a pot trammel, S3.00 ; a pair of wool cards, $5 1)0 ; a fur hat, $5.00 ; a wool hat, $100 ; a churn, 25 cents; a hatchet, 50 cents; a pair of steelyards, $3 00 ; 2 blind bridles, $2 00 ; a bi-ck^t of iron tin, $1.00; a clevis, 75 cents ; 2 pair of chains and hamea, 8450; an axe, $1.50; a set of plow irons, $3.00; a curb

* The Waddle'a came to the territory with James Lemon as early as 1786. The fir«t Americans arrived in 1780, led by JamcH Moore, - Shadrarh Bond, and Larken R'ltherford among ihem, Virginians and Marylanders. Thi.s tir.<t corps of pioneers was reinforced by Joseph Ogle and others, in 1785.

bridle, 50 cents; two shovels, $1 00; 5 books, $3.25; wearing clothes, S8.00 ; a sickle, 50 cents ; 5 acres of corn standing in the field, §30.00 ; a red cow and calf, §11,00 ; a black do. $11.00; a black steer, §8.00 ; a yearling steer, $4.00; another pot trammel, §2.50; a counterpane, $ I 00 ; 2 bed quilts, $8.00 ; a meal bag, 75 cents : a bay hor.se $45.00, and the "improvement," $80.00 - aggregating $421.50. The appraisers had overestimated the values, for all the property was sold at public auction for $338.62}. Thomas Gillham bought the silver knee-buckles for $1,00, and the fur hat for $4.50 ; Henry Cook paid $4.00 for the flax hackle ; Martin Wood, the administrator, bought the "improvement" for $27.75. All articles bought by him were sold below appraised values, and it may be presumed that he bought them for the family; there seem? to have been no bidding against him. A big wheel, not inventoried, was sold to Zidok Newman for $25.00, and " Davis Stocktain" bought a number of hogs, not inventoried, for 813.50.

The estate of Prudence Carterland, mentioned at the same term, was of about the .same value as the one above, but, of course, no knee buckles had to be inventoried in this case.

Thomas Kirkpatrick obtained license to keep a public house - a tavern - for or because he is a man of good character and will probably keep an orderly house. It is to be presumed that old Tom did really and actually keep an orderly house, for he had his license renewed from year to year, and never a complaint was made against him in court. Only once in the many years of his tavern life may Mr. Kirkpatrick have given offence. The records state the Judges met in December 1814, at Kirk's and immediately adjourned to the house of Samuel G. Morse. Sam also kept a tavern, it was newer than Kirk's and perhap.3 his grog a little stiffen Kirkpatrick was taxed $6 50 for his license, which amount he paid to Isom Gillham, the sheriff, as per Gillham's report of April 1814. This money was probably the first that graced the treasury of Madison county. The court which had granted him the license, next stipulated a schedule of prices for all commodities to be had at the tavern. A square meal should not cost more than a quarter of a dollar, for corn or oats he was allowed to charge one bit per gallon, and hay or fodder for the night was 12i cents, rum or wine 372 cents per half pint measure, gin 25 cts., and peach brandy or whiskey 121 cents per half-pint measure.

The August terra 1813, was held at the tavern of Kirkpatrick, who, by this time, had become one of the Judges himself. John G. Lofton presided.

Two new roads were laid out at this time, one leading from Thomas Kirkpatrick to the bridge on Long Lake. George Barnsback, William Ottwell and Micajah Cox had acted as viewers and reported in favor of opening this road. The other from said bridge southwest to near William Radcliff's on the Mississippi river, a few miles above the St. Louis ferry, Josiah Cummings, Alexander Waddle and John Clark viewers.

The revenue law in force at the time provided, that for the purpose of raising a tax upon land, lands should be divided into three classes. The Mississippi and Ohio Bottoms were to be considered first-rate, all other located land second rate, and all claims to land that had been confirmed by proper authority, tvere to be considered as third-rate, until they had been located. Persons owning such confirmed claims, or third-rate lands, were held by law to list the quantities for taxation ; ,a fine of $5 00 was imposed for every 100 acres not so listed, one half of the fine went to the territory, the other half to the informer. The territorial tax levy on land was a fixed amount per 100 acres and according to rate of land, to wit : Mississippi, Ohio and Wabash bottoms $1.00 per 100 acres, all second rate lands 75 cents per 100 acres and all unlocated and confirmed claims 37} per 100 acres (Laws of Illinois, December 1812.) - A law levying a license tax of $40.00 on every billiard table in the territory, payable to the territorial treasury was enacted December 24, 18] 4. Another act of the same date created the office of County Treasurer. Such Treasurers were ajipointed and commissioned by the Governor. It was their duty to receive and disburse all funds of the county and to account for them once a year to the Court of Common Pleas. These accounts had to be made up in the presence and under the direction and advice of the territorial attorney, who was paid a fee of $10 00 for every settlement thus superintended. The compensation of the Treasurer was a per centum of his receipts and disbursements, to wit : five per one hundred. The Treasurer was made ex officio assessor and his compensation fixed at $2 00 per day.

George Cadwell was appointed Commissioner to list the property in the county for taxation for 1813 and it was ordered by the Court that the following species of property be subject to taxation at the following rates: Each ablebodied single man $1.00, each negro slave $1.00. (Subsequently negroes were assessed as personal property and taxed accordingly ; as seen in subdivision of this chapter under the caption of "From 1818 to 1830," each horse, mule or ass 50 cts., each stud horse at a season's rate, (practical and just,) Baker's ferry on the Mississippi $1.00, Samuel Gillham's ferry $1.00, W. B. Whiteside's ferry $1.00 and Walker's ferry $3.00. Houses, lands and watermills were ordered to be appraised. The lists were made by Cadwell as ordered and the taxes so extended were collected ; they did not amount to much, to wit: $426.84, or about the 1000th part of the tax levy of 1875. The lists were not preserved, having been utilized with other documents and files as waste paper and sold for old rags. It would indeed be of interest to learn now who was the Croesus in 1813, and how much it took to be considered as such. The number of taxpayers must have been ver}' limited, there were then only 161 men subject to road labor living in the county, and it is not probable that the number of families exceeded the above number. In our days where the theories of Thos. R. Malthus and others have taught the timid to dread the dire consequences of over-population the average number of individuals to a family is considered to be about five, but in pioneer times it is safe to take six as the average. The names of those 161 road hands are introduced in the pioneer chapters, and are therefore here omitted.

