Massac County, Illinois - Chapter 7: County Organization, 1900

Chapter 7: County Organization

FEBRUARY 8th, 1843, by an act of the Legislature, Massac county was created. By that act the counties of Johnson and Pope were lessened and the following boundary line described: "Beginning at the southwest corner of Johnson county on the bank of the Ohio river, and running thence north with the range line dividing townships one ,^J and two, east of the third principal meridian, to

Cash river, thence up to the center of the main channel of said Cash river to the townshiplinedividing townships thirteen and fourteen, thence east along said line, to the county line dividing the counties of Pope and Johnson, thence southeast so as to strike at the southeast corner of township fifteen south, six east, thence three miles south, thence east to the Ohio river, thence down the Ohio river to the place of beginning shall constitute a new county, to be called the county of Massac." The county surveyor of Pope county, G. H. Hanna, was ordered to survey the line between Pope and Massac county, before the first Monday of April.

In the same act an election of county offlcers for the new county was ordered for the first Monday of April, 1843, and the county clerks of Johnson and Pope counties were directed to issue notices of such election and returns from the election were made to the clerk of the county court of Johnson county, who was authorized to issue certificates of election to the officers elect. Upon the election and qualification the said oflRcers were to constitute the official organization of Massac county, as follows: bate justice of the peace, one school commissioner, three county commissioners, county surveyor, and clerk of the county commissioners' court.

The first meeting of the county board was held April 8, 1843, by S. G. Allen, Jonathan Moody, and J. T. Collier. Numbers one, two and three were drawn to determine the term of service, resulting in Moody drawing one. Collier two, and Allen three. The bond of J. W. Carmichael as county clerk was approved and adjournment taken until April 17th, when religious services, conducted by Eev. H. G. Est ell, opened the deliberations of the board. At this meeting Johnson county orders were refused in payment of the amount of taxes due the newly organized county; William McDowell was appointed constable in Hillerman precinct to fill a vacancy. Orders were given for the reviewing of highways connecting given points over the most feasible route, which was not likely to promote very straight highways. Jackson, Washington, Metropolis, George's Creek, and Wilconsonville precincts were formed, judges apjjointed and elections ordered. Fifteen road districts were formed and supervisors appointed; also Justice of the peace and constable precincts were established. Overseers of the poor in the various precincts to the number of six were appointed at this meeting. The first order recorded is for three dollars in favor Tif the first sheriif, John W. Read, in payment for a blank book. July ith ,1843, was the day appointed to sell on a credit of six, twelve and eighteen months' time, lots in Metropolis to the highest and best bidder. Elijah Smith was appointed the first assessor of Massac county.

It was further ordered that sealed proposals be received for the building of the court house, all subject to refusal by the board, who would on July 5th, let the building of the court house out to the lowest and best bidder. It was also ordered that J. H. Wilcox & Co. execute a warranty deed to the county board and their successors in office for the two acres of land to form a public square lying north of said town and immediately at the end of Market street. The rate of taxation for county purposes was fixed at 25 cents on every |100 valuation. The meetings had been held in the Manville house, corner of Ferry and Second street. The old Methodist church was selected as the place to hold circuit court pending the construction of a court house. On April 29th, 1843, the plan of the court house, drafted by Samuel Arnont was selected. June 6, 1S43, Wilcox and McBane deeded two and one-half acres of land for a public square. The following constituted the first grand jury: Pleasant Ward, Perry Little, Hugh McGee, William Thompson, J. B. Marbry, Burrel Anderson, Robert Whitton, Benjamin Connyers, Jacob C. Kidd, William Massie, J. C. Killgrove, Lewis Johnson, Jesse Simpson, C. A. Shelby, James Holmes, John Stubbs, Solomon Lytton, Reuben Smith, Isaac Davison, Hyram Golightly, Robert McCormick. All are now dead.

The petit jurors were: Perry Smith, Alfred Copeland. George Holden, William Cain, James Hall, James H. Williamson, Moses B. Somers, John Looney, James T. Wilcox, John P. Choat, I. P. Hughey, A. B. Brown, A. W. Robins, Sylvester Smith, John Wilkins, Isaac D. Sugg, Edward Fleece, John Tooley, David Leech, James Turner, Levi Rice, Lyman Miller, W. W. Turner, and Young Lynn. J. P. Choat is the only surviving member.

March 6th, 1845, John West paid the county five dollars for a permit to erect a theater and five dollars was paid by a theatrical company for the privilege to perform September 1, 1845.

