McDonough County, Illinois - Black Laws, 1878

The early settlers of this county, although mainly from the Southern or slave States, entertained a deep-seated prejudice against the negro, for which it is hard for us to account at the present day. This prejudice, we may remark, was not held altogether and only in this county, for by referring to the Eevised Statutes of this State, approved March 3, 1845, we lind the following in chapter 54, under the head of "Xegroes and Mulattoes" :

Section 8. Any person who shall hereinafter brhig into this State any black or mulatto person, in order to free him or her from slavery, or shall directly or indirectly bring into this State, or aid or assist any person in bringing, any such black and midatto person to settle and reside therein, shall be fined one hundred dollars on conviction on indictment, or before any justice of the peace in the county where such olfensa shall be committed.

Sec. !». If any slave or servant shall be found at a distance of ten miles from the tenement of his or her master, or person with whom he or she lives, without a jiass or some letter or token whereby it may appear that he or she is proceeding by authority from his or her master, employer or overseer, it shall and may be lawful for any person to apprehend and carry him or her before a justice of the peace, to be by his order punished with strijies, not exceeding thirty-five, at his discretion.

Sec. 10. If any slave or servant shall jDresume to come and be upon the plantation or at the dwelling of any person whatsoever, without leave from his or her owner, not being sent upon lawful business, it shall be lawful for the owner of such plantation, or dwelling house to give or order such slave or servant ten lashes on his or her bare back.

Sec. 12. If any person or persons shaU i^ermit or suffer any slave or slaves, servant or servants of color, to the number of thre.i or more, to assemble in his, her or their outhouse, yard or shed, for the purpose of dancing or revelling, either by night or by day, the person or persons so offending shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty dollars with cost to any person or persons who will sue for and recover the same by action of debt or indictment, in any court of record proper to try the same.

Sec. 1:5. It shall be the duty of all coroners, sheriffs, judges and justices of the peace, who shall see or know of, or be informed of any such assemblage of slaves or servants immediately to commit such slave or sei-vants to the jail of the county, and on view or proof thereof order each and every such slave or servant to be whipped, not exceeding thirty-nine stripes on his or her bare back.

At a meeting held in Macomb, as earlj as 1834, it was resolred by the people assembled that they would enforce section 8 of the statute given above. About this time a Mr. Kiggs and a Mr. Thompson brought each a mulatto woman with them to this county ; Mr. Thompson settled in Macomb, while Mr. Riggs settled ou a farm a short distance from town. But little time was lost in notifying the parties that the law would be enforced. Some resistance was at first offered, but the negroes were removed. By reference to the census reports we find the highest number reported in this county previous to 1860, at any one time, was seven. ThereYore, we judge the law was strictly enforced.

Some years ago the Hon. W. II. Neece, of Macomb, was in the city of Monmouth, when he stepped into a barber shop for a shave. The barber was a colored man. "While shaving him, he asked Mr. !N^eece where he was from, and the response was given, "Macomb." "Well," said he, "I went to Macomb once, about eighteen or twenty years ago, to start a barber shop. I onl}- stayed about twenty-four hours, for a man called Jim Campbell came to me and told me I had better get out ob dar, as that was a white man's town. I left."

IlN^otwithstandiug his antipathy to the negro, Mr. C, has a warm spot about him, as witness the following which will be vouched for by the parties named : In 1856, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention which was to meet in Cincinnati, and which afterwards nominated James Buchanan, for President. In going to that city, Mr. C. took the train at Macomb for Quiucj', where he was to meet other delegates in whose company he was to continue his journey. On board the same train, going to Quincy, was Joseph E. Wyne, Jack Price, Frank AVhitson, and other Macomb boys, with whom Mr. Campbell engaged in conversation, discussing, of course, the political questions of the day. As known, the Republican party was just coming into prominence, and Mr. C. denounced the members of it as abolitionists, negro stealers, etc. Becoming tired of this, he began to relate experiences in his early life. He said he was born in Kentucky, where his father at one period of his life, owned a number of slaves. Becoming involved, he was compelled to sell them for transportation down the river. Among the number was a negro lad named Bob, about his own age, with whom he had eaten and played many a day. He stated he never felt as bad in his life as he did when he saw Bob sold and carried away. Mr. W3'ne then asked him the question : "Mr. Campbell, suppose Bob would come to your house some night, and tell you his master had mistreated him, and that he was compelled to run away, that he was without money, had nothing to eat during the day, and was nearly naked, what would you do? " Rising to his feet, he