The court appointed a jury composed of Samuel Judy, foreman, John Gillhara, Thomas Gillham, John Nix, Michael Squire, John Newman, William Grotts, William Wingfield, Peter Hubbart, John Barnetc, Henry Cook and Sylo Jeneson to view this mill-site and to report to the court at the December term 1813. This report is recorded worded as follows :

The lands overflowed by the erection of such dam belong to the United States, and the damage will be very inconsiderable, in fact there will be no damage to the United States as the lands are already frequently overflowed and utterly untillable, no mansion house, curtilage, or garden will be overflowed by the erection of such dam, fish of passage will not be obstructed by it, said stream or creek is not navigable at present, and the health of the neighbors will not be annoyed by the stagnation of waters occasioned by the erection of said dam, as there are no settlers residing in the vicinity.

The logic of the last sentence is very striking. As there were no settlers there, their health would certainly not be annoyed, while the frogs, lizards and turtles would rather enjoy the dam and greater spread of water.

Durii'g the December terra 1813, there were three new roads laid out ; one leading from the Indian ford on Cahokia Creek to Savage's shoal on Wood River, was placed under the management of Josiah Vaughan, as overseer, the second led from Kirkpatrick's mill to George Moore's place on Indian creek, with Ephraim Wood as supervisor ; and the third under management of Henry Hays extended from the bridge on Long Lake, south through six mile prairie to the county line.

The ferrj' rates heretofore established for the territory of the county by the Court of Common Pleas at Cahokia were now regulated by the Court of iladison county, who ordered that the following charges should be lawful : Loaded w^agon, §2.00; light wagon, 81.50; carts, SLOO; man and horse, 75 cents; lone man, 25 cts., cattle per head, 12 J cts. ; sheep or hog, 6i cts. ; and merchandise 12^ cts. per 100 lbs. These ferry rates were frequently changed, and besides they were not uniform as to the various ferries in existence.

Ajnil Term 1814 - Judge Lofton was absent, and the public business transacted by Kirkpatrick and Cadwell. Thomas G. Davidson, a Justice of the Peace, paid into the court three fines by him collected, to wit: from Robert PuUiam, assault and battery, 81.50, and 50 cents each from Thomas Watkius and John Conaway, for a similar offence.*

* Pulliam kept a tipling lioase, and had been indicted by the fir.it grand jury of the connty for selling liquor without license. Michael Dodd, a constable, had informed and testified against Pulliam. A fight 80on followed, in which Dodd got worsted. Pulliam was fined §1 50 for this fight. Michael Dodd was quite a character in his day ; Rome of our older residents relate a number of anecdotes about him. He was a great admirer of the celebrated Creamer guus, made by a

The county was now a year and a half, and its govern, ment just one year old; and as our judges concluded to have an overhauling of the public cash-box, Josias Handle having officiated as clerk, and having procured many little articles for his office, presented a claim for 8115.534, and had it allowed. The sheriff came in with a claim of 896 22J, which claim was also allowed, and taken as a voucher in his settlement. William Ottweli and John Kirkpatrick, who had served as judges of election in 18 i 2, received each 8li-00 for their services. William Rabb and Jacob Whiteside presented their claims as judges of the court of Common Pleas. How Mr. R;ibb came to bring in this claim is inexplicable, for the records do not contain his name as officiating as a judge. Mr. Ilibb was a justice of the peace, and represented the county in the second territorial Legislature - 1814 and 1815. Isoiu Gillham, sherift", now came into court and made a settlement of his labors as collector and acting treasurer of the county. From his report it appears that the total revenue of the county, iu its first year, amounted to $406. SIJ, to wit:

To Tsom Gillham, ex-ofEcio service-s $75.00, attending election in 1.S12, $6.00, by one day's attending the letting of the jail .?2 00, by services in two criminal cases, U. S. of America, vs. Robert Pulliam .$12.10, by the price of tliree quarts of whiskey, in letting the jail, $;i.l2i, amounting in the aggregate to ... . $96.22}

The court next proceeded to select a grand jury to serve at the June term, 1814, of the Circuit Court. A former term of this court was held in February, 1813. The grand jury of that term had to be convened by order of the Judge (of the circuit court), as the court of Common Pleas had skillful mechanic, of Prairit^ Du Pont, St. Clair county. Wl.ile hi^ pious neighbors said : '' True as gospel," or a grim Indian-fijhter cried: '"Sure as de;ith," D )dd would qualify his a.ssertions by the words : " Sure as a Creamer lock and double tricker, by G. . . . ! " not yet been organized The records of the first three terms of the circuit court are not in existence, - and the meagi-e account given ia these pages of said three terms was gathered from a few papers which have remained on file. The names of the grand jurors having served at the first term - February 1813, have not been preserved. The second grand jury convened in the county was composed of the following "gentlemen freeholders," to wit.: William Rabb, foreman, John Clark, Benjamin Stedman, William C. Davidson, Samuel Judy (sometimes spelled Judah, neither of which is correct, as the family name largely aud favorably known in Switzerland, the native home of the colonel, is Tschudi), James Renfro, James Kirkpatrick, Francis Kirkpatrick, Josias Right, John Robinson, Martin Woods, William Purviance, Samuel Brown, Joseph White, Solomon Preuitt, Samuel G. Moore, John McKinney, Charles Gillham, James Wright, William Ottwell, Isaac Gillham, sr., John Kirkjsatrick, and Robert McMahan.

Avffust Term, 1814. John G. Lofton, Thomas Kirkpatrick and George Cadwell, on the bench. Samuel Lee, aud Andrew St. John, were licensed to keep taverns, because they were men of good character, and will probably keep orderly houses, for which license they had to pay §5. 00, and $4.00 respectively.

The Court House, with a view of its site, was mentioned at this term for the first time. T. G. Davidson was appointed supervisor of a new road, beginning at the northwest branch of Cahokia creek, opposite the Court House of Madison county, and ending at the bank of the Mississippi river, where Jacob Whiteside formerly lived.

December Term, 1814. The court met at Kirkpatrick's, and immediately adjourned to Samuel G. Morse's; no reason given for this sudden aud abrupt change of base. - Charles R. Matheny, a young aspirant for the bar and forensic honors, received, by order of court, a certificate as to being a man of honesty, probity and good demeanor.