March 2nd, 184G, Valentine Owen was allowed to operate a ferry to Paducah from the opposite bank. The rate of taxation for lS4(j was 40 cents on each one hundred dollars' valuation. On September 21st, B. S. Enloe was rejnoved from the ofQce of commissioner of schools because he would not report according to the order of the county board and confessed himself an embezzler. Richard S. Xelson was appointed to succeed him, who -nas in turn removed for negligence, Dec. 22, 1846, and James Elliott appointed to succeed him. The tax rate for 1847 was 40 cents.

On September Gth, 1847, suit was ordered brought against Wilcox & McBane, proprietors of Metropolis, to compel them to finish the court house. A settlement was reached by Wilcox & McBane deeding a number of town lots to the county, which were later sold at auction.

William Eichardson, the first colored boy, by his attorney, T. G. C. Davis, appeared July 11, 1849, before the county board and presented proofs that he was free born.

Benton precinct was formed Sept. 6, 1843. September 18th was set as the day to receive bids for the building of the county jail. On the same day John Hynes, Henry Eddy, A.lex. Kirkpatrick and others were licensed to keep a ferry at Massac and J. H. G. Wilcox was licensed to keep a ferry at Metropolis. The rates were fixed as follows:

On November 4, 1843, John King was awarded the contract to build the first jail on lot 417, block 35, for |349.00. The jail Vv'as to be of good hewn timber one foot thick, hewn to a joint and dove-tailed corners.

The first assessment of the county cost .f36.00, one-half paid by the county and one-half by the state. The tax rate for 1844 was fixed at 50 cents one the one hundred dollars.

At the December term, 1852, one "William Morgan, a jjauper, was ordered "sold out," and R. H. Foy was paid five dollars to sell him. A certificate was iwsued at the same time as follows: "That John B. Hicks is a man of probity and good demeanor." Mr. Hicks was a member of the county board and only he and John Shirk were present.

The early records abound in orders granting license to the ancestors of many of our leading citizens of today and to some of our leading citizens yet living, to keep a grocery in which at that time liquors were vended. The plan in many respects excelled the present "exclusive license" because no loafers were allowed to congregate at these stores and no liquors were sold to inebriates.

Massac county has never adopted what is termed "township organization." Under such organization the county board consists of one member from each township into which the county is divided. The office of "Assessor and Treasurer" as we now have it would be abolished, and a county treasurer would be elected, while each township would elect separate officers to assess and collect the taxes. The sheriff would also be no longer collector of taxes. Each township would elect its own justices of the peace, constables, and minor officers. Nine-tenths of the counties of Illinois have adopted township organization.

County Officers

The record of county officials from the organization of the county to the present is here given as complete as could be obtained from various sources.

Circuit Clerks

The first circuit clerk of the Massac county circuit court was John B. Hicks, an early pioneer and life-long Democrat. He was appointed by Judge "\A'alter B. Scates in 1843, and served until 1852, consecutively. In 1800 he was re-elected and served until 1864. Upon the death of James Elliott, then circuit clerk, in the spring of 1866, Judge Sloan appointed him to serve as clerk pro tem until the fall election.

James Elliott, another early pioneer citizen, school-teacher, father of Messrs. John M. Elliott, merchant, and James L. Elliott, cashier of the National State bank, was elected in 1852 and served until 1860. He was re-elected in 1864, but died within about eighteen months.

At the general election in the fall of 1866 Major E. P. Curtis, yet living and resident of Metropolis, 111., was elected to fill out the unexpired term of James Elliott, deceased, and con tinned in office for twenty-six (26) consecutive years.

Of the number serving John B. Hicks was always a Democrat, James Elliott was elected as a democrat until 1864, when he was the choice of the Republican party, since which time the officials have been Republican.

William Karr was the first sheriff elected for four years, since which time they are ineligible to succeed themselves until another has served at least a term.

Thomas J. Taylor, yet living, is the only sheriff to perform a legal hanging in Massac county. During his second term he executed one, Samuel Redding, convicted of murder in the Massac county circuit court on a change of venue from Pulaski county, where the crime was committed.