As late as the year 1864, an indictment was found against Geo. W. Reed, the present corcner of the county, under the "black law" for bringing a negro into the state. When the case was called in the Circuit Court, the Judge and Prosecuting Attorney threw it out - the law being virtually a dead letter.

AVe propose in this chapter to give a short summary of such matters as will show clearly the business and resources of Me- Donough county. To the thoughtful and intelligent reader these items will be invaluable, and we commend them to the capitalists of the country as showing truthfully the situation at present writing, November, 1876. By a careful examination will be seen : - 1. The extent of our territory. iJ. The available proportion. 3. The variety of its productions. 4. Value as a stock county. 5. Extent of manufactures. (>. Openings for capital.

Extcrd of Territory. - McDonough county is square, having within its boundaries sixteen townships of thirty-six square miles each, or a total of five hundred and seventy- six square miles. In each square mile there are six hundred and forty acres, which makes a grand total of three hundred and sixty-eight thousand six hundred and fortv acres.

Improved Land. - By this statement is meant such lands as may be enclosed and value enhanced bv cultivation ; bv erection of buildings or in the manufacture of articles of profit. It is customary in the assessment of real estate to call any tra'jt improved that has any portion under cultivation or used to increase value?. Taking out for woodland, marshes, creeks and sloughs, the number of acres adapted to cultivation are three hundred thousand.

Unimproved Lands. - The proportion of unimproved land, as shown in the table given elsewhere, is small, being less than onetwelfth of the entire land in the county. The greater portion of this never will be brought under cultivation, although much of it is of great value, being underlaid with coal, and having on it several valuable quarries of stone. Several of our finest farms wore once thought to be as valueless as much of this unimproved land now seems to be, and it may be that a considerable part of it will yet be cultivated.

Real and Personal Properly. - For the wealth of the coutity, the statement in the table given of personal property, town lots and lands, will give a fair idea. AVe learn from this that the asrsregate value of the three classes of property named is ^14,450,627, an average of $451.56 to every man, woman and child.

Wheat. - ^Vhile wheat is decidedly preferred to all other grain, and next to corn is the most important raised in the county, yet for a few 3'ears past the yield has been light and the quality poor; indeed, the average yield of the crop has scarcely com[>cnsated for the outlay of seed and labor. In the early settlement ot the county abundant crops were raised, and of a superior quality, winter wheat being principally sown. Of late years spring wheat has taken its place, the cause being that the winter wheat has nearly always been killed by the severe cold of our winters. There were sown the past year 21,343 acres in wheat, the yield being very small - not sufficient for home consumption.

Corn. - Among the products of AIcDonough county, as well as generally in the United States, corn takes the precedence as being the most profitable and peculiarly adapted to our soil. There were in cultivation in this county, during the past year, 121,215 acres of this grain, being about two-fifths of all the land under cultivation. The average yield is generally about fifty bushels, but in consequence of the late rainy season this year (1876), the average will fall far below that amount. In many places the crop was an entire failure, but on rolling lands, well drained, as high as eighty bushels to the acre were realized. The yield this year will amount to about 4,000,000 bushels, scarcely more than will supply home demand, the majority of the farmers having stock sufficient to feed more than they raised. Many farmers do not pretend to sell a bushel any season, because they find it more profitable to feed it to the stock than to sell in its bulky condition. The general market price of corn varies from thirty to forty cents per bushel, occasionallv declininii; to twentv five cents, but often advancins: to fifty cents.