Samuel G. Morse was granted license to keep a tavern, and paid an annual tax of $5.00. He too was considered to be a man of good character, and that he would probably keep an orderly house. Should it be possible that this license affiiir was the cause of the sudden adjournment from Kirk's to Morse's? The diligent caterers of our days would certainly have intimated to the " court that an excellent lunch " had been prepared for the occasion, and that besides mine host was celebrating his birth-day for the fourth time in 1814. George Cadwell was also licensed to keep a tavern, at the same rate and on the same suppositions mentioned in the ISIorse case.

William Ottwell heretofore employed to build a jail for the county reported, that his work was completed and ready to be turned over to the authorities. The judges walked over to view and inspect the edifice, whereupon it was received as built according to plans and specification. Ottwell received ^194.00 for the building. This jail was constructed of logs, aud perhaps lined with plank, on the narrow square in lower Edwardsville, and served as a common prison until 1822.

Madison county, was produced in court at this terra, and it being the first document of the kind brought into court, its contents are here introduced at length :

First Will Of Record

Li the name of God Amen. I, Benjamin Young, of Madison County, Illinois Territory, being weak in body considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, but being of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, (that is to say). First: I give and bequeath unto four children, viz, Joseph Thomas, Loui-a, Delinda, and Ulisses Young, one certain section of land lying aud being in the Indiana Territory, Franklin county, on the waters of White Water, now in the hands of my uncle John Carson, living in the State of Ohio, who is my lawful attorney, to be equally divided between them. Secondly: I will that my black mare and my rifle gun be sold. Thirdly : I will that all my notes of hand, bonds or other obligations, now in the hands of John G Lofton and William Gillham, Esquires, be appropriated to the paymeut of my lawful debts. And lastly : as to all the Rest, Residue and Remainder of my personal estate, goods aud chattels, of what kind aud nature soever, I give and bequeath the same to my beloved wife, Sally Young, to be and remain at her own disposal forever. I also hereby constitute and appoint John G. Lofton and William Gillham, Esquires, above named, executors of my last will and testament.

At the county election held in August 1814, William Rabb had been chosen representative of the county, and he in company with Col. Samuel Judy, Senator, had been attending the first session of the second Legislature of Illinois at Kaskaskia from I^ovember 14 to December 24th, 1814. This Legislalure held a second session, from December 4th, 1815. to January 11, 1816, when John G. Lofton also appeared as a representative of Madison county.

This December terra of 1814 was the last term of the Court ofCoraraon Pleas. A territorial law of December 19, 1814, had provided for the creation of a county court for each county, to consist of three judges, to be appointed aud commissioned by the Governor. These courts were to have, possess and exercise all the powers, privileges and jurisdiction and to perform the same duties, that the courts of Common Pleas of the respective counties might lawfully have performed except so far as relate? to the trial of causes civil and criminal, over which the county court shall have no jurisdiction for the trial thereof (In this clause may be found the best evidence of the political wisdom of our pioneers, for in giving to the county courts purely administrative functions, they avoided all conflicts, sure to come wherever administrative and judiciary functions are to be performed by the same authorities or individuals.) The county courts held three sessions during the year, to wit : on the first Mondays in the months of March, June and September. The compensation of the judges was moderate, to wit: 82.00 for every day " they shall sit. "

The first term of this new court of the county of Madison was held on the Cth day of ]SIarch 1815, when John G. Lofton, Thomas Kirkpatrick and George Cadwell exhiliited to one another their respective commissions duly signed by His Excellency, Governor Xinian Edwards, and authenticated and sealed by Nathaniel Pope, secretary.

The court granted to Samuel Delaplain the privilege of erecting a mill-dam on Frank's branch of Cahokia creek in Goshen town.ship, and then had a settlement with Isom Gillham, the collector and acting treasurer of the county. Gillham reported to have collected S40.5. 50 of the tax levy of l'S14, merchant licenses of Abraham Prickett, James Stears and Kirkpatrick and Lusk S45 03, tavern licenses of Tom Kirkpatrick, Andrew St. John, Samuel Lee, S G. Morse, §19 00, fine of Bill Bridger for beating a woman 87.50, and tax on 65 writs-at 50 cts. each-S32.50, all amounting to S509 50. The sheriff took credit for delinquencies of 1813- S53.30, commissions of 7J per cent, on S289.31, land tax S28, 01, for his attention at the autumn election in 1814,86.00, locks for the jail doors 8 >.00, compensation paid to the commissioners appointed to locate the county seat, for their labors 814.00, fees paid to the judges of elections -18.00, for amount paid William Ottwell far building the jail 81^4.0), to ^latthew Duncan for printing 88.00, and compensation for official duties S'1.83i, amounting in the aggregate to $386. 14 !' - leaving again a surplus of SI 2 x35}, which added to last year's surplus of 8163.081 increased the reserve funds of the county to $286.43;.

There seems to have been a general settlement among or with the county officials, from which it appeared that the county was then owing 844 00 to Kirkpatrick, 640.41 1 to Josias Randle, 832.00 to John G. Lofton and S'J8 00 to George Cadwell, or 8154 41] in the aggregate.

The court gave John Newman permission to build a water grist-mill on Indian creek, the land on both sides of the creek being his property. George Davidson built also a gristmill on section 5 T. 4-8 on similar conditions. Upton Smith obtained leave to build a water-mill on the northwest quarter of section 31 iu T. 5-8, also on Indian creek, and Nicholas Jarrot, the mill builder, par excellence in those daj-s, petitioned the court for permission to erect a mill-dam at Indian ford on Cahokia creek, where he intended to erect a large flouring mill.

The September term of the c :)urt was short and the business transacted of no public interest. It should be stated however that the court changed head-quarters daring that term bv trausferring the county seat tj the tavern of John T. Lusk.

The law creating the county court was amended by an act of the legislature, approved January 6th, 1816, by which the powers of the county courts were increased, giving them original jurisdiction of all demands for direct payment of money where the same shall be over twenty dollars and not exceeding one hundred dollars. These courts were to hold four terms each year, and the judges and clerks thereof were to be appointed by the Governor for the term of three years, < " during good behavior "

The first judges of Madison county, appointed under this act, were George Cadwell, Samuel Judy and Thomas Kirkpatrick. Josias Randle was appointed clerk.

These gentlemen met on the 5th of February, 1816 and opened court in due form. At this term the name of Edwardsville is mentioned for the first time, as Thomas Kirkpatrick was permitted to construct a dam at his mill site on Cahokia creek near Edwardscllle.