States Attorneys

Willis Allen, afterward Congressman x\llen, was the first State's Attorney. William A. Denning, afterward Judge Denning, succeeded him. Samuel S. Marshal], who became Congressman and was once candidate for the United States Senate, served after Judge Denning, and was succeeded by W. K. Parrish, afterwards Judge Parrish. John A. Logan was prosecutor from 1854 to 1856 and directed the famous trial resulting in the conviction of Decatur Campbell, but later advised the basis upon which the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Circuit Court. His fame since then is known to all. Munro C. Crawford was elected but the district was altered before he appeared at the Massac county circuit court, and Thom- as H. Smith became the next state's attorney. He was succeeded by Milton Bartley and he by G. W. Neeley, who died before the expiration of his term of office. Capt. J. F. McCartney, yet living in Metropolis, all the others who actually served being dead, was appointed to the vacancy and in 1866 was elected for a full term. Captain McCartney was the last State's Attorney to serve for the district. John E. Thomas was elected State's Attorney in and for the county of Massac, 1872. He later served ten years in Congress from Metropolis and is now a Federal Judge on the bench of the Indian Territory. In 1876 Theodore B. Hicks, formerly a member of the Legislature, and son of John B. Hicks, was elected. Benjamin O. Jones, also a former representative, succeeded Mr. Hicks in 1880. John W. Peter, son of Colonel E. A. Peter, was elected in 1884. D. W. Helm was chosen in 1888 and has served consecutively for twelve years.

Frederick E. Young is the Eepublican candidate for State's Attorney subject to the general election, Nov 6, 1900. H. A. Evans is the Democratic candidate.

County Clerks

John W. Carmichael heads the list. He was succeeded by J. W. Bailey in 1849. A. B. Browne comes next in 1853, and Is'ehemiah Williams in 1857. Mr. Williams soon died and was succeeded by his son, D. E. Williams, 1860. B. F. Taylor was elected, 1861, and L. P. Stalcup in 1865. Samuel At well was elected, 1869. He was succeeded by S. S. Shoemaker in 1877, who served for five years because of a statute altering the date of the election.

County Judges

The present office of County Judge did not at first exist. What is now the county board was composed of a probate justice and two associates. Later this order was changed and one of the county board was a County Judge with two associates. S. C Allen, Jonathan Moody, John B. Hicks, Elijah Smith,

Benjamin J. Delavan and Edward M. McMahcn served consecutively until the ofllce of County Judge was divorced from the county hoard with probate, civil and criminal jurisdiction in certain cases.

In 1S73 R. W. McCartney became County Judge. In 1882, Eobert N. Smith; in 1886, J. C. Willis; in 1890, Benjamin O. Jones; in 1894, George Sawyer, re-elected in 1898 and still presiding.

At first the director of the public schools of Massac county was termed the "school commissioner." He then held private oral examinations of applicants for license to teach, "Eeadin,' 'Eitin', and 'Eithmetic," or the three "r's" which practically covered the scope of the examination. The first teachers in what is now Massac county were John B. Hicks, William Clanahan, father of Eev. C. L. Clanahan, and B. G. Eoots, who taught at Belgrade.

The first commissioner was Eev. H. Gr. Estell, who served until December, 3811, at which time B. S. Enloe came into office. Enloe proved to be negligent and a defaulter, self-confessed. He was accordingly removed Sept. 1, 1840, and E. S. Xelson succeeded him. Nelson proved also to be unfit and was removed by the county board Dec. 22, 1846. James Elliott chosen and filled the office with such satisfaction that he continued until 1855.

In 1865 W. H. Scott was elected county superintendent, serving until 1873. He was followed by Heury Armstrong, 1873 to 1877, who also served 1882 to 1886, ^N'illiam Priestly having been elected 1877 to 1882. Fowler A. Armstrong became superintendent, 1886 to 1890, and J. M. Eeynolds succeeded him, 1890 to 1894. Eobert T. Alexander was chosen 1894 to 1898 and Mr. Eeynolds was again chosen, being the present incumbent.

long since been abandoned. The number of rural ungraded schools has gradually increased. The number of graded schools comprises Metropolis, Brooklyn and Gilliam. Metropolis has one of the largest and best equipped high school buildings in Southern Illinois, a commodious high school for colored pupils, and an extra ward school for the whites.

Eighteen instructors - four colored and fourteen white - comprise the faculty. The course is so comprehensive and the instruction so efflcient that graduates are admitted to the State University at Champaign without examination. Brooklyn has an elegant brick structure and a house for the colored pupils. Four white and one colored teacher is maintained. Gilliam has two grades. Seventy-live teachers are now busy 'wielding the birch'' at monthly wages ranging from |25 to |110, and the amount of good they yearly accomplish cannot be estimated.