Odt^. - When considered in connection with the artificial grasses, and the nourishment and improvement it attbrds to live stock, especially the horse, this grain may be considered as one of the most important crops we produce. Its yield is generally abundant and profitable. The past year the crop was exceedingly light, greatly to the surprise of nearly all the farmers, the indications in the early part of the season being that an abundant crop would be realized. Although making nearly the average in bulk, in weight it fell far short, in many instances taking two bushels in measurement to make one in weight. The usual yield is from thirty-five to forty-five bushels per acre. This year it will probably not be over sixteen and a half. There were 20,171 acres sown, which will equal 342,970 bushels as the amount raised. The general market price varies from twenty-five to forty cents per bushel.

Other Products. - Under this head are included rye, barley, buckwheat, potatoes, and such other articles as are commonly cultivated in small quantities. Allotted to the use of these products the past year were 7,435 acres.

Rye and Barley. - These grains are generally a sure crop, and the yield heavy ; but there being no home demand, and the general market price so low, that other grains are more profitable ; consequently but a small portion of the land is allotted to their culture.

Buckwheat. - This grain is but little cultivated in this county, in fact, not enough to supply home consumption. It is not profitable, so the farmers say.

Potatoes. - The common Irish potato, so extensively cultivated in most of the temperate climates of the globe because of its value as an item of daily food, is regarded of but little less importance than corn or wheat. In this county^ the yield is generally heavy. The Colorado bug, which, for several years has been so destructive of the potato, destroying the vine before the potato matures, this year did not make its appearance to any considerable extent. It is hoped that the days of this enemy of the potato are numbered. The general market value is extremely fluctuating, ranging all the way from fifteen cents to two dollars per bushel, though most commonly selling at about fifty cents per bushel. The average yield is about one hundred and fifty bushels to the acre, which makes it one of the most valuable products] raised.

yield, Avliich, with the little labor required to raise it, and the generally fair niarket price, makes it a very profitable article of culture, besides it enables the farmer to rest his land. The principal kinds grown are timothy and red clover, the former being superior to all others. The market price of this staple article varies from six dollars to twelve dollars per ton, seldom falling below or raising above these figures. The last season there were assigned to the cultivation of grass in this county 81,980 acres, which produced fully two tons per acre, m.aking a total yield of 03,980 tons.

Pasture. - The number of acres of pasturage at present in this county is 52,426. This is used for pasturing cattle, almost every farmer having a few acres enclosed for that purpose. Some of the land is woodland, and can be used for no other purpose, but being good grazing and well watered makes it valuable.

Wood Land. - As will be seen by our table, McDonough county is largely prairie land^ although there are many streams and large creeks running through it, which are bordered by timber. Said timber does not extend a great distance, the wood land being reported to the assessors as only 44,976 acres, or about one-eighth of the entire amount. The timber land is princijially in the western townships. The principal varieties are white, red and black oak, hickory, elm, white and black walnut, birch, etc. This land is not considered as valuable now as it was in the earlier history of the county, when it was deemed essential by every farmer that he should have the greater part of his farm in timber, that he might have sufficient for building purposes, fencing and fuel. The question of supply and demand for the timber puzzled our fathers greatly, but it has been effectually solved by the introduction of the railroad.