1816, May 6. The building of the court-house is here mentioned iu connection with a statement of the county indebtedness, from which it appears that Samuel G. Morse, the contractor, had then a claim against the county by reason of said contract amounting to 8262.50, that he previously had received 875 00 from the county, and 8100 00 donated by Thomas Kirkpatrick. The county debt is stated to have amounted to 8577. 04J. The tax levy of 1814 was similar to the one of the previous year, with the exception that the head tax of 81.00 on every able bodied sinriilo man had been omitted. The sheriff nevertheless collected said tax, and the board or court sanctioned his proceeding at this term. The tax levy of 1815 was as follows : Each servant or slave Sl.OO, each horse above 3 years old 50 cts., each stallion one season's rate, houses in towns, mills etc., 30 cents per 8 00, valuation, each single man $1.00, ferries 83.00 each. - August term 1816.

George Smeltzer was licensed to keep a ferry - the 4th in the county - across the Mississippi north of the mouth of Piasa. Joseph St. John, Charles Slice and John Jones received each a bounty of 75 cents for killing wolves.*

The personal estate of W. L. Smith, deceased, was found insufficient to pay the debts, to wit: 81,551-75, and it was therefore ordered, that a tract of land, containing 250 acres, situated in Randolph county should be sold ; Henry Hays, the administrator, then brought into court $1,260 bank notes belonging to the said estate, whereupon the court condemned them as counterfeit, and ordered them burned, which was done accordingly.

* There were a large number of \volve.s killed in the said year. The wolf-.sia![) certilicate.s of 1816, have remained on file in the courthonse, and the writer gathered therefrom the names of the following Ximrod.s: \V. B. \Vhite.si<le heads the lii<t with 14 Bcalps; William Howard 9 ; Robert Tolly S ; William Ilinch, Isaac Ferguson, Andy Dimnegan.and Richard Brazle.each 6, .lacob Cmnmings, Joseph Diintan, William Camp and Alv. Fuller, each y ; Philip Ptnn, Ka-

A vast amount of probate business was transacted during this term ; many administrators and guardians had lieen cited to appear. The proceedings had were accurate, and administrators and guardians were held to render strict account.

William Jonas, with the assistance and under the superintendence of the prosecuting attorney, Wm. Mears, Esq. : proved his balance as county treasurer, to wit. : $5.37 V ; Joshua Armstrong was permitted to build a toll bridge across Silver creek on the road leading from the " settlement," to the United States Saliues, and to charge the following rates : Teams 25 cents, man and horse 12J cents, and men alone 6^ cents.

1S16, November ith. A very cold day. The records state, - Judge Cadwell was absent, and Messrs. Kirkpatrick and Judy adjourned to the Clerk's office, the court house not being prepared for the court's sittings. The work of the court was confined to the probate business exclusively.

1817, February V2th. William Jones, having been appointed Judge, took the seat of Thomas Kirkpatrick, and in connection with George Cadwell and CjI. Judy, proceeded to business.

Thomas Reynolds was granted permission to establish a ferry on his " Improvement," on the Illinois river, two miles above its confluence with the Mississippi.

Samuel Gill ham, and Joseph Meacham were licensed to run a ferry across the Mississippi at the mouth of Little Piasa. This ferry was intended to divert the constantly increasing number of immigrants from Smeltzer's ferry, was located some five or six miles further north.

A new road was laid out in the interest of this ferry. It extended from Sealy's mill at Milton, on Wood river, to Gillham and Meacham's ferry, in the town of Altojj. This is the first time that the name of Alton is mentioned in the records of the county - 12di of February, 1817.

In pursuance of an act of the last session of the legislature, the court now proceeded to lay otf the county into townships, to wit. : Six Mile, Big Prairie, Wood river, Go'then, Silver Creek. The boundaries of these townships are mentioned on another page of this chapter.

The court-house, built by Samuel G. Morse, was received by the court as being finished during this term, and the sherifi', acting as treasurer of the county, was ordered to pay the contractor the sum of $2(32.50, balance due him. It is ditticnlt to state the exact cost of this log-hall of justice. It seems, however, that the county paid $3,37.50, and that Hon. Thomas Kirkpatrick ha 1 also contributed $100.00 as a donation, making the total cost $437.50. This court-house was tli.in Daniels, Thomas Cumniings and Jamea Kathels, e.ach 4; Jesse Slurkey, Samuel Whiteside, and Isom Gillliam, each 3; Field Jarvis, Joseph Howard, Andrew Wallace, G. Patterson, and James S;eele, each 2; .Vbrahain Howard, John Johnston, .Vbraharn Cliarloi-k, William Scott, John Tliomns. Dial O.ivia, .S.imiiel Davi<lson, Moses Archer, Joseph St. John, and Jacob C. Gillham, each 1,-121 in all.

The first pauper mentioned as a county charge was one James Prichard, who had been taken in charge by George Richardson, on the 22d of December, 1815, and kept by him until the 22d of December, 1811). Mr. Richardson charged and received $40,00 for it from the county.

1817, June 1 \tli. Joseph Conway a d Abraham Prickett were appointed to superintend the making of a Judge's Bench, and other benches necessary for the court-house of Madison county, to be furnished by A. O. Kelly, the cabinet-maker These benches were completed during vacation, and Mr. Kelly received his pay, $58.50, on the 14th of October, 1817.

There were seven ferries lie 'used by the county, at rates varying from $2 00 to $12.00 per annum. Smeltzer paid $12.00, Dejailais, Cheek, ]Meachara, each 15.00; Isom Gillham $3.00 ; Uel Wniteside and Thomas Reynolds, each $2.00 per annum.

George Coventry obtained a license to keep a tavern in Edwardsville, for which he paid $7 00, while Joshua Atwater acquired the same privilege for $4.00. Samuel Jackaway established a tavern at Reyuolds' ferry on the Illinois river, and p.dd $4.00 for his license.

On application of James Mason to remove the jail of this county in the town of Edwardsville to that corner of the public square directly opposite, or back of the court-bouse, it is ordered that leave be given him to do so, provided it be done w^ithout expense to the county, and that the jail be left in as good repair as it now is.