Elegant frame and brick buildings have superceded the old log house. Modern windows, the hole in the wall and greased paper; comfortable hygienic seats with desks, the old puncheon seat made of half a sapling and peg legs, and the rough slab writing desk made on the side of the wall. Stoves and furnaces supply the place once held by the fire place long as the end of the school house; the paddle with the "A. B. C.'s" the old Webster's Blue Back spelling book, and a conglomerated mixture of just any kind of text books have all passed away. Today we even hare the same kind of books throughout the county and should have them under a "Free Text Book Law." Almost every school is now equipped with plenty of fine slate blackboards, maps, encyclopedias, dictionaries, charts, and many are adding circulating libraries - things unknown to our pioneer fathers. Districts are being made smaller, decreasing the distance children must travel and often a large bell calls the pupils together. Flags, pictures of national heroes, great statesmen, literati, and geniuses, with mottoes adorn the once uncouth walls.

With due respect to the teachers of the past it is certainly true that our present teachers excel in breadth of learning and understand better the laws of pedagogy. More professional dignity characterizes the teacher of today. The old way of

"studying out aloud" has been displaced by a, quiet, commensurate witii earnest study. Annual institutes with scholarly Instructors are held "at home" each summer, college training is at our very doors and our schools not only do but should advance. Tor a child in Massac county to enter life today illiterate is a crime against humanity and the state.

Assessors And Treasurers

In the early history of the county Messrs. D. P. Hughey, Saybert G. Choat, A. B. Browne, S. H. Pfrimmer, Jacob Gates and James Stone were Treasurers.

James Eobinson served until 1871 for a number of years and was succeeded in 1871 by Harmon Warneke. Samuel L. Wells was elected in 1878, and appointed to fill the unexpired term of 0. N. Jones in 1881. John D. Craig was elected, 1877. PI Carmichael in 1879, and soon died. 0. N. Jones was appointed to fill out the unexpired term and elected to another term, but later resigned. James H. Leech was elected in 1886 and Green W. Smith in 1890. George Verbarg was chosen in 1894 and Curt Roby, the present incumbent, came into ofQce in 1898.

Travis Wethers held the first coroner's commission in Massac county. S. H. Pfrimmer, Jacob Bumgarner, L. W. Willis, Benjamin J. Delavan, J. L. Copland, J. E. Eoberts, J. W. Smith, H. Tucker and Jacob Mussulman appear on the early records. Many times justices of the peace did coroner's duty.

In 1874 William Summers was elected, Thomas M. Patterson in 1878, E. B. Cropper in 1880, 1. V. Casey, 1888, Thomas L. Wallace in 1882, and is still coroner. Dr. A. C. Ragsdale is the Republican and Solomon Grace the Democratic candidates for Nov. 6, 1900.

No record of surveyors is accessible until 1865, when W. 0. Crow's name appears. Since then appear the names of William Martin, 1871 to 1875; William Johnson, 1875 to 1879; Thos. J. Hancock, 1879 to 1884; Thomas A. Giltner, 1884 to

Masters In Chancery

This office is appointive and controlled by the presiding Circuit Judge. John B. Hicks was the first master. E. P. Curtis, while circuit clerk, was appointed in 1868 and held the office continuously until the appointment of R. A. Davisson in 1896. Upon the death of Mr. Davisson, Lannes P. Oakes, the present master, was appointed.

County Board

Not being under "Township Organization" the county board, or board of county commissioners, has always consisted of three members. Each member serves three years and one is chosen each year.

At the first election, S. G. Allen, Jonathan Moody and J. T. Collier were elected. Lots were cast and resulted in Moody one year. Collier two years, and Allen three years. In 1844 Moody was re-elected; 1845 Samuel Shirk succeeded Collier; 1846 Jacob Kidd succeeded Allen; 1847 Green B. Choat succeeded Moody; 1848 Thomas Harrington succeeded Shirk; 1849 Jacob Kidd was re-elected; 1850 three were elected, Messrs. John B. Hicks, William Emmerson and John Shirk; 1851 the same members served; 1852 Benajiah Thompson succeeded Emmerson; 1853 Phineas Oakes succeeded Shirk; 1854 Elijah Smith, D. T. Walker and Thomas Dusouchet were elected; 1855 Thomas Stum succeeded Dusouchet; 1856 the same members served; 1857 Elijah Smith, William Armstrong and W. Mc- Dowell were elected and served until 1861; 1861 J. S. Copland succeeded McDowell; 1862 Benjamin J. Delavan succeeded Smith, and Anson Gibbs succeeded Armstrong, which three served until 1865; 1865 James Robinson succeeded Gibbs; 1866 Messrs. Delavan, William Boyles and J. L. Todd were members; 1867 Richard Thompson was elected; 1869 Edward M. McMahon, Charles Staton and U. S. Morse were elected; 1873 George W. Young, H. Quaute and Andrew Brady constituted the county board as it is today; 1874 Brady was re-elected; 1875 Young