Horses. - According to the table given elsewhere, there are 13,- 883 horses in this county, with an average assessed value of $45.35. The character of the horse has been greatly improved "in the past few years. In 1870, Dr. B. R. Westfall, J. M. ]<eynolds and John C. Moore went to France and' purchased four large, fine Norman horses. They were the first ever imported into the count}'. Previous to this, all breeding horses were of common stock, and making the venture to secure better breed was a new era in horse raising in the county. Whether it would prove successful or not, time alone would tell. Tn 1873, Dr. Westfall again went to France H - 19 and imported four more, while B. F. Glojd went to Canada and purchased three large, splendid Clydesdales. Other horses have since been imported by other parties, making fifteen in all. Colts by the first importation were sold as high as six hundred dollars each, and we have known yearlings to sell from one hundred and sixty to two hundred and ten dollars each. There is an increased demand for imported horses, and the breeding of the better class is getting to be a source of revenue to the county. All our best farmers are manifesting an interest in the business, and we believe the time will soon come when McDonough county will take rank with some of the principal counties in Ohio, where the raising of fine horses has been made a specialty for years, and where a greater revenue is derived than from all other stock. The question, "Will it pay to raise the better class of horses ?" has been fully and satisfactorily answered in the affirmative. It costs no more to raise a good horse than a poor one, and the remuneration is more than double. Many car loads are shipped from this county each vear.

Cattle. - In cattle McDonough county is fast taking a leading position. With thousands of acres of excellent pasture land, with living streams of water the year round, together with the large amount of grain raised in our midst, makes cattle raising a very profitable business. For some years past Rigdon Huston, of Blandinsville township, and Joseph Lownes & Son, of jSTew Salem, have been devoting their time to the improvement of this class of stock. They have now herds that will rank with any in the State, and are constantly adding to the number, variety and quality of their stock. Both of these men have animals that cost them thousands of dollars each, and which are of pure blood and undoubted pedigree. We can say with respect to cattle what we remarked in relation'to horses, it costs no more to raise the better class than it does the poorer, and the profit is much greater. Thousands of head are shipped each year from this county - enouo;h to averasre about seven hundred cars each vear for the past six years, or about two and one-third cars per day. According to our table, in May last there were 38,123 head in the county, assessed at an average of $14.29 each. Many of this number, of course, are milch cows.

Mules and Asses. - Notwithstanding these animals will do more with the same amount of care, they do not appear to be a favorite with our farming community, there being only 1383 head, or

Sheep. - There has been a remarkable decrease in the number of sheep raised in McDonough county during the past few years, caused by the low price ot wool in the general markets. During the war wool growing was a most profitable business and largely engaged in by our farmers, but the demand for woolen goods has decreased greatly, and the prices realized so small, that other business is now much more profitable. We have now in this county only 6,424 head ot sheep, with an average assessed value of |1 97 each.

Sv'ine. - This class of stock has received more attention from our farmers than any other, and has generally been the most profitable. The American nation seems "hoggishly" inclined, and the prices ruling in the market have been such as to tempt our farmers to invest more largely in these animals than in all others combined. jSTotwithstanding the large number that have yearly been carried ofl:"with the cholera, none seem to abandon the business of raising the stock. The breed of hogs has been greatly improved within the past few years by the introduction of the English Berkshire, Chester White and Poland China. From these and other varieties various crosses have been obtained which have proven even more profitable to fatten than the thoroughbreds. J. M. & S. Work have done much to improve this class of stock, and deserve the thanks of the whole county. Doubtless some remedy or preventative will soon be discovered which will greatly lessen the loss of swine by cholera and like diseases, if not altogether be driven from among them. The large yield of corn, the readiness with which the hog fattens, and the advanced market price aflbrds abundant compensation to the farmer or stockraiser. During the past four years there has been an average of 72,000 head of hogs shipped from this county, which, counting 250 pounds each, and in the market netting ^0 per hundred, would make a revenue to the county each year of $1,080,000. According to our table, we have only 46,446 head, but it must be borne in mind the table was compiled in May last when there are a less number than any other season in the year, sucking pigs never being counted and nearly all the marketable hogs shipped. The assessment figures will never, therefore, show the true number, for many pigs that are not assessed before the next yearly assessment are shipped to the markets.

Orchards. - As a coimtry grows older, the more extensive her orchards and abundant her fruit crop. McDonough county now ranks among the foremost fruit-growing counties in the State - both in regard to the quantity and the quality of the fruit grown. In this county we have now 3,331 acres devoted to this purpose, which, if we calculate eighty trees to the acre, w^ould make a total of 266,480. This number is divided up into the different kinds of fruit grown, such as apple, pear, peach and plum.