With the proceedings of this term ended the official duties of the so recently organized county courts. The legislators, ever anxious to make laws, and more so to repeal them, had passed an act - January 12th, 1818 - by which the administration of county affairs was entrusted to the various justices of the peace, similar to our present system under township organization. The affairs of the several counties of Virginia had been well conducted in this manner. The last or third territorial legislature convened at Kaskaskia on the 1st of December, 1S17, and adjourned on the 12th of January, 1818. Madison county was represented in the Senate, (Legislative Council), by Judge John G. Lofton ; it was impossible to ascertain who the representatives were, who at any rate, did not atlend the sessions.

1818, January 12th. Justices in attendance : Thomas G. Davidson, Micajah Cox, Rodolphus Langworlhy, John Howard, Joseph Meacham, Amos .^Squire, John JIcKiiiney, Jesse Starkey, Jolin Springer, Joseph Eberman, Josliiia Armstrong, John Hone, Hail ]Mason, Abraham Prickett, and J. T. Lusk. The name of Big Prairie township is abolished, and " Greenfield " substituted - afterwards Alton. The wolf scalp bill of J817 was presented to the court, and it appeared that Slo7. /o had been paid for the killing of 220 wolves, in or near the ''settlements."

The court ordered that all the claims against the county should be presented at the April term of this court, and that no claim should be considered which had not been presented at said terra. Tlie court granted two more ferry licenses on the Illinois river, viz. : To Jabiz Ferries, on sections fourteen and twenty-three, town eleven, range two, west ; and to George Cadwell, at a place called Movare Terrie, (probably niauvais terres, band lands), on the Illinois river. Dr. Cadwell seems to have worked his way up north, - his name was found among the early settlers of De Witt county, where he had pitched his tent before the '' winter of the deep snow."

1818, Aurjmt Bd. Hail Mason, J. T Lusk, and the Rev. Green P. Rice were appointed a committee to contract for the building of a well on the public square in Edwardaville, of the following dimensions: four ieet in diameter, to be walled as high as the water will rise, with stone, and the remainder with good brick. The well when walled to be 21 feet in the clear, and also for the building of a substantial frame, and the procuring of windlass and rope.

1818, December 9th. Last meeting of the justices' court. The well mentioned above was completed at a.\\ expense of $192.04. The sheriff made settlement of his tax collection ; they had amounted to $720 80, while the expenses reached the enormous amount of S95.>.92. The territory of Illinois had now ceased to be, and the justices' courts ended with it. Madison now a county of the State of Illinois, entered upon its mission with an empty treasury, and a debt of $255.92.

The records of this court are incomplete; the first volume, containing the minutes of its proceedings during the terms held in February and June, 1813 and 1814, is not to be found in the circuit clerk's office; in fact, it has been known for years that the book was missing. A meager account of the proceedings of the May and September terms, 1815, of this court was discovered by the writer in the first volume of the records of the coirt of coram )u pleas.

From various files still in existence, it appears that the Hon. Jesse B. Thomas officiated as Judge during the period mentioned, and continued on the bench until March, 1818. Court was held at the house of Thomas Kirkpatrick. Benjamin Stedman was the foreman of the first grand jury of the count}', as appears on an indictment returned into court in February, 1813, and signed by said Stedman as foreman of the grand jury. The victim of this indictment is Robert Pulliam for beating and wounding Michael Dodd, a constable. Another indictment against Pulliam for selling liquor in quantities less than one quart, to Michael Dodd and Bolin Green, preceded the one above. It was signed by Daniel GiUmore, prosecuting attorney. A third indictraent against PuUiara for keeping a disorderly house was prosecuted by George David.son. In the first case, Pulliam was found not "gilly," as Thomas Gillhara, foreraan of the jury expresses it; in the second case, Pulliam plead guilty, and was fined, and in the third, the jury could not agree.

The folloxving indictment is the oldest on file in the county. Illinoi.i Territory, Madison County, Court of Common Pleas, February/ term, 1813. The Grand Jurors of the U. S. impannelled and sworn to inquire for the body of the county of Madison aforesaid, on their oath.

That William Bridger of the county aforesaid, and township of Goshen, husbandman, being a person of fierce, cruel, terrible and inhuman and unnatural disposition, and wickedly having in his heart great rancor, malice and ill-will towards Elizabeth the wife of one Benjamin Carter, on the 30th day of January, 18 1 3, in the county aforesaid, in and upon the aforesaid Elizabeth Carter, then and there unlawfully, wickedly and in a menacing manner did make an assault, with an intent to kill, and one gun loaded and charged with gun-powder and a leaden ball towards and against the said Elizabeth, then and there iu his wicked rage and in the fury of his mind, he the said William Bridger being then and there about the distance of eighty yards from the said Elizabeth, with the afpres-iid gun loaded with gun-powder and leaden ball, did unlawfully and with force and arms shoot said gun at said Elizabeth, with an intention maliously and unlawfully to kill and murder the said Elizabeth, to the terrible and manifest danger of the life of said Elizabeth to the evil examjile of all others, in like cases offending, contrary to the forms of the statute in such cases made and provided, and against the peace and the dignity of the Uuited States. And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oaths do further present that the said Wiliiara Britlger, afterwards, to wit. : on the same day, with force and arms, unlawfully an assault on and upon the said Elizabeth, then and there did make and her the said Elizabeth, did beat, wound and illy treat, so that her life was greatly despaired of and other wrongs then and there to the said E izabeth committed, contrary to the form of the statute iu such cases

1813, June term. Jesse J. Eenfro, foreman of the grand jury, who indicted Thomas Jacobs, yeomau, for perjury. The clerk's capias, issued and many times re-is=ued, was invariably returned with the endorsement: " Non est." Jacob had fled the modern " Goshen," never to return.

1814, June term. The grand jurors summoned for this time are mentioned on a former page. William Rabb, Esq., the pioneer miller of Colliusville, was their foreman. Bridger was found guilty of assault, and fined accordingly. No records of proceedings in existence.

1815, September term. Henry Cook, foreman of the grand jury reported that there were no cases before the jury, whereupon the jury were discharged. Joseph Conway was appointed clerk in place of Josias Randle. Edward Hempstead is named as attorney.

1816, May term. Samuel Whiteside, foreman of the grand jury, who found two indictments against James Thompson for larceny. Thompson was tried before a jury in September nest, and acquitted.

181G, September term. George Cidwell, foreman. The following foreigners were naturalized: Jo-^eph Touchette, a. native of Canada, and resident of Illinois since 1791, as testified by Pierre Martin and Robert Whiteside.

Antoine Lapense, a native of Canada, then a resident of Peoria, Cahokia and Michillimackinac since 1794, a bona fide resident of the United States, witnesses: Pierre Martin and Joseph Touchette.