Apple. - The greater part of the land devoted to the cultivation of fruit is used for raising this variety, the principal kinds grown being jenneting, winesap, rambo, bellflower, Ben. Davis, Jonathan, Pennsylvania red streaks, red June and early harvest. These are now considered standard. Formerly were grown to a considerable extent Roxbury russet, Rhode Island greenings, Baldwin, white winter pearmain, and peonix. At present there are an average of 1,000,000 bushels raised in this county each year, and the amount is constantly increasing - the greater number of trees hardly yet reaching maturity, while additions are made each year. During the month of October, 1876, there Avere shipped from Macomb 30,000 bushels, and in the same time were manufactured into cider at the same place 42,000 bushels. These were all grown in the immediate vicinity of that place. The apple crop is generally sure each year, there never having yet been an entire failure, though one or two years it has been short. A good price is generally realized from this fruit, and it is found of very profitable culture. About six hundred bushels to the acre is now considered an average crop, our trees yet being young. As the orchards become older, the average will be greater.

Peaches, Pears and Plums. - These are not especially adapted to our climate, and seldojn yield enough to justify their culture. The quality of the peach is very poor ; formerly large quantities and good qualities were raised, but climatic changes have operated against them. The pear and plum trees grow well, but the fruit is generally poor, the pear being destroyed by a blight, and the plum b}^ the curculio.

Cherries. - The principal varieties of this fruit grown are the English Morello, Early Richmond, and May Duke, the two former being superior to the latter and more liable to bear. The yield is usually large and of a superior quality.

Grapes. - This fruit is boconiiug one of the staple products of the eouuty, the yield generally being very heavy, where the proper care and attention is given. The market is good and at i)rices that make its culture profitable. The varieties mostly cultivated are the Concord, Delaware, Hartford Prolific, Isabella, and Catawba. The manufacture of the grape into wine is found quite remunerative and is being entered into quite extensively by fruit growers.

Small Fruit. - The small fruits cultivated in this county arc the currant, gooseberry, blackberry, raspberry and strawberry, all of which yield well and are found quite profitable. The quality of each is good. It has only been in the last four or five years that any attention has been given to the raising of small fruit, but as it is shown that it can be made to pay, doubtless, many others will enter into the business.

Carriages and Wagons. - McDonough county appears well supplied with vehicles of all kinds, and as the 'country grows in wealth more will be used, especially of the finer grade.

Since writing the above another crop has been harvested, which has been much more abundant than that of 1876. For 1877 the wheat crop was better than for many years. The quality is also much better than usual. Owing to heavy and almost continual rains in the spring the prospect for a good corn crop was unfavorable, but-even this is fully an average crop. In many townships the yield will be larger than in 1876. There were planted in 1877, in number, 116,355 acres against 121,215 in 1876. The potato crop will be very large, the season being very favorable and the potato bug hardly being known. A larger yield ot hay was produced than in any year of the county's history. The only products of the county that approximates a failure is the fruit, but little of any kind being raised, scarcely enough for home consumption.

We here subjoin several tables ot statistics, which speak for themselves, and to which we invite attention. The tables show the assessed value of the articles given, which is much below the real w^orth of the property. The State Board of Equalization reduced the amount reported by the assessors twenty-nine per cent, which if added would largely increase the amount. In the first table we have given such years as we could find. Previous to the year 1857 there were no abstracts made of assessments, so we were compelled to gather the statistics from different papers on file in the office of the County Clerk. It will be observed that there is a vast increase in 1873, which is accounted for by sayingthat previous to that time assessments were made on a basis of from one-third to one-fifth the cash value; while now they are made on the estimated cash value. The tables w^ill be interesting as showing the growth and prosperity of the county during the vears of its existence.