These applicants took the following oath : We swear that we have been living in the United States for at least five years, that it was bona fide our intention to become citizens of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince potentate, state sovereignty whatever, particularly George III. of Great Britain and Ireland, defender of the faith, king; we swear that we will support the constitution of the United States. All except

There were two indicttnents found for larceny. Matthew Mears had stolen a blanket from Henry Taylor, of the value of 61.00. Matthew restored the blanket, and was sentenced to pay a fine of $2 00, and costs besides. Henry Taylor wa.s indicted for assault and battery. He whipped Matthew when he returned the blanket- James Kirkpatriek, supervisor, was indicted for "omission of duty," plead guilty, and paid a fine of §5 00. Joseph Conway was re-appointed clerk.

1817, Jul term. John York Sawyer produced his license to practice law, signed by two of the U. S. Judges of the territory, and was thereupon admitted to practice as counsellor and attorney-at-law. Alexander Waddle was foreman of the grand jury, who indicted Francis Grigmar for perjury: the case was nol. pros, during the same term. Benjamin Wood for vagrancy, Robert Reynolds for fighting, and Simon News Dile, Thomas Johnston, R. P. Day, and James Maxwell for riot ; this riot case was dropped the next day " for want of prosecution."

1817, November term. Thomas Reynolds produced his license to practice law, and was admitted ; Theodore N. W. Narick was also admitted to the bar. The grand jury indicted Christopher Stout and six others for fighting.

1818, March term. Hon. Daniel P. Cook presided at this term as Judge. Joseph Conway produced his commission as clerk, issued by the governor. The grand jury indicted W. L, May, and eight others, for fighting.

1818, July term. Hon. John Warnock presided at this and the next term of the court. There were again nine cases of assault and battery, and two of larceny, viz.: John Warren and Hardy Warren, both cases were nol. pros. The sheriff reported that Jacob Hutson and John Hutson had broken jail.

1818, November term. No business transacted at this terra ; the attorneys all being of the opinion that the court should not to proceed to business, and expressed a wish not to have the cases tried where they were concerned. All cases were therefore continued until the next term.

The court records do not explain this strange and abrupt adjournment of the court ; it may be accounted for by the uncertainty of who was legally entitled to the judgeship. The first territorial legislature had assembled at Kaskaskia on the Sd of October, 1818, and on the 8th had elected Joseph Phillips Chief Justice, and John Reynolds, Thomas C. Browne and William P. Foster, associate justices, and Dan. p. Cook, Attorney General. The constitution of the state, under the stipulations of which these elections had taken place, had thus far not been ratified by the Congress of the United States, and when the attention of the said legislature was called to this circumstance, an immediate adjournment was suggested and agreed upon. The legislature was to be convened again as soon as the state constitution should be ratified by Congress. The November term, 18l8, of the Madison county circuit court was to be held during this judicial interregnum. The Hon. John Warnock, the territorial judge, and the Hon. John Reynolds, associate justice as above, assigned to the Western Circuit, were both in attendance, but neither of them had a desire to officiate under existing circumstances, hence the adjournment.

To the reader who has followed us through the meagre records of the county from the time of its organization to the above date, a period of only five years, a brief resume of what had been accomplished in the short time of its political existence, will probably be of interest. The "squatters" of 1812 and 1813 had become owners of their homesteads since 1814, lands having been entered in eighteen different congressional townships. A great portion of the lands in the river townships was bought in 1814 and 181.5: - 4G45 acres of the 7000 acres of township 3 - 10; 940 of the 1350 acres of township 4 - 10, and 2;!06 of the 4030 acres of township 5 - 10, were now in the hands of bona fide residents or " speculators." The latter class was not so numerous in the county as is generally supposed.

The land entered by them aggregates about 25,000 acres, including the 8457 acres owned in six different townships by Nicholas Jarrott, who at the time was at least temporarily a resident of the county, building a water power mill on the Cahokia creek at Indian Ford near the Mound. Township 4 - 8 contained then only 4500 acres of government land, as 18,021 acres had been purchased by 49 indivi<luals ; the largest quantity owned by any one man was 1546 acres - the property of Nicholas Jarrott. Benjamin Stephenson contenting himself with 80 acres, the smallest tract- Glancing over the list of names, we meet the familar ones of Barusback, Cook, Delaplain, Gillhara, Holliday, Judy, Kirkpatrick, Kinder, Lusk, Mason, JMcKee, Nix, Ottwell, Prickett, Randle, Robinson, Wiiiteside, and others.

15,707 acres of the 22,500 of township 3 - 9 were owned by 45 individuals ; Nicholas Jarrott again in the lead with 3817 acres, and George Hewitt bringing up the rear with a modest 80 acres. Here are to be met the names of Atkins, Baird, five Gillhams, Lofton, John G. - the judge had 441 acres, the Reynolds, three VV'hitesides and Waddle. In township 5 - 9, 14,478 of its 21,030 acres had passed into the possession of 42 resident settlers. The names of Buckmaster, Bartlett, Hewitt, Moore, Montgomery, Preuitt, . Vaughn, Whiteside, are still familiar to the citizens.

Out of the 21,713 acres of township 3 - 7, 11,325 had been entered by 48 individuals. Abraham Vanhooser, a Pennsylvania German, was the largest land-holder, owning at that time 1040 acres. There were nine settlers in the township who possessed less than 100 acres of land. Many familiar names are met here, to wit. : The Andersons, the Armstrongs, Bairds, Cook, Churchhill, Dugger, Gaskill, Hall, Jarvis (township is now named after him), Kingston, IMoore, Riggiu, Renfro, Seybold, Slice, Thompson, Wood, and others.

Township 3 - 8 follows, 11,159 of its 22,452 acres were in possession of 45 actual settlers. The largest tract, a full section was owned by Robert Seybold, Micajah Cox, Colcan, heirs of P. Casterline, and Jlichael Healy had 80 acres each. The following names have still a familiar sound :

Armstrong, Cook, Eaves, Gillham, (three of them), Gaskill, Hall, Lemen, Moffitt, Moore, Robinson, Reynolds, S(iuire, Teter, Vaughn, and Whiteside.

10,325 acres of the 23,359 acres of Fort Russell, township 5 - 8, were owned by 35 persons. William Jones, repeatedly mentioned in the chapteis on Pioneers and Civil Government - was in possession of the largest tract, viz. : 803 acres, Gov. Ninian Edwards being content with the smallest, au 80 acre tract. AVe mention the names of Baird, Cos, Eiios, Hill, Ma.son, Newman, (three of them), Preuitt, Reavis, Starkey, Smith, Whiteside and Wood.

. Town-hip 4 - 9 had 10,4G9 of its original 19,834- acres occupied by residents and speculators. Nicholas Jarrott owned 1135 acres. Here we find the names of Atkins, Dejailais the ferry-man, Emert, five Gillhams and others.

In township 3 - 5, only 3000 acres had been entered by 11 individuals, among whom the following familiar names are to be mentioned: Duncan, Good, Morgan and Ramsay.

Township 4 - 5 had 3509 acres sold - in 13 tracts; we find here the Howards, Pearces, McAllily and Reynolds. Township 5 - 5, 80 acre.s, owned by James Pearce. Township 65, - no lands entered.

Township 3 - 6. Here were 5246 acres entered by 25 individuals, most of whom seem to have been actual settlers ; the greatest quantity of land owned by any one man at that time was a tract of 298 acres, the jjroperty of Washington Parkinson. Familiar names to be mentioned here are : Anderson, Cook, the Duggers, Giger, Howard, Parkinson, Thorp, and Uzzell.

Township 4 - 6, (Marine). - 3053 acres entered by 10 individuals. Captain Curtis Blakeman had bought 1120 acres as early as 1816. Besides him, mention is to be made of Allen, Anderson, Beck, Ferguson, Giger, Ground and Kile. Township 5 - 6. 1305 acres entered by five persons; Hoxsey took 640, Farris and Aldrich . Township 6 - 6. No lands sold.

Township 4 - 7. 7619 acres in possession of 26 individuals. John Rice Jones - the eminent lawyer of Illinois - owned 1280 acres there; Edward Coles, later governor of the State of Illinois, entered 148 acres in 1816 ; besides we meet the familiar names of Beck, Bartlett, Bell, Barusback, Borough, Clark, Fruitt, Gouternian, William Gillham, 114 acres, McKee, Posey, and^Taylor.

Township 5 - 7. 2046 acres - Robert Aldrich and Thomas Barnett, each 160 acres, seem to have been the only bona fide residents there at that time.

Township 6 - 7. No lands "entered. In fact no lands situated north of township line No. 5 had been entered at that period, although a number of squatters liad made their homes there, as well as further north.

We have confined ourselves in the foregoing to the territory of the county in its present boundary lines. The proclamation of Governor Edwards creating the county, had made Canada the northern and the Indiana and Illinoia boundary line, the eastern limit of the county of Madison.

The latter had meanwhile been reduced by the organization of Edwards county, November 28th, A. D. 1841, and of Bond county, January 4th, 1817, to pretty near what it is now, its western and southern lines were permanently established by the governor's proclamation, which, as previously stated, had left the northern boundary vague and indefinite.

The Court of Common Pleas of St. Clair county had, prior to the year 1812, made the following subdivisions of this part of its vast territory, to wit : Shoal Creek township, a part of Bond county, since January, 1817, Six mile township, Goshen and Wood river townships.

The county court of JNIadison county re-organized the political sub-divi-ions of the county, then called townships, and later precincts. . We find at this period the following townships, some of which presented an area large enough for counties or even states.

Six Mile - Began at the southwest corner of the county, on the Mississippi river ; thence east along the county line to Cahokia Creek, and up the same to the mouth of Long Like, up Long Lake to the road leading from Samuel Gillhams to Dejailai's ferry, thence direct to the Mississippi river, including Big Island, thence south along the bank of the river, including all islands to the place of beginning.

Pig Prairie - Greenfield since 1818; - Began at Cahokia Creek, at the mouth of L jng Lake, thence up said creek to the bluffs, thence up the bluffs, so as to include all " living" under the bluff as high as to where Wood river cuts through the blufl', from there to Smeltzer's ferry on the Mississippi, thence South to Dejailai's ferry, thence down the Six Mile township line to the mouth of Long Lake.

Wood river began at the mouth of Indian Creek, from there up Cahokia to the head of the same, thence to the Illinois river, including all the inhabitants between the forks of the Illinois and Mississippi river, theuce down the Mississippi river to Smeltzer's ferry, thence with the township line through Big Prairie, to the mouth of Indian Creek.

Goshen began at Cahokia Creek, where it crosses the south County line, thence up said creek to where the range line between seven and eight strikes sal<l creek, thence south to where said range line strikes St. Clair county, thence to the beginning.

This township had a triangular shape. The township line between townships three and two, forming a right angle by the intervention with range line between seven and eight - aud the meandering course of Cahokia, serving as the hypothenuse.

Siloer Creek bsgan where the ranga line between seven and eight intersects the north boundary line of St. Clair county, thence due east to the Bond county line, thence north!!! (no limit), so as to include all inhabitants north of Goshen and Wood river township^. The name continued until a recent day. The town-ship of 1817 was by degrees greatly reduced in size. It lost much, but it retained its name for over half a century. Aud yet this name was after all a misnomer, for the creek, that gave it the name, was barren of silver.

Many of the territorial laws* had bsan taken or copied from the codes of older States, and among others, a law in reference to providing for paupers. The county, however, had no resident paupers, yet overseers of the poor were appointed, because the law directed that it should be done. The records show that Amos Squires and Philip Hawk were appointed overseers of the poor for Six Mile. Micajah Cox and John Barnelt for Goshen ; Jacob Linder and Young Wood, for Wood river ; Joseph White and Daniel Broiun, for Big Prairie ; and John Howard and William Shellon, for Silver Creek.

This system was kept up for half a century; the writer of these sketches remembers well to have received and filed, while occupying a position in the court-house, a number of official semi-annual reports of those overseers of the

*0n December 30th, 181.5, a wolf scalp law was enacleil. One of the stipulations of this law made it necessary for applicants for [iremiums to solemnly swear, that they had never willingly spared the life of a " bitch wolf," with a design to increase the breed. Wonder, if any sliarpers from down " East " liad practised this little scheme before t

On December 12th, ISlfi, a law was passed to prevent attorneys from Indiana from practising in the courts of Illinois, and any viola, tion of this law was to cost the ofi'ender a fine of $200 00. Friendship between American neighbors!!! - It is said, that once npon a lime, some villagers in Baden had run a mad dog to cover, and had sncc>ssfiiUy " bagged" him. Instead of killing the dog, tliey in(iuired at headquarters, whether the rabid animal, which was known to have come over the "state line " from Wirtemberg, should be killed or carried back to, and turned loose in Wirtemberg. The answer was : Eeturn him to his home state ! Love between German neighbors ! ! ! - The latter is an anecdote invented to illustrate the want of unity among the inhabitants of tlie various states in Germany, aud the former is a stubborn fact, recorded in thj statutes of Illinois.

poor. Oae of these gentlemen, represent'mg old Silver Creek, had his reports stereotyped, for they invariably contained the following : " The undersigned begs leave to report to the Hon. County Court of IMadison county, that there are no paupers in his territory." Signed James Olive- And yet the pauper expenses of Madison couity reached the enormous amount of over forty thousand dollars in the year ending August 31st, 1873 ! Silver Creek, however, reported, "No paupers here." There was something in that silvery name after all.

Roads. - At the time of the organization of the county, we find only one public road in the county. Its northeastern terminus seems to have been Thomas Kirkpatrick's mill on Cahokia Creek - (EJwardsville), and passing southwest via Samuel Judy's place and Indian Ford on Cahokia creek, it connected the old French settlement of Cahokia with the later American settlements in Madison county.

In 1817, the county had quite a. number of road districts. The first one to be mentioned was a circle, a mile in diameter, around the court-house, under the management of John T. Lusk.

6th. From Cheek's Ferry - above the mouth of Wood river to the crossing of the main road from Edwardsville to George Smeltzer's Ferry, below Alton - Thomas Carland supervisor.

9th. From Indian Ford on Cahokia Creek down the bluff to the house of Frank Collins, and past it west to county line, the St. Louis road^ - Henry Cook and Frank Collins, supervisors.

10th. From Indian Creek via Moore's bridge, across Wood river to Smeltzer's Ferrj', with Solomon Preuitt and I'eter Waggoner as supervisors.

11th. From bridge across Cahokia near Edwardsville via. bridge on Indian Creek to Isom Gillham's Ferry - with James Gillham and Thomas Co.x; as supervisors.

12th. A new road, from Edwardsville to Wallace and Sealey's mill on Wood river, to be opened at once in three sections, with Joseph Robertson as supervisor for the eastern, T. G. Davidson for the middle, and John Wallace for the western division.

county, bridge across Cahokia near the court-house, bridge across Long Lake, west of the present railroad stations, and a toll-bridge across Silver Creek, on the road to the U. S. salines in the southern part of the State.

Gillham's toll-bridge across Cahokia Creek, on the road from Edwardsville to Long Lake, erected in 1813 and 1814 - had been washed away, and John Barnett, supervisor of road No. 2, was ordered to construct a new bridge at the same place. The order was, however, rescinded.

Public buildings. - The sessions of the various courts had been held at the various taverns of Edwardsville for five years; and it was not until autumn 1817, that the first Court-house, a log cabin erected by Samuel G. Morse, at an expense of §437.50, could be occupied.

The Jail, built by William Ottwell, had been completed as early as December 6th, 1814, and was in 1817 moved on the court-house square at the suggestion and exj^cnse of James Mason, a public-spirited man, to be metioned hereafter.

Towns. - Edwardsville, the county seat, was then the leading town ; it had probably some fifty dwelling houses ; the United States Laud-office was there ; also a Bank, Public house, etc.

Alton, now the principal commercial city of the count}', had been located in 1816 and was, properly speaking, not a town in 1817. It developed rapidly, however, and had as many as a hundred residences in 1819.

Milton, now no more, was quite a town in 1817. There may have been 25 or 30 fiim lies residing there at the time. It lay a few miles below Alton, on Wood river. Wallace and Sealy's saw and grist mills were doing considerable business at that period.

1st. George Smeltzer, north of Alton ; this ferry had prev,iously been run by a Mr Langford, at or near the mouth of Wood river, whence Smeltzer moved it up several miles beyond Alton. This ferry had, in 1817, what wasconsidcred the best site; it paid an annual license of §12.00.

2d. Samuel Gillham and Joseph Meacham, at the mouth of Little Piasa, Alton. This ferry was started by Col. R. Easton, the founder of Alton, in opposition to Smeltzer's ferry above, without success, - which may be seen from the fact, that the county taxed this concern at the rate of .S2 00 per annum.

3d. Charles l)i>jailais, a Frenchman. His ferry was located on the southwest corner of section 17, in townships 4 - 9, at the head of Chouteau Island, making trips to this island, as well as to the west bank of the IMississippi. The ferry was subsequently owned by Samuel Gillham.

The records mention, besides the above, two more ferries in connection with the location of public roads, to wit: John Walker's ferry, then owned by Tlionias Carlin,* afterwards governor of the State, and Hill's ferry.

Nicholas Jarrott, 1817 - on Cahokia, near Indian Ford. Jarrott was the mill builder of his times, although he invariably lost money in this busines3. The Cahokia mills were the last he built, and it is said were the cause of his death ; as by incessant exposures during their erection, he had contracted a malarial disease that ended his life and incessant labors.

Samuel Jacquevay, at Reynolds' ferry, on the Illinois river. The reveuwe derived from the licenses of those eleven taverns amounted in 1817, to $47.00.

The pojyidation of 1818 was made up principally by American settlers from the Southern States, a few New Yorkers, some New Englanders, and quite a number of Pennsylvania Germans and Irish American.s. The Canadian French had never been as important a factor of the population of this county, as of St. Clair. The few, who had ventured up the Cahokia, or on the islands in the Mississippi, thus separating themselves from their villages below, had almost disappeared in 1818 ; the records do not mention above ten French names at that time.

* Carlin was at that time so little known, that his narafi is scarcely ever spelled alike twice in succession, lo wit : Carlan, CorUinil, C'orlin, Carland, etc., etc.

The number of votes polled at the first state election in 1818, July 6th, 7th and 8th, was 517 ; and at a very exciting sheriff election - W. B. Whiteside, Isom Gillham. and Joseph Borough, candidates, on the 17th, 18th and 19th Sept. 1818, only 536.

The number of bona fide resident free-holders in 1817, was 354; allowing the number of squatters to have been about two-thirds as great, we have in the county not more than 600 families.

Besides - there were eleven licensed taverns in the county, and statistics prove that taverns increased with the population at the rate of about 275 per tavern.